IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS AND BONNETS, AND MODE OF PREPARING FEATHERS TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hilaire Emile Carchon, Feather Dealer, and Eugéne
François Raybaud, Hat and Bonnet Maker, of 17, Rue Thévenot, Paris,
in the Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF HATS AND BONNETS, AND MODE OF PREPARING FEATHERS TO
BE USED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE."
Sealed the 14th July 1863, and dated the 27th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hilaire Emile Carchon
and Eugéne François Raybaud at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 27th April 1863.
We, HILAIRE EMILE CARCHON, Feather Dealer, and EUGENE FRANÇOIS
RAYBAUD, Hat and Bonnet Maker, of 17, Rue Thévenot, Paris, in the Empire
of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS AND BONNETS, AND MODE OF PREPARING
FEATHERS TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE," to be as follows:-
Our improvements in the manufacture of hats and bonnets consist in
substituting a certain part of feathers for the straw at present employed. The
part of the feather we use for this purpose is the outer covering or surface of
the back of the stem, which is stripped off, cut in equal lengths of the width
required, and afterwards plaited precisely in the same way as straw, which it
far supersedes on account of its durability, flexibility, and lightness, at the same
time it forms a much more effectual shield to the head from the rays of the
sun.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Hilaire Emile Carchon and Eugéne François Raybaud in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HILAIRE
EMILE CARCHON, Feather Dealer, and EUGENE FRANÇOIS RAYBAUD, Hat and
Bonnet Maker, of No. 17, Rue Thévenot, Paris, in the Empire of France, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us
the said Hilaire Emile Carchon and Eugéne Francois Raybaud, Ier special
licence that we, the said Hilaire Emile Carchon and Eugéne Francois Raybaud
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Hilaire Emile Carchon and Eugéne Francois Raybaud, our executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 HATS AND
BONNETS, AND MODE OF PREPARING FEATHERS TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANU-
FACTURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Hilaire
Emile Carchon and Eugéne Francois Raybaud, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their
hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 Hilaire Emile Carchon and Eugéne
François Raybaud, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying Drawings,
that is to say:

page_text: This Invention relates more especially to the manufacture of hats and
bonnets, but it may also be advantageously employed in the manufacture of
crinolines and similar articles where lightness and elasticity are required.
Our improvements consist in substituting the outer covering or surface
of the backs of the stems of feathers for the straw and other materials at
present employed in the manufacture of bonnets, hats, crinolines, and other
similar articles where lightness, elasticity, and durability are required.
The mode of preparation is extremely simple. The back of the feather being
the most suitable part, is carefully stripped off, and cut the length and thickness
required; thus prepared it is plaited and made up in the same way as straw, to
which it is infinitely superior from its elasticity. The advantages resulting
from our Invention are, that hats and bonnets so made are much lighter, more
durable, and prove a much more effectual shield to the head from the sun's
rays; and as the part of the feathers we employ in the manufacture is
excessively flexible and durable, the bats and bonnets made on our principle
are so elastic that they may be bent or folded, and even put in the pocket,
without any of the filaments of which they are composed being broken or in
any way injured.
Having thus described our Invention, we declare that what we clain, and
desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is, the application of the outer part or
covering of the stems of feathers, which we employ in the manufacture of hats
and bonnets as above described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Hilaire Emile Carchon and Eugéno
Francois Raybaud, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
first day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.
HILAIRE EMILE CARCHON.
(L.S.)
EUGENE FRANÇOIS RAYBAUD. (L.S.)