Le Léviathan

Designed by: Eugène Melen, 1863Manufactured by: Ateliers V. Charpentier, Dolhain, 1948Origin: Dolhain washery and carbonising workshopVerviers Museum Collection: No. A132The name of a biblical sea monster with several heads inspired the curious name of this textile machine, called Leviathan, just like the largest ship of the time. The association between the exceptional length of the boat and those of its row of trays led to such a designation. Eugène Melen, a mechanic from Verviers, created and developed this wool "degreaser-rinser" in 1863. The wool is place in several successive rectangular trays in which it undergoes different types of bath: soaking, several types of degreasing using hot water with added alkali (household soap and sodium carbonate), rinsing. Stirring rakes push the matter from the back to the front and shake it in order to remove the impurities, which are collected via a perforated double bottom. Between each tray, a press prevents the residues from passing through. The last pressing roller gets rid of the water before drying in order to save energy.