Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Jan., 1888
Complete. Accepted, 12th Apr., 1888
Dated 12th March 1887.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment or Manufacture of Felt Hats.
We BERNHARD HERZBERG and LEO HERZBERG both of 23 Jewin Crescent London
Hat Manufacturers 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:—
This Invention has for its object to render felt hat bodies closer and better and to
impart a more perfect finish thereto.
To effect this previous to dyeing the hat body we block the same and dry it. We
then mount it on a suitable block or cone and shave it with pumice stone or sand
paper or other suitable abrasive substance. We then further finish the hat body with
à finishing medium either of wool or felt or of any other suitable material. We then
iron or hot press such hat body after which it may be veloured and after undergoing
these various processes it has a completely finished surface. We then again place
and fix the hat body on a suitable block either solid or perforated furnished with a
rim or frame which may also be either solid or perforated over which that portion of
the hat body which forms the brim of the hat is stretched and fastened in any con-
venient manner. Such block and rim are screwed or otherwise fastened together.
When so treating the hat bodies we take care to place two or more hat bodies on one
block in such a manner as to bring the finished surfaces of each two hats in contact
with each other so as to prevent such finished surfaces being exposed to the direct
action of the steam. When the hat bodies are so fixed they are placed in an air tight
steam chamber and covered over to prevent the condensed steam injuring the finished
surfaces. Such air tight steam chamber is constructed in the following manner vist.
A series of uprights a carry any convenient number of perforated shelves b. These
standards and shelves together form a rack which is placed in a metal dish or tray c.
This dish is mounted on a suitable foundation d. A steam inlet pipe e is fitted to the
metal dish or tray c through which it passes and is furnished at one end with a
nozzle e placed centrally underneath the rack while at the other end it is connected
to a steam supply pipe e. This supply pipe is fitted with a stop cock to shut off the
steam when required and also with a steam gauge g and safety valve h. An outlet
pipe is fitted to the bottom of the metal dish through which the steam is let off.
A hood fitted with a steam jacket j fits over the rack and is bolied and clamped or
otherwise fastened down to the metal dish so as to form an air tight steam chamber A.
The steam jacket is fitted with a steam gauge k and safety valve and also with a
steam regulator m to regulate the steam pressure in the chamber A. The object of

page_text: steam jacketing the hood is to form a steam chamber B3 which is supplied with steam
through an inlet pipe fitted with a tap o connected to the main sicam supply e².
The steam regulator m passes through the chamber Binto the chamber A. is an
outlet for steam from the chamber B. The hood is raised and lowered by means of
chains and pulleys or their equivalents actuated by winding apparatus of any suitable
description as indicated in the drawings. Steam is then let into the chamber B so as
to heat the hood. The hood is then lowered and fastened down and steam is turned
on into the interior of the air tight steam chest through the pipe e and nozzle e'. The
steam passes up through the perforated shelves thoroughly permeating the goods and
as it ascends it is maintained at the same degree of heat by the radiation of the heat
from the hood the object of heating the hood being to ensure the hat bodies on the
upper shelves being exposed to a similar degree of heat as those placed on the lower
shelves and to prevent condensation of the steam.
The hat bodies are then subjected to a steam pressure varying from about half an
atmosphere to about one and a quarter atmospheres for about 10 to 30 minutes. The
period during which they are so subjected to steam pressure should be governed by
the nature of the felt of which the hat bodies under treatment are made. In practice
we have found it preferable to begin with a low pressure and then gradually to
increase it until the requisite degree of pressure is obtained. The hat bodies after
being so treated are dyed then dried after which they are ironed or pressed hot and
veloured hot. They are then again fixed on a suitable block with their finished
surfaces together.
When treating soft hats such block is fitted with a foundation plate and after the
hats have been mounted thereon we place a top plate over the upper brim. We then
clamp or otherwise fasten such top and bottom plates together so as to press the brims
tightly between them. By this means we consolidate and finish such brims. When
necessary we introduce thin division plates between each pair of brims to intensify the
pressure and ensure keeping the brims in position. The hats are then placed in
the air tight steam chamber and treated as before after which they are taken out
dried brushed ironed veloured hot and pressed hot. They are then trimmed and
finally veloured hot.
When treating framed hats we mount each hat singly when dyed on a suitable
block and frame which are screwed or otherwise fastened together in any convenient
manner. We then place the hats in the air tight steam chamber and subject them to
a low steam pressure say from about 8 to 10 lbs. for a period varying from about ten
to fifteen minutes. They are then taken out dried brushed ironed and otherwise
treated in the manner above described with respect to soft hats.
When treating hard hats by our improved process the treatment of such hais either
in the white or when made of dyed wool is in all respects precisely similar to that
herein before described with respect to soft and framed hats the only difference being
ihat when steamed a second time the brims are not treated like the brims of soft and
framed hats but are stretched and fastened to a wooden or other rim in the same
manner as when being first steamed. When hard hats are steamed a second time
we prefer to treat them singly and we then subject them to a low pressure varying say
from about 6 to 10 lbs. or more the degree of pressure applied being regulated by the
stiffening in the hat under treatment.
By our improved treatment or process felt hats become closer and better and have
a cloth like finish imparted thereto thus giving them a more perfect finish and higher
lustre and permanently fixing such finish and lustre thereon Morcover felt hats so
manufactured preserve their shape better.
Our improved double steaming process is equally applicable to hat bodies made of
dyed material. In some cases where cheap hats are required the second operation of
steaming may be dispensed with.
We would observe that we are aware that it is the practice to steam felt hat bodies
to force the proof through them and we therefore make no claim to steaming felt hats
for that urnosa

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The double finishing and double steaming treatment or process as applied to
felt hais substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore specified.
2. Steaming one or more felt hat bodies on a suitable block substantially in the
manner and for the purposes hereinbefore specified.
3. The use for steaming a felt hat body or bodies of an air tight steam chamber
constructed substantially in the manner herein before described and shewn.
Datal this 10th le
T
1000
ELT & Co..
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London,
Agents for the Applicants.