Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 19
The weaving room was filled to bursting with
In ±π∑∂, a modest ∑ horsepower steam en-
machines and people. The noise in the low-
gine was installed, and with the addition of a
ceilinged room must have been deafening.
≤µ horsepower steam engine in ±π∏±, steam be-
Photograph from ±∫∞±.
came the factory’s primary source of energy. In
±π∏µ, a conspicuous sign of this change was a
the factory. In the early years, most of the raw
new three-storey power-loom weaving mill
wool probably came from Danish sheep. But as
built beside the river – and not across it, as was
more and more of the Jutland heath was culti-
necessary in order to utilise waterpower. In
vated, there were fewer races of sheep that
±ππ≥, the capacity of the spinning mill was dou-
could supply suitable wool, and imported wool
bled, the building housing the weaving mill
was used as early as around ±∫∞∞.
was extended, and Kjærs Mølle had a total of ±∏
power looms. Larger steam boilers were installed, and factory’s capacity was increased in
From waterpower to steam
±ππ∫ and again in ±π∫∂.
Keeping up with the competition meant investing in new equipment and buildings, and such
Another manifestation of technical progress
investments were made several times during the
came in ±π∫∞ when the petroleum lamps were
course of the ±π∞∞s. Other investments were
extinguished for the last time, and electric
necessary because the river could no longer
lights were switched on. With its ≥∞ horse-
supply the power needed to keep up with the
power steam engine, the factory could supply
growing amount of goods manufactured.
its own power.
1855-1898
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