Middle Mill tacklers
in the 1890's.These men were involved in the repair
and maintenance of the Mill's machinery. [This photograph is a colourised
version of the original.]
Kissing the Shuttle,
here demonstrated by Middle Mill Manager Emmanuel
Shaw, with May Hanna Walsh looking suitably unimpressed. The process
involved sucking the thread through the eye of the shuttle as seen here
in 1906.Girls like May would be expected to look after 4-6 looms apiece.
The tradition of Kissing the shuttle was banned in the 1950's as it was
thought that tuberculosis was spread by this action. Also mouth cancers
were caused by the contact with the mineral oils in use. Many Mill
workers suffered from chest ailments in later life, Spinners lung being
one.
