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water frame
Introduction References & Edit History
Quick Facts
Key People:
Sir Richard Arkwright
Related Topics:
drawing frame
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water frame

textile technology
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History

water frame, In textile manufacture, a spinning machine powered by water that produced a cotton yarn suitable for warp (lengthwise threads). Patented in 1769 by R. Arkwright, it represented an improvement on James Hargreavesā€™s spinning jenny, which produced weaker thread suitable only for weft (filling yarn).

This article was most recently revised and updated by Robert Curley.