Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring Heads for the Use of Hatters.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 26th Aug.. 1889-Accepted. 28th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring Heads for the Use of
Hatters.
I HERBERT LEWIS JOHNSON, of 40 Piccadilly, W., in the County of Middlesex,
Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the flexible or plastic
metallic bands heretofore employed in obtaining measurements and contours of the
head. Such metallic bands are commonly made of sheet lead, covered with leather,
and are placed around the head and pressed with the hands until they fit closely all
round, they are then removed and placed upon a sheet of paper, or other suitable
material, and a template drawn from them, which forms an exact copy of the contour
of the head, and hats made from such template are necessarily a perfect fit. It is
however found in practice that much skill is required in removing the band from the
head and placing it upon the paper, to avoid distortion of the band and consequent
inaccuracy in the template, and my invention consists essentially in the combination
with such bands of suitable appliances, by means of which, when the band has been
fitted to the head, it can be removed therefrom and freely handled without changing
its form.
The metallic band is formed in two parts, the ends overlap at the sides of the head,
and are secured by screws working in slots.
A vertical metallic bar is fixed to the front and a similar bar to the back of the
band, and their upper ends are connected by two metallic horizontal tubes, one
sliding within the other and drawn together by means of an Indian rubber, coiled
wire, or other suitable spring. These tubes can be fixed in any required position by
means of a screw, and a little finger rest, or knob, is fixed on the under side to assist
in moving them.
To each vertical bar a pair of wings or rods are hinged, connected at their lower
ends to the band, and these wings can be secured in any desired position by means
of screws.
After the band has been fitted properly to the head the various screws aforesaid are
tightened, which has the effect of holding the band securely in shape, and it can then
be removed from the head by the horizontal tubes, which form a convenient handle,
and placed upon the paper, without fear of alteration in form.
My improved apparatus therefore constitutes a rapid and perfectly accurate means,
which can be used by unskilled persons, for obtaining templates for the manufacture
of hats.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring Heads for the Use of
Hatters.
I, HERBERT LEWIS JOHNSON of 40 Piccadilly W., in the County of Middlesex,
Hatter do hereby declare the nature of this 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 effect improvements in the flexible or plastic
metallic bands, heretofore employed in obtaining measurements and contours of the
head. Such metallic bands are commonly made of sheet lead covered with leather,
and are placed around the head and pressed with the hands until they fit closely all

page_text: round, they are then removed and placed upon a sheet of paper, or other suitable
material, and a template drawn from them, which forms an exact copy of the contour
of the head, and hats made from such template are necessarily a perfect fit. It is
however found in practice that much skill is required in removing the band from the
head and placing it upon the paper to avoid distortion of the band and consequent
inaccuracy, in the template, and my invention consists essentially in the combination
with such bands of suitable appliances, by means of which, when the band has been
fitted to the head, it can be removed therefrom and freely handled without changing
its form.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1, is a perspective full-sized elevation
of my improved apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevations through the
lines XX and Y Y and Fig. 4 is a sectional plan through the line Z Z in Fig. 1.
The sheet lead band is formed in two parts A A¹ and covered with leather, as indi-
cated by the thick lines in Fig. 3. The ends overlap at the sides of the head. A
hole is formed in each end of the piece A, and a slot C in each end of the pieco A¹.
A screw B provided with a head B' and a nut D, is passed through the hole and slot
on each side, so that by tightening the nuts D, the pieces A A¹ can be secured firmly
together.
Vertical metallic bars E E', are fixed to the front and back of the band, their upper
ends being connected by two metallic tubes F F, preferably square in cross-section,
sliding one within the other, and drawn together by an Indian rubber or other suit-
able spring H. A screw J passed through a tapped boss on the tube F, and bearing
on the tube F, is provided to secure the tubes in any required position. To each of
the bars E E a pair of arms K K¹ is pivotted, the lower ends of these arms being
secured to the band.
Screws L L' enter tapped holes in the bars E E', their ends when screwed up,
wedging between the pivotted ends of the arms K K', as shewn in Fig. 4, and locking
then in position. A small knob M is fixed to the tube F¹, its shank passing through
a slot N in the tube F, so that by placing the fingers in contact with this knob and
the screw J, a convenient means is provided for adjusting the position of the
tubes F F¹, with one hand.
A piece of leather P, is affixed to the inside of each end of the piece A, to form a
cover for the ends of A¹, and ensure a smooth surface for contact with the head of the
wearer. A small plate P is affixed to the upper edge of A on the inside, to form a
guide for A¹ and ensure the edges of the bands remaining level in all positions.
The apparatus is used in the following manner :-
The nuts D, screws J, L, and L¹ being all slackened, the band A, A', is placed upon
the head, in the position to be occupied by the hat. The spring H causes the halves
of the band A, A', to grip the head, and the band is then pressed in all round, until
it fits properly to the head. The screws and nuts are then all tightened up, which
has the effect of holding the band securely in the shape to which it has been moulded,
so that it can be removed from the head by the tubes F, F1, which form a convenient
handle and placed upon the paper for marking the template, without: risk of alteration
in form. The tubes F, F', are marked with divisions in the same manner as an
ordinary hatters rule, so that when the band is fitted to a head, the exact length
of the head is recorded on the said tubes, and the circumferential measure is shown at
the same time by means of divisions marked on the inside of the band.
The band is represented as flat, or having its edges in horizontal planes, but as
hats are ordinarily constructed deeper at the front and back than at the sides, I
may if desired, make the band in an arched or curved shape to conform thereto.
My improved apparatus constitutes a rapid and perfectly accurate means, which
can be used by unskilled persons for obtaining templates for the manufacture of hats.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 'I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a flexible metallic band, for obtaining measurements and

page_text: contours of the head, of appliances for preventing alteration in the shape of the band
after it has been fitted to the head, substantially as herein set forth.
2. A device for obtaining measurements and contours of the head, consisting of
a flexible metallic band formed in two separate pieces A A', joined together by
screws B and nuts D, substantially as herein set forth.
3. A device for obtaining measurements and contours of the head, consisting of a
flexible metallic band A A¹ as set forth in claim 2, in combination with vertical
bars EE', horizontal tubes F F¹, and a screw J, substantially as herein set forth.
4. A device for obtaining measurements and contours of the head, consisting of a
flexible metallic band A A¹ as set forth in claim 2, in combination with vertical
bars E E¹, horizontal tubes F F', a screw J, and two pairs of arms K K¹, with
screws L I, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 26th day of August 1889.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S.W., Agent for the Applicant.