Combing removes the short or broken fibres and draws out the long fibres into even strands suitable for spinning. The process is necessary to produce long and soft strands needed for worsted yarn. These machines remove the short fibres and blend the remaining long fibres together to form the top. The short fibres that are removed, known as the noil, are used in the woollen system. The long fibres are drawn together, ready for spinning. To retain as many of the valuable long fibres as possible, a skilled operator always needed to be on duty in the factory to precisely set the machine. A Nobel Comb separates short (Noils) fibres while also blending long (Tops) fibres together. The long fibres are used for worsted materials while the short fibres are used for woollen fabrics. Woollen materials are soft, bulky and fuzzy, such as a picnic blanket; whereas worsted materials are fine, smooth and crisp, such as a suit jacket. The Valley Worsted Mills in Geelong, now the Little Creatures Brewery, ran 12 noble combs up until 1981. Gold plaque on display with machine until 2018 read: G.H. Mitchell & Son, Adelaide have celebrated 125 Years of involvement with the Australian Wool Processing Industry by contributing the funds necessary to restore The Carding Machine, Noble Comb & The Gill Box.Noble Comb with plates - 'Prince Smith & Sons, Burlington Shed, Keishley' (One plate located on each gear box). 'Prince Smith & Sons, Burlington Shed, Keishley' (One plate located on each gear box).wool manufacturing, noble comb, textile industry, geelong, little creatures brewery, valley worsted mills, fibres, wool, factory

Catalogue of machinery made by Prince Smith & Son of Burlington Shed, Keighley, England. The company was founded by William Smith in 1795. He produced spinning frames known as throstles and in the early 19th century was producing high-quality machinery for processing textiles. His son, Prince Smith, took over the business and in 1869 he bought the Burlington Shed works from Samuel Cunliffe Lister and renamed the company Prince Smith & Son. The organisation had reputation for machines of the highest quality. A letter in the front of this catalogue shows that it was sent to the Collins Bros. Mill in Geelong in 1922 for their consideration.Sixty two page book featuring black and white illustrations of worsted machinery, with text. Front cover is green with black and red embossed text. A letter with typed printed text addressed to Marcus Collins Esq. is sitting inside the front cover.PRINCE SMITH / & SON. / Australian Agents: / FYVIE & STEWART / ENGINEERS / Collins House, 360-366 Colling St. / Melbourne / and / Permanent Trustee Building / 23-25 O’Connell St., Sydney / WORSTED MACHINERY.prince smith & son, burlington shed, keighley, england, textile machinery, textile processing, collins bros mill pty ltd, catalogue, sales

Part of a collection of archival materials from Collins Bros. Mills. The company was founded by William Smith in 1795. He produced spinning frames known as throstles and in the early 19th century was producing high-quality machinery for processing textiles. His son, Prince Smith, took over the business and in 1869 he bought the Burlington Shed works from Samuel Cunliffe Lister and renamed the company Prince Smith & Son. The organisation had reputation for machines of the highest quality.48-page booklet with red and black printed text and graphics. Cover is brown with green and black embossed textCatalogue of / WORSTED / MACHINERY. / Special Machinery for / Worsted & other Fibres. / PS&S / Manufactured by / PRINCE SMITH & SON, LIMITED / KEIGHLEY, England. / Estabd. 1795.industrial machinery, textile industry, working life, advertising, prince smith & son, textile machinery