CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT CARPETING
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Mitchell, of the Firm of John Mitchell and
Sons, of Waterbarn Mills, Stacksteads, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturers, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FELT CARPETING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Mitchell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
May 1867.
I, THOMAS MITCHELL, of the Firm of John Mitchell and Sons, of Water-
barn Mills, Stacksteads, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FELT CARPETING," to be as follows:--
My Invention is designed for the purpose of manufacturing carpeting made
of felt of a greater width than has hitherto been practicable.
The improvements consist in so preparing the selvedges or sides of the felt
carpeting and in so attaching them together by yarns or threads, and submitting
the whole fabric after being thus prepared to a subsequent process of "milling
up," that when completed the fabric shall present an appearance and be as
even and durable as if felted in one width. To effect this result the com-
paratively narrow widths of rough felt are used, and the edges are first bevilled
or thinned down by beating or otherwise, and are afterwards submitted to the
action of a cutter so as to reduce the uneven edge to a straight line, one
thin edge is then laid upon the other and the surfaces are attached by an
interlacing or interweaving of yarn, and after this the whole fabric is sub-..
mitted to the process called "milling up," (and the line of union may be again

page_text: slightly felted or not), it is then dried and pressed between rollers, and is
ready for printing upon if required. By this means an attachment is made
of small widths during the manufacture of the fabric in such a manner as
to avoid thick or visible unions, and to produce a fabric of any width of
equal thickness throughout, which in such materials has not hitherto been
attainable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Mitchell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
MITCHELL, of the Firm of John Mitchell and Sons, of Waterbarn Mills,
Stacksteads, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Mitchell, Her special license that I, the said Thomas Mitchell, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Mitchell, 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 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FELT CARPETING," upon the condition (amongst others) that
1, the said Thomas Mitchell, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 is 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 Thomas Mitchell, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
:-
My Invention is designed for the purpose of manufacturing carpeting made
of felt of a greater width than has bitherto been practicable.
The improvements consist in so preparing the selvedges or sides of the

page_text: "lap as it comes from the "batt frame," or the piece in its hardened state,
and in so attaching them together by yarns or threads, or by gum or other
adhesive matter, and submitting the whole fabric, after being thus prepared,
to a subsequent process of "milling up," that when completed the fabric shall
present an appearance and be almost as even and quite as durable as if felted
in one width. To effect this result the comparatively narrow widths of "laps"
from the "batt frame," or pieces in the hardened state are used, and the
edges are first bevelled or thinned down by beating, cutting, or otherwise, and
the thinned edges are afterwards submitted to the action of a cutter, so as to
reduce the uneven edges to a straight line; one thin edge is then laid upon
the other and the surfaces are attached by an interlacing or interweaving or
sewing of yarn, or by adhesive or other means or agency, and after this the
whole fabric is submitted to the process called "milling," which breaks the
line of union as firm, solid, and durable as any other part of the piece; it is
then pressed between rollers and dried, and is ready for printing upon if
required. By this means an attachment is made of small widths during and
in the process of the manufacture of the fabric, that is to say, in the state in
which it leaves the "batt frame," or the state in which it leaves the "hardener,"
in such a manner as to avoid thick or visible unions, and to enable the
goods to be printed in one width which hitherto have been printed in the
narrow state, and have been stitched in the printed state, which has to a great
extent impaired the uniformity and perfection of the patterns.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim attaching or combining widths of felt carpeting
together at the sides or edges during or in the process of the manufacture of
such carpeting, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Mitchell, bave hereunto set my
haud and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES, C. E.,
Office for Patents,
Manchester.
THOMAS MITCHELL. (L.s.)