IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, CAPS, OR OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Harper Bennett, of Winchester House,
Southwark, in the County of Surrey, Hat Manufacturer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, CAPS, OR OTHER
COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD."
Sealed the 10th October 1862, and dated the 15th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Harper Bennett
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th April 1862.
I, THOMAS HARPER BENNETT, of Winchester House, Southwark, in the
County of Surrey, Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, CAPS, OR OTHER
COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to prevent the exudation of grease passing
from the hat leather on which the perspiration first acts through the body of
the hat, and so injuring the silk, plusb, or other material forming the outer
covering thereof. For this purpose I propose to manufacture a combination
formed by a drummed perforated leather and a grease-absorbing material, such
as prepared cotton, flannel, felt, or other. I place a strip of the material on
the face of the leather next the hat body immediately under the perforations,
forming a species of air chamber, and preventing the grease from passing
beyond the strip before mentioned.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Harper Bennett in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th October 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HARPER BENNETT, of Winchester House, Southwark, in the County of Surrey,
Hat Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Harper Bennett, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Harper
Bennett, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Harper Bennett, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, CAPS, OR OTHER COVERINGS FOR
THE HEAD," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Harper Bennett, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Harper Bennett, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of my Invention is to prevent the exudation of grease (perspi-
ration alone or combined with hair oil or other grease) passing from the hat
leather, on which the perspiration or combination of greasy matter just alluded
to first acts, to and through the body of the hat or other covering for the head,
and so injuring or destroying the silk, plush, or other material forming the
outer covering thereof. And my Invention will also prove to a certain extent
a ventilating medium, as the material I place between the drummed leather
and the body of the hat permits the escape of hot air from between the said
leather and body up to the crown of the hat, whence it may be allowed to issue

page_text: by any of the, known contrivances for that purpose. I manufacture my hat,
cap, or other covering from or with a combination formed by a drummed per-
forated leather and a grease-absorbing material, such as prepared cotton,
flannel, felt, horsehair, sponge, or any other absorbing and retaining material
that will answer my purpose. I perforate the drummed leather at that portion
which presses against the forehead when the perfect hat is worn; I perforate
either in a single, double, or more lines of holes. Above these perforations
and as high up the leather as I find conducive to my purpose, I place a strip
of the prepared absorbing material, this material lying immediately above the
holes and between the drummed leather and the inside of the body of the hat,
forms a species of air chamber, and prevents the grease from passing beyond
the strip of cotton (or other material) before mentioned.
Having now set forth the nature of my said Invention, and given directions
by following which it may be carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion,
that I do not confine and restrict myself to the precise details herein given, as
such may be varied or modified, and the distinctive character of my "Improve-
ments in the Manufacture of Hats, Caps, or other Coverings for the Head"
be still retained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Harper Bennett, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
THOS. H. BENNETT. (L.S.)