Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Smocking or Honeycombing Cloth or other suitable Material.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Smocking or
Honeycombing Cloth or other suitable Material.
OTHO HERBERT WEBB 8 Birch Lane, Longsight, Manchester Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the machine usually employed there are a number of fixed bars or strips of
metal varying from 100 to 400, and a corresponding number of bars or strips of
metal which are loose. The material to be smocked or honeycombed is laid on the
surface of the fixed bars, and then one by one the loose bars are placed between the
fixed bars, thereby carrying the material down with them, & forming it into a series
of pleates or folds. The whole is then steamed & ironed, the loose bars being then
withdrawn, & the material taken out of the macbine. & the edges of the pleates stitched
together to form the various patterns of smocking or honeycombing required.
In my improved apparatus only two fixed & two loose bars are used, & in this
manner a single pleat of the material is placed between the two fixed bars by means
of one of the loose bars. & whilst still in that position, is sewn without being removed
from the machine.
It is then lifted out and placed behind the further of the two fixed bars; a second
pleat is then put in, in a similar manner, stitched & lifted out as before, the first loose
bar being then withdrawn to be used in making the third pleat, and this process is
continued until the whole of the material required is used up.
The advantages claimed for this improvement are as follows:
1stly. The material does not require to be steamed or ironed.
2ndly. It is held firmly in its place while the stitching is performed, instead of being
held loosely in the hand as usual; thus securing greater accuracy and quickness in
executing the work.
Dali 0411
A 1000
OTHO HERBERT WEBB.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Smocking or
Honeycombing Cloth or other suitable Material.
OTHO HERBERT WEBB late, S Birch Lane Longsight, Manchester now, 67 Cecil
Street, Greenheys Manchester Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the machine usually employed there are a number of fixed bars or strips of metal,
varying from 100 to 400, and a corresponding number of bars or strips of metal which
are loose. The material to be smocked or honeycombed is laid on the surface of the
fixed bars, & then one by one the loose bars are placed between the fixed bars, thereby
carrying the material down with them, & forming it into a series of pleates or folds.
The whole is then steamed and ironed, the loose bars being then withdrawn, and the
material taken out of the machine, and the edges of the pleates stitched together to
form the various patterns of smocking or honeycombing required.
In my improved apparatus only two fixed and two loose bars are used, & in this
manner, a single pleat of the material is placed between the two fixed bars by means
of one of the loose bars, & whilst still in that position, is sewn without being removed
from the machine.
It is then lifted out (the loose bar being still left sewn within the pleat) and placed
behind the further of the two fixed bars; a second pleat is then put in, in a similar

page_text: :
manner, stitched & lifted out as before, the first loose bar being then withdrawn to be
used in making the third pleat, and this process is continued until the whole of the
material required is used up.
The advantages claimed for this improvement are as follows:
Lstly. The material does not require to be steamed or ironed.
2ndly. It is held firmly in its place while the stitching is performed, instead.of
being held loosely in the hand as usual; thus securing greater accuracy and quickness
in executing the work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1stly. The employment of only two fixed and two loose bars in place of the larger
number previously employed and
2ndly. The method of performing the work as herein stated.
OTHO HERBERT WEBB.