IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Spence, of 8, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS." A communication from abroad
by Wolf Hagelberg, of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Spence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1881.
WILLIAM SPENCE, of 8, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
FLOWERS." (A communication from abroad by Wolf Hagelberg, of Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany.)
In the manufacture of artificial flowers hitherto practised the petals have been
made one by one of webs, paper, or other suitable inaterial in such a shape as to
correspond as much as possible to the natural form of petals, then the leaflets where
arranged and fastened one by one around a core according to the form of bloom
required. Such process of manufacture besides being expensive and consuming
much time is defective also from the liability to wear owing to the slight hold
possessed by the single standing petals, thereby also increasing the difficulties of
exportation.
This Invention has for its object a method of manufacture by which the above
named defects are remedied, and the purposes to which artificial flowers can be
applied are increased.
Discs of paper or other suitable material of a circular shape are made by means
of stamping machines in the required number of circles or corollas to which the
single petals are afterwards applied. The said discs have also applied to them
segmental pieces, the size of which gradually decreases from the base of the
flower to the apex thereof, all which segmental pieces within the original
circular form are made in a shape adapted to divide each disc into a number
of petals.
As a rule an even number of petals is to be taken in order to have on each disc
a bordering line of two petals coinciding with the axis of a segmental piece. The
bordering lines of the single petals are indicated as required by notches cut by
TD 871

page_text: means of a stamping press, then the single discs are bent together as far as
where the border edges of the segmental pieces begin to cover one another, and
they are united by a suitable adhesive substance. By this process of manufacture
each disc is made to constitute a consistent corolla, the single corollas varying in
size and inclination so that the corolla of the disc at the base shews the largest petals &
standing the most flatly, and the corolla of the disc at the apex shewing the smallest
petals standing the most uprightly. The single corollas are now in regular order
from base to apex put into each other, care being taken that all notches lying in
the axis of the segmental pieces be made to incline to one plane. Thus is obtained
an artificial flower which has the characteristic quality of allowing it to be folded 1
towards the above named plane without liability to injury.
The manipulation is facilitated by attaching the corollas (say, 2, 3, and 4)
inserted in the corolla (1) at the base by means of little pieces or edges cut by a
punch and centrally disposed, and which are bent round the lower rim of the
corolla (1) in such a manner that the fastenings during the operation of folding 1
cannot be disturbed.
The above described method or process of manufacture presents the following
advantages: First, each flower consists of a very small number of single parts,
thereby greatly simplifying the manufacture; secondly, the single petals are
contained in one corolla, not varying in shape, whereby their natural position is 2
secured; and, thirdly, each flower admits of being folded into a flat body and
is thus easily prepared for shipment.
Moreover the varieties of application are increased; for instance, if a flower is set
upon a star of leaves standing alone (calyx), and fastened upon that base by two
small tapes, it admits of 'being closed and opened by folding and unfolding the 2
calyx, so that the flower when not in use can be kept in a closed state.
When the flower is opened by unfolding the calyx the projecting ends of the
calyx can by merely a few stitches be connected with the material serving as a
base, so that the flower when opened will firmly remain in that position.
Artificial flowers manufactured by the above named process can be applied for 3
ornamenting cards, tickets, and similar articles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
August 1881.
WILLIAM SPENCE, of 8, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
FLOWERS. A communication from abroad by Wolf Hagelberg, of Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany.
In the manufacture of artificial flowers as hitherto practised the petals have
been made one by one of webs or fabrics, paper, or other suitable material, in such
a shape as to correspond as much as possible to the natural form of petals; then
the leaflets were arranged and fastened one by one around a core according to the
form of bloom required. Such process of manufacture, besides being expensive
and consuming much time, is defective also from the liability to wear owing to the
slight hold possessed by the single standing petals, thereby also increasing the
difficulties of exportation.
This Invention has for its object a method of manufacture by which the above
named defects are remedied, and the purposes to which artificial flowers can be
applied are increased.
The mode of carrying the Invention into effect is as follows:-Discs of a circular
form composed of webs or fabrics, paper, or other material suitable for the manu-
facture of artificial flowers, are by means of a stamping machine made in the
required number of circles or corollas into which the single petals of the intended
flowers are distributed.
In the accompanying Drawings the number of four petals is taken. The said
discs have also sectors, the size of which gradually increases from disc 1 to disc 4,
all of which within the circular primitive or elementary form above mentioned are
shaped in such a manner as to divide each disc into a number of petals (see.
Figures 1 to 4).
As a rule an even number of petals is to be taken for the purpose of having on
each diso a bordering line "a" of two petals to coincide with the axis of the sector
above mentioned.
Then the bordering lines "a" of the single petals are as far as required indicated
by notches formed by means of a stamping press. Then the single discs are bent
together as far as where the border edges of the sectors begin to cover one another,
whereupon they are united by means of a glutinous or adhesive substance.
By this means each disc is made to constitute a consistent corolla, the single
corolla varying in size and inclination, so that the corolla of disc 1 shews the
largest petals standing most flatly, and the corolla of disc 4 the smallest petals
standing most uprightly. The single corollas are now in regular order from 1 to 4
put into each other, but in arranging and combining them care must be taken that
all notches lying in the axis of the circle of sectors be made to incline to one plane.
Thus is obtained an artificial flower which has the characteristic quality that it
admits of being folded towards the plane above mentioned without any danger of
injury.
That manipulation is even facilitated by attaching the corolla 1 by means of little
pieces or edges n cut by a punch and centrally arranged, and which are bent round
the lower rim of the corolla 1 in such a manner that the fastenings during the
operation of folding cannot be disturbed.
On the Drawing Figures 5 and 6 represent the views of the Bower made of the
discs 1 to 4 in accordance with the process above described. Fig. 8 shows the
flower in the shape it assumes after having been folded for the purpose of
packing.

page_text: It will appear from the latter Figures that the petals exclusively fastened by the
projecting little pieces or edges, regardless of the consistency of their under parts,
are freely moveable so as easily to conform to the movement in the operation of
folding. Also in order to fasten the corollas two tapes h may be made use of, which
as shown by Fig. 7 are intended to connect the inner and outer corolla. An
additional hold may be given by a third tape k to be attached to the underside of
the outer corolla.
As above described, this new process of manufacture presents the following
advantages, viz. :—
1. Each flower consists of a very small number of single parts, the manufacturing
thereby becoming much simplified.
2. The single petals are contained in one corolla not varying in shape, whereby
their natural position is secured.
3. Each flower admits of being folded into a flat body ready for packing and
shipment.
Figures 5 to 8 illustrate the considerable advantage which the new method of
manufacturing presents for a variety of cases in which artificial flowers may be
applied for purposes of ornamentation or decoration.
If, for instance, a flower is set upon a star of leaves standing alone (calyx S) and
fastened upon that base by means of two small tapes i it can be closed and opened
by folding and unfolding the calyx, so that the flower when not in use can be kept
and be put away in a closed state.
When by unfolding the calyx S the flower is opened, only a few stitches are
required to connect the projecting ends of the calyx S with the stuff or fabric
serving as a base in order that the flower when opened may firmly remain in that
position.
It is also to be observed that the process of manufacture above described will
allow artificial flowers to be applied for ornamenting cards, tickets, and other
articles as used in social life (see Fig. 9); the flower is opened by unfolding the
card.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed (communicated to me from abroad as aforesaid), I hereby
declare that what I claim as of the said Invention is,----
First. The stamping out of discs in a circular form with progressively increasing
sectors as herein before described.
Secondly. The pressing or coigning of such discs according to the number of
petals required.
Thirdly. The fastening centrally within the outer corolla of the corollas formed
out of the said discs by bending the latter together as far as where the bordering
edges of the sectors begin to cover one another.
"
And, Lastly. The connecting of the outer corolla with its base by means of tapes,
as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Spence, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sighty one.
Witness,
FRANK REDMAN,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
WILLIAM SPENCE. (L.s.)