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COLLECTION
of THINGS-THAT-THINK |
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Jacquard Mechanism for Pattern Weaving |
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The perforated paper roll was introduced to the textile industry by Bouchon in 1725 to control the patterns woven on a loom. In 1728 Falcon pioneered in developing a chain of punched cards laced together by string. The pattern loom was finally perfected in 1801 by Joseph Jacquard of Lyon, France who received an award for his innovations at the Paris Exposition. The Halton Jacquard mechanism from the 1920s (left) was used to weave the contemporary "Coquette" label (below left) from a massive chain of punched cards (below). There are 216 holes per card. The label is 21.6mm wide. The thread count is 10 per millimeter. Donation courtesy of the Pittsfield Weaving Company. |
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 Three perforated Jacquard cards occasionally in use today. |
 Section of a contemporary perforated Jacquard paper roll. |
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Jacquard is credited with combining a number of pre-existing inventions into an efficient and reliable mechanism for weaving complex patterns. The punched card was a crucial step towards separating the "information" of which warp threads to lift to form the shed, from the "power" required to lift them. Thus began the trend of lowering the ration of bits per gram of storage medium (or bits per unit energy).
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On Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine The distinctive characteristic of the Analytical Engine, and that which has rendered it possible to endow mechanism with such extensive faculties as bid fair to make this engine the executive right-hand of abstract algebra, is the introduction into it of the principle which Jacquard devised for regulating, by means of punched cards, the most complicated patterns in the fabrication of brocaded stuffs. It is in this that the distinction between the two engines lies. Nothing of the sort exists in the Difference Engine. We may say most aptly that the Analytical Engine weaves algebraic patterns just as the Jacquard-loom weaves flowers and leaves. (Notes of Ada Lovelace, quoted in Essinger, pp. 140-141.) |
"A LA MÉMOIRE DE J.M. JACQUARD. Ne a Lyon le 7 Juillet 1752. Mort le 7 Aout 1834." Portrait purchased by Charles Babbage for 200 Francs on 8 Sept 1840 (roughly equivalent to about $4000 today). |
 By M. Carquillat 1844 "Visite de Mr. Le Duc d'Aumale al la Croix-Rousse, dans l'atelier de M. Carquillat, le 23 Aout 1851…" |
 Date unknown. "Jacquard" A woven postcard. |
| Modern Jacquards - New Wine in Old Bottles | |||
 
Grosse "electronic" (electromagnetic) Jacquard. |
 AVL pneumatic Jacquard. |
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 Staubli 1000 stepper-motor Jacquard. |
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Computing
Mechanisms
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JAPANESE "GUNNERY CORRECTION CALCULATOR" A unique Japanese combination slide-rule/nomograph, dated 1936, for calculating ballistics corrections for temperature, barometric pressure, vertical and horizontal wind and muzzle velocities. Probably used in land-based Army operations in China. Weighing a hefty 16 pounds it measures 30x38x2.5 cm. It has a thick wooden base, thick bronze or copper dovetail slides (with matching serial numbers 26) , and white brass faceplates. Three sliding scales are side-by-side, with a fourth sliding scale inserted in the center slide. Their positions are shown in the photographs (left) and are also illustrated in the instructions printed on the faceplates. A boilerplate located on the right edge is illustrated below:
The boilerplate reads: No. 31 Nippon Keiki Seizo KK (Japan Instrument Manufacturing KK) Tokyo, Manufactured March, 1932. Click here for a larger image. Click here for a larger translated image. Compare this with:
Translations were
generously provided by William Lise. |
Slides partially open.
Slides edge on.
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AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY AND GUNNERY SLIDE RULE Dated 1962, this pair of 16" circular slide rules, each one weighing 6 pounds, is double-sided, providing the functionality of four calculating devices. They are constructed of heavy aluminum, stainless steel and brass and are adjustable for field calibration. Enclosed in the heavy steel carrying case, the ensemble weighs 26 pounds. The case and flip-sides of the rules are pictured below. A standard CD-ROM is placed in the center foreground for scale. |
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