"In 1818 William Eator obtained a patent for a self-acting mule, in which the operations ordinarily performed by the spinner were effected by automatic means, and this machine, though not extensively adopted, contained several ingenious arrangements." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Mule

"In 1818 William Eator obtained a patent for a self-acting mule, in which the operations ordinarily…

"The self-acting slide-rest carries reduction by driving the lathe itself the small "feed" movement necessary for bringing the tool to bear on successive portions of the work, it dispenses wholly with the need for physical exertion on the part of the workman, and does not even demand his continuous supervision." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1903

Slide-Rest

"The self-acting slide-rest carries reduction by driving the lathe itself the small "feed" movement…