Holdsworth Family History

Holdsworth's Cyclopaedia & Glossary: Events, People, Terms

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Occupations

There are a number of occupations involved in the Weaving of Moquette. We list some of them here.

section beamer Tends machine that winds yarn in chain form from skeins or ball warps onto beams in parallel sheets: Laces end of skein around rollers and pulls end through dividers in separate skeins or inserts rod through center of ball warp and lifts warp onto stand for unwinding. Guides end of yarn chain around tension drums and lays individual strands of yarn between teeth of expansion comb. Turns crank to adjust comb to width of beam. Knots section of warp ends and inserts knots in slots of beam to hold yarn for winding. Starts, stops, and controls speed of machine with pedal. Observes yarn to detect slubs and broken or tangled ends; cuts out slubs, using scissors, and ties broken yarn ends with fingers. Inserts lease strings at intervals to preserve arrangement of yarn. Secures ends of yarn on beam with gummed tape. May doff beam, using hoist.

Cleans dust, dirt, grease, and lint from machines and auxiliary equipment in industrial plant, using cleaning solutions, waste, rags, waterhose, pumps, lint vacuum system, airhose, brushes, and scraping tools: Cleans screen on lint vacuum system and replaces worn screen. May clean plant sewage treatment system and water supply wells. May remove machine guards and accessories, using handtools. May paint exposed surfaces of machines to prevent rust. May oil moving parts or wearing surfaces. May clean floors around machine, using broom or vacuum cleaner. May be designated according to machine or part of machine cleaned as Creel Cleaner (textile); Opening-Machine Cleaner (textile); Pin Cleaner (textile); Rack Cleaner (textile); Shafting Cleaner (any industry). May be designated: Card Cleaner (textile); Guide-Rail Cleaner (textile); Loom Blower (textile).

Creels looms, twisters, warpers, tufting, or other textile machines to change style of yarn or to replace exhausted yarn packages: Places yarn packages on spindle of creel, according to supervisor's instructions, color-coded spools, or number on yarn packages. Threads yarn through eyelet plate (yarn guides) or ties yarn ends to ends of yarn from preceding package to maintain continuous yarn supply. Cuts yarn ends from knots, using scissors, and discards yarn ends in waste container to prevent entanglement of yarn while moving through creel. Removes old yarn from machines before changing to different size or type of yarn. Cleans dust and lint from creel. May repair yarn breaks in creel. May replace yarn packages or spools when faulty yarn appears.

checker; shader and folder; stretcher Examines finished cloth for defects, such as grease spots, tears, and variations in color, finish, and dimensions: Measures width of cloth with ruler to detect variations from customer and plant standards. Turns through cloth folds or pulls cloth over inspection frame and feels and scans cloth to detect defects and variations in color and finish. Cuts defects from cloth, using scissors, or marks defects with chalk, thread, or label to indicate yardage allowance for defects. Records yardage for each cut of cloth examined. Routes cloth that does not conform to customer and plant specifications to Supervisor. May tear sample strip from each cut of cloth. May count folds to determine yardage in each cut of cloth.

inspection-machine tender; percher; perch-machine inspector Inspects finished or unfinished cloth for weaving or finishing defects, using power-driven examining frame: Pulls fabric over rollers, down over inspection board, and wraps cloth end around takeup beam or tube, or positions supply truck under swing-folding attachment. Sets yardage clock at zero and presses button or pedal that starts movement of cloth over inspection board. Scans cloth for defects, such as grease spots, slubs, mispicks, uneven selvages, and irregularities in color. Marks defects with chalk, thread, or adhesive sticker. Records information, such as defects, cloth style, and yardage inspected. May correct reparable defects, such as soils, slubs, or loose ends, using steel pick, scissors, knife, or cleaning solution. May cut irreparable defects from cloth, using scissors, and sew cloth ends together, using needle and thread or sewing machine. May mount and doff rolls of cloth, using hoist. May grade cloth according to quality, using written standards. May cut or tear strip from end of cloth for sample. May count number of picks per inch, using pick counter. May feel cloth to compare texture with that of sample. When reexamining cloth to verify defects marked by other workers, is designated Rechecker (textile).

Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in finishing cloth, carpets, rugs, and other fabrics: Schedules finishing of cloth or carpeting according to color, width, and type of finish, to maintain efficient operation. Selects standard formulas that meet customer specifications or uses knowledge of finish ingredients and application methods to develop new formulas. Writes mixing instructions for use by CHEMICAL MIXER (textile). Writes work orders for supervisors indicating specified finish, style, and yardage of cloth or carpeting to be processed. Examines cloth or carpeting to verify that finish meets specifications. Inventories and orders chemicals and supplies from purchasing department. Trains workers in setup, repair, and operation of ranges, machines, and equipment. Performs other duties as described under SUPERVISOR (any industry) Master Title.

Mends torn or defective portions of unfinished or finished cloth by machine weaving or handweaving: Examines cloth for tears or defects, or marking that indicate imperfections. Reweaves thread or yarn to close holes or repair defects, using needle and thread or burling iron, and blends repair thread or yarn with existing pattern. Draws missing warp or filling (weft) threads through cloth and pulls out coarse and surplus threads, using burling iron, tweezers, and needle and thread. Pulls loosely woven threads through back of cloth to reduce slack, using tweezers. May trim yarn from defect, using scissors. May weave patch into hole, pounding repaired area smooth, and be designated Mender (Textile).

Performs any combination of following tasks to receive, store, and distribute material, tools, equipment, and products within establishments: Reads production schedule, customer order, work order, shipping order, or requisition to determine items to be moved, gathered, or distributed. Conveys materials and items from receiving or production areas to storage or to other designated areas by hand, handtruck, or electric handtruck. Sorts and places materials or items on racks, shelves, or in bins according to predetermined sequence, such as size, type, style, color, or product code. Sorts and stores perishable goods in refrigerated rooms. Fills requisitions, work orders, or requests for materials, tools, or other stock items and distributes items to production workers or assembly line. Assembles customer orders from stock and places orders on pallets or shelves, or conveys orders to packing station or shipping department. Marks materials with identifying information, using stencil, crayon, or other marking device. Opens bales, crates, and other containers, using handtools. Records amounts of materials or items received or distributed. Weighs or counts items for distribution within plant to ensure conformance to company standards. Arranges stock parts in specified sequence for assembly by other workers. May use computer to enter records. May compile worksheets or tickets from customer specifications. May drive vehicle to transport stored items from warehouse to plant or to pick up items from several locations for shipment. May complete requisition forms to order supplies from other plant departments. May prepare parcels for mailing. May maintain inventory records.

Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in receiving, transporting, stacking, order filling, shipping, and maintaining stock records in warehouse. Supervises labeling and casing or packing of materials or products. Trains new workers.

operator, portable; knot-tying operator; tying-in-machine operator; warp-tying-machine knotter Tends portable or stationary automatic warp-tying-in machine that ties warp ends from full warp beam to warp in loom in order to resume weaving without repeating drawing-in process: Reads work order or confers with supervisor to determine looms needing warp-tying-in process. Divides, combs out, straightens, and applies warp softener to ends of warp from full beam and from exhausted beam, and clamps ends in position in tier. Presses button or turns crank to start tying mechanism. Observes and controls tying-in process as machine picks up corresponding strands from warp beam and from loom beam, ties strands together, and cuts off excess yarn above knot. Stops machine, corrects misalignment of warp yarn, and releases joined strands from machine. Manually ties ends not tied by machine. May pull warp through drop wires, harnesses, and reed so knots will not jam assembly and break when loom is started. May repair tying machine. May doff exhausted warp beams and position full beams prior to warp-tying-in process, using hoist.

Operates power looms equipped with rollers and shuttles adapted for bobbins or cops to weave twisted coir, sisal, or paper yarns to produce items, such as mesh, scrim, and fiber rugs, according to specified color, type, pattern, and size: Positions shuttles and inspects looms for broken strands. Releases brake and pulls lever to start loom. Stops loom when breaks and defective weaving are observed or watches for looms stopped by automatic stop-motion device. Threads warp through guides and heddles, over rollers and wax bars, and ties or splices ends, to repair breaks in warp. Breaks out imperfect strands of filling or turns back roll and removes filling up to defect to repair defects or breaks in filling. Stops loom and replaces empty shuttle. Starts loom and clips off end of filler close to selvage. Clears jams in bobbin-type shuttle by removing bobbin and rewinding snarled yarn or by inserting new bobbin. Inserts full cop into empty shuttles manually while loom is running. Installs specified spools in creel when pattern is changed. Cuts and removes full roll of fabric, and tapes end of fabric (discharging from machine) onto tube, or places fabric end under canvas flap and turns roller until fabric is wound tightly onto tube to start new roll, with assistance of CREELER (any industry). May operate loom equipped with three heddles which twist two warp yarns together between each filling yarn to produce leno (open mesh) weave.

Operates battery of looms to weave plush fabric: Observes fabric being woven to detect weaving defects, such as exhausted filling, yarn breaks, or mechanical defects. Pulls out broken filling and pushes shuttle through shed or pulls yarn through guides for rapier pickup to insert new pick. Replaces exhausted packages with supply packages in creel. Examines cloth for uneven cutting after automatic knife separates double-woven pile fabric. Notifies LOOM FIXER (narrow fabrics; nonmet. min.; textile) 683.260-018 if pile is not cut smoothly; or raises flags on looms to signal breakdown or that cloth needs cutting. Marks or cuts fabric when specified yardage has been woven. Records pick clock readings of assigned looms at beginning and end of shift to maintain plant control form. May be designated according to type of loom operated as Weaver, Rapier-Insertion Loom (textile); Weaver, Wire Loom (textile).

inspector Inspects woven fabric during weaving process to detect grease spots and weaving defects, such as broken ends, slubs, and coarse yarn: Patrols work area and scans cloth on loom for defects. Stops loom, ties length of yarn to broken warp yarn, and draws yarn through harness and reed, using reed hook. Picks out slubs and coarse yarn, using burling iron, and reweaves cloth, using needle. Marks grease spots and irreparable defects with crayon to indicate yardage allowance. Trims loose threads with scissors.

Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in weaving and related operations in manufacture of carpets and rugs. Directs creeling, warp drawing-in, twisting-in, and repair activities. Prepares loom change instructions indicating changes in loom shedding, picking, beating-up, warp letoff, and cloth takeup motions according to weaving design. Scans cloth during weaving for defects in yarn, design, and loom setup. Performs other duties as described under SUPERVISOR.

Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in winding yarn or thread from one package to another and in twisting yarn or thread: Reads production schedule to obtain information, such as size, type, texture, quality, and quantity of yarn required to meet production demands. Schedules winding of yarn onto suitable packages for subsequent processes, such as twisting, warping, dyeing, knitting, or weaving. Informs machine tenders of yarn type and size, winding speed, number of ends wound per package, and size of packages. Determines direction and amount of twist to be put into yarn, based on size of yarn, number of ends being plied, twists per inch and direction of twist in single yarn, and ultimate use of yarn. Computes gear size required to effect required twist, using mathematical formulas and tables. Schedules changes in production to meet requirements of production schedule, issuing new instructions to SECTION LEADER AND MACHINE SETTER (textile). Examines yarn to detect variations from standards. Performs other duties as described under SUPERVISOR (any industry). May be designated according to specific activity as Supervisor, Twisting Department (textile); Supervisor, Winding Department (textile).

Sets up, adjusts, and repairs group of textile machines (usually of one type, called section): Transmits orders of SUPERVISOR (any industry) Master Title of section to workers and ensures that orders and safety rules are followed. Patrols section to inspect work for quality and to determine operating condition of machinery. Reads production meters or tickets and records total number of units produced. Examines laboratory sample reports to determine machine adjustments needed to meet company specifications. Adjusts and repairs machines. Trains new workers and assigns workers to stations.

Ernest Oddy, 1969

Oddy, Ernest

Ernest Oddy of 138 Green Park Road, Halifax, worked in John Holdsworth & Co Ltd through three generations.

Ernest retired in March 1969, after his final 30 years as Spinning Department Manager.

In his 53 years service Ernest Oddy had seen many changes in the working conditions and development of the firm in both good and bad times.

Ernest's position at work was taken over by specially-recruited Paul Woodhead.

Opening

The second step in commercial wool processing, after sorting. The purpose is to open up the fleece in order that scouring will be more effective.