Overview:
The Scholfield brothers, John and Arthur, arrived in America in 1793 bringing with them the knowledge of how to build successful wool-carding machines. This innovation significantly impacted the young nation’s fledgling textile industry, propelling the development of a new industry. Carding, a crucial initial step in textile production, involves separating and cleaning individual wool fibers to prepare them for spinning into yarn. The thoroughness of carding directly affects the quality of the yarn, and the arrangement of the fibers dictates the yarn’s type – parallel for smooth, compact yarn or crossed and intermingled for a soft, bulky yarn.
Prior to the Scholfields’ arrival, carding was primarily done by hand, using teasels or small hand cards with wire teeth embedded in leather. While a few rudimentary mechanical carding machines had been attempted in America, these were isolated examples, and most woolen mills relied on manual labor. The Scholfields’ expertise in mechanical wool processing proved invaluable to a nation striving for economic independence, and their arrival marked a turning point in American textile production.
Key Findings:
- The Scholfield brothers introduced the first successful mechanical wool-carding machines to America, revolutionizing the industry.
- Their machines were widely adopted across New England, contributing to the growth of the woolen industry.
- The Scholfields faced challenges from competitors and the influx of foreign fabrics after the War of 1812.
- Arthur Scholfield’s focus on manufacturing and selling carding machines had a significant impact on the development of the American textile industry.
Learning:
- Carding: The crucial first step in textile production that involves separating and cleaning wool fibers for spinning into yarn. The quality of the yarn depends on the thoroughness of the carding, while the arrangement of the fibers determines the yarn’s type – smooth and compact or soft and bulky.
- The Industrial Revolution in Textiles: The Scholfields’ introduction of mechanical wool carding in America played a vital role in the industrial revolution within the textile industry. This shift from hand labor to machines dramatically increased production efficiency and paved the way for further innovation.
- The Importance of Innovation: The Scholfields’ expertise and commitment to innovation propelled the American woolen industry forward. They faced obstacles, but their dedication to developing and distributing their machines ultimately had a profound and lasting impact on the textile industry.
Historical Context:
The Scholfields arrived in America in 1793 during a period of significant economic and technological change. The young nation was striving for independence and was eager to develop its own industries. The invention of the spinning jenny and the power loom had already begun to revolutionize the textile industry in England, and the Scholfields brought this innovation to America. Their arrival coincided with a surge in interest in developing domestic textile manufacturing, and their contribution significantly contributed to the growth of this industry.
Facts:
- First successful wool-carding machines in America: The Scholfields’ machines were the first to be widely adopted and successful in America.
- Significant impact on American textile industry: The Scholfields’ machines revolutionized wool processing, increasing production efficiency and lowering costs.
- Challenges from competitors: Some competitors charged exorbitant prices for inferior carding machines, leading Arthur Scholfield to promote his machines as superior and more affordable.
- Impact of War of 1812: The influx of foreign fabrics after the war significantly damaged the American textile industry, including the manufacture of carding machines.
- Focus on manufacturing: Arthur Scholfield shifted from carding wool to manufacturing and selling carding machines, spreading his knowledge and expertise across New England.
- Hand-made comb plates: The early carding machines required hand-made comb plates, a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
- Standring’s “teeth-cutting machine”: James Standring smuggled a “teeth-cutting machine” from England in 1814, significantly improving the production of comb plates.
- Limited success for Scholfield machines: Despite the improvements, the American textile industry faced challenges due to foreign competition and changes in technology, limiting the success of Scholfield machines.
- Legacy of the Scholfields: Despite facing challenges, the Scholfields made significant contributions to the American woolen industry, influencing the development and growth of textile production.
- Limited existing machines: Only three wool-carding machines attributed to the Scholfields are known to exist today.
- Construction of machines: The machines used native New England woods like pine, birch, maple, and chestnut.
- Comb plate stamped “Standring”: The hand-filed comb plate on the National Museum machine suggests it was made before Standring’s “teeth-cutting machine” became available.
- Machine’s history: The machine in the National Museum is believed to have been used in Nashua and Jeffrey, New Hampshire, in the 1820s and 1830s, and later in Marlboro, New Hampshire, until 1890.
- Early carding methods: The earliest carding methods involved using fingers alone, teasels, or small hand cards.
- Lewis Paul’s mechanical carding device: The first mechanical carding device was invented by Lewis Paul in England in 1738 and patented in 1748.
- Daniel Bourn’s roller card machine: Daniel Bourn patented a roller card machine in 1748, featuring four rollers set close together.
- John Lees’s invention of the “feeder”: In 1772, John Lees invented a machine with a “perpetual revolving cloth” that fed fibers into the machine.
- James Hargreaves and Richard Arkwright’s improvements: Hargreaves and Arkwright made improvements to the carding machine, including stripper rollers and the doffer comb.
- Arkwright’s continuous sliver: Arkwright’s innovation produced a continuous sliver of carded fibers, ready to be spun into yarn.
- Roller-bowl for woolen yarns: The roller-bowl was used to card wool fibers in a way that produced the bulk characteristic desired in woolen yarns.
Statistics:
- 1793: John and Arthur Scholfield arrive in America.
- 1794: The first Scholfield wool-carding machine is completed in America.
- 1795: The Newburyport Woolen Manufactory is fully operational, using Scholfield machines.
- 1798: John Scholfield observes a water-power site in Montville, Connecticut.
- 1799: The Scholfields relocate to Montville, Connecticut.
- 1801: Arthur Scholfield moves to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and sets up a carding machine and mill.
- 1802: Arthur Scholfield advertises carding services in the Pittsfield Sun.
- 1803: Arthur Scholfield begins selling carding machines.
- 1804: Arthur Scholfield advertises carding machines for sale, emphasizing their improved design and affordability.
- 1806: Arthur Scholfield advertises double carding machines for $253 each without cards, or $400 with cards.
- 1814: James Standring smuggles a “teeth-cutting machine” into America, making comb plate production easier.
- 1816: John Scholfield, Jr., operates a double-cylinder carding machine 3 feet wide in Jewett City, Connecticut.
- 1820: John Scholfield dies.
- 1822: A Worcester, Massachusetts, machine maker advertises carding machines entirely of iron.
- 1827: Arthur Scholfield dies.
Terms:
- Carding: The process of separating and cleaning individual wool fibers to prepare them for spinning.
- Wool-carding machine: A machine that mechanically cards wool fibers, increasing production efficiency.
- Sliver: A thin, loose roll of untwisted fibers produced by carding.
- Stripper roller: A roller that removes carded fibers from the worker roller and puts them back onto the main cylinder.
- Doffer comb: A serrated metal plate that removes carded fibers from the doffer roller.
- Roller-bowl: A fluted wooden cylinder used in conjunction with an under board to roll carded fibers into slivers.
- Spinning jenny: A machine that spins multiple threads simultaneously.
- Power loom: A loom that is powered by water or steam, increasing weaving speed.
- Clothiers: During the 18th century, a clothier performed the various operations in finishing cloth.
Examples:
- The Newburyport Woolen Manufactory: Established in 1794, this factory used Scholfield machines to produce woolen cloth.
- Scholfield’s Pittsfield Mill: Arthur Scholfield set up a carding machine and mill in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1801, offering carding services to local farmers.
- Standring’s “teeth-cutting machine”: Smuggled into America in 1814, this machine significantly sped up the production of comb plates for carding machines.
- The Plymouth Carding House in Greenfield Village: Houses one of the original Scholfield wool-carding machines.
- Old Sturbridge Village: Houses another original Scholfield wool-carding machine.
- The U.S. National Museum: Houses the third known Scholfield wool-carding machine.
- The Byfield mill: The Newburyport Woolen Manufactory’s mill in Byfield Parish, Newbury, Massachusetts, was home to the first Scholfield carding machine.
- The Montville mill: John and Arthur Scholfield built a woolen mill in Montville, Connecticut, in 1799.
- The Stonington mill: John Scholfield built a mill in Stonington, Connecticut, in 1806, and it contained two double-cylinder carding machines.
- The “teeth-cutting machine” story: This story likely originated from a misunderstanding of Standring’s smuggling of a “teeth-cutting machine” in 1814, leading to tales of a carding machine smuggled from England during the Byfield days.
Conclusion:
The Scholfield brothers, John and Arthur, played a vital role in the early development of the American woolen industry by introducing successful mechanical wool carding machines. Their contributions had a lasting impact on the textile industry, leading to greater efficiency and innovation. While facing challenges, the Scholfield brothers’ commitment to innovation and manufacturing helped shape the future of American textile production. The three existing machines stand as testaments to their ingenuity and lasting legacy, reminding us of their critical role in the industrial revolution in American textiles.