IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sam Mendel, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS."
Sealed the 24th June 1873, and dated the 5th April 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sam Mendel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th April 1873.
I, SAM MENDEL, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS," to be as follows:-
In manufacturing woven fabrics it is necessary to apply a certain
amount of size to the warp to facilitate the weaving, and to give the
requisite stiffness or finish to the fabric when woven. In some fabrics
the amount of size or stiffening applied to the warp is greatly in excess
of that required to facilitate the weaving, and this excess renders the
warp brittle, and causes a good deal of dust in the weaving shed, to

page_text: the injury of the operatives, and to remedy which steaming and other
objectionable means are adopted.
Now my Invention consists, first, in applying size to the warps to
facilitate weaving, and this size is made by boiling flour or other fari-
naceous substance in water in the proportion of one pound of flour to a
gallon of water, but the proportion may be varied according to the
counts of yarn.
And, secondly. In passing the fabric when woven through size con-
taining a solution of salts of zinc, mercury, alumina, or quinine, or a
mixture of any of them, to give additional value to the fabric, to improve
the finish, and to prevent mildew.
A size composed of one hundredweight of starch and three gallons of
a solution of chloride of zinc at 100 degrees Twaddel's hydrometer, and
mixed with one hundred gallons of water, with or without other addi-
tional stiffening ingredients, gives a good result, but the proportions and
ingredients may be varied.
By means of these improvements the production of the looms is
increased, the atmosphere in the weaving sheds is not vitiated, the finish
and appearance of the fabrics are improved, and the antiseptic size being
thoroughly incorporated in the warp and weft of the fabric entirely
prevents mildew.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Sam Mendel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAM
MENDEL, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Sam Mendel, Her special licence that I, the
said Sam Mendel, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Sam Mendel, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN
FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Sam
Mendel, my executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 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 Sam Mendel, do hereby declare the
nature of my said 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) :-
In manufacturing woven fabrics it is necessary to apply a certain
amount of size to the warp to facilitate the weaving and to give the
requisite stiffness or finish to the fabric when woven. In some fabrics
the amount of size or stiffening applied to the warp is greatly in excess
of that required to facilitate the weaving, and this excess renders the
warp brittle and causes a good deal of dust in the weaving shed, to the
injury of the operatives, and to remedy which steaming and other
objectionable means are adopted.
Now my Invention consists, first, in only applying sufficient size to
the warps to facilitate weaving, and this is effected by passing the warp
through a cistern or trough containing a combination of flour or other
farinaceous substance boiled in water, say, for instance, in the proportion
of one pound of flour to a gallon of water, but the proportion may be
O varied according to the counts of yarn.
And, secondly. In passing the fabric when woven through size con-
taining a solution of salts of zinc, mercury, alumina, or quinine, or a
mixture of any of them, or other suitable antiseptic, to give additional
value to the fabric, to improve the finish, and to prevent mildew.
A size composed of one hundredweight of starch and three gallons of
a solution of chloride of zinc at 100 degrees Twaddle's hydrometer, and
mixed with one hundred gallons of water, with or without other addi-

page_text: tional stiffening or sizing ingredients, and ingredients for the prevention
of mildew, gives a good result, but the proportions and ingredients may
be varied.
By means of these improvements the production of the looms is
increased, the atmosphere in the weaving sheds is not vitiated, the finish
and appearance of the fabrics are improved, and the antiseptic size being
thoroughly incorporated in the warp and weft of the fabric entirely
prevents mildew. The above advantages are not obtained when the
fabrics are to be bleached immediately after being manufactured.
I wish to remark that I make no claim to the sizing of the warp as
described, nor to the prevention of mildew by any of the ingredients
above enumerated, but what I do claim is, the combination of the
processes above described for manufacturing and finishing woven fabrics,
whereby the commercial value of the fabrics is improved.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sam Mendel, have hereto set my 1
hand and seal, this Third day of October One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-three.