Definition: Jacquard loom

An automated loom that transformed the 19th century textile industry and became the inspiration for future data processing machines. Developed by the French silk-weaver, Joseph-Marie Jacquard (1752-1834), to control its operation, the loom used a chain of cards punched with holes in a continuous loop.

Although punch cards were used in earlier looms and music boxes, Jacquard's loom was a vast improvement and allowed complex patterns to be created swiftly. Not every weaver was happy when they foresaw their livelihood taken away by machine. Looms were burned, and Jacquard was assaulted.

The Binary Concept
The binary principle embodied in the operation of the loom was inspiration to Charles Babbage and, later, to Herman Hollerith who developed the first commercial punch card equipment. See Hollerith machine and punch card.

The Jacquard Loom

Threads in cloth run lengthwise and crosswise (the "warp" and "woof"). In each pass of a shuttle, the holes in the card determined which warp threads were lifted by a hook, thus creating a pattern. The card loop was synchronized with the movement of the fabric. (Image courtesy of The Computer History Museum.)