1837 Thorp's Patent Model of a Loom Shuttle Tongue

This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.

View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

inventor

Thorp, Comfort B.

Description

Loom Shuttle Tongues Patent Model

Patent No. 162, issued April 17, 1837

Comfort B. Thorp of Smithfield, Rhode Island

Comfort Thorp, the younger brother of textile machinery inventor John Thorp, worked for Thomas and William Fletcher in their mill near North Providence. His patent improved the method of securing and holding the cop, or yarn cylinder, on the common power loom shuttle, preventing slips that would waste yarn and cause imperfections in the woven cloth.

The patent model he submitted contained two types of tongues. One used a common round tongue with wire spiraled around it. The other consisted of a tongue with ridges or notches similar to the teeth of a saw blade. The two loom shuttle tongues were neatly exhibited in a box, probably to keep them from being separated or lost in the cases at the Patent Office.

Location

Currently not on view

model constructed

before 1837-04-17

patent date

1837-04-17

ID Number

TE.T11418.002

catalog number

T11418.002

accession number

89797

patent number

162

Object Name

Loom Shuttle Tongues

loom shuttle tongue patent model

Object Type

Patent Model

Physical Description

metal (overall material)

associated place

United States: Rhode Island, Smithfield

Related Publication

Janssen, Barbara Suit. Patent Models Index

See more items in

Home and Community Life: Textiles

Patent Models, Textile Machinery

Textiles

Patent Models

Data Source

National Museum of American History

classified