1838 Fairman's Patent Model of a Loom

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Object Details

inventor

Fairman, Elijah

Description

Power Loom Patent Model

Patent No. 595, issued February 6, 1838

Elijah Fairman of Stafford, Connecticut

Fairman’s improvements, consisting of an additional cam and a set of treadles, were applied to power looms in common use. His improvements allowed the harnesses to operate more smoothly and the warp to open, enabling the shuttle to pass more easily. The end result was that the loom was better suited to weaving either light or heavy fabrics. Six pages and three illustrations in Clinton Gilroy’s 1844 book, The Art of Weaving, are spent in describing Fairman’s patent. Gilroy commented that Fairman’s loom would probably work fine for simple weaves, but for fancy patterned work, requiring 10 to 100 heddle frames, it would be totally impractical.

Location

Currently not on view

model constructed

before 1838-02-06

patent date

1838-02-06

ID Number

TE.T11411.095

accession number

89797

catalog number

T11411.095

patent number

595

Object Name

loom patent model

Object Type

Patent Model

Physical Description

wood (overall material)

metal (mechanisms material)

associated place

United States: Connecticut, Stafford

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