"Paterson, New Jersey - Textiles - Wishnack Silk Company - A machine twister is shown being operated" - NARA - 518762

Scope and content: "Paterson, New Jersey - Textiles. Wishnack Silk Company. A machine twister is shown being operated. This particular machine is made by the Warp Twisting-In Machine Company. The machine will twist in the ordinary warp of 5-6000 ends in about 1 to 1-1/4 hours depending upon whether the automatic or semi-automatic power is used. It is estimated that the machine can twist approximately 300 ends per minute. This estimate is substantially correct for both the automatic and semi-automatic types of operation. The semi-automatic power is applied by turning the handle and wheel drive shown opposite the worker's right forearm. When operated automatically, the operative keeps the power turned on with the lever he is holding in his right hand. Both kinds of operation are necessary since the machine is not so well adapted to rayon and other inferior types of yarn as it is to good quality hard silk. Twisting in the former type of yarn requires more care and less speed hence the use of the semi-automatic device. A ...."