12. Upon finding out of the Needle, proceeded The Invention of many curious works; before which time our Fore-fathers are said to make use of an Hay-thorn, or a Thorn Prick.
Marking staples
CXIV. In this square is a Needle-makers Instrument called a Marking Staple, It is a thing like to
an Iron Staple that is square, having a flat and smooth
face, with divers round incisions made into it: Of
these making Staples they have two sorts, the one narrow and long, with long deep Shanks,
and the Incisions small. The other marking Stable is thick and
deep, both is the Face and Belly, the Shanks thick and
short, tapering; having the incisions deep and broad,
as the two examples in this quarter will forther manifest.
Stock shears
CXV. In this quarter are two other working tools
of the Needle-makers. The first is their Stock Shears, with these thy cut the Wyer to that length
as the Needle is to bear.
Guttering knife
The second is termed by them a Guttering Knife,
with this the small Gutter (in which the Eye is placed) is made: which is made for the more easie threding
of the Needle, by the gliding of the thred into them,
which if they were not, it would be more difficult to perform.
Guttering tongs
CXVI. This Instrument is termed, a pair of Guttering Tongs: They are made after the form of a
pair of Smiths Pincers, but the holding part broader.
It hath an Iron ring fixt to a long peice of Iron, and
Revetted to the end of the Shank, but with liberty to
move: the said Ring being put over the end of the other
Shank into a Nick or Gutter, holds it fast together with
what it hath between them.
Needler's punch
In the dexter base lyeth the Needlers Punch: it is
made after the form of a long Willow leaf, tapering from
the Shoulders to the Head, with a flat Face; and
from the Shoulders to the Point long, yet tapering.
With this Tool the Eye of the Needle is made.
Needler's anvil
CXVII. He beareth in the Square, the Needlers
Anvil: It is four square in the Face, from whence it
grows taper in the Shank, till the four sides end in the
point.
Hammer
The Second is an Hamer; It is a kind of round
thick Trunchen head, with two flat or Face ends; the
handle indifferent long; they may be termed iron
Mallets, or Mallet Hammers, if they were used in any other profession.
Straightening file
CXVIII. In this Quarter is two other Instruments of
Needle-makers; the first is a Streightning file;
It is a long peice of Iron or Steel, with a thick back, and
an edge bending something: It is fixed in a strong Hooped Helve or Handle.
Washing tub
The Second is a Washing Tub: It is made in form
of a Churne, wider at bottom then the top; being
strongly hooped; having cross peices at each end, through
which goeth an Iron Spindle upon which it rests in
two Socket holes, or Semi-circles cut on the ends of
two standing or upright posts, upon which it is turned about with a Winch or Winder. When they Wash or
Boyl their Needles; their rubbing one upon an other,
in the turning about of the Tub, doth scoure themselves.
Needlemaker's grinding stone and wheel
CXIX. In this Quarter is set forth the form of the
Needle makers Grinding Stone and Wheel. As for
the Wheel, it is a large strong Wheel, turned about with
a Winch as it is set in middle of a four square frame,
turning on the over-thwart peices, fixed to the uprights,
or standing peices; at a distance from this Wheel stands
the Grinding-stone; of which there are two sorts, the
one of a fine Greet, or Free-stone, and the other of
Wood; Which with oyle and Tripillo, or such like,
hardens it so, that any hard substance may be burnished
upon it, and not in any considerable tyme wast it. By
the side of this Grinding ston and Burnisher, is fixed on
the same Spindle, a Pulley (like a Iack Pulley) to it
there comes a String from the wheel which causeth it &
the Grinding-stone to turn.
Grind stone
CXX. I have here caused the true form of the Grindle stone and the Pulley to be drawn for the fore-sight,
that you may see how it is fixed on the Spindle. This is
termed a Grind-stone (or Grindle-stone) and its Pulley on a Spindle.
Scouring block
CXXI. In this Quarter is the Needle-makers Engine termed the Scouring-block: this is for the Scouring and cleansing of the Needles, when they are all made
and finished, as to the working part of them. It is only
a Plank or Tressel, about half a yard or more broad
set upon three or four strong feet; on this is laid another
Plank or thick Board, with two Handles, having a
long peece of Timber fastned with a moveing twerl or
Hinge, to the top of the work-room, coming down to
the middle of the board, and fixed there in a Block, or
thick piece of Timber, and stayed with two Side-risers.
Now Needles laid between these boards, or planks, and
two persons shuffling the higher boards two and again, by
the ends handles; will in a very short time scowr and
cleanse a great quantity of Needles.
Needle drawers
Image from proof plateCXXII. He beareth in this Square two sorts of Needle Drawers, or Boxes, in which the Needle-maker puts his several sorts and sizes of Needles, that he may with dexterity find any sort that is required of him, of which there are several sorts, as ye may see in the Trades mentioned in Chap.3 Numb.33.
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