IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SIZE
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS, PATENT to Frederick Crace Calvert, of the City of Manchester,
Professor of Chemistry, and Charles Lowe, of the same Place, Analytical
Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
SIZE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Crace Calvert
and Charles Lowe at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 25th November 1858.
We, FREDERICK CRACE CALVERT, of the City of Manchester, Professor of
Chemistry, and CHARLES LOWE, of the same Place, Analytical Chemist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE
MANUFACTURE OF SIZE," to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in the application of caustic alkalies for the purpose
of dissolving the gluten or proteine matter contained in the flour and amy-
laceous substances employed in the manufacture of size, such gluten or proteine
matter, in its undissolved state, being injurious to the free working of the
size, and causing the destruction, during its fermentation, of a considerable
amount of the flour and amylaceous substances used.
To manufacture our improved size we proceed as follows:-To four gallons
of water we add seventy divisions of an ordinary alkalimeter of caustic soda or
potash, but we prefer soda as being cheaper, at 68 Twaddle, or other alkaline

page_text: matters of equal strength, and then raise the alkaline solution to a boiling
point by means of heat or steam in a suitable boiler furnished with a stirring
apparatus. To other four and a half gallons of water we next add twelve and
a half pounds of flour or other amylaceous substances; and when the whole
has been well mixed, we pour the thick creamy liquor so produced into the
boiling alkaline solution, keeping the mixture well stirred during the whole
operation. The size so prepared is kept boiling for about three-quarters of
an hour, and is then ready for use for dressing, stiffening, and preparing warps,
cloths, tissues, and fibres, either of a vegetable or animal nature, and for other
usual purposes to which size is generally applied.
We wish it to be distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves to
the above proportion of alkaline matter, water, and flour, or amylaceous
substances, for, as will be well understood by all practical stiffeners and dressers,
the strength of the size must be varied with the style and description of the
warps, yarns, cloths, fibres, and goods to which it is applied.
The above quantities and strength are given as an example, and are
suitable for cotton warps.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Crace Calvert and Charles Lowe in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 21st May 1859:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, FREDERICK
CRACE CALVERT, of the City of Manchester, Professor of Chemistry, and
CHARLES LOWE, of the same Place, Analytical Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second
year of Her reign did, for Herself,: Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Frederick Crace Calvert and Charles Lowe, Her
special licence that. we, the said Frederick Crace Calvert and Charles Lowe,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Frederick Crace Calvert and Charles Lowe, our 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF SIZE," upon the condition

page_text: (amongst others) that we, the said Frederick Crace Calvert and Charles Lowe,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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 we, the said Frederick Crace Calvert and Charles
Lowe, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 :-
Our Invention consists in the application of caustic alkalies for the purpose
of dissolving the gluten or proteine matter contained in flour and amylaceous
substances employed in the manufacture of size, such gluten or proteine
matter, in its undissolved state, being disadvantageous to the free working of
the size. By the ordinary process, this gluten or proteine matter is partly
destroyed or rendered soluble by subjecting the flour to fermentation before
converting it into size by boiling. We find that a very considerable destruction
of the starchy matter of the flour also takes place during this fermentative
process, sometimes amounting to as much as fifty per cent., which destruction
our Invention obviates, and causes both the starch and gluten to become
available as size.
.
We prepare our patent size by two methods, according to the purpose for
which it is intended to be used. If it is to be employed for warps, threads,
woven fabrics, paper, or other goods that merely require the amount of size
necessary to make them weave, or render them stiff, we use one description of
size; but for warps, threads, woven fabrics, paper, and other goods which, as
is well known by practical weavers and paper makers, require the addition of
mineral or saline substances to add weight to them, we employ another..
For the first of these descriptions of size, we boil together, by means of fire
or steam, in a suitable vessel, a mixture composed of eight and a half gallons
of water, twelve and a half pounds of flour, seventy divisions of alkalimeter of
caustic soda at sixty-eight Twaddle.
The operation is commenced by thoroughly incorporating the materials in
the cold state, and then gradually raising the mixture to the boiling point, by
means either of direct fire or of a current of steam, we prefer the latter,
passed into the fluid. The whole is kept boiling, with constant agitation, for
half an hour, and is then passed through a copper or other suitable sieve of
two hundred meshes to the inch, or thereabouts. The above proportions

page_text: should yield about twelve to fourteen gallons of size, which is then ready for
use, and which we call number 1 size. If this size is required to be kept for
some time, we introduce to the above given quantities about one thousand
five hundred fluid grains, by measure, of turpentine to prevent the size.
becoming sour.
•
To prepare our patent size for weighting as well as stiffening purposes, and
which we call number 2 description of size, we employ the following propor-
tions, namely:-Eighty gallons of water, two hundred and forty pounds of flour,
one pint of caustic soda at sixty-eight Twaddle, and two hundred pounds of
sulphate of soda. We commence by mixing well together the flour and water,
and then adding the alkali, which is allowed to act on the flour for three hours
with constant agitation. The sulphate of soda is next dissolved in the mixture,
and the whole then forms our standard number 2 description of size; all that
it now requires being dilution to the necessary strength and boiling, which are.
regulated according to the purposes for which it is intended to be applied, and
well known by practical sizers and stiffeners. We name caustic soda as the
alkali we prefer to use, but potash or ammonia can be used as a substitute for
caustic soda, but either of those substances will be more expensive.
The advantages of our Invention are, that by the number 1 description of
size we effect a very considerable saving of flour or other amylaceous sub-
stances; and by the number 2 description of size, in addition to the saving of
flour or other amylaceous substances, we are enabled to gain a great increase
on the weight of warps, threads, woven fabrics, paper, and other goods,
stiffened or sized with it, over those articles sized by the ordinary processes.
We wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact
proportions above given, although we have found them to bo most generally
applicable, as they may have to be varied according to the goods intended to
be sized, stiffened, or weighted, as practical sizers and stiffeners will be fully
aware...
For warps, threads, woven fabrics, and paper, the descriptions of 'size
number 1 and number 2, prepared as above, may be applied by the ordinary
machines and methods now in use; where weight is no object, employing
number 1 size, and where weight is an object, by making use of number 2
size.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the best means
with which we are acquainted for performing the same, we would have it
understood that we are aware that flour and amylaceous substances have long
been used for making size, and that sulphate of soda has been used in con-
nection wit
_with paste or size made from flour or other amylaceous substances for

page_text: stiffening or otherwise preparing cotton and linen yarns, woven fabrics, and
paper; but so far as we can ascertain a caustic alkali or ammonia has never
been used as a substitute for the fermentative process usually employed in
making size, nor has sulphate of soda ever been used in connexion with our
improved size. We therefore claim the sole right to make, use, exercise, and
vend the said two descriptions of size, prepared as herein-before mentioned,
such descriptions of size not having, as we believe, been hitherto known in
commerce or used in the arts.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Crace Calvert and Charles
Lowe, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twentieth day
of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-nine.
F. CRACE CALVERT. (L.S.)
CHAS. LOWE.
(L.S.)
F. CRACE CALVERT. (L.s.)
CHAS. LOWE.
(L.S.)