Problem
Solution
Workers Affected
Narrow Cloth- cloth could only be woven as wide as the weaver’s reach
In 1733, John Kay invented the flying shuttle. It could make wider cloth and at a faster pace.
Weavers
Kay’s Flying Shuttle meant that it took 6 spinners to supply 1 weaver.
In 1767, James Hargreaves invented the spinning machine: ‘The Spinning Jenny’
Spinners
Despite Hargreaves’ Invention there was still a shortage of good quality thread.
In 1769, Richard Arkwright invented the water frame. However it was too large to be placed in homes so Arkwright and his business partner built their first factory in Cromford in Derbyshire. They found a way to power the water frame with water power. The factory system had begun.
Home workers
The thread spun by the jenny and water frame was too rough and not suitable for high quality cotton products.
In 1779, Samuel Crompton invented the mule. It had to be located in factories as it needed to be driven by steam or water. So bigger factories were built and the mule was improved by Richard Roberts who made it fully automatic.
Home workers (spinners)
Spinning was now linked to the factory system but weavers still worked at home.
In 1785, Edmund Cartwright invented the power loom that could weave automatically.
Weavers
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