Louis Schwabe, an intelligent German, who introduced
the higher class of silk manufacture with such success as to enable him to
compete with even the very first class of Lyons silks for furniture damasks.
In addition to the extensive application of the Jacquard loom, Mr. Schwabe
introduced, and Mr. Henry Houldsworth improved and perfected, the
embroidering machines invented by Mr. Heilmann of Mulhausen. The
improvements are so great that the original inventor cannot compete with
them. Rows of needles elaborate the most tasteful designs with a degree of
accuracy to which hand labour cannot approach.
Messrs. Winkworth and Proctor are also producers of high class silks for
ladies' dresses and gentlemen's waistcoats.
Manchester is particularly celebrated for plain silk goods of a superior
quality at a moderate price. There are also manufactories of small wares,
which include parasols and umbrellas. A parasol begins at 4.5d. wholesale.
In Manchester the tastes and costumes of every country are consulted and
suited. The brown cloak of the Spaniard, the poncho of the Chilean, the
bright red or yellow robe of the Chinese, the green turban of the pilgrim
from Mecca, the black blanket of the Caffre, and the red blanket of the
American Indian may all be found in bales in one Manchester warehouse.
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