Lace machine

He studied the hand movements of a Northamptonshire manual lace maker and reproduced them in the roller-locker machine.

[1] The Old Loughborough became the standard lacemaking machine, particularly the 1820 form known as the Circular producing two-twist plain net.

The smooth, unpatterned tulle produced on these machines was on a par with real, handmade lace net.

[4] This includes the later Raschel machine The bobbinet machine, invented by John Heathcoat in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in 1808,[5] makes a perfect copy of Lille or East Midlands net (fond simple, a six-sided net with four sides twisted, two crossed).

[6] In 1812 Samuel Clark and James Mart constructed a machine that was capable of working a pattern and net at the same time.

A pusher operated each bobbin and carriage independently allowing almost unlimited designs and styles.

[9] John Levers adapted Heathcoat's Old Loughborough machine while working in a garret on Derby Road Nottingham in 1813.

[14] Part lace is made in pieces or motifs, which are joined together on a ground, net or mesh, or with plaits, bars or legs.

It became increasingly difficult for hand lacemakers to make a living from their work and most of the English handmade lace industry had disappeared by 1900.