The Scholfield Wool-Carding Machines

"The Scholfield Wool-Carding Machines" by Grace Rogers Cooper is a historical account from the mid-20th century that investigates the rise of wool carding machines through the work of John and Arthur Scholfield, who transported their wool processing skills to America in the late 1700s. It examines the changing technology of wool carding, a key innovation that helped the growth of the American textile industry early on, by charting the Scholfields' move from England to Newburyport, Massachusetts, where they created what was essentially the first wool-carding machine in America. The narrative continues with their later efforts to establish woolen mills, as well as technological developments in carding processes, such as the change from hand tools to the mechanized carding techniques they created. The Scholfields revolutionized wool processing with their ingenuity, which had a long-lasting impact on the textile industry and highlighted how craftsmanship and innovation came together during a time of great transformation in American history.