File:Silk; its origin, culture, and manufacture; (1911) (14778609402).jpg

Identifier: silkitsorigincul00shef (find matches)
Title: Silk; its origin, culture, and manufacture;
Year: 1911 (1910s)
Authors: Sheffeld, Charles Arthur, b. 1873
Subjects: Silk Silk industry Sericulture
Publisher: Florence, Mass., The Corticelli silk mills
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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Text Appearing Before Image:
A Bale of Raw Silk and the Books it Contains. to make a pound of reeled silk. Do you wonder that,centuries ago, silk was valued at its weight in gold ? Growers of silk in the United States, by working earlyand late every day during the season, which lasts from sixto eight weeks, could scarcely average fifteen cents for adays labor of ten hours. Silk, once regarded as a luxury,is now considered a necessity, and no one concern has donemore to make this possible than the Corticelli Silk Mills.In fact, Corticelli Silk holds the worlds record for superi-ority, having won 40 Highest Awards at Expositions heldin the United States and abroad. 25
Text Appearing After Image:
Reeling the Silk from the Cocoons, Reeling the silk from the cocoons is not often done inthe United States, as most of the raw material which isimported comes reeled all ready for the manufacturer. The cocoons are first assorted, those of the same colorbeing placed by themselves, and those of fine and coarsetexture likewise. The outside loose silk is then removed,as this cannot be reeled, after which .the cocoons areplunged into warm water to soften the gum whichsticks the threads together. The operator brushes thecocoons with a small broom, to the straws of which theirfibers become attached, and then carefully unwinds theloose silk until each cocoon shows but one thread. Thesethree operations are called soaking, brushing, and cleansing. Into one or two compartments in a basin of warm waterbelow the reel are placed four or more cocoons, accordingto the size of the thread desired. The threads from thecocoons in each compartment are gathered together and,after passing through two separa

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