Chapter I: Preface

The function of a small article in commercial undertakings is often overshadowed by that of the larger and usually more valuable article, and yet the use of the former is often an absolute necessity for the safety of the latter. This relative value is emphasized in the use of cordage, because the successful prosecution of many industries depends in no mean way upon the utilization of this useful and common commodity.

Some of the various types of cordage are well known to the general public, but the methods employed in their manufacture, the machinery used, and the sources of the fibres are not quite so well known. We trust that these phases are discussed in as brief but as complete a way as is possible in this little book, which we hope will take its own place in the literature of our Common Commodities of Commerce.

We take this opportunity of recording our warmest thanks to Messrs. David Bridge & Co., Ltd., Castleton, Manchester, for loan of blocks; to Messrs. The Edinburgh Roperie and Sail Cloth Co., Ltd., Leith, for assistance and for several photographs; and to Messrs. Landauer & Co., London, for some of the statistics regarding the fibres.

T. WOODHOUSE.
P. KILGOUR.

_September, 1919._

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
PREFACE v
I. INTRODUCTORY 1
II. DEFINITION OF CORDAGE AND SOURCES OF FIBRES 5
III. CLASSIFICATION OF FIBRES 16
IV. THE CULTIVATION OF HEMP 19
V. RETTING, BREAKING AND SCUTCHING 24
VI. THE CULTIVATION OF PLANTS FOR HARD FIBRES 31
VII. THE PREPARING AND SPINNING MACHINERY FOR HEMP AND OTHER
SOFT FIBRES 55
VIII. THE PREPARING AND SPINNING MACHINERY FOR MANILA AND
OTHER HARD FIBRES 87
IX. TWINES, CORDS AND LINES 93
X. ROPES AND ROPE-MAKING; YARN NUMBERING 100
XI. MARKETING 108

ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. PAGE
ROPE DRIVE FOR A MILL SHAFT _Frontispiece_
1. TWO-YEAR-OLD SISAL PLANT 6
2. AGAVE AMERICANA 8
3. TRANSVERSE SECTION OF A LEAF OF AGAVE AMERICANA 10
4. PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF A SECTION OF FIBRES OF AGAVE
AMERICANA 11
5. PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF FIBRES OF AGAVE GROWN IN MEXICO
SHOWING OXALATE OF POTASH CRYSTALS 12
6. GROUP OF HEMP PLANTS 13
7. CROSS-SECTION OF PLANT 13
8. LONGITUDINAL VIEW OF COTTON FIBRES 15
9. CROSS-SECTIONAL VIEW OF COTTON FIBRES 15
10. MANILA FIBRES: ORDER OF GRADING 35
11. BRIDGE’S “ACME” GRAVITY PATENT SISAL BREAKER 38
12. BRIDGE’S “CLIMAX” PATENT SISAL DECORTICATOR 40
13. WASHING TANKS 43
14. HOUSING FOR POWER PLANT 43
15. CUMMINS’S PATENT HORIZONTAL HYDRAULIC BALING PRESS 43
16. MAURITIUS FIBRE PLANT 47
17. BALES OF MANILA, NEW ZEALAND AND SISAL FIBRES 54
18. BREAKING MACHINE 60
19. HACKLING MACHINE 62
20. SPREAD BOARD 69
21. BREAKER AND FINISHER CARDS 74
22. DRAWING FRAMES 80
23. ROVING FRAME 81
24. DRY SPINNING FRAME 84
25. HACKLER AND SPREADER 87
26. INTERMEDIATE MACHINE 89
27. AUTOMATIC SPINNING MACHINE 91
28. DRYING BLEACHED YARNS 93
29. ROPE-MAKING (HOUSE MACHINES) 101
30. LAYING OF A FOUR-STRAND CABLE-LAID ROPE IN THE ROPE WALK 105
31. VIEWS OF LARGE AND MEDIUM-SIZED COILS OF ROPE 106

CORDAGE AND CORDAGE HEMP AND FIBRES