IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS USABLE AS FLOORCLOTHS OR FOR OTHER PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Rowan, Manufacturing Chemist, and
John Robertson Reid, Manufacturer, both of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS USABLE AS FLOORCLOTHS OR FOR OTHER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Rowan and
John Robertson Reid at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 30th April 1874.
We, THOMAS ROWAN, Manufacturing Chemist, and JOHN ROBERTSON
REID, Manufacturer, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS USABLE AS FLOORCLOTHS OR FOR OTHER
PURPOSES, AND IN COMPOSITIONS TO BE USED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE," to be as
follows, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the manufacturing of fabrics usable
as floorcloths or otherwise in a simple manner, and out of comparatively

page_text: inexpensive materials, and it relates in part to improved compositions to
be used in carrying out the processes described in the Specification of
Letters Patent granted to Thomas Rowan, one of the present applicants,
and dated 22nd July 1873 (No. 2507).
An improved floorcloth composition is made by dissolving shellac in a
solution of borax or of ammonia, and next dissolving glue in the same in
the proportion of about eight parts glue. to one part of shellac. With
this compound solution oil is mixed in the manner and to the extent
indicated in the earlier Specification herein-before referred to. The oil
may have previously combined with it about a fourth of its weight of a
combination of rubber and rosin made by dissolving the former in the
latter with the aid of heat. Finally, sawdust or other inert materials
may be mixed into the composition, being moistened with glycerine
when necessary, as described in the earlier Specification.
By another part of the present Invention an improved fabric is formed
by applying a coating of the composition herein-before described between
a backing of jute or other suitable material or fabric, and a surface cloth
of jute or other suitable woven fabric. The composition is applied to
the backing in a uniform manner by means of rollers or otherwise, and
the surface cloth is then applied upon the composition. The surface
cloth is by preference of a repp, tapestry, or twilled texture, and it is
ornamented by being printed with oil colours either before or after its
combination with the composition. The adhesion of the fabrics to the
composition is secured by the heated state of the latter when it is freshly
made, or by applying heat after it has cooled. By these means a fabric
is obtained which in many respects resembles a carpet, but is impervious
to moisture, whilst its surface may be cleansed by washing. The com-
position between the two woven fabrics may be modified ; any flexible or
elastic and waterproof compound answering the purpose.
In some cases the desired thickness of floorcloth may be obtained by
combining one or more plies of cloth or fibrous materials with the
composition between the backing and surface cloths.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Rowan and John Robertson Reid in the.
Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
ROWAN, Manufacturing. Chemist, and JOHN ROBERTSON REID, Manu-
facturer, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Thomas Rowan and John Robertson Reid, Her
special licence that we, the said Thomas Rowan and John Robertson Reid,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or sucl others as we, the said
Thomas Rowan and John Robertson Reid, our 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 FABRICS
USABLE AS FLOCRCLOTHS OR FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE COMPOSITIONS TO BE USED
In such ManufacTURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Thomas Rowan and John Robertson Reid, our executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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 per-
formed, and cause 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 we, the said Thomas Rowan and John
Robertson Reid, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing,
that is to say :-
Our said Invention has for its object the manufacturing of fabrics

page_text: usable as floorcloths or otherwise in a simple manner, and out of com-
paratively inexpensive materials, and it relates in part to improved
compositions to be used in carrying out the processes described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to Thomas Rowan, one of us, and
dated 22 July 1873 (No. 2507).
In carrying out the part of our present Invention relating to improved
compositions we dissolve shellac in a solution of borax or of ammonia,
and we next dissolve glue in the same in the proportion of about eight
parts of glue and one part of shellac. With this compound solution or
mixture we mix oil in the manner and to the extent indicated in the
earlier Specification herein-before referred to. The oil may with advan-
tage have previously combined with it about a fourth of its weight of
a combination of rubber and rosin, made by dissolving the former in the
latter with the aid of heat. Finally, sawdust or other inert materials
may be mixed into the composition, being moistened with glycerine
when necessary, as described in the said earlier Specification.
In carrying out the other part of our Invention the improved compo-
sition herein-before described may be used or any modification of it, or
any suitable flexible or elastic and waterproof composition capable of
adhering or of being made to adhere to textile fabrics or other materials,
as herein-after explained. We form an improved compound fabric by
applying a coating of such composition between a backing of jute or
other suitable fabric or material, and a surface cloth of jute or other
suitable woven fabric. The composition is applied when in a heated
state to the backing in a uniform manner by means of rollers or other- 2
wise, and the surface cloth is then applied upon the composition. The
adhesion of the backing and surface cloth to the composition is secured
by the heated state of the latter when it is freshly made or applied, or
by heating it after it has cooled. One or more coats of the composition
may be thus applied between the backing and the surface cloth, or an 3
extra thickness may be obtained by combining one or more plies of cloth
or fibrous materials, or paper; or thin sheets of rubber, or leather, or
other suitable material or mixture of them with the composition between
the backing and surface cloth.
When the compound fabric is intended for a floorcloth its surface 3.

page_text: ornamented by being printed with oil or other pigment colors. The
ground color may be first applied by means of rollers or brushes, or the
cloth may be dyed. The patterns may be printed on with any suitable
coloring matters, or a fabric having patterns produced on it in weaving
may be taken for the surface cloth. The surface cloth may be ornamented
by embossing instead of or in addition to being otherwise ornamented,
and the ornamentation of the surface cloth may be effected either before
or after the combination thereof with the composition and backing.
The compound fabric made and ornamented as herein-before described,
but modified if thought proper in substance or thickness,
, is very suitable
for linings for carriages, for iron or other houses, for bags, boxes,
wardrobes, and the like, and if wished the surface cloth may be printed
to resemble wood.

page_text: united to its other side a backing of woven or other suitable fabric or
material, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Rowan, on behalf of myself
and the said John Robertson Reid, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
THOMAS BUWAN. (L.B.)