TheBarmenlace machine makes perfect copies oftorchon lace and the simpler hand-madebobbin lace. Its bobbins imitate the movements of thebobbins of the hand-made lace maker.[1]
The Barmen machine was developed in the 1890s in thePrussian city ofBarmen, now part ofWuppertal, Germany, from abraiding machine. The Barmen laces were derived from solid braids later pieced with openwork.[2]
A.Spindle set in top plateB.Yarn threaded up to mandrillC. Beater domeC1.Beater knivesD. Mandrill (variable settings)E. Finished LaceF. JacquardG. Pulley for drive beltH.Hand wheelK. Beater camsL. Take-up rollsM.Handle to engage drive belt
The Barmen machine has itsspindles arranged in a circle, each one carrying a large bobbin of thread. These can pass each other, so their threadstwine together in a complex way. The threads run towards the centre, where the finished lace appears, rising upwards. The machine can only make one width at a time, and has a maximum width of about 120 threads. The lace is made as a cylinder. When finished, threads are removed to allow the flat strip to appear.[2]
Barmen machines can make laces,trimmings, elasticated and rigidbraids,cords andric-racs. Barmen lace is still produced in Britain by Malmic Lace Limited, which is based inNottingham.[3]
Media related toBarmen lacemaking machines at Wikimedia CommonsLace types | |||||||||
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