A rope expert once said, “Any manufacturer can make rope—it is a simple operation; but very few can make good rope because few are willing to devote the necessary amount of pains to each of the little operations in the process.”
PLYMOUTH CORDAGE COMPANY FACTORY TODAY AND IN EARLY DAYS
CHAPTER III
Spinning of Rope Yarn and Binder Twine
Hand spinning, as practiced in the early days of the Plymouth Cordage Company, yielded a remarkably good rope yarn, but large production was very expensive and laborious. The length of the spinning grounds, which with the buildings protecting them were known as the ropewalk, determined the length yarn that could be spun. Hand and water power had to suffice, and even the best spinner could make but two yarns at a time.
Steam-driven spinning machines were introduced, however, as early as 1838, for our records show that near the close of that year Bourne Spooner, founder of our company, wrote to one of the directors as follows:
“Our new spinning concern has consumed more time in the work of preparation than was expected, but we are now ready—this being the second day of steam spinning. It affords me much gratification to say that everything connected with this enterprise has gone comfortably on, and my faith in the utility and expediency of the measure is unabated.”
Through the courtesy of the Watson Machine Co. of Paterson, N. J., we are able to show an excellent picture of one of these earlier-type machines which, it will be noted, is tended by a woman. Those familiar only with the present factory practice of putting none but men on the spinning machines may be surprised to know that during this first period in the modern development of the process women spinners were regularly employed by the Plymouth Cordage Company and other concerns.