IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FLOSS SILK
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
in the County of Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF FLOSS SILK."-A communication from Edmond
Royer and Felix Rouse, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Silk
Manufacturers.
Sealed the 3rd September 1857, and dated the 3rd April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd April 1857.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FLOSS SILK," a communication from
Edmond Royer and Felix Rouse, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Silk
Manufacturers, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of treating floss silk, whether in
a raw or spun state, whereby its texture and properties are greatly improved.
According to this Invention, the silk to be treated is submitted to the action

page_text: of a bath, composed of a solution of caustic potash, soda, or ammonia, heated
to about one hundred and seventy-six degrees Fahrenheit, the water employed
in the solution being first entirely freed from calcareous salts. The silk is
then well washed in pure water, and if it is be dyed black it is treated with
sulpho-nitrate of iron and washed, when it is again placed in the bath above
referred to, and the salts of iron contained in the silk is transformed into
peroxide of iron, after which the silk is again washed. It is then plunged
into an acidulated bath of prussiate of potass and is again washed. After
the last operation the silk is "galled" by being steeped in an extract of
chesnuts, or other analogous bath, when it is again washed and then submitted
to the black dye. The process is completed by washing and drying, when the
product is ready for market.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and
of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson,, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FLOSS SILK," a communication from Edmond
Royer and Felix Rouse, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Silk Manu-
facturers, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to an improved mode of treating floss silk,
whether in a raw or spun state, whereby its texture and properties are greatly
improved and a very superior article is produced.
In carrying out this Invention, I employ a solution, compound of about
twenty-eight drams and one quarter avoirdupoise of caustic soda, caustic
potash, or ammonia, to about two and quarter imperial gallons of water
(care being taken that the water be previously freed from all calcareous salts).
This solution is raised to the temperature of about 176° of Fahrenheit's scale,
into which the floss silk or material to be acted upon is placed, and allowed to
remain therein the requisite time, and the proper length of time can be readily
ascertained by the naked eye. It is then withdrawn and well washed in pure
water. If the material under treatment be required to be dyed black, it is
placed in a solution of sulpho-nitrate of iron, the material is then washed, after
which it is immersed in a solution of caustic soda, potash, or ammonia, similar
to that above described. By this process the salt of iron which the silk con-
tained is converted into peroxide of iron. The silk is then washed, and after-
wards plunged into an acidulated solution of prussiate of potash and again
washed. After this operation the silk is "galled," by being steeped in extract
of chesnuts or some similar bath; after which it is again washed, and when dry
the process is complete, and the material is ready for the market.
I would here observe that this process is applicable to manufactured goods
as well as to the raw material.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating
from the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-.
First, the system or mode of treating floss silk, whether in a raw or spun

page_text: state, for the purpose of improving its texture and properties, as herein-before
described.
Second, the system or mode of dyeing floss silk, herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)