6 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

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THE TUFTING MACHINE is where the carpet first takes shape. The machine is similar
to a sewing machine with the exception that where the sewing machine makes 6ne
stitch at a time, the tufter makes over one thousand stitches at a time. The machine
places stitches of yarn through a prepared backing of jute and the needles while stitching
leave loops on the underside of the backing. The pattern attachment or slats control
the height of each loop, and the resulting controlled variation of these loops forms
the texture or pattern in the face of the carpet.

THE FRAMEWORK containing the bobbins of yarn is called a creel, and the threads
or yarn ends from each bobbin are fed to the tufting machine through nylon tubing.

The tubing is required to guarantee evenness in tension and an uninterrupted flow of
yarn from the creels to the tufting machines.

VISITS WESTMILLS CARPE
FACTORY—-RECENTLY

ORGANIZED
BY LOCAL 1-423 [WA

THIS YOUNG LADY is threading yearn from a bobbin
to the nylon tubing. Because the bobbins don’t run out
of yarn at the same time a constant watch must be main-
tained to ensure the exhausted bobbins are replaced.
Otherwise the carpet’s design would be -faulty. . 2

THIS REAR VIEW of the tufting machine shows the
nylon tubes feeding the yarn to the slats. The tufting
machines at Westmills are the most modern machines

available and can produce enough carpet for the average
home in minutes.

THE CARPET DESIGNS are drawn by the Company’s
president and general manager Mr. Osbourne Orr. When
a design is ready for use it is sent to this worker who
by following the coded instructions, transfers the pattern
to the metal slats,