IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILE FABRICS, PROAL
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Briggs, of the Castleton Mills, near
Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILE FABRICS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Briggs at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, onl
the 18th May 1858.
I, EDWARD BRIGGS, of the Castleton Mills, near Rochdale, in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OPPILE
FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be
as follows:-
My Invention consists in manufacturing an improved pile fabric
with a cotton warp and silk weft, the weft being thrown in so as to
produce a satin face on both sides of the fabric. In order to produce
a plush face on both sides of the said fabric the silk weft is raised by

page_text: suitable machinery in the same manner as is now customary in raising
a single face on a plush the object of this part of my Invention is to
produce a fabric having a plush surface on both its sides, whether the
same be produced exactly as above described, or by other means. I
also propose to produce patterns or designs on raised or tissue plush
during the operation of weaving by using coloured or partly coloured
weft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Briggs in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 18th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
EDWARD BRIGGS, of the Castleton Mills, near Rochdale, in the County
of Lancaster, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Briggs, Her special license
that I, the said Edward Briggs, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as T, the said Edward Briggs, 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, usc, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILE FABRICS, AND IN. THE MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Edward Briggs, 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 per-
formed, 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..
•

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Briggs, do. liereby de
clare the nature of iny said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
My Invention consists, first, in manufacturing a fabric with a cotton
warp and silk weft having a satin face on both sides. This fabric may be
produced in an ordinary loom; the weft is first floated over the warps
to form a satin face on the upper side, and then under the warps to
form a satin face on the under side, of the fabric. The mechanism for
actuating the beddles, in order to produce the requisite sheds, is well
understood by persons conversant with satin weaving, and therefore
does not require to be particularly described. When the improved
fabric has been thus woven the nap is raised by teasles or other suitable
mechanism so as to produce a plush face; the operation of raising the
nap to produce a plush is partly performed by the improved machinery
represented in the annexed Drawing, and partly by the usual machinery,
which is well understood in the trade, and forms no part of my
Invention.
.:
:
'
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
a; represents the framing of a loom; b, the crank shaft; c, the lay
sword; d, the breast bean; e, a cross rail; and f, the taking up roller.
Near the breast beam d, is the segment g, which is covered with needle
pointed or other cards or with teasles; and, is a similar segnient placed
near the cross rail e. These segments are made to vibrate on their
axes by the levers g', and h³, and by the bar i, which is jointed to an
excentric on the tappet shaft, or to any other convenient part of the
looni. When the loom is at work the fabric is carried forward by the
taking up
roller f, and the nap is partly raised on the upper and under
surfaces of the fabric by the cards or teasles on the segments g, and h.
The loose fibres in the teeth of the cards or teasles are cleaned out
by hand or by suitable machinery. I wish here to observe, that I
also propose to employ rollers in place of the segments g, and h: these
rollers may either revolve or vibrate on their axes. When rollers are
employed it is necessary to have a revolving brush to clean the teeth of
the roller, and to lay the nap on the fabric. Combs working excen-

page_text: trically may also be used in place of the segments g, and h. My
improvements also consist in weaving raised or tissue plush with printed
or party coloured silk weft, so as to produce a pattern or design during
the operation of weaving. After the weft has been printed or party
coloured it is woven into the fabric so as to produce a satin face (either
on one or both sides), which is afterwards raised into a plush in the
usual manner, or in the manner herein-before described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same. I would have it understood that what I claim is,
first, the weaving of such a fabric as I have described, having a satin
face on both sides, and raising the nap thereon to produce a pile fabric.
Secondly, I claim the improved machinery marked y, and h, as shewn
in the Drawing, and as described, for raising the nap on silk plush.
And, lastly, I claim the weaving of raised or tissue plush with printed
or party coloured weft.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Edward Briggs, have hereunto
set my hand and sealed, this Seventeenth day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
EDWARD BRIGGS. (L.s.)
EDWARD BRIGGS. (L.s.)