The Kanzas news., 1857-11-28
Seamless Garments.

The n. Y. Tribune contains detailed
account of the manufacture of seamless
cloth garments. A mandatory for that
purpose is located at Matteawan, near Fish
kill, n. z, which has a number of build
ings, and employs $50 operatives of both
sexes. AS this mode of manufacture is
probably destined to become somewhat gen.
eral and to work a sort of revolution in the
trade of making garments, we imagine the
account of the Tribune viii not be without
interest:
s.We examined the manufacture from the
crude wool to the finished garments. The
wool is first assorted, cleaned, picked, dyed
and partially carded as in an ordinary wool
en- factory. The last process of the card
ing-machine leaves it in a thin layer. 1t is
then put upon an ingenious machine which
forms it into what are called bats. These
bats are composed of some thirty to forty
layers, placed by the machine diagonally
across each other. The fbres of the alter
nate layers are thus arranged transversely
to each other. This gives the greatest pos
sible strength to the cloth to be produced,
rendering it as elastic as cashmere and as
tough as leather. The bait, when complet-
ed, is passed through felting machine, in
which the fibers of the wool are partially
interviewer so as to form thick cloth of
considerable tenacity. This is then taken
to the tailor, who cuts out in peices the
garments to be made, taking care to cut
them about double the size desired. Next
: these peices pass through the hands of girls
who carefully bevel the edges to be Joined,
and baste them together with a cotton thread.
The garments now exhibit rude approach
TO their proper shape. A cotton cloth hav-
ing been inserted within the sleeves and
pockets, and wherever else two thieknesses
come together, In order to prevent their
being converted into one, the garments are
again passed through the felting machine,
and soon come out with no trace of the
seams except the basting thread, which is
easily pulled out They are then treated
much like so many peiees of ordinary wool
en- cloth, being passed through fulling ap-
paratus, teaseled and sheared. After this,
they are put upon eopepr forms, heated by
steam, which complete their shape, and al
low the surface to be finished. They then
GO into the hands of the trimmer, who
binds the edges, works the button holes,
puts on the buttons and facings, and gets
them ready for market
"Among the articles which We saw man
ufactured were oyercoats, business coats,
vests, leeoins and mittens The cloth was
subjected TO severe tests of its strength,
and found to be surprisingly tenacious
1t differs from felt cloth in being equally
strong in whatever way it is tried. 1t is
altogether of wool, as cotton cannot be
used in the felting process. Its advanta-
ges over common cloth are greater cheap
ness, warmth and durability it also sheds
rain much better.
aThis invention must revolutionize the
making of all garments requiring great
strength, warmth and durability. To the
Iaboring classes. it offers vast benefit
The poor man can get finished coat, and
a better and more durable one, for the mon
ey he has hitherto paid for the cloth alone.
We must add, that q fleece of wool may
be converted by this process in a single
day, into garment ready to wear"