Issue 1 Table of Contents

Hodgen Holmes’ Cotton Gin – With improvements over Eli Whitney’s cotton gin (patented in 1794), Holmes’ gin allowed for continuous operation, used saws versus wooden spikes that increased durability, and used a slotted bar instead of flat-iron ribs. Patented in 1796, Holmes’ gin may actually predate Whitney’s with a caveat of invention dated 1789 (Figure taken from Saw and Toothed Cotton Ginning Developments by Charles A. Bennett).