IMPROVEMENTS IN WAISTCOATS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Osbourn, Cutter, in the Employment
of Messieurs B. Hyam and Son, of Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Wholesale Clothiers and Manufacturers, for the Invention
"
Sealed the 28th July 1871, and dated the 1st February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Osbourn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st February 1871.
I, FREDERICK OSBOURN, Cutter, in the Employment of Messieurs
B. Hyam and Son, of Cannon Street, in the City of London, Wholesale
Clothiers and Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WAISTCOATS," to be as follows:—
The object of this Invention is to manufacture waistcoats in an
economical and effective manner so as to prevent waste of material and
obtain a better fit than hitherto. For this purpose the waistcoat is made
so as not to open in front though its front presents the appearance of an

page_text: ordinary waistcoat. A division is made between the front and the back
on each side so that the waistcoat may be passed over the wearer's head
and placed on the wearer's person. The back part and front part of
the waistcoat are connected together and the garment fastened on the
wearer's person and drawn closely about the waist by straps and buckles
or buttons or similar means of attachment. By this arrangement a
considerable saving of material is effected, a better fit is obtained, the
strain on the front buttons is avoided, and an improved article of
manufacture is produced.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Osbourn in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
OSBOURN, Cutter, in the Employment of Messieurs B. Hyam and Son,
of Cannon Street, in the City of London, Wholesale Clothiers and
Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Frederick Osbourn, Her special licence that I, the
said Frederick Osbourn, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Frederick Osbourn, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 WAISTCOATS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick Osbourn, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Osbourn, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
The object of this Invention is to manufacture waistcoats in an
economical and effective manner so as to prevent waste of material and
obtain a better fit than hitherto. For this purpose the waistcoat is
made so as not to open in the front, though its front presents the
appearance of an ordinary waistcoat. A division is made between the
front and the back on each side so that the waistcoat may be passed over
the wearer's bead and placed on the wearer's person. The back part
and front part of the waistcoat are connected together and the garment
fastened on the wearer's person and drawn closely about the waist by
straps and buckles or buttons or similar means of attachment. By this
arrangement a considerable saving of material is effected, a better fit is
obtained, the strain on the front buttons is avoided, and an improved
article of manufacture is produced.
The accompanying Drawings represent a waistcoat produced according
to the Invention.
Figure 1 is a front view of the waistcoat; Figure 2 is a back view
of same; Figure 3 shews the waistcoat ready for wearing, and
Figure 4 is a plan displayed to shew all the parts. The waistcoat does
not open in front like ordinary waistcoats, but it is in one piece from a
to b. A is the front of the waistcoat and B the back. The front and
back are in a piece or connected together. There is a division c on
each side of the waistcoat between the front part A and the back part B.
The front part is trimmed with buttons and otherwise fashioned to
imitate the external appearance of an ordinary waistcoat. d are straps
fastened to the waistcoat, one of which is provided with a buckle d*; e
are other straps fastened to the waistcoat, at the lower part one of which
is provided with a buckle e*. In order that the waistcoat may be
worn it is first passed over the wearer's head, and it is then drawn closely
round his person, first by drawing tightly and fastening the straps d by
their buckle d* and then the straps e by their buckle e*. h, h, are
buttons to fasten into button holes k; i, i, are buttons to engage into

page_text: button holes j to tighten and loosen the straps. m is an aperture or
slot to receive a watch chain.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim, the
improved waistcoat manufactured in the manner and for the purpose
described.
button holes to tighten and loosen the straps. m is an aperture or
slot to receive a watch chain.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim, the
improved waistcoat manufactured in the manner and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Osbourn, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Osbourn, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
E. DE PASS,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
FRED. OSBOURN. (L.S.)