Life Today
"Power meant that more machines could be run by fewer people and produce more goods in less time."
-Renny MacKay [65]
The power loom was an innovation that dates back to 1785 and has continually changed the lives of the many people that have worked with them. As Kenneth MacKay, a sales and production manager for mills along the east coast, stated in an interview, “Even though the loom is still used for weaving, there have been many improvements in weaving machine technology that have increased quantity, speed, width and structure of woven fabric.” [65] As technology progressed the loom has used “different technology to accomplish the same thing, but at very much faster, speeds than the mechanical loom.” [66] As Renny MacKay, who worked within the textile industry for 35 years, stated “most machines today…are all electronically controlled and not mechanically controlled.” [67] Added by Kenneth MacKay, “this caused design and control jobs to be created, and production jobs to be eliminated although mechanization increased production per person.” [68]
-Renny MacKay [65]
The power loom was an innovation that dates back to 1785 and has continually changed the lives of the many people that have worked with them. As Kenneth MacKay, a sales and production manager for mills along the east coast, stated in an interview, “Even though the loom is still used for weaving, there have been many improvements in weaving machine technology that have increased quantity, speed, width and structure of woven fabric.” [65] As technology progressed the loom has used “different technology to accomplish the same thing, but at very much faster, speeds than the mechanical loom.” [66] As Renny MacKay, who worked within the textile industry for 35 years, stated “most machines today…are all electronically controlled and not mechanically controlled.” [67] Added by Kenneth MacKay, “this caused design and control jobs to be created, and production jobs to be eliminated although mechanization increased production per person.” [68]
In result of the ever-growing technology, mills could be located anywhere, not just on a river. Also, the façade of the building has changed. Previously, they were "in a large old mill buildings, but now in modern single story warehouse type buildings." [69] The once very popular boarding houses had now become part of America’s past. Although on site boarding was available, mostly local people worked in the mills and had no need to live in the boarding houses.
Renny MacKay said, “In the past workers started young and grew old working for the same company for their whole career, but today people move around a lot because of less specialization and less need for specifically trained workers… highly experienced machine operators were replaced by less well trained and less paid operators, however technicians were then needed, but fewer of them….wages for the average worker dropped as training and experience became less needed to keep machines producing.” [70] Because of this, “older more experienced workers felt less valuable to the company as younger less experienced workers came in at the same pay scale…meaning that older workers rejected change while the newer workers accepted change even while wages dropped.” [71]
The innovation of the power loom also changed the mills daily schedule was well. Now, they use shifts "with working hours consisting of usually 7:00 to 3:30, 3:00 to 11:30, and 11:00 to 7:30." [72] Kenneth MacKay said that currently mills were, “clean and sanitary with air cleaners to prevent lung problems from dust, with air conditioning, insulation, kitchens and vending machines.” [73] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or "OSHA, was set up to inspect factories for dangerous situations, and today there are very few injuries other than hearing loss." [74] Throughout the changing technology, the conditions in the mills improved with the innovation and uprising of the power loom.
Renny MacKay said, “In the past workers started young and grew old working for the same company for their whole career, but today people move around a lot because of less specialization and less need for specifically trained workers… highly experienced machine operators were replaced by less well trained and less paid operators, however technicians were then needed, but fewer of them….wages for the average worker dropped as training and experience became less needed to keep machines producing.” [70] Because of this, “older more experienced workers felt less valuable to the company as younger less experienced workers came in at the same pay scale…meaning that older workers rejected change while the newer workers accepted change even while wages dropped.” [71]
The innovation of the power loom also changed the mills daily schedule was well. Now, they use shifts "with working hours consisting of usually 7:00 to 3:30, 3:00 to 11:30, and 11:00 to 7:30." [72] Kenneth MacKay said that currently mills were, “clean and sanitary with air cleaners to prevent lung problems from dust, with air conditioning, insulation, kitchens and vending machines.” [73] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or "OSHA, was set up to inspect factories for dangerous situations, and today there are very few injuries other than hearing loss." [74] Throughout the changing technology, the conditions in the mills improved with the innovation and uprising of the power loom.
