I faeture at Tours, aud in 1521 Francis I. estabhshed a colony of
; Milanese at Lyons.
i The manufacture wa.= encouraged in England by James I. in
emulation of liis " Brother the French King,'" as he styles him.
The revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV., in 1^85,
drove 50,000 l^rotestants from France, and Diatcri.illy aided in
spreading the manufacture of silk, crystal glass, jewelry, aud
otlier tine goods, in which that nation of eineiites and artists so
highly excelled.
In 1717, John Lombe obtained by stealth from Sardinia a
model of the silk throwiug-mill,and set up silk-works in Derby,
England. Tbe works afterward devolved upon his brother
William, and then reverted to a cousin, who became Sir Thomas
Lombe. whose name is also creditably associated with the pur-
suit of the enterprise.
Silk from spiders was spun, in 1710, by Bonn, a Frenchman,
who manufactured with this material both stockings and gloves.
He estimated 12 house-spiders = 1 .<ilk-worm.
The Arachnidre h;ive engaged other artists not belonging to
the great ( olhge of Laputa, and a patent of the United States
was granted to iconic officers of tbe United States Army, Janu-
ary y, 1^66 They iipjiear to have found in South Carolina
some spiders of wondrous fibrous fecundity, and patented a
machine in which the Arachnida? are secuied upon a frame,
their spinnerets being so presented as to jicld their webs to be
associated and wound upon a spool. The legs are drawn back
out of the way of interference while the reeling proceeds.
2. {Fabric.) A fabric woven from silk. There
are many varieties, different in the iineness, density,
and finish, snch as —
Shot-silk. Tissue.
Lutestring. Gros.
Satin. Woire-antique.
Satinet. Ribbon, etc.
For Specific list of appliances in the treatment and
mannfacture of silk and other iil>er, see Cotton,
Flax, "Wcol, Hemp. Sii.k, etc., Appliances.
Silk-clean'iug Knife. An implement for free-
ing the fiber from gnmmy
impuritii's and other dirt.
It is drawn over or between
knife-edged surfaces, which
exercise a scrajdng action.
Silk-cot'ton. A short
silky and elastic fil^r ob-
tained from the bomhax and
some other trees. It is em-
ployed by the Hindoos for
producing a coarse and loose
yet warm kind of cloth, and
has been used instead of .silk
for covering hnt-bodie.s.
Silk-cul'ture. The se-
ries of operations in silk-
culture is as follows : —
1. The insect, the Boni-
hjx mori, deposits eggs smaller than a grain of mus-
tanl-seed.
2. Each egg hatches into a caterpillar le.ss than
one quarter of an inch long, acquiring a new skin as
often as the old one becomi-s too small ; four of these
vioUs 01- renewals take place, at the end of which
the worm is three inches long.
SUk-Cleanin? Knife.
SILK-DOUBLING MACHINE.
2180
SILK-KEEL.
3. Tlio fiill-^rowii woi'iii, (M-asiii*^ to I'nt, begins to
expi'l the silk t'nnn two orilin-s in tlu^ ln'sul.
4. Tiie tsilk, at lirst a glutiiiou.s guia, luirdeii.s into
a thread or liiicr, whii'li the iiiM't^t wimls into u liol-
low ball around itself. Tliis is the coeoon.
5. The bi)dy of the worm *;iadually h'sseiis in
bulk, while the coenoii beeonies ^radiiall}' larger as
the silk is withdrawn frutii the body of the worm.
(3. The cocoon being linished, the worm changes i
into a chrysalis. I
7. In two or three weeks the chrysalis beeonies a
moth and eats out of its prison.
8. The ntoths of the resiieetive se.xes provide for
a new generation of eggs, which arc deposited, and
tlieu the parents die.
The silk-worm will flourish, with cjire, in iiioilcratcly teniptT-
atc climatea, though tropical and subtroiiical regious ure its
peculiar hahitiit. Theextreuie east of Asia, —('hiua and .Japan,
— which have a climate dilTeriug hut little from that of the
Southern UiiiteJ .States, appear to bo more favorable to the
development of tlie insect than any other part of the wiirlU ;
at least, it seems to reijiiire less care there, though they are
grown iu great perfection in Itjily and Southern l-'rauce There
seems no reason, apart from the higher cost of tubor, why our
own country should uot bo able to produce all the raw-silk re-
quired for its own consumption. Pi-evious to the r.evolutiuuary
War, large quantities were raised in (.ieorgia; and (hnang the
Morns midticautis mania of some thirty-five .years ag<i, silk of
unsurpassed quality, and fabrics therefrom which compared
favorably with the products of foreign looms, were produced.
The worm, however, not being able to endure great atmos-
pheric changes, requires, in our climate, careful attention.
It-i eggs, also, to prevent premature hatching, must be care-
fully kept in a cool place during the summer seivson.
\Vhen first hatched, which is done by exposing the eggs to a
sufficient warmth, the young worms, then .scarce one (juarti-r of
an inch long, are placed in contact with the food, mulberry -leaves
generally, which is to form their future subsistence. The white
mulberry {Morus alba) is largely used in Southern Europe, and
it is claimed by some to produce a utronger, though coarser
silk than that derived from worms fed on the Mums midticaidh
(many-stemmed) or paper-mulberry, which is the favorite in
China, and which was at one time very extensively planted in
this country. The worm, however, can subsist on other leaves.
A writer in a French scientific periodical states that by feed-
ing silk- worms on vine-leaves he has obtained cocoons of a mag-
nificent red, and, by feeding them on lettuce, others of a very
deep emerald green. Another silk-grower has obtained cocoons
of a beautiful yellow, others of a fine green, and others again of
violet, by feeding the silk-worms on lettuce or on white nettle.
He aaya that the silk-worms must be fed on mulberry-leaves
when young, and supplied with the vine, lettuce, or nettle
leaves during the last twenty days of the larva stage of their
life.
However this may be, the fict in practical silk-worm raising
is that the worm, when placed on the Icives, eats continuously,
with the exception of intervals when it lies by to molt, until
it attains its full size, about three inches in length ; it then se-
lects a place about the frame where it is reared, in which tospin
its cocoon. When the cotrpon is spun it is nece.ssary to kill the
contained insect before it develops into a moth, reserving a
cerbiin proportion to lay the eggs which are to form a future
supply.
This is done by baking at a low heat.
The filaments are then reeled off jus described under Silk-rkkl,
and the various processes necessnry for the completion of the
fabric, whatever it may be, are proceeded with in the manner
treated of under Silk-manufacture. See Figuier's *' Insect
World," pp. 214 - 250.
The cocoons are divided into nine qualities by the French.
1. Gooii r.uconnx : free from blemishes and well shaped.
2. Calcined cnroons; having wori;H which died after com-
pleting their work.
3. Coca/ons ; somewhat loose in texture.
4. Choqueltes; having worms which died before finishing
thoir work.
5. Dapions; double cocoons, difficult to detach.
*>. Soufftitns ; loose cocoons, difficult to unwind.
7. Pointed cocoons; with a damaged point at which thethread
breaks.
8. Perforatetf coronns: at which the ninth has escaped.
9. Ba<l cliofiuftiis ; the silk spotted, rotten, blackish.
Silk-doub'ling Ma-chine'. A inaehine for
twisting' ti)>,n'tlier two or more tilameuts of twi.sted
silk. See jbniuMNd, 5, page 731.
Silk-loom. ( U'cavimj. ) A loom specifically con-
struetrd Uiv wf-avin*,' silk. See Wkavino ; Loom.
Silk-iuau'u-fac-ture- Tlie processes intervening
between the making of the cocoon and the pre^iara-
tion of the silk for market.
I . The chrysalis is killed within the cocoon by the application
of heat before it luis developed into a niotli.
2 'l\\vJloss silk is stripped from the exterior of the cocoon.
3. The cocoons are pUced in warm water, to loosen the gummy
ailherence of the filaments.
4. The filament ends are carried around a reel and wound
into a skein.
5. The skeins are made up into hanks or bundles, forming
the Tdw silk of conuncrce.
The length of each filament is usually about 300 yards; 250
average cocoons weigh about 1 poutid : 12 j)Ound? of cocoons
yield 1 pound of silU — -S-OOOcocoonstol poundof silk. — Dopd.
i}. The raw silk is wound from the hanks in whii'h it is
brought to market on to hexagonal frames, called swifts, and
is thence tnmsferred to bolfbins.
7- Ctmrini;. To remove irregularities from tlie surface, each
thread is caused to pjLss under a steel scraper or lietween two
rollers. This is done by the c/caj/w^ -machine, where it is
wound upon other bobbins.
8. Spiiininsi. The spinning-machine is provided with a num-
ber of I'apidly rotiiting spindles by which a twist is imparted to
the filaments drawn from the bobbins taken from the clearing-
machine, as they are transferred to another set of bobbins.
9. Doubting. Two or more of the filaments are twistt-d to-
gether, and at tlie same time wound upon bobbins by tiie
(/oHW/'/ifi- machine.
10 Throwing. The titrotviiis-vnnvhine twists and combines
the threads in a manner nearly similar to that of the spinning-
machine. For some purposes the two operations are combined ;
fur others the throstle-frame is employed.
II. Glossing. After throwing, the >ilk is usually dyed, and
is then transferred to tlie ^'/ii.s.siiii^-inin-hmv, where, by the com-
bined actinn of steam and stretching, it is elongiited and a
glii.-,sy Mutiue is imparted. The fibers may be stretched in
length diR' tenth
12. W/«f/i»ij. The various processes enumerated having been
completed, the silk is again wound upon bobbins, and is ready
to be woven.
The quality of silk is denoted by the number of yards to the
denier, a weight equal to 24 grains.
Silken thread merely wound and cleaned is called dumb
sin^len; when nound, cleaned, and thrown, thrown singles;
if single-twisted, tram; if double-twisted, orf^anzine ; if the
natural gum is left, hard silk; if removed, soji silk.
For silk gauze, dumb singlfs is employed.
F(U' ribbons and common *-ilks, thrown si7}gl€S.
For the wett threads of the best silk, tram.
F'or tlie warp thre-ads of the best goods, organzine.
Floss silk is the outer portion of the cocoon ; it is worked up
into yarn for cheap handkerchiefs, shawls, and other coarse
fabrics, by processes somewliat resembling cotton spinning.
After sorting, the filaments are disentJingled by a hackling
process, being held firmly at one end while the otlier is drawn
over a Ect of gills.
At t\w fiilirtg-engi ne , the silk, while passing between feeding-
rollers, is subjected to the action of a series of moving combs.
The draiving- frame holds the filaments firmly by one end
while a comb travels over their surface to remove impurities
and short fibers.
The cutting'fngine acts like a tobacco or chafT-cutting ma-
chine, and cuts the pariillel filaments into lengths of about 1}
inches.
The vSfi/(f/ifr converts these short fibers into a sort of down,
which is washed in soap and water, boiled iu pure soft water,
pressed, dried, scutched to loosen it up, <'arded, made into
slivers, drawn, doubled, diuwn, rove, and spun, like cotton.
Silk-mill. A building where silk is reeled, spun,
and woven.
Silk-reel. An npiiaratus f(u- uiiwimliiig silk
from the coeoou. The »flutinous ipuihty of the tila- '
nient ^vhen fiist spun by the worm eauses the threads
fonuing the cocoon to aiihevf ehi.sely together, re-
(]uiring the action of bent and moisture to effect tlieir
separation.
For this purpose the cocoons are placed in a shallow pan of
water a heat<'d by a furnace beneath. The ends of several fila-
ments are united' and attacheil to the reel b, to which motion is
imparted by turning the crank r. The threads pass upward
through glass eyes d d over rollers e e, by which a slight twist
is imparted, and are guided by cylinders (if porcelain //'/'/' to
the reel The shaft if , on which the latter pair of guides is
placed, is caused to traverse from side to side by a pin on its
under side working in a cam-groove iu the roller A, so as to dis-
tribut* the thread on the reel. Unless tliis be done it cannot
he unwound, and is conse(iuently unsalable.
One of the arms of the reel is provided with a screw, so that
it may be shorti-ned when desired to remove the skein. It is
screwed out again for winding.
SILK-SHAG.
2181
SILK-THROWING MILL.
The aiUnmatic silk-reel is dpsisrnei for unwinding the thread
tVoni the blocks of the thrnwing-miU and winding it into
banks.
A coarse, rotigli, wovfii
See Silk -sonTiNO.
Silk-shag. (Fabric.)
silk with n shaggy iiaj).
Silk-siz'ing Ma-chine'
ilAlUlNE.
Silk-sort'ing Ma-chine'. A niadiine by wliich
silken tlireads of various thieknesses are sorted into
sizes Itctweeti certain limits and wound upon separate
hobliins, aeeording to size.
ceases to revolve.
One of the bobbins
k I is then substi-
tuted, the thread is
broken, and its end
is attached to the
bobbin, and wound
thereon so long as
the bobbin contin-
ues to art, or until
it is thrown out of
contact with the
drum ».
In case the thread
becomes so thin ajs
to endanger its
breakage, the lever
e drops until the
iidjus tabic set screw
p comes iu contact
with the stop 7,
throwing the mid-
dle and lower rollers
out of frictional
contact, and they
cease to deliver.
Fig. 5089.
SiUc-Siretckms: Machine.
By having a larger number of rollers and slightly modifying
the stop arrangements, the machine may be adapted to sort
more than three sizes of thread.
Silk-stretch'ing Ma-chine'. An apparatus for
imparting the propiM' tension t(i silk tiber.s.
In the example, the ends of the fibers , reeled on bobbins placed
u
Fig. 5090.
Fig. 5088 is Atwood and Leigh's ma-
chine. The thread from the bobbin a
passes to and between the gage-rollers
b c fi^ which have a certain bearing on
each other, and ai-e simultaiieously raised
or lowered by turning the adjusting-screw
e, openiting the pivoted lever f\ on which
the journals of the lower roller rest. The
shaft of the upper roller is connected with
a leVer g-, the shorter arm of which is
weighted so us to nearly counterbalance
the preponderance of the otherarm, which
is forked attlxe end,st.r;iddhng the upper
end of the lever /j, which bears against
the lower bent arm of the lever ?', so that
the two constitute a compound lever.
The silk is wound from the roller */ on
to one of the bobbins j k t, each of which
receives a dilTerent sized thread between
certain limits. Either of the.«e bobbins,
depending on the size of thread being de-
livered, is placed in bearings in the arms
m )H, where it isturnedby the revolution
of the drum n bearing against the cylin-
drical portion o of the bobbin The up-
per end of the lever h has two notches on
one side and one on the other, and the fork of thelevv^hastwo 1 at the lower part of the frame, are moistened and attached to
inwardly projecting pins, one on each side. The lever A may be | drums B B, who.«e motion unwinds them from the bobbins :
shifted from side to side, so tliatoneofthese pins may bear against I when all is wound off on to the drums B B. the free ends of the
either itji front or back, for the purpose of ailjusting the dehv- fibers are similarly attached to the drums C T, which are set in
cry of the thread. If this should vary from the prescribed '■motion, nnwindingandstretchingthcfibersfrom the drums £B
Silk T}vistitie a»ti Rffling.
limits, the lever ^ tilts, throwing b.ickward the lever /j, which,
in turn, operates the lever 1, causing its upper cam-sliaped ex-
tremity to come in contact with the roller o on the end of the
bobbin, and lift it out of contact with the drum n, so that it
Fig. 5088,
on to themselves. The final stretching is effected by the bob-
bins E E, which draw the silk from the drums C Cand over a
Seines of rollers, one for each thread. Winding from the lower
bobbins on to the lower drums, and from the upper drums on
to the upper bobbins, may be effected simul-
taneously.
Silk-throw'ing Mill. At the
commencement of the eighteenth cen-
tury, silk niaehinerv \vas so im]n'rfeet
in England tliat the supply of thrown,
silk was ehietly derived from Italy. In
1717, John Lomhi' returned from Italy
with drawings of the machinery em-
ployed in that country, where the pro-
cp.ss was kept as a profound secret. He
obtained acce.ss to the mills by bribing
the workmen, and committed the re-
sults of his obsei'vations to paper at
niiiht. Having been discovered, he
with great difficulty made liis escape.
In 1718 he obtained patents for the
improvements thus introduced, and in
1719 erected a mill on the Derwent at
Derby, 5 stoiies high and | of a mile
SILK TWISTING AND REELING.
2182
SILVER.
in length, which was considered one of the wonders
of the iige.
Silk Twist'ing and Reel'ing. lu the appara-
tus (Fi{,'. ouyu),
the silk previ-
ously wound
upon spools
is twisted by
the flyers h h,
then macerated
in a trou{,'li,
coiled upon tlie
rollers n m, and
finally wound
upon tlie reel a.
Silk-wind'-
er. (,Si/k-ina>i-
nfudarc.) a.
The reel ou
which silk is
wound from the
cocoons. See
Sll.K-IlEl'.L.
b. The ma-
chine on which
raw silk in the
katitc is trans-
ferred to bobbins preparatory to spinning.
Eiwh hank is extended upon a light si.x-sided reel,
called a sirif/, a number of which are arranged on
a.\es on each side of a frame. Tiie bobbins, one for
each swift, are arianged above them.
The ends of tlie filaments on the swifts are con-
nected to the bobbins, and tlie swifts are .'^et in motion,
causing the bobbins to turn and deliver the silk.
Fig. 5091.
extent, and fastened in the elongated condition on
a board to dry.
Sill. 1. (Carpentry.) The lower timber in a
Fig. £092.
•— .^ •'''=r".£iS^
Silk. Winder.
The swifts are adjustable to receive hanks of vaiying
sizes, and have a frii.tiou device on the a.vis, to pre-
vent them from turning faster than the bobbins can
take the silk. The filaments pass through eyes ou
a rod having .an endwise traversing motion, which
lay them spirally and evenly upon the bobbin.s.
Fanshaw's silk-winiter, EnKfish patent, 1827. w.i.« de.eijrned to
avoid the breaka-it- of the tilanu-nt in winding' the .skein .^ilk on
to boljljins. ]n.>!tead of mounting the sk<'in on a reel, wliieh is
rotated by drawint; upon the thread, the reel is made.st^itionary.
and a revolving flyer p-i.sKes around and lifts the tliread. wliich
piuyies over a roUer, tlience to the center of rotation, and is then
wound upon a hoUl,in.
Silk-worm Gut. A fine cord for angling, made
of the silk-gut of the worm.
Fine worms about to lu'gin .spinning, being select-
ed, are killed by inunersing in vinegar. After steep-
ing for about twelve hours, a worm is removed ancl
pulled aiiart, exposing two tran.-sparent yellowish-
green cords. These are stretched to the required
Fay's Sill-Dressing Machine.
wooden structure,— in a building, a loom, a bridge,
a door or window frame, etc., etc. Nearly synony-
mous with sole ; but the latter refei's more specially to
moving objects, such as a plow, a shoe, a sled, etc.
Sometimes called ijround-sill.
2. (Fmiificntioij.) The inner edge of the bottom
or sole of an embrasure.
3. (Mlnhuj.) The floor of a gallery or passage in
a mine.
Sill-dress'ing Ma-chine'. A special kind of
woud-jilaning luacliiiie lor dressing heavy timbers on
two or more sitles, for car-liodies or other structures.
It has various adjustments for different thicknesses
and widths of stuff.
Sil'lon. (Flirt ijication.) A work raised in a
ditch to defend it if too wide. It must be lower than
the main works, but higher than the covered way.
Si'lo. A large shallow ditch protected by thatch
or boards from rain, .sun, and air, and used as a store-
])it for potatoes or beets designed for starch-making
or the manufacture of beet-root sugar.
Si-lom'e-ter. (Xniitioil.) An instrument for
measuring, witliout the aid of the log-line, the dis-
tance passed over by a ship. Various forms liave
been proposed or actually constiucted. See Log ;
VEbiHiMKTEr. ; and list under Metek.
Sil'ver. Ei|Uivalent, 108 ; symbol, Jff. (argai-
tuni); specific gravity, 10.5; point of fusion, 1873°
Fah. Genendly occurs as a suljihide, and is often
associated with other metals. The ore is ground '
and the silvcn' separated by amalgamation. See
Amalc:.\mator.
It is a clear white, malleable, ductile metal ; may
be extended into leaves not exceeding TTrrinrr of an
inch in thii'kness aiul drawn into very fine wire ;
has considei'able brilliancy and takes a high polish.
The metal is Used for coin and plate, alloyed with
cojiper to harden it.
It is used to coat metals (see Plating) to render
them less liable to change by atmospheric influences,
but is itself liable to be attacked by sulphur.
Silver is the earliest form of money, heinR a medium of ex-
chanjre in Assyria, E;;\ pt, Tyre, and'with the Hebrews in the
time of Altraham. Cold was valued for ornaments, but not
current a.s money ; it was no doultt hoarded and carried like
precious stones, of which a large value could be placed in
a small compass.
Silver was also used for ornaments ; "jewels of silver " and
SILVER.
2183
SILVER.
"jewels of gold'" were given by Abraham's ."Jervant to Rebecca :
*'a gotden eir-ring of ha.f a shekel weight, and bracelets for
her hiud"! of t**n saekels wfig'it of gold."
Vessf Is of yarir>ui; kiud= and Luuges were also made of it, and
at a »erv eirU diy.
It is genenitly allowed to be the best material for drinking-
Te&<els .ind uble-w^n-, and ha^* been a f.ivorite therefor in all
historic ages. Jo-^'pii, wao was Ticeruy of EgApt, speaks of
** my cup, t-ie sUcfr cup.'"
Tiie iiin'^KS {If rrapinn) which Rachel stole from her father
Labau wore no doubt of silver.
Tiie ancient notices of silver are numerous, both as a medium
of e.\chin^'* and fi^r articles of u.'se, oruamenr. and luxury.
A tmveler in U mduras describe^ the primitive mode iu which
eilverores are tivatei by t.ie InJi»ns in t lat couucry "The
man di>,»ppe ired in a holein tiie hill>ide, and presently appeared
witn a lump of ore. The man and woman then selected each a
Fig. 5093.
Indian Silver-Miner.
flat stone, and begin pounding the ore, which was thos gnd-
ually reduced to the condition of a grivelly dust. The fire,
meanwhile, was fel largely by the children; a small earthen
pot, holdiuLja portion of the brom, was set deep in a bed of
CO lis. T.ie wood was piled over it. sulphurou-: vapors escapel,
and when the wholp hal burned fiercely awhile and fallen to
aslips. our son of Tubal C;iin drew forth the pot and turaed out
upon the ground a mx^* of gray, black, and red si tg and ash,
out of which I drew with a stick a button of red-hot silver,
weighins, pt^rhap*. two ounces.*'
An antique appearance may be given to silver by exposing it
to the fumes of hvdro-sulphuret of ammooia, or immersing it
for a short time in the solution.
The saltii of silver are much u=ed in the arts, — the protoxide
and nitrite in photography, the nitrate in hair-dyes and in-
delihle ink.
Silver is separated from lead by repeate<i melting and crys-
tallization of the lead : the crystals of lead being remove! at
e.ach operation, the remainder becomes richer ia silver, which
is then removed by a process similar to that described under
ASSIT-
The f let that the richer portion is less fusible than that con-
taining a greater proportion of lead, is utilized in the Pattinsoa
concentration process. See P.\,rTL\ son's Pors, page 1*53S.
The silver-from-Ieal-extracting furnace, which may be con-
eidere 1 as performing the process of cnpellation on a I irge scale,
employs the agency of heat and air-blast in the oxi lation and
removal of the lea<l,
Fig. 50&4. the alloy being ex-
posed in a shallow
pan of bone-du<t ag-
gregated in a basin-
shape within an oval
frame of iron, and
forming the hearth
of the reverberatory.
This hearth is called
a test. a.nd i* support-
ed by a fixed iron
ring, called the com-
pass-bar, in the fur-
nace.
The alloy of lead and silver flows into the test a by a spout
from the nielting-pnt h, and the lead on the surface becomes
oxidizi'd. The air-blast, entering at the tuyere r, blows the su-
pemitint oxide toward the opposite end of the oval hearth,
when it flows over the depressed portion of the wall of the cupel,