IMPROVE- MENTS IN WATERPROOFING CERTAIN WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Hickson, of Salford, near Manchester;
in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATERPROOFING CERTAIN WOVEN FABRICS."
Sealed the 24th March 1857, and dated the 29th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Hickson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
September 1856.
I, 'MATTHEW HICKSON, of Salford, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOFING CERTAIN WOVEN FABRICS," to be as
follows:
use,
I dissolve turpentine and purified wax by heat to a proper consistency for
and apply it in any convenient manner to single goods of light texture;
it is particularly applicable to silk or satin goods, moiré antique, light cotton
goods, or fabrics made of a combination of silk and cotton; but I claim the
use of the said composition of turpentine and purified wax to whatever
material it may be found applicable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Hickson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
HICKSON, of Salford, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of Septeinber, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, givo and grant unto me, the
said Matthew Hickson, Her special licence that I, the said Matthew Hickson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Matthew Hickson, 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, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS WATERPROOFING
CERTAIN WOVEN FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Matthew Hickson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my 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 imme
diately after the date of the said. Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Mathew Hickson, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the 'following statement
(that is to say):-
I dissolve the best refined white wax by heat and mix it with turpentine to
a proper consistency for use in about the following proportions:-To oue
gallon of turpentine I add' about two ounces of wax, the wax' being melted in
´any convénient vessel. I mix it with the turpentine whilst hot, and then put
the said mixture into an ordinary silk finishing machine, trough, or other suit-
able vessel, and if the goods to be operated upon are to be fancy, I pass them
through the liquid and then over a fire on to a roller; but if they are to be
plain, I pass them over a fire, then over and under cylinders and on to a roller.
This mixture and process is peculiarly applicable to single goods of light
texture, as silk or satin, moiré antique, alpaca, light cotton goods, or fabrics

page_text: made of a combination of silk and cotton, or other woven single fabrics
without coating. They are also applicable to some kinds of made-up goods,
as mantles, umbrellas and parasols, cloth boots, and other similar articles
requiring to be made waterproof and rendered durable.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly understood that
I do not confine myself to the exact proportions of the said materials, nor
to any particular process of applying the same to goods or fabrics; but I
claim as of my Invention or discovery, and which, to the best of my know-
ledge and belief, has not been hitherto used with the realm, the use of tur-
pentine and wax, in any suitable proportions, as a mixture for waterproofing,
improving, and rendering more durable woven fabrics and other goods
without coating, however the same may be applied.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Hickson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.
MATTHEW HICKSON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Matthew Hickson, in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.