Hank (often mis-heard as “Henk”) Strength Tester instrument gauge, and it measures the tensile strength of cotton yarn 840 yards & QC

it measures: The force required to break a hank of yarn A hank is a standardised length of yarn (traditionally 840 yards for cotton). The tester applies increasing tension to the yarn until it breaks, and the dial records the breaking load. So the meter is measuring yarn strength, usually expressed as: Pounds-force (lb) or A related strength index used in mill quality control Why this mattered in Lancashire mills In cotton spinning and weaving, yarn strength was critical: Yarn that was too weak would snap on looms, causing stoppages Stronger, more consistent yarn meant higher loom speeds and fewer breaks Strength testing was part of routine quality control before yarn was sent to weaving sheds or customers Spinners were often paid or penalised based on yarn quality, so these tests had real economic consequences. How the tester worked A hank of yarn was mounted on the tester Tension was applied mechanically The needle moved as load increased The final reading showed the breaking strength at failure The large, easy-to-read dial allowed quick comparison between batches. The maker The dial shows Goddard & Co., Makers, 19 Victoria Street, Manchester, a typical Manchester-based engineering firm supplying testing and control equipment to the textile industry. In short This meter is not measuring speed, weight or thickness. It is measuring how strong a standard length of cotton yarn is before it breaks, a fundamental quality metric in Lancashire’s cotton industry. historic hank strength tester, an industrial measuring instrument used in Lancashire’s cotton textile industry to test the tensile strength of spun yarn. The dial is marked for Goddard & Co., Makers, 19 Victoria Street, Manchester, reflecting the city’s role as a global centre for textile engineering and mill instrumentation. A hank strength tester measured the force required to break a standard length of yarn, known as a hank, traditionally 840 yards for cotton.