There were no hands available for the breakers and softeners, so Raymond increased his staff.
"The Spinners"
Eden Phillpotts
All softening machines for jute, or softeners as they are often called, are similar in construction, but the number of pairs of rollers varies according to circumstances and to the opinions of managers.
"The Jute Industry: From Seed to Finished Cloth"
T. Woodhouse and P. Kilgour