The Fly Shuttle

The Fly Shuttle

A fly shuttle is a mechanical device using ropes and pulleys to deliver the weft (horizontal) thread into the warp (vertical threads). The weft yarn is wound on to a bobbin and it is placed in a fly shuttle. A fly shuttle is a long, narrow canoe-shaped instrument, usually made of wood, which holds the bobbin. First the shuttle is loaded with the weft-filled bobbin. Next the weaver places the shuttle onto the shuttle race - a small, narrow shelf that the shuttle glides along as it goes in and out of the weft. The weaver pulls on a rope attached to the fly shuttle mechanism and this propels the shuttle across the weft. The invention of the fly shuttle increased the volume of cloth production and forced technological advancement in the spinning industry to supply larger amount of yarns. [SB] {MW}