Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

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Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 167,711 pages of information and 247,105 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Robert Kay

From Graces Guide

Robert Kay (1728-1802), eldest (?) son of John Kay

1750s Called to France by his father, with 2 of his brothers, to help in manufacture of shuttles

Returned to England

1760 He extended the use of his father's wheel-shuttle from a single shuttle to two or more shuttles, housed in a drop box to the side of the loom, so permitting the easier weaving of multiple colours and cross-striped fabrics. The drop box was never patented.

1764 he appealed to the Society of Arts for a reward for his father's invention but the society criticized John Kay for his activities in France.

Robert also improved the capacity of the wheel-shuttle for weaving checks and bed ticks

1773 Improved the card-making machine.

1774 the Society of Arts awarded a bounty of 50 guineas to John Kay for his cards but not for his shuttle.

See Also

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Sources of Information

  • Biography of John Kay, ODNB [1]
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