IMPROVEMENTS IN LINEN AND OTHER SHIRTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I GEORGE JOHN GISSING of Well Street, Falcon Square in the City of London,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LINEN AND OTHER SHIRTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of linen and other
shirts the object in view being to provide increased facilities for the wearer in
putting them on and off, without injury to the "front" in the case of linen shirts,
or sacrifice to the strength or utility of the garment at the neck or upper part of
the back, and to this end the Invention consists in dividing the shirt at one or both
sides but preferably at one side only between the neck and the top of the sleeve,
along the line of the shoulder and in providing buttons and button holes or, their
equivalent along the divided part for the purpose of securing the garment in place
when put on.
By this construction the "front" in the case of linen shirts may be made in one
piece, and the collar band need not be divided in front so that the studs can remain
in place until the garment is soiled.
Attempts have been made to obtain similar results by dividing the garment.
down the back but in shirts thus constructed the absence of a strong yoko across
the shoulders at the back greatly lessens the utility and durability of the
garment.
Moreover the inconvenience attendant on the back fastenings is such that the
top button or stud only is generally fastened, and the shirt below that is liable to
gape open and produce discomfort to the wearer,
For a similar purpose shirts have also been made to open all down one side, but
in this case the attachment of the sleeve at that side is weakened and the sleeve is
liable to be torn off in the act of inserting the arm therein.
I am also aware that shirts having overlapping or double-breasted fronts
buttoning along a side line have been proposed with the same end in view, but
such shirts would be expensive to make and be less convenient in use than those
which I have devised.

page_text: The position of the fastening along the shoulder line is the most convenient in
every respect, and the expense of making is no greater than with shirts of the
usual construction, while the possibility of having a strong yoke or double thickness
of material across the upper part of the back or towards the neck enables warmth
to be afforded to the wearer and greatly strengthens the shirt.
Thus both back and front may be made undivided and of any desired
construction either for strength or appearance.

page_text: I, GEORGE JOHN GISSING of Well Street, Falcon Square in the City of London,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN LINEN AND OTHER SHIRTS and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of that class of linen
and cotton shirts with which loose collars are worn, its object being to facilitate the
putting on, and removal, of the shirt, by rendering it unnecessary to fasten and
unfasten the shirt front when dressing and undressing.
Many attempts have already be made to attain this object with its kindred
advantages, but they have resulted in drawbacks sufficient to prevent the
acceptance by the public of the proposed improvements.
The Invention consists in dividing the shirt at one or both sides, but preferably
at one side only, between the neck and the top of the sleeve, along the line of the
shoulder and in providing buttons and button holes, or their equivalent along the
divided part for the purpose of securing the garment in place when put on.
By this construction the "front" may be made in one piece or undivided, and
the collar band need not be divided in front, thus the collar and front studs when
applied to the shirt can remain in place until the garment is soiled.
Attempts have been made to obtain similar results by dividing the garment
down the back, but in shirts thus constructed the absence of a strong yoko
across the shoulder at the back greatly lessens the utility and durability of the
garment.
Moreover the inconvenience attendant on the back fastenings is such that the
top button or stud only is generally fastened, and the opening below that fastening,
instead of being closed, is liable to gape and produce discomfort to the wearer.
For a similar purpose shirts have also been made to open at one side from the
neck band to the waist, but in this case the attachment of the sleeve to the shirt
body at the opening side is weakened and the sleeve is liable to be torn off in the
act of inserting the arm therein.
I am also aware that shirts having overlapping or double-breasted fronts
buttoning along a side line, have been proposed with the same end in view, but
such shirts would be expensive to make and be less convenient in use than those
which I have devised.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a front view and Figure 2 a back
view of so much of a shirt as will serve to explain the nature of my Invention.
A is the undivided front, and B the neck band divided at the side instead of at the
front as heretofore. Both the shirt front and neck band are formed with central
button holes to receive studs or have buttons attached as usual, the band studs
or buttons serving for the attachment of the loose collar to the shirt, and the
other studs or buttons being merely ornamental. The sleeves C, C, are secured to
the shirt body as usual and stretching across the back of the shirt from shoulder to
shoulder is the yoke D to the ends of which the sleeves are respectively secured.
An opening is made in the line of the shoulder extending from the neck band to
the sleeve as shown at E, E, to provide space for the passage of the bead of the
wearer through the shirt when putting it on. The edges of this opening are
lapped, and by means of buttons and button holes or their equivalent their lapped
position is maintained when the shirt is in place on the body of the wearer. If
desired, a similar opening may be made on the opposite shoulder, but in general this
second opening will not be required.

page_text: The position of the fastening for the shirt along the shoulder line is convenient
for buttoning, and while providing against the risk of creasing the front in the act
of fastening up the shirt, presents no disadvantage in use.
Morcover the cost of
thus constructing the shirt is no greater than that of shirts of the ordinary make,
while the employment of the yoke or double thickness of material across the upper
part of the back or towards the neck, which is inadmissible when the back is
divided, greatly strengthens the shirt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is―
The manufacture of shirts with a lateral opening, in the manner and for the
purpose above explained, with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
Dated thin 10th day of twent
100+
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.