The Manufacture or Production of Imitation Osprey Feathers.
Year: 1892

page_text: The decision of the Comptroller-General, of the 5th day of July 1893, allowed,
under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883, an Amendment of this
Specification.
Date of Application, 23rd May, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
The Manufacture or Production of Imitation Osprey Feathers.
We, MORITZ LEWINSOHN, SIMON LEWINSOHN, and JOSEPH LEWINSOHN,
trading together as E. Lewinsohn, of 75 Kopnickerstrasse, Berlin, in the German
Empire, Fancy Feather Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
This invention relates to the manufacture or production of imitation osprey
feathers from peacock feathers treated in the manner substantially as hereinafter
described.
The real osprey feathers now employed for personal ornamention or decoration
are only obtainable, at, very considerable cost, hence fancy or ornamental feathers
produced therefrom are procurable only at a high price. It is therefore the
object of our present invention to manufacture or produce imitation osprey feathers
which shall present the appearance of the real feathers, and which shall, at the
same time, be obtainable at considerably reduced cost.
For such purpose, and in carrying out our invention, we take, by preference,
those feathers of the peacock known as "eyes" and "swords," and both being tail
feathers, and free them from grease by washing them in a solution of soda and soap.
We then place them either in a loose condition, or strung together, in a bath com-
posed of about 2 parts of chloride of lime to 1 part of soda wherein they are fretted
and their substance gradually eaten away, that is to say, the feathers are allowed
to remain in this bath until all the flue or down (barbules) is eaten away, and
only the more resisting or main fibres are left, thus producing the characteristic
effect of the real osprey feather.
No absolute standard of strength for this bath is necessary, it being the duty of
the attendant to watch the feathers therein and to remove them therefrom directly
they are sufficiently and properly fretted. We find, however, that to give good
results a suitable temperature, for such bath, to be from 25° to 30° Réaumur
(89° to 100° F.). We do not also indicate any specific duration for the immersion
of the feathers for, as above stated, they must be watched by the attendant while
in the bath until the desired result be obtained.
When the feathers have been properly and sufficiently fretted they are removed
from the bath, and are thoroughly rinsed in hot water until all the chloride of lime
has been removed from them.
The skeleton feathers, that is to say the feathers consisting now solely of the
shaft and barbs, are then subjected to a regular bleaching process and for this
purpose are now immersed in a bath composed of about 14 kilos. (30.8644 lbs.) of
sal-ammoniac (muriate of ammonia) and 1 kilo. (2.2046 lbs.) of hydric peroxide,
for every kilo. of feathers treated; the said bath being raised to a temperature of
between 25° and 30° Réaumur. In this bath they are allowed to remain until
their natural colour disappers and they gradully become of a lighter and lighter

page_text: colour, and attain a clearness which is susceptible of being dyed any desired
colour.
Should, however, the first bath be found not to be sufficient for the bleaching,
a second or even a third bath may be given until the desired result be attained.
The feathers thus freed from their down or flue (barbules) and bleached, are
afterwards dyed like any other feather. They are now bent and curled in the usual
manner, well known to fancy feather manufacturers, and, if desired, the fibres or
barbs are removed from one side, or the other, by stripping or tearing off, so as
to present the appearance of the real osprey feathers.
From the feathers so treated any combination may be produced suitable for
fancy feather ornaments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The manufacture or production of imitation osprey feathers from peacock
feathers treated in the manner substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The use of peacock feathers for the purpose of manufacturing or producing
therefrom-imitation-osprey feathers.
3.2. Imitation osprey feathers made from peacock feathers treated substantially as
hereinbefore described.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicants.