RINGS, MULES, AND STRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS IN THE LANCASHIRE TEXTILE-INDUSTRY, C.1945-C.1965

This article extends the debate on whether the vertical specialization in the Lancashire textile industry presented constraints to the adopt ion of ring spindles by specialized spinning firms, such that vertical integration was a necessary condition for the adoption of ring spindl es. Using business records and trade material it is shown that in the period surveyed vertical integration was not a necessary condition for the adoption of ring spindles. The imposition of purchase tax, the re lative shortage of mule labour, and the superior levels of profitabili ty of firms using ring spindles only, are used to explain the move tow ards greater ring production by some specialized spinning firms after 1945.