IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, FEATHERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN APPARATUS. USED FOR THE SAME
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Clark at the Office of:
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th January
1866. A communication from abroad by Bernard Viellefon, Merchant,
of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS,
FEATHERS, AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN APPARATUS. USED FOR THE SAME," to be
as follows:-
: Although this Invention relates more particularly to the use of spun wool.
for the purposes above mentioned all kinds of textile materials, hair, and
bristles are also applicable.
The following is a description of the Invention:-I use mandrils of wood or
other material of a conical, cylindrical, or other suitable form, according to
the nature of the article to be made; these mandrils are grooved for the
purposes of the Invention, and form the principal means for effecting such
manufacture.
I will now describe the method of using the instrument:-If it is desired to
produce a plume in white or colored wool I take a stout wire of metal or
other material, covered or not, but sufficiently pliant to facilitate its use for the
purpose intended. This wire is doubled together at its middle of a suitable
length for a plume, a certain portion being left to form the stem. At the
point where the wire is doubled a knot or loop is made through which is

page_text: passed the wool used for making the plume, and above this point is reserved
a part forming the head of the plume, the knot is then tied tightly in order to
form a stop for the wool; I then fix the wire on the mandril in a suitable
position, the two parts of the wire being opened so as to allow a passage
between them for the filling; I then wind the wool, in which may be added
one or more wire sprays, on the mandril one or more turns from right to left,
at the same time twisting the wires serving as the foundation; I then wind
on some more wool in a reverse direction from left to right, and twist the parts
of the wire foundation afresh after the wool has been wound on the mandril a
sufficient number of turns; this operation is continued until the plume is
completed, when the two parts are twisted several times to form a firm stop.
This being done the mandril is turned upside down, and the rings of wool
cut by following direction of the groove opposite to that which has served
as a guide for the rib, and so on throughout the length of the operation. This
being done, in order to finish the plume, the barbs or sprays of wool are spread
out on each side and carefully carded so as to give them a sufficiently light
appearance; if necessary another wire may be added of the same kind as that
forming the rib, which addition is made by twisting the two together; the
plume is now carded afresh, shaped of the form desired, and is then fit for use.
If it is wished to give the plumes a still more showy effect the surface is
lightly coated over by means of a brush with a gummy preparation, and before
this is dry it is sprinkled with any suitable sparkling metallic powder. Other
articles than feathers may also be imitated in a similar manner, such as
flowers, fruits, animals, and generally all articles used for toilet purposes and
military ornaments or trimmings.