CERTAIN METHODS OF MAKING OR MANUFACTURING DYED, COTTED, OR FELTED WOOL INTO MATS, RUGS, CARPETS, &C. OF VARIOUS COLOURS, FIGURES, PATTERNS, AND SIZES, FOR CARRIAGES, HALLS, PARLOURS, HEARTHS, AND BUNDRY OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1806

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, JAMES
Essex, of the Town of Northampton, Woolstapler and Grocer, sendeth
greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of His United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifth day of February,
in the forty-seventh year of His reign, give and grant unto the said
James Essex, His especial licence,t hat he, the said James Essex, during the
term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed
his Invention of "CERTAIN METHODS OF MAKING OR MANUFACTURING DYED,
COTTED, OR FELTED WOOL INTO MATS, RUGS, CARPETS, &C. OF VARIOUS COLOURS,
FIGURES, PATTERNS, AND SIZES, FOR CARRIAGES, HALLS, PARLOURS, HEARTHS, AND
BUNDRY OTHER PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso, obliging me, the said James Essex, by an instrument in writing
under his hand and scal, to cause a particular description of the nature of
his said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month
next after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
relation boing thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, the said
James Essex doth horeby declare that his said Invention is made, done,
and performed in manner following (that is to say):-
The fleece of cotted or felted wool being spread on a table or board suf-

page_text: ficiently large to contain the same, with the under part or ground of the wool
upwards, separate with a knife that part which is sufficiently cotted or felted
from that which is not so, which being done, that part thereof which is so
sufficiently cotted or felted must be scoured or washed in a lather of soap
and water, and being then dried the staple if long, is shorn to the
length of about two inches, after which it is carded with a card made for the
purpose of sheet or plate iron, similar in size and shape to a flat curry-comb
commonly used for cleansing horses, with the difference that the teeth of the
-card are made about half an inch long, after which the cotted or felted wool
is dyed in separate pieces of different colours in the common mode of dyeing,
and then being laid on a table or board, with the ground of the wool upwards,
the rough edges thereof are cut or pared off with a knife, by which it is with
more case and regularity placed and sewed together and formed into the
various patterns, figures, and sizes intended, which sewing is performed with a
small sized packing needle and strong thread, commonly called rand thread;
regard being at the same time paid to such parts or pieces of the wool which may
happen to be broken, thin, or otherwise defective, which must be first mended
by sewing up the defects therein with the needle and thread herein-before
described. This being done, a measure or rule having feet and inches marked
thereon, is used to ascertain the quantity of each coloured wool intended to be
used, after which the residue is cut off from the same with a knife; then, after
forming the wool to the pattern and size intended, the under part thereof
must be lined or covered with strong canvas, cloth, baize, or any other
covering suitable for the purpose, which being sewed or quilted thereon adds
to the strength, and preserves the form and shape of the same, which boing
done, the surface or upper side of the mat, rug, or carpet so formed is again
carded with the before-mentioned card, and then hung on tenter hooks driven
into a roller of wood of sufficient length, and about six inches in circumference;
having at one end thereof an iron plate nailed thereto, with notches cut or
filed therein, and a small piece of iron called a clicker, so placed as to prevent
the roller from turning round until required; the said roller having also iron
gudgeons let into it at each end thereof, about six inches long, which are
supported by pieces of deal about two inches thick, four inches wide, and
twelve inches high, morticed into the table or board on which the mat, rug,
or carpet is made. The under part or lining of the mat, rug, or carpet being
thus hung on the said roller, the surface thereof is then combed and shorn even
and smooth as it is turned or wound round on the roller, for which combing
what is commonly called a rack-comb is used, and for shearing those shears
commonly used for shearing sheep; when the mat, rug, or carpet is shorn it is
'

page_text: taken off from the roller, and laid on a table or board, and the edges thereof
trimmed or shorn with the before-mentioned shears, which compleats and
finishes it for use.
In witness whereof, the said James Essex hath hereunto his hand and
seal subscribed and set, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seven.
finishes it for use.
In witness whereof, the said James Essex hath hereunto his hand and
seal subscribed and set, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
'year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seven.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-sixth day of February,
in the year of our Lord 1807, the aforesaid James Essex came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord One