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Forgotten Stories of the Textile Revolution — Part 1: The Flying Shuttle
John Kay’s flying shuttle multiplied weaving speed and opened an industrial age.
A Barber’s Dream
In 1733 Lancashire, John Kay invented the flying shuttle — roughly quadrupling weaving speed and triggering fierce resistance from hand workers.
A Technological Spark
- Faster, more consistent cloth
- Inspiration for later inventors
Traces of Kay’s idea remain in every woven fabric we use today.