AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MANU- PACTURING WATERPROOF HATS
Year: 1812

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BASSETT
BURROWS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Hatter, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifth day of May,
in the fifty-second year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said Bassett
Burrows, my exors, adiñors,, and assigns, His especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Bassett Burrows, my exors, admors,
and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term of years therein men-
tioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my. Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF MANU-
PACTURING WATERPROOF HATS;" in which said Letters Patent there is containied
a proviso that if J, the said Bassett Burrows, shall not particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, by an instrument in, writing under my hand and seal,
and cause the same to be inrolled in His His Majesty's High Court of Chan-
cery within two calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and
advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine, and
become void, as in and by the same (relation being thereunto had) may more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Bassett Burrows, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained as follows (that is to say) :-
I take hats made in the regular way, commonly called stuff hats, with the
under side of the brim not napped, and block them on round crown blocks.
I then put them in the usual stove till dry. I then take them off the blocks,
and stiffen them by the following method:-I take one quart or thereabouts
of spirits of wine, and one pound or thereabouts of shellack, or any other
proportionable quantities, and I mix them in a copper (or other proper) kettle
or vessel. I then place the said kettle or vessel in a furnace of boiling water,
or water of a sufficient heat to answer the intended purpose, and I keep
stirring such ingredients until they become properly mixed or united; and,
when cold, being then fit for use, I proceed to well rub such mixture, either by
hand or in any other convenient way, into the crowns and brims of the said
hats, at the same time being careful that it does not come through on the
napped sides thereof, and yet the said mixture must be so rubbed in on the
under sides of the brims as to remain as clear on the surface as possible. I
then dry them in the stove, and when dry I take them to the plank, and
beaver the under sides thereof; when I have so done I block them very tight,
and then card dye, steam, and finish them in the usual way..
In witness whereof, I, the said Bassett Burrows, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twelve.