John Kay (flying shuttle)
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John Kay was an English inventor whose most important creation was the flying shuttle, which was a key contribution to the Industrial Revolution. He is often confused with his namesake, who built the first "spinning frame".
Portrait, said to be of John Kay in the 1750s, but probably of his son, "Frenchman" John Kay.
Flying shuttle showing metal capped ends, wheels, and a pirn of weft thread
Reed structure: A: wires or dents B: wooden ribs C: tarred cord
John Kay memorial, Bury
Flying shuttle
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The flying shuttle is a type of weaving shuttle. It was a pivotal advancement in the mechanisation of weaving during the initial stages of the Industrial Revolution, and facilitated the weaving of considerably broader fabrics, enabling the production of wider textiles. Moreover, its mechanical implementation paved the way for the introduction of automatic machine looms.
From above, showing conical pirn, and end-feed mechanism (the yarn slips off the end of the pirn, which need not rotate).
Flying shuttle in the shuttle race
Holding the reed beater bar in the left hand and the (stick-mounted) string tugged to return the flying shuttle in the right hand. See video below.
Narrow tanmono loom with an obvious shuttle race on a top-mounted beater bar. Late 1800s Japan.