VISITING EXPERT’S VIEWS ON

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28421, 30 October 1957, Page 11

VISITING EXPERT’S VIEWS ON

NEW INDUSTRY

Asked to comment on the new tufting process of carpet manufacture during a recent visit to the Dominion. Mr. J. L. Fesperman of Dalton, Georgia. U.S.A, described it as one of the major advances in carpet manufacture since the days of the hand woven carpets of early Persia. Mr. Fesperman went on to say that, while the new “tufter” (as the machine is called) could never compete with the Axminster loom when it came to variety of design and pattern in body carpet, it had the great advantage of being able to produce plain or stippled carpet at a speed hitherto undreamt of in the weaving industry.

Operating on exactly tne same principle as the domestic sewing machine, utilising more than a thousand needles in unison, the tufter binds the carpet pile into a pre-woven backing of special heavy-duty jute.

The needles are fed, through copper coated metal tubes, from bobbins stacked behind the tufter on creels.

The yarn may be dyed, or. if natural, the tufted carpet is piece dyed before the rubber backing is applied.

The new tufted carpet is now on the local market in limited supply. Within the next few months it is understood that supplies will become more plentiful and ultimately the production from this one machine will mean that more home owners will be in a position to lay deep pile carpeting throughout their homes

Mr. Fesperman when questioned on the subject of tufted carpets’ popularity in the States, said, that while tufted carpet had enjoyed sensational sales during its first two years, sales had now settled down to a healthy state, the new carpet having carved its niche and established a well deserved share of the American market