Thomas Grimston
[[Image:|thumb|Quarter-scale model of Grimston's twine-balling machine, patented in 1860]]
Thomas Grimston was a shoe-thread manufacturer of Clifford, in Yorkshire.
In 1860 Grimston patented a machine for winding balls of thread, yarn or twine . Its main innovation was the circular index plate at the side, making it possible to preset the weight of the ball to be wound. Before this, the machine had to be stopped so that the ball could be removed and weighed by hand. Another arrangement automatically changed the winding speed in order to produce the final covering layer on each ball.[1]