Loom for weaving wavy fabrics

French mechanic Jacques Vaucanson, famous for his ingenious automatons, was appointed inspector-general of silk manufactories in 1741. A few years later he perfected Basile Bouchon and Jean-Baptiste Falcon's punch-card looms, which still depended heavily on human power. Vaucanson's machine was a breakthrough: it completely automated the process by reproducing the movements of the cord-puller and the weaver with moving parts. Cams drove the mechanics, driver pin and beater while an endless screw continuously wound the fabric to make excellent wavy fabrics. This innovative loom appeared too early in the history of technology to have any industrial applications.