A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN GAITERS OR SPATTERDASHES
Year: 1832

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMASI
GAUNT, of Chapman Street, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the second year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Gaunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, His especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas
Gaunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Gaunt, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "A CERTAIN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN GAITERS OR
SPATTERDASHES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso
obliging me, the said Thomas Gaunt, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Gaunt, lo hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained by the following explanation thereof, that is to say:-
of
My Improvements in Gaiters or Spatterdashes consist in peculiar methods
of forming or constructing such coverings for the legs for the purpose
shielding the wearer from mud and wet, either in walking or riding on horse-
back. A principal object being a simple and easy mode of attaching and
detaching the said gaiters or spatterdashes in order to prevent hindrance and
trouble to the wearer, I make these gaiters or spatterdashes of some stiff
material, such as stout leather, or thinner leather blocked and cemented or
sewed or stitched together, and japanned or varnished on the outer surface, and
which through its own stiffness or the means aforesaid, and by the means of
springs herein-after mentioned, will not wrinkle or easily go out of shape; or
they may be made with pasteboard or cloth, stiffened by any approved means
as are practised for that purpose; but I do not intend to confine myself to any
particular material.
I attach springs, which I prefer to be of thin steel plate, to the inner parts of
the gaiters or spatterdashes, for the purpose of causing them to bind to the leg,
which in a great degree prevents the necessity of other modes of attachment or
fastening.
In order to give a more perfect explanation of my Invention I have attached
hereto representations of my improved gaiters or spatterdashes, but which of
course are subject to some slight variations in form, according to the pleasure
or taste of the wearer.
One of the forms in which I make my improved gaiters or spatterdasbes is
shewn in the Drawing at Figure 1, where it will be seen that the hinder part
of the leg only is shielded. This is constructed more particularly for walking,
and is intended to cover about half the leg; indeed it may be described as very
nearly resembling the back part of a stiff Hessian boot, the front part of the
boot being removed at the side closings or seams. In two or three places, at
the inside of the gaiter or spatterdash, I affix springs, shewn by dots in
Figure 1, but represented detached, in perspective, at Figure 2. These springs
may be by any convenient means attached to the lining, or to the inner surface
of the leather or other material, and when the gaiter or spatterdash is put upon
the leg the springs must be forced open, which, in again colapsing, will bind
the gaiter to the leg of the wearer. It may, however, be desirable, as a further
security of attachment, to have a fixed strap carried, and to buckle over the
instep, in combination with the strap usually worn with gaiters, under the sole
of the boot or shoe, next to the heel, which will keep the gaiter or spatterdash
more securely in its place.

page_text: In constructing gaiters or spatterdashes more particularly for riding on horse-
back, I prefer making them to enclose the leg completely, as shewn at
Figure 3. The springs allow of their being opened when put on to the leg,
and colapsing to hold fast, as before described. The form of this gaiter or
spatterdash may be that of the upper part of a stiff Hessian boot, or any other
fashioned stiff boot that might be desired; and the opening may be in the side,
as shewn, with or without a flexible tongue over the instep; or it may be made
to open in front, if that should be preferred.
These improved gaiters or spatterdashes may be put on or off in a minute,
without the trouble of buttons or laces; and being made with polished,
japanned, painted, or varnished external surfaces, they may be rendered clean
by a sponge and water, without the trouble of blacking.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Gaunt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal. this Twenty-sixth day of September One thousand