Noble Comb Restoration
Widdops are proud to be involved in assisting with the restoration of a historic Noble comb at the Calderdale Industrial Museum in Halifax. This rare machine, once a staple of the textile industry during the late 1800s and early 1900s, was commonly used throughout West Yorkshire during the Industrial Revolution. Many of these machines were manufactured by F.H. Benthams, and they remain an iconic part of our brand history, appearing in our logos over the years.
The Noble comb in question is believed to have originated from a local college, where it wasn’t fully maintained or properly run. Some parts are missing, but with the museum’s help, we’re working to get the machine back into working order. Our goal is to present it as a functional exhibit for museum visitors.
A Brief History of the Noble Comb
Invented by James Noble in 1891, the Noble comb was a ground breaking tool in the textile industry. They generally remained in use in Bradford until the late 20th century, particularly at Bulmer and Lumb, until production finally ceased in 1980. Afterward, many of these machines were either scrapped or sold to international markets, including Turkey and China.
Although the Noble comb is an older design, it’s renowned for producing high-quality twine. Thanks to its 72 mixers, the machine could blend multiple colours seamlessly, preventing the streaky results that were common with other combing machines. Today, most combing is done using the French comb, which has undergone significant modifications over the years.
Restoration Progress and Challenges
The restoration journey began when the machine arrived at the museum, as shown in the first photo, surrounded by boxes of spare parts. Over the past few weeks, we’ve made significant progress in rebuilding the machine, starting from the base and working upwards. The combs used in this machine were originally manufactured by a company in Leeds, though Bentham & Holroyd Ltd (our sister company) and Rhodes Ltd. of Bradford also produced these components.
As seen in the photos, the combs aren’t simply round holes for inserting pins—each comb is a precisely crafted circle, requiring a skilled artisan to shape and set the pins correctly. This meticulous process, done by a “pin setter,” ensured that the pins were perfectly aligned, allowing the machine to comb wool efficiently.
In addition to the combs, you can also spot the emblem of the old Manufacturers’ Association, “RATUS,” which is featured on the larger combing circle. This symbol represents Bentham & Holroyd Ltd., one of the key manufacturers of the time.
Future Restoration Plans
Although we’ve made significant headway, there’s still much to be done. The next phase of restoration will involve reinstalling the mechanism that holds the dabber brushes, which drive the combing circles. We also need to replace the missing knives, which are responsible for removing the wool from the combs. Once fully restored, the machine will be able to complete its cycle in approximately four hours, requiring two loadings per day—one in the morning and another at lunchtime.
Currently, we’ve only made it halfway through the process, but we’re excited about the progress so far. In addition to the physical restoration, we’ve been fortunate to obtain a full operating instruction manual for the Noble comb, thanks to Linda Crossland of Low Moor, Bradford. This invaluable resource will guide us through the final stages of the project.
We look forward to continuing our work on this historic machine and sharing it with the public as a fully functional exhibit.
Stay tuned for updates as we near the completion of the restoration.