Improvements in Wigs.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wigs.
I CHARLES CLÉMENT COTIN trading as Charles Cottin of 289 Oxford Street in the
County of London Ladies' Hairdresser do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The wig foundation is entirely made with hair "human & horse hair" on a block
having the shape of a human head. Temples and the two corners on the neck are
provided with silkworm gut. There is two openings at the back one may be closed
by sewing the two edges together with two hair the other at the top of the back of
the head is round the size of that opening may be made either large or small.
Three hair platted together are placed round the foundation.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1896.
CHARLES CLÉMENT COTIN,
Trading as Charles Cottin.
CHARLES CLÉMENT COTIN trading as Charles Cottin of 289 Oxford Street in the
County of London Ladies' Hairdresser do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention has for its object the manufacture of a light and invisible wig
foundation, which affords free ventilation and is more comfortable generally than those
hitherto made.
Heretofore wig foundations have been made with their outlines formed of ribbon,
and with ribbon passing from the edge in various directions and connected to another
ribbon passing over the top of the head and down by the ears round to the back near
the neck. These ribbons were sewn to pieces of machine made tulle, cut to shape to
fit the various parts of the foundation, and metal springs were applied over the
temples and on the neck.
Now according to my invention, I dispense with the ribbon and machine-made tulle
and make the wig foundation by hand to the shape required, of human hair, horse hair
and other fibre, such as "silk-worm gut" and camel's hair.
It is made on a block of the shape of a human head, which I cover with sheet
india-rubber.
From one to four human hairs (or the equivalent of other fibre) are worked together
to make a hair net on the block with an ordinary crochet hook, either very small mesh '
or somewhat larger mesh being made as may be required, the small mesh being used
for wigs for bald heads and the larger mesh for heads on which is more or less hair
but not enough to prevent the necessity for a wig.
A wig foundation made according to my invention is represented in the accom-
panying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 is a back view thereof.
a is-a thread composed of horse hair, or of three or four human or other hairs or
fibre, which forms the front edge of the foundation, passing over the forehead, down

page_text: the temples, over and behind the ears, and down and round' to the back of the neck
b is a thread, composed of horse hair or other equivalent hair or fibre, which passe
over the top of the head, down the sides and round' to the back of the neck, some
little distance above the thread a. Two threads c. of "silk-worm gut" are arranged
one over each temple, and two others d are arranged one on each side of the neck
to obtain the same result as the metal springs hitherto used. Two pieces of
"silk-worm gut" e, or other equivalent fibre, are arranged on the top of the head
extending from the thread a to the thread b, so as to form a space at the top of
the head of two to four inches wide and three to five inches deep, or a continuous
thread may be used extending from the front end of one line e round the aforesaid
space to the front end of the other line e.
In the wig foundation represented in the drawings another thread is arranged
at the back, forming a circular space g, which may be of larger or smaller dimensions
as, may be,desired. The two ends of this thread extend down and divide the back,
hut, the, two parts of the foundation at such part may be connected. together by sewing
with, a, thread of two or three, human hairs, or their equivalent. If desired, instead of
using two separate threads a and to form the outline of the wig foundation shown in
the drawing, a single continuous.thrend, may be used. A are two. pieces of very fine
elastic, one on each side of the neck, to enable the two parts of the foundation at: the
back of the neck to be connected together if desired and to form springs.
There are generally three forms of wig foundation made, one being limited to
the space, enclosed by the threads a and b, a second being of the form shown in the
drawings,, that is.to, say, covering the entire head with the exception of a rather large
round open space g at the back, and a third of like shape but leaving a smaller round
open space g.
In manufacturing my improved, wig foundation of the form shown in the drawing,
I first pin the threads a and to the india rubber covered block and then, commencing
with one of such threads, I make.by hand a hair net over the entire space enclosed by
said threads and connecting the latter together, and, if desired, the hair net may also
be made over the circular space g.. When. it is desired by the wearer to make a
parting, either, at the middle or. at either side, I make the mesh of the net smaller over
the top of the head, in the space to be afterwards bounded by the threads a. e and. b.
I then pin over such net the thread b. and. I sew the threads e. e and springs cd
to the net, preferably with hair, and. I use the loose ends of the threads forming
such springs to connect the thread & to the net by passing them through the net
and around the thread , as in sewing. The outer ends of the threads c. d are
placed underneath, the thread a and extend a short distance beyond it, but the other
parts of said, springs are brought up above the net.
When the wig foundation is so far completed, I stiffen and strengthen the same
whilst on the block by the application thereto of a suitable varnish, such, for
instance, as white hard spirit varnish, the india-rubber coating on the block being
used to facilitate the stripping of the wig foundation therefrom without damage
after the varnish has dried."
These wig foundations may be made of any shade of hair or other filire, as may
be desired.
I prefer to soak the hair or other fibre employed in the manufacture of my
improved. wig foundation in a solution of ammonia, spirits of wine, or other spirit
or other non-syrupy alcoholic liquor. By this means the hair or other fibre is
rendered stronger and more elastic.
When the wig foundation has been removed from the block on which it has been
made, the two pieces of very fine elastic are threaded through the network on the
neck, one on each side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and, in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A wig foundation made of a single piece of network of human fiair or other

page_text: fibre, made by hand on a block of the shape of the human head covered with sheet.
india rubber.
2. A wig foundation of the character herein referred to having marginal.
threads a b connected together by hand-made network, preferably of human hair,
substantially as herein described.
3. A wig foundation of the character herein referred to having marginal threads a. b.
and cross threads e connected together by hand-made network, preferably of human
hair, substantially as herein described.
4. A wig foundation of the character herein referred to having marginal and other
threads a bef connected together by hand-made network, preferably of human hair,
substantially as herein described.
5. A wig foundation of the character herein referred to having springs c, d
preferably of "silk-worm gut" connected to the network thereof, substantially as
herein described.
Dated MATCH OUT.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents..