IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE MANUFACTURe of Indian TURBANS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Merritt Apcar Gillam; of Mansion House Buildings;.
in the City of London; Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN THE
MANUFACTURe of Indian TURBANS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Merritt Apcar Gillam
at the Office, of the Commissioners. of Patents on the 9th November 1877.
WILLIAM MERRITT APCAR GILLAM, of Mansion, House Buildings, in the City of
London, Merchant. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF INDIAN TURBANS."
My, Invention relates to the, manufacture of, a, new description of turban, com-
posed principally, either of felted material or of cork covered with cloth.
Hitherto the turbans, worn by, different castes of the natives of British India and
Burmah. have been formed of textile material arranged in, heavy, rolls, layers, and
folds twisted into the shapes approved and. customarily worn by the, various classes
of the natives referred to..
Each class usually adopts one permanent and unvarying shaped turban unchanged
by fashion, and as hitherto constructed; the turban is a heavy, unventilated,, and
expensive covering for the head:
By my Invention,. when employing a felted material, I form the body and nearly,
the whole of the turban hollow in one or more pieces on blocks or in moulds, so
so as to give to the material the necessary shape; I also form the felted turban. so
that in colour and appearance, it resembles the turban at present in use, giving
with exactness a representation of the folds, plaits, lines, creases, and twists as at

page_text: present appear in the cloth-inade turbans usually worn; I also adopt a cloth finish
to the folds.
Instead of felt I sometimes use a cork body covered with cloth.
By my Invention means are provided for ventilation, a great decrease in weight,
and cheapness in production are secured.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said William Merritt Apcar
Gillam in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th May 1878.
WILLIAM MERRITT APCAR GILLAM, of Mansion House Buildings, in the City of
London, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF INDIAN TURBANS."
My Invention relates to the manufacture of Indian turbans in an improved
manner, so that while I preserve the general appearance, shape, and distinguishing.
features of the turbans now customarily worn by the various classes or castes of
the natives of British India and Burmah, I, at the same time, secure additional
advantages by producing a turban which can be made at a considerably less cost, is
much lighter in weight, and affords greater comfort and ease to the wearer instead
of the expensive, heavy, and unventilated covering for the head at present worn.
Hitherto the turbans worn by the aforesaid classes are formed of textile material
folded into heavy rolls and layers twisted into the shape required.
By my Invention, instead of forming the turbans of the above material folded
and treated as before mentioned, I make them either of felt, of leather, or of woven
material.
When I use felt or leather I first dye the material to the required colour and
shade, and I then by means of moulds form it in the manner well known to hat
manufacturers into the shape of the present turban customarily worn by the various
castes or classes.
When I use a woven material I, as before, first dye the material to the required
colour and shade, and then reduce the same into the required shape by stiffening
it with gum shellac, and causing it to adhere to and assume the form of blocks
similar in shape to that above specified with respect to the use of felt and leather
in a manner well known to manufacturers of silk hats and pull-overs.
My new turban is made in two parts, the upper and lower, which fit into one
another, leaving a hollow space between the two parts. I form the moulds and
blocks respectively of a shape, and with such lines, impressions, bends, and creases,
so that they will reproduce the material in a form which in shape and outline
corresponds with the present folded turban, and which represents the folds, plaits,
lines, creases, and twists as they at present appear in a turban which has been
folded and twisted in the manner at present adopted.
I sometimes use the above materials when so shaped as aforesaid as a body only
for the turban, in which case I afterwards cover the same when made as aforesaid

page_text: with a suitable material of felt, leather, or woven cloth dyed to the requisite colour,
and which has been stamped or pressed in the manner well known to hat manu-
facturers, so as to give the same the appearance of a cloth covering.
I get rid of the weight and want of ventilation, which, from its mode of con-
struction, must necessarily exist in the folded turban, by substituting a hollow
covering for the head, which preserves by the means above mentioned the outward
appearance and characteristics of the turbans now worn by the various castes.
;
Having now particularly described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, I will add that I do not
claim anything with respect to the manufacture of a hollow covering for the head,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim is, the manu-
facture of an artificially shaped turban formed of the materials and in the manner
herein-before substantially described in imitation of and in substitution for the
solid turban made of cloth twisted and folded into the shape required.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Merritt Apcar Gillam, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, in the year of our, Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
M