IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERING OR PARTIALLY COVERING THE STICKS AND HANDLES OF WHIPS AND PARASOLS, AS ALSO VARIOUS OTHER ARTICLES WITH FLOCK, AND PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL EFFECTS THEREON
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Pickett at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th May
1861..
I, JOSEPH PICKETT, of Chiswell Street, Finsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Whip Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERING OR PARTIALLY COVERING THE STICKS
AND HANDLES OF WHIPS AND PARASOLS, AS ALSO VARIOUS OTHER ARTICLES WITH
FLOCK, AND PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL EFFECTS THEREON," to be as follows:―
The object of this Invention is the production of cloth-like & other novel
and ornamental effects upon the handles and sticks of whips, parasols,
umbrellas, walking sticks, and other similar articles, as also various articles
of wearing apparel, such as bonnets & caps. In carrying out the first part
of this Invention, I take a piece of cane or wood or other suitable material
prepared to the desired form and coat the same with a strong adhesive varnish,
one free from smell being preferred. When the sticks or handles have been
so coated they are allowed to stand for a short time until the varnish feels
slightly tackey to the touch, they are then dusted over with flock,' such as
is used for ornamenting paper-hangings. In some cases the varnish is applied
to certain portious only of the article, and flock applied to such parts. When
the portions so coated have become sufficiently set or hardened other parts
of the stick or handle may be varnished and flock of a different color applied
to such parts. In this manner patterns of any desired device and in a great
variety of colors may be produced. In some cases also I form an indented

page_text: pattern upon the stick or handle, either by pressure from a die or roller, or
other suitable means, and having applied varnish either to the raised or to the
indented parts as desired, apply flock thereto. The articles so coated may be
further ornamented in various ways, differing according to their character &
the purpose to which they are to be applied.
are to be applied. Walking sticks & the handles
of whips, umbrellas, parasols, & similar articles, may have good ornamental
effects produced upon them by the ordinary braiding or plaitting machine,
for example, 'buttons' may be produced. on certain parts thereof in gold or
silver plated, or other kinds of wire, or with silk, whalebone, or other suitable
material, and between such buttons a diamond check and various other
patterns may be formed. Or patterns of any desired form may be produced
either in metal or in colors upon articles so coated by means of pressure from
suitable dies, stamps, or rollers. When a gilt pattern is to be produced it
may be effected thus:-A stamp or roller engraved to the desired pattern is
slightly heated, & gold or metal leaf or bronze powder having been spread
over a leather pad, the roller or stamp is passed over or pressed upon the
same, whereby it becomes coated with the metal, and the stamp or roller so
coated is pressed upon the flock, and in so doing transfers the metal thereto.
When a plain pattern is desired, I prefer to employ heated stamps or
ornaments, as a sharper impression is thus produced than when used cold.
Or the flocked article or a portion thereof may be sized and then varnished,
by which means effects are produced nearly resembling leather. Or the
flocked material may be further ornamented by having attached thereto
various patterns in thin sheet metal, velvet, or other material. When covering
or ornamenting bonnets or caps with flock, I prefer to employ 'shapo'
made of nett-work or other light material. This should be of the color of
the flock intended to be used. The 'shape' having been sized, is to be dipped
into a vessel containing a strong adhesive varnish, or otherwise coated there-
with, and when this is sufficiently set or hardened, flock is dusted over the
same; it may then be trimmed or ornamented as desired.