PREFACE.

In treating of carpet manufacture, which involves the employment of looms and other machinery of a complicated nature, I was confronted with the problem, how far it was necessary or desirable to explain and illustrate mechanical devices. Upon consideration, it seemed advisable, having regard to the scope of the book, to avoid as far as possible both descriptions and diagrams of a mechanical nature. A certain standard of mechanical intelligence is assumed in the reader; but this work, like the rest of the series, is intended for the layman; and it is impossible to describe and explain detailed mechanical movements except at considerable length and with the aid of elaborate diagrams. Those who wish to study the technique of the subject in detail are referred to Mr. Fred Bradbury’s book, Carpet Manufacture (F. King & Sons, Ltd., Halifax, 1904), which, though it has not been brought up to date, is a classic for the trade, as all experts are aware. I am indebted to him for the use of several blocks.

I have also to acknowledge the courtesy of the Gresham Publishing Co., Ltd., of Chandos Street, Covent Garden, for permission to use a number of blocks from their Textile Industries, which contains some admirable chapters on Carpet Manufacture.

My thanks are further due to The Times for permission to utilise some contributions I made to their “Textile Supplement,” published in 1913; while I have received information and helpful criticism from Messrs. Woodward, Grosvenor & Co., Ltd., Messrs. T. & A. Naylor, Ltd., The Victoria Carpet Co., not to mention colleagues and foremen of my own Company, Brintons Limited.

For the historical chapter I am indebted to Mr. A. C. Parry, and for particulars of Carpet Trades Unions to Mr. E. Stradling, Mr. Ellis Crowther, and Mr. T. Lindsay.

I am conscious of the possibility of errors and omissions, and I should be grateful for any intimation of such, with the view of making the necessary corrections, if a further edition should be required.

R. S. BRINTON.

Croft House,

Kidderminster,

1919.

CONTENTS

CHAP.PAGE

PREFACEiii

I.HISTORY1

II.MATERIALS9

III.DYEING13

IV.HAND-MADE CARPETS20

V.BRUSSELS CARPETS29

VI.WILTON CARPETS44

VII.AXMINSTER CARPETS49

VIII.CHENILLE CARPETS63

IX.TAPESTRY CARPETS71

X.INGRAIN CARPETS86

XI.DESIGN AND COLOUR92

XII.STATISTICS104

XIII.EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYED107

XIV.CONCLUSION119

INDEX123

ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG.PAGE

BRITISH FINE WILTON CARPETFrontispiece

1.TURKISH, KNOT21

2.LONGITUDINAL SECTION THROUGH HEALDS, HARNESS, SLEY, AND FABRIC33

3.SECTION OF FIVE-FRAME BRUSSELS CARPET35

4.SECTION OF THREE-FRAME BRUSSELS CARPET36

5.AND 5A. CHLIDEMA SQUARE41

6.SECTION OF FIVE-FRAME WILTON45

7.SECTION OF IMPERIAL AXMINSTER—3-SHOT51

8.SECTION OF AXMINSTER—3-SHOT52

9.SECTIONS OF AXMINSTER WEAVES53

10.TUFTING MECHANISM55

11.CHENILLE DESIGN PAPER CUT UP64

12.CHENILLE CLOTH65

13.TRANSVERSE SECTION SHOWING FUR INSERTED65

14.SECTION OF CHENILLE AXMINSTER67

15.DESIGN OF TAPESTRY CARPET72

16.DESIGN IN FIG. 15 ELONGATED AS PRINTED73

17.PRINTING DRUM76

18.SCALE AND DESIGN BOARD COMBINED78

19.A SCRAPER80

20.PRINTED THREADS SET FOR WINDING ON TO THE BEAM81

21.FIG. 20 AS WOVEN82

22.STRUCTURE OF TAPESTRY CARPET82

23.MEDIUM TAPESTRY CARPET83

24.TAPESTRY VELVET—3-SHOT83

25.TAPESTRY VELVET84

26.TAPESTRY VELVET—2 SHOTS IN THE GROUND84

27.TWO-PLY IN WARP AND WEFT86

28.TWO-PLY WARP AND WEFT88

29.THREE-PLY WARP AND TWO-PLY WEFT88

30.THREE-PLY WARP AND WEFT89

CARPETS