In- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, CAPS, AND BONNETS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Frederick Baker, of 14, Old Jewry
Chambers, in the City of London, for the Invention of "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, CAPS, AND BONNETS."—A
communication from abroad by Abraham Bogardus, of Matteawan,
Dutchers' County, in the State of New York, in the United States of
America.
Sealed the 8th August 1873, and dated the 15th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Frederick Baker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th February 1873.
I, WILLIAM FREDERICK BAKER, of 14, Old Jewry Chambers, in the
5 City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, CAPS, AND BONNETS," to be ·
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture
and honnate from prepared cured or tanned leather.
Shaba

page_text: or the skin of any animal, cíther with or without the wool, hair, or
natural growth remaining thercon, made weatherproof or waterproof by
either the process of permeation or coating.
The process of facture is as follows:-Add to one gallon of double
rectified benzine in a can or porcelain vessel five ounces of best paraffine
cut into small particles or shavings, put the can in a large vessel
containing hot water, and when the paraffine is dissolved shake the
liquid, and either dip the skins into it or coat them over with the liquid
with a brush, then hang up the skins to dry.
When the skins or leather are dry cut the same in a circular form,
place upon an ordinary hat block, such as is generally used for forming
seamless hats, caps, and bonnets, and proceed with the formation in the
usual way.
The first superiority of the Invention over hats, caps, and bonnets now
in use consists in its seamless character.
The second in the fact that it makes an article of wear very much
lighter than hats, caps, and bonnets made by other processes.
The third that it makes an article perfectly flexible, and yet one
which will reassume and retain its original form and shape after having
been crushed or compressed.
The fourth that the article is perfectly waterproof, and that without
rendering the material stiff, so that exposure and wear will cause it to
break or crack.
The fifth that the preparations used for rendering the fabric water-
proof do not discolor it, but leave it so that it may be made any color
desirable by use of ordinary colorings; this is a great advantage in the
case of hats, caps, and bonnets made from leather tanned in the ordinary
way without the growth remaining thereon, and in the case of those
made from skins with the natural growth, as any shade may be had;
whereas in the case of all waterproof hats, caps, and bonnets now in use
the preparations used to make them waterproof prevent their being
colored, while the ordinary colored felt hats are not waterproof at
all.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Frederick Baker in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FREDERICK BAKER, of 14, Old Jewry Chambers, in the City of London,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Frederick Baker, Her special
license that I, the said William Frederick Baker, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Frederick
Baker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, CAPS, AND Bonnets,”
a communication to me from abroad by Abraham Bogardus, of
Matteawan, Dutchers' County, in the State of New York, in the
United States of America, upon the condition' (amongst others) that I,
the said William Frederick Baker, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what 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 William Frederick Baker, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This. Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
hats, caps, and bonnets from prepared, cured, or tanned leather, or the

page_text: I claim the manufacture of hats, caps, and bonnets of leather or skin
rendered waterproof and flexible by means of paraffin, substantially as
described.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Frederick Baker, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
W. F. BAKER. (L.S.)