Milling Machines

Milling Machines. Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Slater Mill Historic Site. , David Wilkinson and his father built this mill together, finishing it in 1811. It made sense to build it next to Slater Mill. When Slater married Wilkinson's sister, Hannah, the families grew even closer and shared several ventures., At first, Wilkinson used his water-powered mill to spin cotton into yarn. Soon, he began using the mill to build machines, including some of the first power looms. He sold this equipment to Samuel Slater and other mill owners., David Wilkinson , Trained as a blacksmith, Wilkinson came to Pawtucket as a teenager filled with new ideas. By age 21, he had built one of the first steamboats. By 23, he had invented a screw-cutting lathe that became an industry standard., Precision Parts , This patent shows Wilkinson's screw-cutting lathe invention. The machine cut screw threads evenly by following a reference guide., This new process revolutionized parts manufacturing. Screws and other parts could be built precisely, every time. This changed machine building and repair. It led to a whole new level of technology.