steam-loom

Updated: May 31, 2025

They were probably of little use, for they became obsolete before the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Most of the sails used in these old ships were woven in Portsmouth on hand-looms. The canvas was probably of good quality, as good perhaps as the modern stout No. 1, for hand-woven stuff is always tighter, tougher, better put together, than that woven by the big steam-loom.

John Masefield - On the Spanish Main: Or, Some English forays on the Isthmus of Darien.