IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Ralston, of the City of Manchester, in the .
County of Lancaster, Engraver to Calico Printers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 14th May 1859, and dated the 23rd November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Ralston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
November 1858.
I, WALTER RALSTON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engraver to Calico Printers, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
I engrave, flute, mill, or otherwise indent a design on a roller or cylinder
made of any suitable metal, and cause it to revolve in contact with a bowl or
bowls made of paper or other suitable material, and by means of gearing well
known to mechanics, I give the metal roller or cylinder a quicker rotary
motion than the bowl, by which I obtain the action of friction on the surface
of the fabric, as well as pressure, the friction giving it a lustre or bright finish
in addition to the engraved design.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Ralston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
RALSTON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engraver to
Calico Printers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Walter Ralston, Her special licence that I, the
said Walter Ralston, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Walter Ralston, my executors, administrators, 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
on Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Walter Ralston, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 I, the said Walter Ralston, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-.
I employ a roller of metal, wood, or other suitable material, and groove,
flute, engrave, mill, or otherwise indent upon it any desired design, and cause
it to revolve with a bowl or bowls of paper or other substance, and by means
of gearing well known to mechanics, I give the circumference of the pattern
roller a quicker motion than the circumference of one of the bowls, so as to
obtain a frictional action upon the surface of the fabric as well as pressure, so
that if the fabricis moved transversely when fed to the machine, an indefinite
number of watering patterns may be given to the fabric at one operation
or passage; but if two operations be given, moiré antique or other varieties

page_text: may be obtained, which can be still further varied as desired according to the
number of times the fabric is allowed to pass through the machine.
In addition to the variety of the pattern, a bright finish or lustre is given to
the fabric by means of the friction or rubbing action of the two surfaces of
the roller and bowl.
I may also obtain the same result by reversing the arrangement, and
causing the circumference of the bowl to move quicker than the circumference
of the roller, so as to obtain a similar frictional or rubbing action, the gearing
being simply required to be adapted for the purpose.
It is well known that for calendering purposes plain or polished rollers have
necessarily been driven at a greater speed than the bowl or bowls, but hitherto
it has not been considered practicable to give pattern rollers the same relative
movement.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth,
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim, as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge
and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the employment of
grooved, fluted, engraved, milled, or otherwise indented rollers of metal, wood,
or other suitable material driven at a greater speed than the bowl or bowls
connected with them, so as to exert a rubbing or friction upon the fabric sub-
mitted to their action, and thereby produce an indefinite variety of pattern as
well as a bright finish or lustre, and also reversing the operation by giving the
bowl a quicker motion than the pattern roller.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Ralston, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
WALTER RALSTON. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Walter Ralston in the pre-
sence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.

page_text: Filed 28th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, WALTER
RALSTON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engraver
to Calico Printers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent, under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireiand, bearing
date the Twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-eight, granted unto me, the said Walter Ralston, the
sole privilege to make, use, exercise, and vend my Invention therein entituled
IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," and which title is intended to be
hereby altered by the Disclaimer herein-after contained so as to be in these
words "Improvements in Embossing and Finishing Woven Fabrics,") withiu
the said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, during the term of fourteen years thence next ensuing
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Water Ralston, should,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, and cause the same instrument to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next after the date of the said
Letters Patent: And whereas, in pursuance of the said condition, I did, by a
Specification under my hand and seal, bearing date the Nineteenth day of
May, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, in what manner it is to be

page_text: performed, and did cause the same Specification to be filed in the said Great
Seal Patent Office, within the time and in mauner prescribed by the said
condition and Letters Patent: And whereas since the filing of the said
Specification I have been advised that part of the said title contained in the
said Letters Patent, as aforesaid, is not properly speaking applicable to my
said Invention, as described in my said Specification, and I am therefore
desirous of disclaiming so much of the said title as herein-after expressed;
and I have also been advised that some of the descriptions of rollers mentioned
in my said Specification cannot be conveniently applied in performing my
Invention, and I am therefore desirous of disclaiming the use of such rollers,
and I have found that the production of watering patterns upon a fabric cannot
be effectually produced in a single operation by all descriptions of rollers, but
only by those rollers which have grooves, flutings, or indentations around their
surfaces as numerous as the warp threads of the fabric to be operated upon,or
nearly so, and I am therefore desirous of limiting my claim with respect to
such watering patterns, and correcting certain inaccuracies in the description
contained in the Specification in some slight particulars by the Disclaimer and
Memorandum of Alteration herein-after expressed or contained.
NOW KNOW YE, that, by and with the licence and consent of Her said
Majesty's Solicitor-General, and for the reasons aforesaid, I do hereby
disclaim the latter portion of the words of the said title of the said Invention
contained in the said Letters Patent, which consists of these words "and in
"the machinery or apparatus employed therein," so that the said title shall
henceforth be in these words, "Improvements in Embossing and Finishing
"Woven Fabrics; " And by and with the leave aforesaid, and for the reasons
aforesaid, I, the said Walter Ralston, do hereby disclaim the use of any
pattern rollers in performing my Invention except those which are made of
metal or other suitable material,and have circular grooves, flutes, or indentations
made around their surfaces; and I also disclaim the use of any other description
of design upon the surface of such rollers, except such circular grooves,flutings,
or indentations as aforesaid. And I also disclaim the production of watering
patterns upon a fabric at one operation or passage of it between a pattern
roller and a bowl, against which it works, except when the grooves, flutes, or
indentations around the surface of such roller are as numerous as the warp
threads in the fabric to be operated upon, or nearly so. And I disclaim all
parts of the description of my said Invention contained in my said Specifi-
cation which are not contained in the said description as hereby altered; and
I hereby alter such description, and that the same shall henceforth describe
. the undisclaimed parts of the said Invention in these words, (that is to say):-

page_text: "I employ a roller of hard metal or other suitable material, and make
grooves, flutes, or indentations around it, and cause it to revolve with a
bowl or bowls of paper or other suitable substance, and by means of gearing
well known to mechanics, I give the circumference of the pattern roller a
quicker motion than the circumference of one of the bowls, so as to obtain
a frictional action upon the surface of the fabric as well as pressure." If
"the grooves, flutes, or indentations around the roller are as numerous as
"the warp threads in the fabric to be operated upon or nearly so; or if the
fabric has already passed through between the roller and the bowl, and the
"fabric has slight transverse motions given to it when fed into the machine,
au indefinite number of watering patterns may be given to the fabric at one
"operation or passage. If further operations be given, varying the extent of
the transverse motions, moiré antique, or other varieties may be obtained,
"which can be further varied as desired, according to the number of times
the fabric is allowed to pass through the machine. In addition to the
variety of the patterns, a bright finish or lustre is given to the fabric by
Es means of the friction or rubbing action of the surface of the roller. I may
"also obtain the same result by reversing the arrangement and causing the
"circumference of the bowl to move quicker than the circumference of the
roller, so as to obtain a similar frictional or rubbing action by rubbing the
surface of the fabric against the roller, the gearing being simply required to
be adapted for the purpose. It is well known that for calendering purposes
plain or polished rollers have necessarily been driven at a greater speed
than the bowl or bowls, but hitherto it has not been considered practicable
"to give pattern rollers the same relative movement so as to obtain any
"beneficial result."
66
"Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
"understood that I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my
"knowledge and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the
"employment of grooved, fluted, or indented rollers of hard metal or other
"suitable material, driven at a greater speed than the bowl or bowls con-
"nected with them, so as to exert a rubbing or friction upon the fabric
"submitted to their action, and thereby produce an indefinite variety of
"pattern as well as a bright finish or lustre, and also reversing the operation
by giving the bowl a quicker motion than the pattern roller."
"
And I, the said Walter Ralston. do further declare that the above-written
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration are not, nor is either of them, nor
are any parts thereof, respectively intended to extend the exclusive right

page_text: granted by the said Letters Patent, and that these Presents shall not extend
the said exclusive right in any way whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Ralton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, thisTwenty-fourth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by
the said Walter Ralston, in the .
presence of
WALTER RALSTON. (L.s.)
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Walter Ralston
to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification to which the
some relates, the above-written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration.
Temple, January 27, 1860.
WM ATHERTON, S.G.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Ralston, of the City of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engraver to Calico Printers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 14th May 1859, and dated the 23rd November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Ralston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd.
November 1858.
I, WALTER RALSTON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lan---
caster, Engraver to Calico Printers, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS, .
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
I engrave, flute, mill, or otherwise indent a design on a roller or cylinder
made of any suitable metal, and cause it to revolve in contact with a bowl or
bowls made of paper or other suitable material, and by means of gearing well.
known to mechanics, I give the metal roller or cylinder a quicker rotary.
motion than the bowl, by which I obtain the action of friction on the surface.
of the fabric as well as pressure, the friction giving it a lustre or bright finish:
in addition to the engraved design.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Ralston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
RALSTON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engraver to
Calico Printers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Walter Ralston, Her special licence that I, the
said Walter Ralston, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Walter Ralston, my executors, administrators, 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 King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
on Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Walter Ralston, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the sanie 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 I, the said Walter Ralston, do bereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
I employ a roller of metal, wood, or other suitable material, and groove,
flute, engrave, mill, or otherwise indent upon it any desired design, and cause
it to revolve with a bowl or bowls of paper or other substance, and by means
of gearing well known to mechanics, I give the circumference of the pattern
roller a quicker motion than the circumference of one of the bowls, so as to
obtain a frictional action upon the surface of the fabric as well as pressure, so
that if the fabric is moved transversely when fed to the machine, an indefinite
number of watering patterns may be given to the fabric at one operation
or passage; but if two operations be given, moiré antique or other varieties

page_text: may be obtained, which can be still further varied as desired according to the
number of times the fabric is allowed to pass through the machine.
In addition to the variety of the pattern, a bright finish or lustre is given to
the fabric by means of the friction or rubbing action of the two surfaces of
the roller and bowl.
I may also obtain the same result by reversing the arrangement, and
causing the circumference of the bowl to move quicker than the circumference
of the roller, so as to obtain a similar frictional or rubbing action, the gearing
being simply required to be adapted for the purpose.
It is well known that for calendering purposes plain or polished rollers have
necessarily been driven at a greater speed than the bowl or bowls, but hitherto
it has not been considered practicable to give pattern rollers the same relative
movement.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth,
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim, as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge
and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the employment of
grooved, fluted, engraved, milled, or otherwise indented rollers of metal, wood,
or other suitable material driven at a greater speed than the bowl or bowls
connected with them, so as to exert a rubbing or friction upon the fabric sub-
mitted to their action, and thereby produce an indefinite variety of pattern as
well as a bright finish or lustre, and also reversing the operation by giving the
bowl a quicker motion than the pattern roller.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Ralston, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Walter Ralston in the pre-
sence of
E. J. HUGHES,
WALTER RALSTON. (L.s.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.

page_text: January
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, WALTER
RALSTON, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engraver
to Calico Printers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent, under
the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireiand, bearing
date the Twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight bundred and fifty-eight, granted unto me, the said Walter Ralston, the
sole privilege to make, use, exercise, and vend my Invention therein entituled
"IMPROVEMENTS IN EMBOSSING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," and which title is intended to be
hereby altered by the Disclaimer herein-after contained so as to be in these
words "Improvements in Embossing and Finishing Woven Fabrics,") within
the said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, during the term of fourteen years thence next ensuing
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Water Ralston, should,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is.
to be performed, and cause the same instrument to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next after the date of the said
Letters Patent: And whereas, in pursuance of the said condition, I did, by a
Specification under my hand and seal, bearing date the Nineteenth day of
May, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, in what manner it is to be

page_text: performed, and did cause the same Specification to be filed in the said Great
Seal Patent Office, within the time and in manner prescribed by the said
condition and Letters Patent: And whereas since the filing of the said
Specification I have been advised that part of the said title contained in the
said Letters Patent, as aforesaid, is not properly speaking applicable to my
said Invention, as described in my said Specification, and I am therefore
desirous of disclaiming so much of the said title as hereiu-after expressed;
and I have also been advised that some of the descriptions of rollers mentioned
in my said Specification cannot be conveniently applied in performing my
Invention, and I am therefore desirous of disclaiming the use of such rollers,
and I have found that the production of watering patterns upon a fabric cannot
be effectually produced in a single operation by all descriptions of rollers, but
only by those rollers which have grooves, flutings, or indentations around their
surfaces as numerous as the warp threads of the fabric to be operated upon, or
nearly so, and I am therefore desirous of limiting my claim with respect.to
such watering patterns, and correcting certain inaccuracies in the description
contained in the Specification in some slight particulars by the Disclaimer and
Memorandum of Alteration berein-after expressed or contained.
NOW KNOW YE, that, by and with the licence and consent of Her said
Majesty's Solicitor-General, and for the reasons aforesaid, I do hereby
disclaim the latter portion of the words of the said title of the said Invention
contained in the said Letters Patent, which consists of these words "and in
"the machinery or apparatus employed therein," so that the said title shall
henceforth be in these words, "Improvements in Embossing and Finishing
* Woven Fabrics;" And by and with the leave aforesaid, and for the reasons
aforesaid, I, the said Walter Ralston, do hereby disclaim the use of any
pattern rollers in performing my Invention except those which are made of
metal or other suitable material, and have circular grooves, flutes, or indentations
made around their surfaces; and L'also disclaim the use of any other description
of design upon the surface of such rollers, except such circular grooves, flutings,
or indentations as aforesaid. And I also disclaim the production of watering
patterns upon a fabric at one operation or passage of it between a pattern
Foller and a bowl, against which it works, except when the grooves, flutes, or
indentations around the surface of such roller are as numerous as the warp
threads in the fabric to be operated upon, or nearly.so. And disclaim all
parts of the description of my said Invention contained in my said Specifi-
cation which are not contained in the said description as hereby altered; and
I hereby alter such description, and that the same .shall henceforth describe
the undisclaimed parts of the said Invention in these words, (that is to say) :-

page_text: <C
66
"I employ a roller of hard metal or other suitable material, and make
grooves, flutes, or indentations around it, and cause it to revolve with a
bowl or bowls of paper or other suitable substance, and by means of gearing
"well known to mechanics, I give the circumference of the pattern roller a
"quicker motion than the circumference of one of the bowls, so as to obtain
a frictional action upon the surface of the fabric as well as pressure." If
"the grooves, flutes, or indentations around the roller are as numerous as
"the warp threads in the fabric to be operated upon or nearly so; or if the
"fabric has already passed through between the roller and the bowl, and the
"fabric bas slight transverse motions given to it when fed into the machine,
an indefinite number of watering patterns may be given to the fabric at one
operation or passage. If further operations be given, varying the extent of
"the transverse motions, moiré antique, or other varieties may be obtained,
"which can be further varied as desired, according to the number of times
"the fabric is allowed to pass through the machine. In addition to the
variety of the patterns, a bright finish or lustre is given to the fabric by
means of the friction or rubbing action of the surface of the roller. I may
"also obtain the same result by reversing the arrangement and causing the
"circumference of the bowl to move quicker than the circumference of the
"roller, so as to obtain a similar frictional or rubbing action by rubbing the
"surface of the fabric against the roller, the gearing being simply required to
"be adapted for the purpose. It is well known that for calendering purposes
plain or polished rollers have necessarily been driven at a greater speed
"than the bowl or bowls, but hitherto it has not been considered practicable
"to give pattern rollers the same relative movement so as to obtain any
beneficial result."
66
66
66
56'
66
$6
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly
understood that I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my
knowledge and belief has not been hitherto used within the realm, the
employment of grooved, fluted, or indented rollers of hard metal or other
"suitable material, driven at a greater speed than the bowl or bowls con-
"nected with them, so as to exert a rubbing or friction upon the fabric
"submitted to their action, and thereby produce an indefinite variety of
pattern as well as a bright finish or lustre, and also reversing the operation
by giving the bowl a quicker motion than the pattern roller."
66
66
And I, the said Walter Ralston, do further declare that the above-written
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration are not, nor is either of them, nor
are any parts thereof, respectively intended to extend the exclusive right

page_text: granted by the said Letters Patent, and. that these Presents shall not extend
the said exclusive right in any way whatsoever.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Ralton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.