IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert William Hart, of No. 8, Eastcheap, in
the City of London, Engineer, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHIRTS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL."
Sealed the 22nd May 1874, and dated the 29th November 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert William Hart
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 29th November 1873.
I, HERBERT WILLIAM HART, of No. 8, Eastcheap, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL," to be as
follows:-
My improvements relates first to shirt fronts, and consists in making,
the same in two parts of equal width, or nearly so, and each of which,
parts covers the whole of the chest or that part commonly occupied by
the shirt front. These two parts are formed to overlap each other, and

page_text: the edge of each part is made to be buttoned or otherwise secured to the
shirt at the part not visible when the shirt is worn. I thus obtain a
double front, only one part of which is exposed at one time, while the
other part is covered, and therefore kept perfectly clean for another
occasion; and as the buttoning or fastening is at the sides and not
visible I obviate the unsightly appearance of worn edges at the centre
and most exposed portion of the front.
In some instances I make the two parts or flaps of the front of.
different shapes or patterns so that one will be suitable for morning and
the other for evening wear.
I also make the shirt open from the front downward, and make a
division at the back of the lower part of the shirt so that the same may
be made to fold and button or otherwise fasten around the legs; and I
provide these parts of the shirt with buttons to hold the drawers.
In some cases, instead of joining two portions of the shirt, I make 1
the same with holes for the insertion of the legs. And I also sometimes
make the drawers of the same material and in one piece with these
portions of the shirt, so that the shirt and drawers form one garment.
For this
On first
I also. provide shirts with duplicate cuffs, so that when one.
pair of
cuffs is dirty another pair will be available without changing the shirt ?
and without the inconvenience of putting on separate cuffs.
purpose I sew upon each sleeve two cuffs, one under the other.
putting on the shirt the outer pair of cuffs may be turned back over the
sleeve, the under or inner pair of cuffs being worn in the usual manner.
When these are dirty or no longer fit to be worn they are turned
inward and the other pair of cuffs is turned down to be worn in their
place.
My said improvements also relate to under shirts or vests and drawers
of flannel or other like material. This part of my Invention consists
in combining an under shirt and pair of drawers in one garment so that
the body and legs of the wearer will be covered by material of the same
quality and will be equally protected. The shirt or upper portion of
this garment must be open down the front to permit its ready putting
on and off, and it is provided with buttons or other suitable fastenings
in any convenient position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Herbert William Hart in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HERBERT
WILLIAM HART, of 8, Eastcheap, in the City of London, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Herbert William Hart, Her
special licence that I, the said Herbert William Hart, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Herbert William
Hart, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIRTS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF WEARING APPAREL,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Herbert William
Hart, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Herbert William Hart; do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
My improvements relate first to shirt fronts, and consists in making
the same in two parts of equal width, or nearly so, each of which parts
covers the whole of the chest or that part of the person commonly
These two parts of my shirt front are formed
to overlap each other, and the edge of each part is made to be buttoned.
occupied by a shirt front.

page_text: -
:worn.
or otherwise secured to the shirt at the part not visible when the shirt is
I thus obtain a double front, only one part of which is exposed
at one time, while the other part is covered, and therefore kept perfectly
clean for another occasion; and as the buttoning or fastening is at the
sides and not visible I obviate the unsightly appearance of worn edges
at the centre and most exposed portion of the front.
In some instances I make the two parts or flaps of the front of
different shapes or patterns so that one will be suitable for morning and
the other for evening wear. This part of my Invention may be applied
to detached fronts or dickeys.
The first part of my Invention is illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing, which shews two views of a shirt made with my improved
double front.
Figure 1 shews the external portion or flap a as worn, and Figure 2
shews the flap turned back to exhibit the under part b.
My improved shirt affords the following advantages, namely, without
changing the shirt or undressing a clean front may be had at a moment's
notice in case of emergency; and a plain or military front can be worn
during the day and a fancy front in the evening, a great advantage to
gentlemen residing a distance from town.
In consequence of the superior make and fit of the said shirt round
the neck and body and the support one front gives to the other the shirt
front does not become disfigured or untidy like ordinary shirt fronts, and
consequently keeps clean for a much longer period. The shirt being
made to open all the way down in front like a double-breasted coat fits
the body better, and can be put on and off with greater facility than an
ordinary shirt. The said shirt effectually protects the chest and lungs
from the cold in winter and drafts in summer, whereas with an ordinary
shirt the chest, which requires the greatest protection, is the least pro-
tected part of the body. The economy in washing alone will save more
than three times the cost of the shirt in one year; and as the said shirt
keeps clean for more than double the length of time of an ordinary
shirt the said improved shirt will be twice or three times the more
durable.
Three of these improved shirts will serve instead of six ordinary shirts,

page_text: of the greatest boons to travellers ever introduced, increasing his comfort
and at the same time reducing the bulk of his luggage. Wearers of
coloured or flannel shirts will have a change of pattern six times a week
with three shirts; and with all of the advantages above enumerated the
cost of the said improved shirt will be but little more than that of an
ordinary shirt.
I also make the shirt open from the front downward, and make a
division at the back of the lower part of the shirt so that the same may
be made to fold and button or otherwise fasten around the legs; and I
provide these parts of the shirt with buttons to hold the drawers.
In some cases instead of joining two portions of the shirt I make the
same with holes for the insertion of the legs. This formation of the
And I
shirt prevents the rising of the shirt at the back of the wearer.
also sometimes make the drawers of the same material and in one piece
with these portions of the shirt so that the shirt and drawers form one
garment.
I also provide shirts with duplicate cuffs, so that when one pair of
cuffs is dirty another pair will be available without changing the shirt
and without the inconvenience of putting on separate cuffs. For this
purpose I sew upon each sleeve two cuffs, one under the other. On first
putting on the shirt the outer pair of cuffs may be turned back over the
sleeve, the under or inner pair of of cuffs being worn in the usual manner.
When these are dirty or no longer fit to be worn they are turned inward,
and the other cuffs are turned down to be worn in their place.
My said improvements also relate to under shirts or vests and drawers
of flannel or other like material. This part of my Invention consists
in combining an under shirt and pair of drawers in one garment, so that
the body and legs of the wearer will be covered by material of the same
quality, and will be equally protected. The shirt or upper portion of
this garment must be open down the front to permit its ready putting on
and off, and it is provided with buttons or other suitable fastenings in
any convenient position.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and shown how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practise, I
wish it understood that I claim,―
First The improvements in shirt fronts, as herein specified.

page_text: Second. A shirt provided with my improved double front, and with or
without the double cuffs, made to fit and button around the legs and to
the drawers, or formed with holes for the insertion of the legs, as herein
specified.
Third. A shirt or under shirt and pair of drawers made of one piece
of calico, flannel, or other suitable material, as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert William Hart, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
JAMES EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
H. W. HART. (L.S.)