Fiddlebase
Abel Morrall
Est. 1785
Warehouses: Manchester and London
Manufacturing: Studley Mills near Bromsgrove
England
... About the year 1785, Michael Morrall who had been taught the art by his maternal uncle, Charles Rawlins, removed from Alcester to Washford Mill, Studley and entered into partnership with his brother Abel Morrall and John Archer, their brother in law. In 1790, two and a half millions of needles were made per week in this district one million of which were made by Morrall, Archer and Morrall of Washford Mill, Studley.
Many improvements were made by this firm in the art of needle making. In 1793, Michael Morrall made some experiments in drilling the eyes, which induced the firm to engage Charles Davis, a watchmaker of Alcester, to drill needles for them. They were introduced into the market for sale, but were declined in consequence of the price being so much higher than had been paid for them before the eyes were drilled. Drilling was, therefore, discontinued, the firm having sustained a considerable loss by the experiment. Many attempts were made by this firm to induce the needle pointers to use respirators to prevent the dust entering their lungs, but the workmen refused to use them; the pointers' impression evidently being, if he made use of any contrivance which would lengthen his life, it would at the same time tend to reduce the amount of wages he could earn. ...
1862 History and Description of Needle Making
1839
A most important invention was patented in 1839 by Abel Morrall, a Studley needle-maker, for burnishing the eyes of needles by threading them upon a roughened steel wire stretched in a frame and caused to revolve, or to move backwards and forwards. The needles are thus made to vibrate upon the wire in every direction and the eyes effectually cleared from all roughness. This very valuable patent was shortly afterwards purchased by Messrs. Bartleet & Sons, of Redditch and the use of string or cord, which the inventor thought might also serve as well as wire, was disclaimed by them in 1841.
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GB 7.923 Abel Morrall
of the parish of Studley, in the county of Warwick, needle maker, for his invention of certain improvements in the making or manufacturing of needles and in the machinery or apparatus employed therein; 6 months.
January 3, 1839
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1862
1863
1876
