IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SILK
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas William Lockyer, of 14, 16, and 16,
Cow Cross Street, Smithfield, in the City of London, Manufacturer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SILK,
Sealed the 26th April 1872, and dated the 27th October 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas William
Lockyer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 27th October 1871.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM LOCKYER, of 14, 15, and 16, Cow Cross Street,
Smithfield, in the City of London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF SILE, LINEN, COTTON AND OTHER FABRICS, SO AS TO RESEMBLE HORSEHAIR
CLOTH," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the introduction in silk, linen, cotton, or
other fabrics, of a certain Mexican fibre or foreign grass, which is
intermixed with such fabrics in their manufacture, the object being to

page_text: supersede the use of the horsehair which is far more expensive, and the
result being, by the adoption of this fibre or grass, quite equal, if not
superior, to the horsehair.
The material when manufactured will be used for crinolines, overskirts,
dress improvers, bustles, and various other articles where such a material
will be found adaptable.
The Mexican fibre or foreign grass is imported from abroad in large
quantities. For the various purposes intended for its use it will be
sorted, and in some cases dyed and interwoven into the various materials,
and thus horsehair may be dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Thomas William Lockyer in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 27th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
WILLIAM LOCKYER, of 14, 15, and 16, Cow Cross Street, Smithfield, in
the City of London, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas William Lockyer, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas William Lockyer, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas William Lockyer,
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 IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SILK, LINEN, COTTON, AND OTHER FABRICS,
80 AS TO RESEMBLE HORSEHAIR CLOTH," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas William Lockyer, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, 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

page_text: 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 I, the said Thomas William Lockyer, 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 :-
This Invention consists in the introduction in silk, linen, cotton, or
other fabrics of a certain fibre or foreign grass which is intermixed
with such fabrics in their manufacture, the object being to supersede the
use of horsehair which is far more expensive, and the result being, by
the adoption of this fibre or grass, quite equal, if not superior, to the
horsehair.
The material when manufactured will be used for crinolines, over-
skirts, dress improvers, bustles, and various other articles, where such a
material will be found adaptable.
The fibre or foreign grass is imported from abroad in large quantities.
For the various purposes intended for its use it will be sorted, and in
some cases dyed and interwoven into the various materials, and thus
horsehair may be dispensed with.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas William Lockyer, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
THOMAS WILLIAM LOCKYER. (L.s.)