IMPROVEMENTS IN STATS AND CORSETS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Williamson, of Leighton Buzzard,'
in the County of Bedford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STATS AND CORSETS."
Sealed the 6th July 1875, and dated the 9th January 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Williamson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th January 1875.
I, CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMSON, of Leighton Buzzard, in the County of
Bedford, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN STAYS AND CORSETS," to be as follows :—
The object of my Invention is to improve the construction of stays
and corsets by combining in such construction a material not hitherto
used for the purpose in substitution for whalebone, cane, or cork, which
have been hitherto used for support in stays and corsets, and by such
improved construction the stays and corsets will possess many important
advantages over those at present in use, as they will be lighter, easier in

page_text: wear, will not keep up an unpleasant heat in the body (which is the case
with cork lined stays or corsets), and will be cheaper. The material I
use is straw or Tuscan plait, or willow plait, or plaits of any analogous
pliable material. Having plaited the material I reduce it to the depth
required for the stay or corset, and I introduce the same between two
thicknesses of woven fabric, securing the plait between such woven
material by stitching or other analogous means. This I then stitch into
or secure between the two thicknesses of material of which the stay or
corset is composed at such points in such stays or corsets as may be
desired, as a substitute for the whalebone, canc, or cork heretoforo
employed.
Sometimes instead of first securing the plait between the two thick-
nesses of woven fabric and then stitching it into the stay or corset I
stitch or secure the plait into the stay or corset direct. By these means I
construct stays or corsets possessing the various advantages above
stated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Christopher Williamson in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 9th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHRISTOPHER
WILLIAMSON, of Leighton Buzzard, in the County of Bedford, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing dato the Ninth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty- |
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Christopher Williamson, Her
special licence, that I, the said Christopher Williamson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Christopher
Williamson, 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 STAYS AND CORSETS," upon the condition

page_text: (amongst others) that 1, the said Christopher Williamson, 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 Christopher Williamson, 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:-
-
"
The object of my Invention is to improve the construction of stays
and corsets by combining in such construction a material not hitherto
used for the purpose in substitution for whalebone, cane, or cork, which
have been hitherto used for support in stays and corsets, and by such
improved construction the stays and corsets will possess many important
advantages over those at present in use, as they will be lighter, easier in
wear, will not keep up an unpleasant heat in the body (which is the case
with cork lined stays and corsets), and will be cheaper. The material I
use is straw or Tuscan plait, or willow plait, or plaits of any analogous ·
pliable material. Having plaited the material I reduce it to the depth
required for the stay or corset, and I introduce the samo between two
thicknesses of woven fabric, securing the plait between such woven
material by stitching or other analogous means. This I then stitch into
or secure between the two thicknesses of material of which the stay or
corset is composed at such points in such stays or corsets as may be
desired as a substitute for the whalebone, cane, or cork heretoforo
employed.
Sometimes instead of first securing the plait between the two thick-
nesses of the woven fabric and then stitching it into the stay or corset I
stitch or secure the plait into the stay direct. By these means I con-
struct stays or corsets possessing the various advantages above stated.
Having thus far particularly described the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and stated generally how and in what manner the same may be
performed or carried out in practice, I will now further describe and
ascertain in detail in what manner the same can be performed or carried
out in practice by referring to the Drawing or Diagram accompanying

page_text: these Presents, which shows one-half of a corset doubled on the other
half, and indicates points or places where according to usual require-
ments the straw or other plait is introduced, although it must be understood
that I do not limit myself to such points or places only, as they may be
varied as found requisite; indeed, if thought desirable, the plait might 5
be introduced throughout the whole corset or stay, and further parts of
stays or corsets might be made according to my Invention.
half, and indicates points or places where according to usual require-
ments the straw or other plait is introduced, although it must be understood
that I do not limit myself to such points or places only, as they may be
varied as found requisite; indeed, if thought desirable, the plait might 5
be introduced throughout the whole corset or stay, and further parts of
stays or corsets might be made according to my Invention.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING,
which shows one-half of a corset doubled on the other.
A is used to denote the points or places where the plait is introduced; 1
B, the usual whalebones for back, the small circles denoting the holes for
lacing; C, the usual steels at front; D, stud; and E, E, catches, d, e, e,
being on the other part of corset as usual.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put 1
in practice, I hereby declare that I claim tho said Invention of “Im-
provements in Stays and Corsets," substantially as herein-before set
forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Williamson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of July, in the 2
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and soventy-five.
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross, S.W.