IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN FIBROUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES WITH A VIEW TO THE PRODUCTION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS THEREFROM
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN FIBROUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES WITH
A VIEW TO THE PRODUCTION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS THEREFROM."-A com-
munication from abroad by Vittozio Secondo Ferrero, of Asti, in the
Kingdom of Italy.
Sealed the 12th May 1863, and dated the 9th March 1863.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 9th March 1863, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF CERTAIN FIBROUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES WITH A VIEW TO THE
PRODUCTION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS THEREPROM," and have petitioned Her Majesty
to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn declaration that the said
Invention is communicated to me from abroad by Vittozio Secondo Ferrero,
of Asti, in the Kingdom of Italy.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and seal

page_text: fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement, that is
to say:-
The said Invention relates to the application and use of certain fibrous
vegetable substances for the production of artificial cotton or textile materials
therefrom, and to a peculiar process for treating such vegetable substances.
According to this Invention it is proposed to employ the fibres of the agave
or aloe, linjetta linteana, hemp, flax, sorsago, Mannilla jute, and the fibrous
portions of the wild pine apple plant, and to treat them either separately or
together in the following manner :-The fibrous vegetable substances having
been first dried, are then subjected to a macerating process under edge wheels,
stones, or rollers, grooved or plain, in order to render the fibres soft and flexible.
These fibres are then to be placed in a vat containing just sufficient hot
water to cover them, and to one thousand parts by weight of fibre are added
six parts by weight of chloride of lime, or its equivalent proportion of bleaching
liquid or chloride of soda, and six parts by weight of sulphuric acid of com-
merce. The fibres are now allowed to macerate, the chemical action being
assisted if desired by the application of heat.
from the vat, care is to be taken to protect
contact with the atmosphere, and they are
water or in suitable vessels. The same chemical bath may be employed
for more than one operation. Finally, the partially prepared fibres are dried,
combed, and carded, and otherwise treated after the manner of treating
cotton for the manufacture of textile fabrics.
When the fibres are removed
them as much as possible from
then washed, either in running
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.
J. HENRY JOHNSON.
(L.B.)