New Answers to Old Questions: Explaining the Slow Adoption of Ring Spinning in Lancashire, 1880-1913

This paper re-examines theories previously advanced to explain Lancashire’s slowadoption of ring spinning. New cost estimates show that although additionaltransport costs and technical complementarities between certain types of machinereduced ring adoption rates, these supply side constraints were not dominant.Instead what mattered most were demand side factors. Lancashire produced farmore fine yarns than other countries and that yarn was better spun on mules.Furthermore, Lancashire had a sizeable export yarn trade, a market again moresuited to mule spinning. Low ring adoption rates were a positive response todemand patterns dominated by high quality goods.[...]