IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS, BONNETS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1857

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Archibald Brooman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th July 1857.-A communication.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, E.C., Editor of the Mechanics' Magazine, and Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF HATS, BONNETS, AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD," (com-
municated to me by Monsieur Laporte, a foreigner residing abroad,) to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists in manufacturing coverings for the head, in the
following manner :-
A wooden block of the shape of the intended hat, cap, or bonnet having
been obtained, the sides thereof are covered with a cloth or fabric previously
saturated with a composition of gum lac and spirit of wine heated in a bain
marie. The crown, formed of similar material, and saturated with a light
composition, is next applied, and brought down just over the edges of the
body; the edges of the crown are thinned off to prevent too great thickness
at the joint; a brim, formed of similar materials, is next put over the block,
and united to the body by a strip of fabric similar to that of which the other
parts of the foundation are formed. When dry, this foundation is withdrawn

page_text: from the block, to be treated as hereafter explained, which treatment forms
the main feature of the Invention.
Preparatory to the body being covered with the material to be substituted
for silk plush, beaver, &c., it is coated with an adhesive composition, made by
boiling down, say, 100 parts by weight of linseed oil until reduced to from
one quarter to one half of its weight, according to the consistency to be given
to the composition, and adding thereto gradually, and while the oil is kept
stirred and agitated, about twenty parts of finely powdered white lead, and
when a homogeneous and nearly liquid paste has been formed it is removed
and rubbed down upon a marble slab, as in the grinding or rubbing down of
colors. Then a coating of this material is applied by a brush all over the
foundation, and to render it perfectly smooth and even a second coating or
brushing over with a fine brush should be applied. The foundation thus pre-
pared being now taken in the left hand, and a small rod in the right, it is held
under a sieve, from which is shaken wool, cotton, or other suitable material in
a state of powder or dust, the rod being applied to the hat, and the hat being
shaken, the whole for the purpose of securing an even and regular adhesion of
the powder all over the outside of the hat, which, after being dried in a stove,
or otherwise, is ready for the trimmer.
Any desired color can be produced by varying the color or shade of the
powders employed; and the hats, caps, or bonnets will be waterproof, very
light and elegant.
For a black hat or bonnet add a composition formed of lamp black, linseed
oil, and water acidulated with hydrochloric acid to the adhesive composition
before named, and use a black powder to sift over it.