IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ARRANGEMENT OF STRIPS OR LENGTHS OF EMBROIDERY OR SIMILAR DRESS TRIMMINGS TO FACILITATE THE MEASUREMENT AND SEPARATION OF PORTIONS THEREOF
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ARRANGEMENT OF STRIPS OR
LENGTHS OF EMBROIDERY OR SIMILAR DRESS TRIMMINGS TO FACILITATE THE
MEASUREMENT AND SEPARATION OF PORTIONS THEREOF "communicated to him
from abroad by M. Guggenheim's Sons, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & C° Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE, MANUFACTURE AND
ARRANGEMENT OF STRIPS OR LENGTHS OF EMBROIDERY OR SIMILAR DRESS TRIMMINGS
TO FACILITATE THE MEASUREMENT AND SEPARATION OF PORTIONS THEREOF." [A
communication to him from abroad by M. Guggenheim's Sons, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America]
This invention relates to that class of textile fabrics known to the trade as hand
and machine made embroideries, edgings, and insertings. Heretofore this class of
goods has been worked upon a continuous plain strip of muslin of suitable width,
with two or more parallel rows of embroidery on each web of muslin. The goods
are then folded in convenient widths and doubled over and folded together in such
a manner that the entire package must first be opened and the goods unfolded
before the end can be obtained to remove any portion of the embroidery. In order
to sever a strip or row of the embroidery or any portion thereof when desired for
the purposes of the retail trade, the salesman must first unfold the goods for
convenience in measuring and cutting, and then with a pair scissors cut the row
lengthwise of the goods until the desired quantity is removed, when it is measured

page_text: with a yard-stick and cut off the requisite length. This mode of severing the
rows of embroidery is objectionable in several respects; First, the edge of the
embroidery is liable to be injured by unskillful cutting; second, it is almost
impossible to cut a long strip with an even straight edge; third, the liability of
allowing too little or not sufficient margin on each strip; fourth, the inconvenience
of having to use a measure to ascertain the amount of goods removed; fifth, the
trouble of unfolding the goods to cut off the embroidery, especially when a large
quantity is required; sixth, the soiling of the goods by the rough handling and
unavoidable exposure while cutting the rows from each other; seventh, the loss
entailed by remnants caused by indiscriminate cutting, which cannot be avoided
when the goods are manufactured in this manner.
In carrying this invention into practice I manufacture the goods with a line of
perforations between each row of embroidery at, or near, the edge of each row, as
may be requisite according to the purposes for which the goods are intended, for
the purpose of separating the rows of embroidery, by simply tearing off each strip
from the bolt as required. To facilitate the operation and avoid unnecessary
handling I then propose to fold the fabric back and forth in a reverse manner in
one yard or fraction of a yard lengths, similar to the folds of a lady's fan, the end
of each folding to be fastened with a thread to hold them together. The rows may
then be removed in this way without having to unfold the goods or having to resort
to a measure to ascertain the quantity being removed. The line of perforations
can be made by a continuous row of small round holes, or by a round hole and
oblong slot, or, where the muslin back will permit, the line of separation can be
made by a crease or similar methods used for analogous purposes.
The advantages of perforating and folding the embroidery up in this way are as
follow. First, the line of separation, being regular and close to the edge of the
embroidery, admits of the same being removed by simply tearing off the quantity
desired without liability of injury to the embroidery, or it being cut irregularly,
as is the case in the old manner; second, the strips being fastened at the ends of
the folds by worsted or other suitable ties, protects the goods from soiling, wrinkling
and getting out of the folds, and allows of a single strip being torn off without
disturbing the remainder of the bolt-, a very desirable feature when the goods
are constantly on exhibition; third, being folded in lengths of one yarn or fractions
thereof, the necessity for measures of any kind is removed and mistakes in
measuring avoided; fourth the liability of injury to the embroidery by indis-
criminate cutting and making bad remnants being by this plan obviated, there is a
great saving of goods effected; fifth, the necessity of unfolding the goods in order
to remove the strip of embroidery is avoided, and also the refolding of the goods,
which is necessary in the old way; sixth the saving of time and labor in removing
the embroidery in this way is obvious, and need not specially be referred to

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th November 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and C° Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND
ARRANGEMENT OF STRIPS OR LENGTHS OF EMBROIDERY OR SIMILAR DRESS TRIMMINGS
TO FACILITATE THE MEASUREMENT AND SEPARATION OF PORTIONS THEREOF. A
communication to me from abroad by M. Guggenheim's Sons, of the City and State
of New York, United States of America.
This invention relates to that class of textile fabrics known to the trade as hand
and machine made embroideries, edgings, and insertings, Heretofore this class of
goods has been worked upon a continuous plain strip of muslin of suitable width,
with two or more parallel rows of embroidery on each web of muslin. The goods
are then folded in convenient widths and doubled over and folded together in such
a manner that the entire package must first be opened and the goods unfolded
before the end can be obtained to remove any portion of the embroidery.
In order to sever a strip or row of the embroidery or any portion thereof when
desired for the purposes of the retail trade, the salesman must first unfold the
goods for convenience in measuring and cutting, and then with a pair of scissors
cut the row lengthwise of the goods until the desired quantity is removed, when it
is measured with a yard-stick and cut off the requisite length. This mode of
severing the rows of embroidery is objectionable in several respects; First, the edge
of the embroidery is liable to be injured by unskillful cutting, second, it is almost
impossible to cut a long strip with an even straight edge; third, the liability of
allowing too little or not sufficient margin on each strip; fourth, the inconvenience
of having to use a measure to ascertain the amount of goods removed; fifth, the
trouble of unfolding the goods to cut off the embroidery, especially when a large
quantity is required; sixth, the soiling of the goods by the rough handling and
unavoidable exposure while cutting the rows from each other; seventh, the loss
entailed by remnants caused by indiscriminate cutting, which cannot be avoided
when the goods are manufactured, in this manner.
In carrying this invention into practice I manufacture the goods with a line of
perforations between each row of embroidery at or near the edge of each row, as
may be requisite, according to the purposes for which the goods are intended, for
the purpose of separating the rows of embroidery by simply tearing off each strip
from the bolt as required. To facilitate the operation and avoid unnecessary
handling, I then fold the fabric back and forth in a reverse manner in one yard or
fraction of a yard lengths, similar to the folds of a lady's fan, the end of each
folding to be fastened with a thread to hold them together. The rows may then
be removed in this way without having to unfold the goods or having to resort to
a measure to ascertain quantity being removed.
In the drawing the Figure is a perspective view of a piece of embroidery
perforated and folded according to this invention
The letters B. B. B indicate the rows of embroidery on the strip of muslin;
C. C the line of perforations; ee the ties to hold the folds together.
The line of perforations can be made by a continuous row of small round holes,
or by a round hole and oblong slot, or, where the muslin back will permit, the line
of separation can be made by a crease or similar methods used for analogous
purposes.
The advantages of perforating and folding the embroidery up in this manner are
as follow; First, the line of separation, being regular and close to the edge of the

page_text: embroidery, admits of the same being removed by simply tearing off the quantity
desired without liability of injury to the embroidery, or it being cut irregularly as
is the case in the whole manner; second, the strips being fastened at the ends of
the folds by worsted or other suitable ties, protect the goods from soiling, wrinkling,
and getting out of the folds, and allows of a single strip being torn off without
disturbing the remainder of the bolt, a very desirable feature when the goods are
constantly on exhibition; third, being folded in lengths of one yard or fractions
thereof, the necessity for measures of any kind is removed and mistakes in
measuring avoided; fourth, the liability of injury to the embroidery by indis-
criminate cutting and making bad remnants being by this plan obviated, there is a
great saving of goods effected; fifth, the necessity of unfolding the goods in order
to remove the strip of embroidery is advoided, and also the refolding of the goods,
which is necessary in the old way; sixth, the saving of time and labor in removing
the embroidery in this way is obvious, and need not specially be referred to.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondents and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
I am
aware that a band and ruffle has been flattened on both sides for a
portion of its width, and having strips of cloth permanently affixed to such flattened
portion; but as such flattened portion is not perforated, the device in no sense
resembles this invention, and I claim.
A bolt of embroidery containing two or more rows separated by a line of
perforations adapted to be folded and secured by ties at the folds, substantially as
described.
!
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Ninth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.