IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TAKING THE MEASURE OF THE HUMAN BODY
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Weston Bostock at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th February 1860.
I, GEORGE WESTON BOSTOCK, of George Street, Blackfriars Road, in the
County of Surrey, Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR TAKING THE MEASURE OF THE HUMAN BODY," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel mode of taking the dimensions of the human
figure, whereby cutters out may ensure a good fit of garment. To this end,
supposing I desire to obtain the measurements for a coat, or a lady's riding
habit, I cut out in any suitable strong material; as jean, moleskins, or leather,
a pattern of the garment, and I connect the parts together at the seams in such
a manner that when applied to the person the seams will open to allow of the
pattern fitting the figure if not sufficiently large at one or more parts, & in
order to suit persons of smaller proportions than the pattern, I provide hooks
and eyes or other like fastenings for securing the parts together when their
edges are lapped over. A note therefore of the amount of expansion or con-
traction of the pattern at the seams when fitted on the person, will enable the
tailor to cut his cloth with certainty of fitting his customer. Of these patterns
I propose to make certain standard sizes, the variations from which being
provided for by the facilities just noticed; for contracting and expanding the
patterns, will enable me to take the measure of persons of all sizes, say, from
24 inches to 48 inches, breast measure. The ordinary seams of the pattern. I

page_text: lace together with an elastic cord, and across the back, on a line with the
shoulders, I make a horizontal cut in the pattern, which I close by means of
connecting tapes marked with inches and attached to elastic bands. When,
by reason of the roundness of the shoulders of the person on whom the pattern
is fitted, this opening is expanded, the tapes will show the amount of local
distortion in the figure. I also make an additional seam across the centre of
each shoulder, which I lace up with elastic cords, and in the arm hole, just
below this seam, I make a cut of about 1 inches (which I close with a hook
and eye) to allow of expansion at that part, when required. Parallel with
each seam I sew on the pattern a line of cord, say, about half an inch from the
edge, and to the opposite side of the seams I attach hooks for catching on to
the cords and contracting the capacity of the pattern to the shape of the figure
to be fitted. The sleeve of the pattern I attach by hooks to cords or eyes set
round the arm hole. The back seam I lace up with elastic cord, and in the
lower part of the sleeve I insert a measure with inches, which may be pulled
out to shew the extra length required for the fore arm seam.
The like pro-
vision I make in the front of the pattern to give the measurement across the
breast or belly, the tapes being made to hook on to loops or cords on the opposite
side of the pattern, which is also provided with a line or lines of cord running
parallel to the edge thereof, for contracting the girth. On the sleeve I mark
a scale of inches to show the incidence of the elbow, and I also have a skirt
attached with springs to show how large or small the hips require the garment,
this last is only necessary in measuring men's coats. From the above descrip-
tion it will be understood that the patterns for waistcoats, gaiters, and other
tight fitting garments may be readily constructed on the principle of my
Invention.