s
follows: nine seconds for the drawing-out and twisting; two seconds for
backing-off; four seconds for winding-on and resuming initial position.

A multitude of minor motions and details might be easily expanded into
several chapters; in fact, more can be said about the mule than about
any other spinning machine, but such detailed description would be out
of place in this story.

All the motions just named are centred in what is termed the "Head
Stock," this being placed midway in the length of the mule.

This head stock receives all the power to drive the various motions,
from the shafting and gearing, and distributes it in a suitable manner
to various parts of the machine.

It will have been observed by this time, that, as in the case of the
bobbin and fly frames, the intricate and wonderful mechanism of the
self-actor mule is not devoted to the formation of threads, but to the
effective and economical placing of the threads of yarn, in the form of
cops, after it has been spun.

Image: FIG. 29.--Mule head showing "copping rail."

The spinning processes take place during the outward traverse of the
mule carriage, the mechanism involved in this motion being comparatively
simple. The really complicated and difficult motions being
"backing-off," revolving the spindles "during winding-on," and the
guiding of the spun threads upon the spindles during the winding-on
process. It was the addition of these three motions by the later
inventors which gave the mule the title of "Self-Acting."

CHAPTER X.

OTHER PROCESSES IN COTTON SPINNING.

=The Ring Spinning Machine.=--In a former chapter it was shown how within
the space of two decades the three rival spinning machines of
Hargreaves, Arkwright and Crompton were introduced, also it was pointed
out, that Crompton's machines contained the best points of both of his
predecessors. The mule did not immediately become the sole spinning
machine. From the outset there was a close contest between the
continuous spinning machine of Arkwright and the intermittent spinning
machine of Crompton. It was not long, however, before the mule asserted
its superiority over the water frame for fine muslin yarns, and for weft
yarns. Eventually the water frame was relegated to the production of
strong warp yarns, and later still it has come to be largely utilised
as a doubling machine. As a matter of fact, it is contended by experts
of the present day, that no machine ever made a ro