Several years ago, I hired someone to help me with the assembly of our Spin/Twist frames. I had known him for almost a decade and his experience in textiles went back some 40 years with a machine manufacturer(WR). I was building a frame one day, and I could tell he was getting impatient that I was taking so much time to be sure that the frame was level and that the fluted rolls were in line with the front of the machine. It was them I found out what made this guy tick.
“Why the heck do you take so much time and effort to build these machines with such high quality? These people your selling to don’t know a good frame from a piece of junk. We could build them with used parts and throw them together and they’d never know the difference”.
He was right about this, that most of those who are buying these Community Mill machines just plain don’t know good from bad with these machines. Most have little or no experience on these machines and place a lot of trust that whoever they buy from will take care of them and not take advantage of the situation. Needless to say, I never again allowed this guy to come back into our shop. I won’t tolerate this type of energy around the machines we build. Last I heard, he was spreading his negative attitude with another machine supplier in Michigan. I understand they make a good pair.
His statement, as devilish as it was, is somewhat why our country has gotten into the predicament it is in today. Give Americans cheap junk from Asia and other places, and it will fill the void. I think it is time to get us back on the track to a better life. I firmly believe we are starting the “full circle” cycle of textiles in America. It’s time we do things to the best of our abilities, regardless of what the next guy on the side of you thinks. It will become contagious and will help to bring back the “Good Olde America” we once had. We can’t please everyone, but you can bet we can sleep good knowing we build the best machine we can, regardless of where it is headed.
Good or bad, I really think I am a romantic when it comes to building these fiber processing machines. We build every machine the best of our ability with the idea they will produce the highest quality yarn available today. We also build them to be run in an industrial setting, should that be it’s destination. We build them to produce for the quality for the professional,and design them for the novice to operate. Just look at our Photo Gallery on our website’s main home page, and take a good look at our machines.
So, if you are thinking of starting your own processing business, be reassured that the machines we build for you are the same the professionals will get, at a very fair price. We will also train you in the proper techniques of processing, not the bad habits that happen from improper training. There is a good reason that the North Carolina Textile Technology Center trust our machines for their textile processing!
Always open to your comments,
Sincerely,
Marcel
Sell them Junk, they won’t know it.
February 6th, 2010Mecklenburg Mill Charlotte NC
February 4th, 2010
I was driving into Charlotte this week and traveling north on Davidson Street. I just couldn’t resist to get a few pics of this concrete and wrought iron spinning wheel. A little research and voila.
The Mecklenburg Mill founded in 1903. Small world. Feb 3, 2010
New KiwiScour for wool, alpaca and most animal fibers
February 1st, 2010
We have spent over 3 years now looking for the final piece to the puzzle of a complete fiber processing package. It has paid off, and in a big way!
What you see pictured is the all new “KiwiScour” presented by yours truly. The dynamo scouring unit is the brainstorm of AgResearch of Christchurch New Zealand. New Zealand as you probably know is were sheep is a way of life. AgR has chosen Carolina Specialty to be their exclusive agent to promote and offer this simple yet effective scouring package.
Please peruse the flyer and shoot me your questions at marcel@carolinaspecialtyinc.com
Marcel
Why you need yarn clearers for your spinning frame
August 8th, 2009Clearers have been used on all types of fiber processing machines for over a century. They have many uses, however, the basic function is to keep rollers free from a build-up of fibers. This collection of fibers, known as “lap-ups”, can cause quality problems to your yarns. The build-up of these fibers create pressures on your drafting system components causing expensive repairs.
The pictures show an MJD front top roll. The first one is a normal yarn path and the second depicts the yarn has broken. Rather than the sliver building up on the steel bottom roller in between it an the rubber covered top roll and creating damaging pressures, the sliver is “picked-up” on the clearer and harmlessly gathered till you are ready to remove. If your sytem has a suction collection system as pictured, you can take the clearer off the holders and insert the sliver to be sucked in at the tube opening. Remove the access and reset the clearer back on the holder.
Let us know if you would like this system added to your machine.
Marcel
Sock knitting machines & training now offered by CSI
August 2nd, 2009KNIT YOUR OWN SOCKS with the help of Carolina Specialty!
Pictured is one of our simple mechanical sock machines that almost anyone can learn to operate. This particular one makes a ‘true-rib” stitch. This machines is running on 110 volts, but we can accommodate any electrical set-up you desire. The pictured sock is 99.9% Yak fiber from Tibet. This is our Yock (r)! We run a few courses of covered rubber at the very top of the sock.
Contact us if you would like more information.
Marcel
The Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island first textile mill in USA
July 26th, 2009This appeared in The Whitin Spindle
FROM YARN TO PLIED YARN
July 23rd, 2009Here is chapter Vll , “FROM YARN TO PLIED YARN” from the series “Whenever Man Turns Fiber Into Yarn”
From the July 1958 Whitin Spindle.
SETTING YARN TWIST
July 18th, 2009Found these simple yarn setting techniques on the internet.
2-Ply twisting caught by Stroboscope
July 18th, 2009Here is a ‘frozen” picture of a 2-ply package of sport weight wool using a vintage “stroboscope”.
From Roving Into Yarn
July 16th, 2009In 1958, Whitin Machine Works published some 10 different articles in the “Spindle”, a monthy magazine published for the enjoyment of the workers and staff. The theme was “Whenever Man Turns Fiber Into Yarn”. I will post some of these in the next several weeks. This is chapter VI, “From Roving Into Yarn”. If you have any trouble reading any of our posts, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I will be glad to forward you transcripts via email.
