Water-powered multi-spindle ramie spinning frame
Hiladora hidráulica de múltiples husos para ramio
- Date
- 1313 · confidence high
- Place
- Jingde, Xuancheng, Anhui, China
- Credited to
- Described by Wang Zhen (Nong shu)
- Field
- Tools
What it is
A large machine with 32 spindles driven by a water wheel or by animals to twist ramie and hemp thread. It is the first known water-powered textile machine.
It did not evolve into a mechanised industry; Arkwright's water frame (1769) is independent.
What it led to
- textile production concentrated by rivers