IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALDS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Briggs, of Briggella Mills, Bradford, in the County
of York, Spinner and Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HEALDS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 19th December 1879, and dated the 21st June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Briggs at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1879.
EDWARD BRIGGS, of Briggella Mills, Bradford, in the County of York, Spinner
and Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALDS FOR WEAVING."
The object of this Invention is to construct healds in such a manner that they
can be made to weave any number of set.
I accomplish the above object in the following manner:-By making the balk
or band at the top and bottom of ordinary healds elastic, instead of nonelastic as
hitherto, so that a set of healds can by my improvement be made to weave any
fineness, or any number of set required. Whereas healds made in the ordinary
way cannot be made to weave finer than the set they are constructed for, for
instance, a set of ordinary healds made to number sixty set cannot be made to
weave seventy set, but this can be accomplished by my improvement.
Improvements have been made in this direction by means of wire healds which
are adjusted to the required number of set by sliding on a wire, but in using they
are liable to derangement which is obviated by my improvement.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Briggs in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th December
1879.
EDWARD BRIGGS, of Briggella Mills, Bradford, in the County of York, Spinner
and Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALDS FOR WEAVING."
The object of this Invention is to construct healds or heddles in such a manner
that they can be made to weave any number of set.
I accomplish the above object by making the balk or band to which the heald
yarn is attached at the top and bottom of ordinary healds or heddles of india rubber
or other elastic material, instead of non-elastic as hitherto.
My improved healds or heddles are mounted, and the ends of the bands secured
to the heald or heddle shafts in the ordinary manner; by regulating the tension
of the elastic balk or band at the top and bottom, a set of healds or heddles can by
my improvement be made to weave finer or coarser than the set they are con-
structed for; for instance, a set of ordinary healds or heddles made to number
sixty set cannot be made to weave seventy set, but this can be accomplished by my
improvement.
Improvements have been made in this direction by means of wire healds and
heddles which are adjusted to the required number of set by sliding on a wire, but
in using they are liable to derangement, which is obviated by my improvement.
What I claim as my Invention is,-
The formation of the top and bottom balk or band of elastic material, such as
india rubber in place of non-elastic as hitherto in common use for healds or
heddles.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Briggs, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
Witness,
JOHN WAUGH,
Engineering & Patent Office,
Bradford.
EDWARD BRIGGS. (L.S.)