IMPROVEMENTS, IN THE TREATMENT OF HEMP AND FLAX. WASTE FOR UTILIZING THEM SEPA- RATELY OR IN CONJUNCTION FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON AND PAPER, OR IN COMBINATION WITH WOOL FOR MAKING IMITATION WOOL AND SILK FABRICS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of 6, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS,
IN THE TREATMENT OF HEMP AND FLAX. WASTE FOR UTILIZING THEM SEPA-
RATELY OR IN CONJUNCTION FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON AND PAPER,
OR IN COMBINATION WITH WOOL FOR MAKING IMITATION WOOL AND SILK
FABRICS." A communication from abroad by Jules Gruneke, of the City of
Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, and Rudolf Blum, of the City of Paris, in
the Republic of France. Cotton Manufacturers.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Henderson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1879.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEMP AND FLAX
WASTE FOR UTILIZING THEM SEPARATELY OF IN CONJUNCTION FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF COTTON AND PAPER, OR IN COMBINATION WITH WOOL FOR MAKING
IMITATION WOOL AND SILK FABRICS." A communication from abroad by Jules
Gruneke, of the City of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, and Rudolf Blum, of the
City of Paris, in the Republic of France, Cotton Manufacturers.
The object of this Invention is to use up hemp and flax waste, and by a special
treatment converting it into cotton equal to and possessing the advantages and
appearance of the best kinds, which can be used with success and economy like it
in all branches of industry in which it is employed, and in making the best aud
other classes of paper.
In converting these refuse matters into cotton of good excellent quality, a
chemical process is applied which admits of manipulating them without injury to the
fibre, and when manufactured giving to them all the qualities, beauties, and touch
of the best cotton.
We subject such refuses either singly or combined to the following process
-
1st. The waste hemp and flax singly or in unison are completely cleansed and the
filaments freed from straws and foreign matters, which is effected by the aid of any
known apparatus in general use for such purposes.

page_text: 2nd. Then when well cleansed, and in quantities sufficient for the requirements
of the case, these matters are washed in plain but preferably hot water.
3rd. The-substance-is-then-subjected-to-a-bath of caustic lye at 3 degrees Beaumé
(areometer), after which this filamentous matter is withdrawn and well washed
Fin-plenty of water.
4th. The operation is continued by submitting the matters thus prepared to a
-fresh-bath of ainmoniacal oxyd of copper at 2 degrees Beaumé (areometer); it is
again withdrawn and immediately rewashed in ample water..
5th. The matter is then bleached by the usual and ordinary means, and again
washed in plenty of water without any special precautions.
6th. After bleaching, the matters are submitted to the action of a bath of spirit
of salt or hydrocloric acid at 3 degrees Beaumé (areometer), and is then thoroughly
washed.
1
These hemp and flax substances, whether used in combination or separately, as
may be desired, are then submitted to a soap bath, and are again washed.
8th. And the filamentous matters thus prepared are dried, and are then ready for
use as cotton in all the branches of industry where cotton is used.
These same vegetable matters treated as already described are also mixed with
wool, and are then carded together, spun, and woven by the ordinary and well
known methods for imitating woolen or silk manufactures.
The proportions of admixture of vegetable matters with the wool would vary
according as it is desired to effect a more or less close resemblance to silk or
wool.
After weaving, the fabric is dressed and finished in the usual manner, which
gives it the consistency and lustre which characterizes silk fabrics.
The tissue may be died any requisite colour either before or after weaving.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Charles Henderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th January 1880.
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEMP AND FLAX
WASTE FOR UTILIZING THEM SEPARATELY OR IN CONJUNCTION FOR THE MANU-
FACTURE OF COTTON AND PAPER, OR IN COMBINATION WITH WOOL FOR MAKING
IMITATION WOOL AND SILK FABRICS." A communication from abroad by Jules
Gruneke, of the City of Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, and Rudolf Blum, of the
City of Paris, in the Republic of France, Cotton Manufacturers.
The object of this Invention is to use up hemp and flax waste, and by a special
treatment converting it into cotton equal to and possessing the advantages and
appearance of the best kinds, which can be used with success and economy like it
in all branches of industry in which it is employed, and in making the best and
other classes of paper.
.
In converting these refuses into good cotton of excellent quality, a chemical
process is applied which admits of manipulating them without injury to the fibre,
and when manufactured giving to them all the qualities, beauties, and touch of the
best cottons.
Such refuses are subjected either singly or combined to the following process:-
1st. The waste hemp and flax singly or in unison are completely cleansed and the
filaments freed from straws and foreign matters, which is effected by the aid of any
known apparatus in general use for such purposes.
2nd. Then when well cleansed, and in quantities sufficient for the requirements
of the case, these matters are washed in plain but preferably hot water.
3rd. The substance is then subjected to a bath of caustic lye at 3 degrees Baumé
(areometer), after which this filamentous matter is withdrawn and well washed in
plenty of water.
4th. The operation is continued by submitting the matters thus prepared to a
fresh bath of ammoniacal oxyd of copper at 2 degrees Baumé (areometer); it is
again withdrawn and immediately rewashed in ample water.
5th. The matter is then bleached by the usual and ordinary means, and again
washed in plenty of water without any special precautions.
6th. After bleaching, the matters are submitted to the action of a bath of spirit
of salt or hydrocloric acid at 3 degrees Baumé (areometer), and is then thoroughly
washed.
7th. These hemp and flax substances, whether used in combination or separately,
as may be desired, are then submitted to a soap bath, and are again washed.
8th. And the filamentous matters thus prepared are dried, and are then ready for
use as cotton in all the branches of industry where cotton is used.
These same vegetable matters treated as already described are also mixed with
wool, and are then carded together, spun, and woven by the ordinary and well
known methods for imitating woollen or silk manufactures.
The proportion of admixture of the several matters would vary according as it is
desired to effect a more or less close resemblance to silk or wool.
After weaving, the fabric is dressed and finished in the nsual manner, which gives
it the consistence and lustre which characterizes silk fabrics.
The matter may be dyed any requisite colour either before or after weaving.
In mixing the vegetable and animal matters above mentioned for producing a
fabric having the appearance of wool it is not glazed, but for imitation silk the
fabric must be glazed and calendered.
What is claimed is the treatment of hemp and flax waste separately or in combi-
nation for producing therefrom cotton equal to the best kind by the means

page_text: precisely as herein mentioned, and by the method specified. Claim is also made to
the admixture of wool with the product of the hemp and flax waste process for
-making-fabrics-having-the-appearance-of-woollen-or-silk-manufactures, -the-latter
being glazed and calendered.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.