A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTONS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Joseph Smith, of Stretford, in the County
of Lancaster, Salesman, for the Invention of "A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT IN
BUTTONS."
Sealed the 3rd April 1855, and dated the 21st October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Joseph Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st October 1854.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH SMITH, of Stretford, in the County of Lancaster,
Salesman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "A CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTONS" to be as follows:-
My Invention applies solely to that description of buttons which have
covered surfaces, and are ornamented with a figure, pattern, or device, which
has hitherto been produced by weaving or other similar means. My improve-
ment consists in the novel application, employment, or use of embossed "india-
rubber cloth" for such purposes, which will considerably improve the durability
of the figured covered button, and have an equal effect or appearance to those
figured buttons ordinary produced. The india-rubber cloth may be produced
in the ordinary manner, and of any desired quality or colour, and it may be
embossed by any suitable means or machinery immediately after it is manu-
factured, or at any time, either before or after it is applied to, and becomes
part of, the improved button, or, if preferred, during the process of its
manufacture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William. Joseph Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st April 1855...
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOSEPII SMITII, of Stretford, in the County of Lancaster, Salesman, send
greeting.
2
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Joseph Smith, Her especial licence that I, the said William
Joseph Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said. William Joseph Smith, 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
"A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTONS," upon the condition, amongst others,
that I, the said William Joseph Smith, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 William Joseph Smith, 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; that is to say:
"
My Invention applies to that description of buttons having covered surfaces,
as well as those which are ornamented with a figure, pattern, or device, hitherto
produced by weaving or other similar means. My improvement consists in
the novel application, employment; and use of embossed "india-rubber cloth
for such purposes, which will considerably improve the durability of the covered
button, and have an equal effect or appearance to those figured buttons ordi-
narily produced. The "india-rubber cloth " may be produced in the ordinary
imanner, and of any desired quality or color, and it may be embossed by any
suitable means or machinery inmediately after it is manufactured, or at any
time either before or after it is applied to, and becomes part of, the improved
button, or, if preferred, during the process of its manufacture. By india-

page_text: rubber cloth I wish it to be understood that I mean any cloths of plain or
fancy character that are coated with a solution of "india-rubber," either by
itself or in combination with any other material or materials at present in use
for making, covering, or coating such cloths. The buttons may be manu-
factured by the usual methods employed in such manufacture, when by the
addition of this improvement the button is capable of receiving similar impress-
ment or embossing after its manufacture as those ornamental covered buttons
at present in use, and produced by weaving and similar means previous to
the complete manufacture of the button. Buttons manufactured with this
improvement applied are especially easy of being impressed or embossed, and
present a surface peculiarly adapted for receiving ornamental designs, as well
as possessing great durability. Cloths may be manufactured by flocks being
sprinkled or sifted over grounds or bases of "india-rubber," or the flocks and
india-rubber, either separate or as a compound mixture, may be amalgamated
whilst the mixture is in a liquid state.
Cloths as above described are equally
available for the purposes as before mentioned, the face representing a felt or
woollen cloth surface, and being extremely durable.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be put into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood
that I claim the novel application, employment, and use of embossed "india-
rubber cloths" for the purpose of coating or covering either plain or ornamental
buttons;
the figuring, stamping, or embossing to be produced either before, at
the same time, or after the button is covered, as herein particularly described
and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Joseph Smith, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
WILLIAM JOSEPH SMITH. (L.S.)