JACQUARD WEAVING AND DESIGNING

PREFACE

The contents of the following pages have been derived from a longcourse of art and technical training, together with a lengthened practicalexperience in textile manufacturing and designing; during which timeI received much valuable assistance from many kind friends—especiallyMr. B. Ashenhurst, when master of the Belfast Technical School, andhis brother, of Bradford; also Mr. John Mitchell, of Belfast andGlasgow—which I thankfully acknowledge.

To supply a treatise that would be alike suitable to the manufacturer,the workman, and the student would be a difficult matter. Toexplain each point so fully that it would be clear to every person wouldmake it wearisome to those having a knowledge of the subject. I havetherefore endeavoured to keep the descriptions as concise as is compatiblewith a fairly clear explanation, which I hope will be consideredthe wisest plan to adopt; and, while quite aware of the many shortcomingsof the work, I venture to hope that it will prove a valuableassistance to those wishing to improve their knowledge of jacquardweaving and designing.

T. F. BELL.Belfast, 1894.

It affords me much satisfaction to add a few words of introductionto this work of my friend Mr. Bell. I cannot pretend to criticise his[vi]explanation of technical processes, but, from an examination of theproof-sheets, I am convinced that the book will be found an invaluableaid to students of both art and technical schools. We alreadypossess numerous text-books on designing as an art, as also on the technicalprocesses of weaving, &c., and on the materials of manufacture.Mr. Bell has aimed at bringing the technical and artistic sides of thesubject together in a practical form, and has thus provided us with avaluable handbook.

Though we have a Government Department of Science and Art, aknowledge of both branches is seldom united in the same individual.The artist is too often deficient in the science of his craft; while theman of science not unfrequently shows contempt for art. The authorof this volume is peculiarly qualified for the task he has set himself,being a practical manufacturer as well as a designer of long experience,and thoroughly learned in the science of his subject. His book willsupply a long-felt need.

GEORGE TROWBRIDGE,

Head-Master Government School of Art, Belfast.