Transcriber’s Note: Italic text is enclosed in _underscores_. Additional notes will be found near the end of this ebook. [Illustration: (Cover)] The Story of Rope The History and the Modern Development of Rope-Making. _Compiled and Published by_ Plymouth Cordage Company NORTH PLYMOUTH, MASS. WELLAND, ONTARIO 1916 Copyright 1916, by Plymouth Cordage Company 663-11-15-5-28500 FOREWORD The matter contained in this book originally appeared, in substantially the same form, as a series of articles in our monthly publication “Plymouth Products.” The story aimed to make better known an industry previously little understood and thereby to advance the cause of good rope. First and last this “Story of Rope” has had many interested and responsive readers. Encouraged by the large numbers of requests for it which continually come to us, we are now led to publish it anew and with the hope that in its present improved form it will still further fulfill its original purpose. PLYMOUTH CORDAGE COMPANY CONTENTS PART I HISTORICAL CHAPTER PAGE I Ancient, Mediæval and Tribal Rope-Making 11 II Rope-Making in the Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries 19 PART II RAW MATERIALS I Manila Fiber 27 II Sisal Fiber 35 III The Hemps--American, Russian, Italian. Other Fibers 43 IV Pine Tar. 49 PART III PRESENT DAY MANUFACTURING PROCESSES METHODS AND EQUIPMENT AS SEEN IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST CORDAGE FACTORY I Buying, Grading and Storing of Fiber 55 II Preparation of Fiber for Spinning--Formation of “Sliver” 63 III Spinning of Rope Yarn and Binder Twine 71 IV Tarring of Rope Yarns and of Small Ropes 77 V Forming and Laying of Ropes and Cables--Ropewalk Method 79 VI Forming and Laying of Ropes and Cables--Factory Method, Two-Machine System 85 VII Forming and Laying of Ropes--Factory Method, Single-Machine System 91 ILLUSTRATIONS