Wool combing machine
The wool combing machine was invented by Edmund Cartwright, the inventor of the power loom, in Doncaster. The machine was used to arrange and lay parallel by length the fibers of wool, prior to further treatment.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Cartwright's invention, nicknamed "Big Ben," was originally patented in April 1790, with subsequent patents following in December 1790 and May 1792 as the machine's design was refined by Cartwright.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":2" /> This machine is the first example of mechanization of the wool combing stage of the textile manufacturing process, and a significant achievement for the textile industry.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Cartwright's machine was described as doing the work of 20 hand-combers.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The wool combing machine was improved refined by many later inventors, including Josué Heilmann, Samuel Cunliffe Lister, Isaac Holden, and James Noble.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>