Early Cotton Roller Gin

Object/Artifact

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West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center

Name/Title

Early Cotton Roller Gin

Entry/Object ID

L1998.2.1

Description

This is an Early Roller Cotton Gin. They originate from India and have been used as early as the 5th century. It consisted of two parallel horizontal wooden rollers, adjusted so each roller barely touch. A handle was attached on one of the rollers. As the handle was turned the seed cotton was fed into the roller by hand. The lint was pulled between the rollers, which separated it from the seeds; the seeds could not could not pass between the rollers because of their size. This type of gin would not work satisfactorily with any but smooth-seeded types of cotton. Five pounds of lint cotton was a fair day’s work with one of these roller gins.

Location

Room

West Tennessee Cotton Room

Building

The West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center