Preparation

After sorting and washing and drying, a small amount of oil was added to the wool to aid processing and prepare for combing. The use of oil in worsted manufacture at Lumb's played a significant part not only in the quality of the yarn but also in the company's competitiveness in the 1970s.

Two types of combing machine are illustrated here.

Top: A Noble comb, an astonishing piece of design and engineering.

Bottom: A French or rectilinear comb.

Previous | Next