Self-twist spinning machine prototype developed by CSIRO in the 1960's. Made by CSIRO Division of Wool Technology in conjunction with an Australian engineering company REPCO and the International Wool Secretariat. Prototype developed in 1960's and since 1970 over 3500 have been produced and sold.Self-twisting spinning machine (protoype).Label with machine: Prototype SELF-TWIST SPINNER / This prototype spinning machine was built / at Division of Wool Technology in the mid 1960's as / part of the program which developed the Self-Twist spinning / process. / Self-Twist was commercially released in / 1970 by The Division in conjunction with the Australian / engineering company Repco, and The International Wool / Secretariat. / Since 1970 more than 3500 Self-Twist / machines have been sold. / The process offers advantages in the / speed of spinning, machine size, maintenance and energy / consumption.engineering, manufacturing, wool processing, spinning, csiro, prototype, invention, wool technology, self-twist, repco, international wool secretariat

Letter from the Belmont Valley Woolscour, Queensland, 1949 to W.R. Lang requesting his opinion of a method of scouring.wool processing, belmont valley woolscour, scouring, lang, dr w. roy strachan, mr norman w - belmont valley woolscour

Binder begins by discussing the history of Macquarie Textiles before expanding into explaining the operations of the company and how they produce their different finished worsted and woollen textiles. The information is dated to 1995 and makes for interesting reading into the past, especially the information in regards to computers and how they were begin to be introduced into the work place.A4 sized binder with 8 individual pages containing information on both front and back. Coloured ink with attached samples make up the contents of these pages. All pages have the same image of wool in the backgroundmacquarie textile, wool processing

Wool picking machine designed to separate locks of wool before it is carded and spun. The picker opens the wool’s locks which makes it easier to send the fleece through a carding machine. It does this by teasing the fibres (which can also be done by hand just by pulling the lock structure apart), but a picker does this in bulk and much quicker than what can be done by hand. It is possible to spin fibres directly after the picking stage; however, it is usually more desirable to card and blend them with other fibres. Typically, at a textile mill, a picking machine can separate enough lengths of fibre for a full day’s work after just a single hour. It will also help to remove any vegetation matter or other any unwanted elements that may be present in the wool. The quality of the casting on this machine suggest that it was made locally, either in Australia or New Zealand. Mike Leggett, the donor of the machine, acquired it from New Zealand where the seller said it had been used by his father to pick wool to make hand stuffed horse saddles. Mike attempted to used it a couple of times to pick alpaca hair, but the speed of the attached motor caused damage to the fibres. The motor is thought to be an added attachment, sometime around the 1960s judging by its age, while the machine itself is thought to be dated around the 1920s. The machine works by inserting wool through the rollers. Initially there was a conveyor belt feeder system which was powered by the handle on the side. This conveyor belt has been removed however, most likely due to age and deterioration. Wool is now fed through the initial teeth and is met by a spiked rotating drum which works to separate the fibres. The separated fibres would then complete a loop of the drum before being dispatched somewhere below, around where the motor presently sits, at a rapid rate of speed. Typically this wool will be collected in a closet or large catchment area, as can be seen from the 8:47 minute marker in the linked video (link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMjx-t3tH3A). It is not apparent how the wool is collected with this machine. Red and green machine with four green legs currently attached to a wooden pallet with wheels for easy movement. The green legs lead up to a red central circular barrel from which many attachments are present. Also present on the wooden pallet is a small black motor which is attached by a rubber belt to the central drum inside the red barrel. The belt spins the wooden drum via a dark red circular plate attached to the side of the drum. On the other side of the red barrel, a green handle extends for turning the picker’s conveyor belt feeder system. Two green walls extend forward from the central red barrel, guarding either side of where the conveyor belt would have been. At the start of these walls is a wooden cylinder, which the conveyor belt would have wrapped around, followed by two interlocking gears which rotate and accept the fed wool. The red roof extends over the central cylinder from here, securing the wool inside and protecting hands from the heavily spiked internal wooden cylinder which rotates and separates (picks) the wool. Extending over the top of this red roof is a green handle which reaches to the back of the machine (not pictured). Here it accepts a weight to ensure pressure is always present for the initial feeder interlocked gear teeth. There are two large gear cogs on the rubber belt side of the machine and 3 small gear cogs on the handle side of the machine, all coloured green. A green handle is also present at the rear of the machine, below the location from which the weight is hanging. A power cable extends from the motor and there are two adjustable metal rods on the top of the machine, the purpose of these rods is presently unknown. Black texter. On top of drum. Wording: HG3707 Wording. Imprint: BRACEWIND BLYN On motor. Wording AEIwool picking, textile manufacturing, wool processing

Weaving is the interlacing of two yarns, one at right angles to the other. Yarns that run the length of the fabric are called the warp. Yarns that run across the fabric are called the weft. Most woven fabrics are produced on a loom. The warp yarns are raised to form an opening - the shed. The weft carrier, usually the shuttle, shoots through the shed. Then the warp yarns change position up and down. Finally, the weft is pushed tight against the previous yarns, gradually building up the fabric. Hattersley dobby loom. In working order, black painted cast iron.weaving, george hattersley and sons ltd, weaving machinery, loom, wool processing, textile industry

Weaving is the interlacing of two yarns, one at right angles to the other. Yarns that run the length of the fabric are called the warp. Yarns that run across the fabric are called the weft. Most woven fabrics are produced on a loom. The warp yarns are raised to form an opening - the shed. The weft carrier, usually the shuttle, shoots through the shed. Then the warp yarns change position up and down. Finally, the weft is pushed tight against the previous yarns, gradually building up the fabric. Hattersley treadle loom (revolving box hand loom). Beam of loom was removed and sent to Foster Valley Mill in 1989 to be returned via Tom Crocker. The National Wool Museum gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Mr Fred Murgatroyd & Mr Bernard Tolan in making this Hattersley Loom Operational. Green painted Hattersley treadle loom (revolving box hand loom).weaving, george hattersley and sons ltd, weaving machinery, wool processing, loom, restoration

Any faults in the final product can be repaired by mending. Prior to more advanced machinery, fabric was draped over a mending table and carefully inspected for faults. Quick eyes and nimble fingers were needed. Repairing faults was a highly skilled manual operation. Any knot or thickness had to be removed without affecting the quality of the fabric and mending had to be invisible. In the 1930s to make the day pass faster, popular records were played to the factory workers in the mending room. The top of the table is propped up to make it a well-lit surface over which bolts of fabric were unrolled to check for faults. Menders repaired them with invisible hand stitching. Each weaver stitched a coloured thread in the selvage to show the start of their shift, therefore if mistakes were found the company could easily find who was responsible. This table was used by Gail Morris in teh 1960s. Large wooden table with tilted top. mending table, wool processing, fabric, textile industry

When the fabric is removed from the loom it is often stiff, rough and uneven. There are a number of finishing processes, both mechanical and chemical that give wool fabrics their special look and feel. The fabric is often scoured again to remove oils and dirt picked up during manufacture. It is then pressed. For a soft and fluffy surface, the fabric is brushed. For a smooth surface, it is shorn. For centuries, machines similar to this teasle gig were used to finish fabrics. It uses the prickly flower head off the teasle plant (Dispsacus Fullonum) to do the delicate work to raise the surface, or nap, the woollen cloth. At least 1,500 teasle heads are needed for one gig. The teasel is a thistle like plant whose dried heads are used on the teasel gig. They are fixed to frames around the drum, or gig. The gig turns in the opposite direction to the flow of the cloth until the nap is raised. Also spelled as Teazel Gig.Large metal machine with wooden rollers and teasel covered drum.textile finishing, raising, raising machinery, teasel gig, fabric, wool processing, plants, thistle, drum

Used to collect the combed top from a noble comb. Consists of a cast iron stand and base with steel pinch rollers and a rotating iron feed tube to empty the top into a receiving bin.combing, windchest, machine, wool processing, industry, wool, rollers, bin

Album contains photos of the Elliott and Dibb wool sorting and blending operations; also six photos showing operations inside the Oriental Scouring Mills, Geelong. There were yellow sticky notes (non-contemporary, written by Gerald Van Rompaey) containing information on each photo scattered throughout the album. These have been removed for conservation reasons and their details transcribed here. The first note stated: "Michael's mother (the donor's mother, Mrs Elliott) said this album was got up as a promotional tool for an expensive overseas trip by Harold E. (her brother in law in 1950)". The 1st photo shows the skirtings in the reclass bins in the former Australian Estates Collins Street show floor. The 2nd photo is similar to the first; the 3rd photo shows the fleeces being reclassed. The 4th photo shows the wool sorters at work (Harold Elliott can be seen in the double breasted suit). The 5th photo is of more reclassing, and the 6th is similar. The 7th photo shows Harold Elliott with the sorters and the 8th photo is similar. The 9th photo shows the first and second pieces of the skirtings being sorted. The 10th photo is a general shot of full bales and the reclass bins. The 11th photo shows a double dumping press at work, compressing the already full bales for shipment. The 12th photo shows scouring operations at Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring has been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). The 13th, 14th and 15th photos shows more scouring at the Oriental Scouring Mills. The 16th photo shows two men (Keith Dibb on the right) viewing the scoured wool. The 17th photo shows the scoured wool being pressed at the Oriental Scouring Mills, Geelong. The final six photos (the photos of the Oriental Scouring Mills operations) are all stamped on the verso with a photographer's stamp (Frazer Studios, Melbourne), suggesting that Elliott and Dibb commissioned a photographer to go to Geelong to take the photos. (a note from Gerald Van Rompaey identifying five photos has been found and is now located in supp. file 1417. It does not seem to identify photos in this album; the photos he identifies may turn up at a later stage.)Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the skirtings in the reclass bins in the former Australian Estates Collins St show floor. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the skirtings in the reclass bins in the former Australian Estates Collins St show floor. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows fleeces being reclassed. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the wool sorters at work (Harold Elliott can be seen in the double breasted suit). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows wool being reclassed. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows wool being reclassed. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows Harold Elliott (double breasted suit) with the wool sorters. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows Harold Elliott (double breasted suit) with the wool sorters. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the first and second pieces of the skirtings being sorted. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the full bales and the reclass bins. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows a double dump wool press at work, compressing the already full bales of wool even smaller for shipment overseas. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scouring operations at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scouring operations at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scouring operations at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scouring operations at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows two men (Keith Dibb on the right) viewing the scoured wool at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scoured wool being pressed at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph album front cover. Album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950.Frazer Studios / (C.J. FRAZER) / 165 BOURKE STREET / MELBOURNE, C.1 / CENT. 4358woolclassing, wool processing, elliott and dibb oriental scouring mills, scouring, wool press, wool press - double dump

wool processing, top making, noils

wool processing, top making

wool processing, top making

wool processing, top making, card clothing

wool processing, top making, combing, noble comb

wool processing, top making, combing, noble comb

wool processing, top making, noils

wool processing, top making, carding

wool processing, top making, carding

wool processing, top making, card clothing

Used for wool handling.Four cylindrical cane baskets, frayed around top and base. Traces of paint on all baskets.wool processing, basket, textile industry

wool processing, top making, carding

wool processing, top making

Scouring is the process that removes wool wax and other unwanted products from wool. Wool is washed in a hot detergent solution. It moves through a series of scouring bowls and is then rinsed and dried. Careful handling and washing preserves the strength and softness of wool. If the wool contains lots of seeds and other vegetable matter, it must be cabonized. This means it is treated with a solution of sulpheric acid and then baked at high temperature to remove impurities. The disused scouring water left-over from this process was often let drain into rivers and watercourses causing pollution. Many of Geelong's wool scours along the Barwon River were closed due to environmental damage. The race system on this bowl is not the original it has been modified with a variation of the harrow system. Used at E.P. Robinson South Geelong from c.1890-1970.Scouring bowl.J. Dyson & Sons Pty Ltd, Geelongsouring bowl, j dyson & sons, geelong, wool processing, e. p. robinson, textile industry, factory, mill

Card clothing strip.Swool processing, card clothing, carder

Man standing in what looks to be a wool processing factory.Black and white photo of a man surrounded by machinery in a landscape format. The photo is attached to a olive coloured board.textile machinery, wool manufacture, wool