MOSI Google Hangout

           In class we had the opportunity to do a Google Hangout with a historian from the Manchester Textile Museum, Jamie. To prepare for the live chat we visited the MOSI website; http://www.mosi.org.uk/explore-mosi/explore-galleries/textiles-gallery.aspx. We explored the site trying to get a sense of what it is about. The Downloads tab helped in this investigation. We also watched a video that starred Jamie. In the video he took raw cotton and showed us how the machines were used to produced thread. He also explained some key terms like Hopper Feeder Scutcher, Carding Engine, Draw Frame, Sliver, Speed Frames, Slubbing, Roving, and Power Loom. To understand these terms we searched them through Google using key words. For example, I learned that a Sliver is a delicate piece of brushed cotton. As a final form of preparation we came up with questions to ask Jamie. We had four categories which were Textile Process, Evolution of Textile Technology, Positive and Negative Impacts, and Being a Real Life Historian and Curator.

           During the chat lots of interesting facts came up about the textile machines. First, I learned that the machines weren't good for the workers health. Yes, the machines killed people suddenly but they also killed people over a longer period of time. The machines produced a lot of dust, dirt, and debris from the cotton. It got in the food and was inhaled by the people working the machines. It was dangerous to inhale the dust and caused health problems such as illness and even death. Also, when we watched the video Jamie was in the machines were extremely loud. This was a surprise because I didn't think of how loud they would be. It was also a shock to listen to how unsafe the machines were. Workers were dragged in the machine by their clothes or hair and mangled. The machines also lifted workers by their clothes or hair and killed them that way. Also, it was common to break and even lose fingers from the machines. I always pictured the machines being a little safer since they were used so frequently. Also, I didn't know that children were used in the actual textile making process. I thought they  cleaned the machines while trying not to get caught in the machines. Children would often brush the fibers to face the same direction and started doing this as young as five years old. Another fact I learned about the process was that the women made the thread for the cloth while the men were in charge of spinning. I knew women worked in the factories because of the Lowell Mills but I thought men were used to oversee the women's production but men were also used as employees in the mills.

Jamie explaining and demonstrating how women would get the thread on a bobbin and how they would be used in the spinning machines.

           I liked the Google Hangout because it was both a listening and seeing experience. Also, having an expert on the topic so accessible made understanding the topic's situation easier. Jamie was able to go more in depth into the history while showing demonstrations in ways that made sense. I felt like I got to see the Industrial Revolution from a different perspective. A more personal perspective. If given the opportunity I would like to do other live chats with other experts about future topics.