IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH PIECE STUFFS, RIBBONS, LEATHER, OIL CLOTH, LINOLEUM, OR OTHER FABRICS MADE IN LONG PIECES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEASURING OFF DESIRED LENGTHS OF PIECE OR ASCERTAINING THE QUANTITY LEFT IN PARTIALLY CUT PIECES.
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson of the Liverpool and London
Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster Civil Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED WITH PIECE STUFFS, RIBBONS, LEATHER, OIL CLOTH, LINOLEUM,
OR OTHER FABRICS MADE IN LONG PIECES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEASURING
OFF DESIRED LENGTHS OF PIECE OR ASCERTAINING THE QUANTITY LEFT IN
PARTIALLY CUT PIECES. A communication to him from Messieurs Desbruères
Frères, persons resident at Paris in the republic of France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1883.
WILLIAM PHILIPPS [PHILLIPS] THOMPSON of the Liverpool & London Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH PIECE STUFFS, RIBBONS,
LEATHER, OIL CLOTH, LINOLEUM OR OTHER FABRICS, MADE IN LONG PIECES, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF MEASURING OFF DESIRED LENGTHS OF PIECE OR ASCERTAINING
THE QUANTITY LEFT IN PARTIALLY CUT PIECES [a communication to him from
Messieurs Desbruères Frères, persons resident at Paris in the republic of France]
"
This invention relates to means whereby the "length" yet remaining in or the
quantity already cut from a piece of cloth, ribbon or other fabric from which
pieces of varying length are from time to time cut, will be readily ascertained, as
well as the precise point at which the fabric is to be severed for the purpose of
cutting or otherwise separating therefrom a part of any desired length.
This invention will be found specially useful where varying lengths are to be
cut at different times, say for instance in retail shops, as the use of this invention
will result, not only in a considerable saving of time and labour, but will also
facilitate control, and by rendering frequent handling of the material less
necessary will prevent to a considerable degree the depreciation of goods caused by
their becoming "shop-worn"

page_text: In applying this invention to goods having a selvage which is removed before
the use thereof (or which, when the fabric is used is hidden) measurements of any
convenient kind are marked upon the selvage either in the process of manufacture
say by weaving or printing, or subsequently but before the material is " book-
folded" rolled up or otherwise made ready for exhibition and sale
It is preferable to mark the measurement twice, the two markings running in
opposite directions that is to say the numerals indicating the number of units of
measurement follow one another from right to left in one series and from left to
right in the second, the two series however are exactly co-incident in all other
respects.
.
It is obvious that upon inspection of of the series of divisions running from the
inner end of the roll or piece to the outer, the quantity yet remaining is read, the
last number of that series on the outer end indicating this.
The first number of the other series shows how much of the piece has already
been cut off.
If a length is to be cut it is only necessary to pay attention to the numerals to
ascertain, without the labour of actually measuring, where the piece is to be
severed.
If desired a single series of marks may be used, or two series (at the two sides
say of the piece) in which the numbers begin from the same end. In this case a
simple subtraction suffices ordinarily to show how much of the piece has been
cut or get remains, as the original length of any given piece is as a rule known.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said William Phillips Thompson
in the Patent Office on the 29th March 1884.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Liverpool and London Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Civil Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH PIECE STUFFS, RIBBONS,
LEATHER, OIL CLOTH, LINOLEUM, OR OTHER FABRICS MADE IN LONG PIECES, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF MEASURING OFF DESIRED LENGTHS OF PIECE OR ASCERTAINING
THE QUANTITY LEFT IN PARTIALLY CUT PIECES "-A communication to me from
Messieurs Desbruères Frères persons resident at Paris, in the Republic of France.
This invention relates to means whereby the "length" yet remaining in, or the
quantity already cut from a piece of cloth, ribbon, or other fabric from which pieces
of varying length are from time to time cut will be readily ascertained as well as
the precise point at which the fabric is to be severed, for the purpose of cutting or
otherwise separating therefrom a part of any desired length.
This invention will be found specially useful where varying lengths are to be
cut at different times, say for instance in retail shops, as the use of this invention
will result not only in a considerable saving of time and labour, but will also
facilitate control, and by rendering frequent handling of the material less necessary
will prevent to a considerable degree the depreciation of goods caused by their
becoming "shop worn."
In applying this invention to goods having selvage which is removed before the
use thereof (or which when the fabric is used is bidden) measurements of any
convenient kind are marked upon the selvage either in the process of manufacture
say by weaving or printing, or subsequently, but before the material is book-folded
rolled up or otherwise made ready for exhibition and sale.
It is preferable to mark the measurement twice, the two markings running in
opposite directions, that is to say the numerals indicating the number of units of
measurement follow one another from right to left in one series, and from left to
right in the second, the two series however are exactly coincident in all other
respects.
It is obvious that upon inspection of the series of divisions running from the
inner end of the roll or piece to the outer, the quantity yet remaining is read, the
last number of that series on the outer end indicating this.
The first number of the other series shows how much of the piece bas already
been cut off.
If a length is to be cut it is only necessary to pay attention to the numerals to
ascertain without the labour of actually measuring where the piece is to be
severed.
If desired, a single series of marks may be used, or two series (at the two sides
say of the piece) in which the numbers begin from the same end.
In this case a
simple subtraction suffices ordinarily to show how much of the piece has been cut
or yet remains, as the original length of any given piece is as a rule known.
Having now described the invention as communicated to me, I wish it to be
understood that I do not restrict it to merely weaving or printing the scales upon
the selvages, as it is quite possible to combine the scale with the cloth in other
ways, such as by branding, by adhesion, or even by using warp with the scale
marked thereon, by dyeing each length corresponding to say a metre when woven

page_text: of a different color, (this latter will probably only be practicable in rare cases) but
that what I claim as new under the Letters Patent is :-
1st. The combination with piece goods, ribbons, leather bands, oil cloth, linoleum,
carpets, and other fabrics made in long pieces, of a double scale or gradation
showing the lengths of the web at any point from either extremity, such scale
carrying figures letters or other indications of the principal divisions whether feet,
yards, or metres, into which such scale is divided, substantially as described.
2nd. The manufacture of piece goods with a graduated scale of lengths upon
the edge of same showing the length remaining in the roll or piece at any given
point.
-
In witness whereof I the said William Phillips Thompson have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
WHP THOMPSON (LS)