IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Antonio d'Azambuja, of Joinville-le-Pont, in the
French Empire, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS,"
Sealed the 25th September 1869, and dated the 12th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Autonio d'Azambuja
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th April 1869.
I, ANTONIO D'AZAMBUJA, of Joinville-le-Pont, in the French Empire,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS," to be as follows:-
I make a felted fabric by combining animal hair with hair cloth or
thibaude, composed of animal hair and fibrous material. I felt the
animal hair and hair cloth well together, so as to produce a compact
felted fabric. This fabric can be thus made :-On a table or like surface
I place a piece of canvas or other textile material, and I spread hair
cloth thereon, over which I extend one or more layers of animal hair,
and thereon I place another layer of hair cloth, and I then spread over all
[Price 8d.]

page_text: a second piece of canvas, cloth, or other fabric, and I sew or otherwise
attach the two pieces of hair cloth together at all their edges, so that the
layers of animal hair are enclosed therein. Sometimes instead of using
hair cloth 1 employ thin wide meshed fabrics of cotton, hemp, flax, or
other fibrous material, which I combine with animal hair by the process
of felting, so as to produce a compact felted fabric. The hair cloth or
the thin wide meshed fabrics may be applied on one side only of the
layer of animal hair, and the other side or surface may consist merely of
felted hair. The animal hair is preferably twisted or curled and felted
by bowing before being used.
The parcel of material having been produced as above described (and
a number being superimposed in layers when there are more than oue)
is felted together, so as to form a compact fabric which may be cut or
arranged into sheets or rolled up, and after the felting the outside
cloths are removed, and the felted fabrics should by preference be heaped
up before drying.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Antonio d'Azambuja in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 12th October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANTONIO
D'AZAMBUJA, of Joinville-le-Pont, in the French Empire, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Antonio d'Azambuja, Her special
licence that I, the said Antonio d'Azambuja, my executore, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Antonio
d'Azambuja, 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

page_text: Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Antonio
d'Azambuja, 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 Antonio d'Azambuja, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to the manufacture of improved felted fabrics.
I make an improved felted fabric by combining animal hair with hair
cloth or thibaude. Hair cloth or thibaude is a well-known material
composed of animal hair and fibrous material. I felt the animal hair
and the hair cloth well together, so as to produce a very compact felted
fabric. This fabric can be thus made-On a table or like surface I place
a piece of canvas, and I spread hair cloth thereon, over which I extend
one or more layers of animal hair, and thereon I place another layer
of hair cloth, and I then spread over all a second piece of canvas, and 1
sew or otherwise attach the two pieces of hair cloth together at all their
edges, so that the layers of animal hair are enclosed therein. Sometimes
instead of using hair cloth I employ fabrics of cotton, hemp, flax, or
other fibrous material, which I combine with animal hair by the process
of felting, so as to produce a compact felted fabric. The hair cloth or
the fabrics substituted therefor (preferring for these thin wide meshed
fabrics) may be applied on one side only of the layer of animal hair, and
the other side or surface may consist merely of the felted hair. The
animal hair should be treated by bowing before being used.
The parcel of material having been produced as above described (aud
a number of such parcels being superimposed in layers if there are more
than one) is felted together, so as to form a compact fabric which is
cut or arranged into sheets or rolled up, and after the felting the outside
cloths are removed and the felted fabrics should by preference be heaped
up before drying.
My improved felted fabric may be described as consisting substantially
of hair felt that is to say, felted animal hair) combined with thibaude or

page_text: hair cloth or other fibrous fabric as above mentioned, the whole being well
felted together by mechanical means, so that the fibrous filaments
become thoroughly or intimately combined or felted together, and
produce a very compact fabric. Hair cloth being itself composed of
animal hair and of fibres of flax or hemp becomes readily embodied with
the horse hair or other animal hair by the process of felting. My
improved felt thus produced is greatly superior to ordinary felts, and it
is applicable to various useful purposes. Sometimes in producing my
felt I combine with the animal hair both thibaude or hair cloth, and
also other fibrous fabrics or materials, and then felt the whole together as
described.
In carrying out my Invention I sometimes dispense with the upper
and under canvas, and thus proceed:-1 first spread a layer or quantity
of the hair cloth on a common table, I then spread on the hair cloth one
or more layers of animal hair, such, for instance, as the hair of calves,
oxen, kids, goats, or other animals, or the hair of two or more animals
mixed together in any desirable proportion, using one or more layers
according to the required thickness. The hair is first bowed by
mechanical means; I then cover the whole with another piece or layer
of thibaude or hair cloth of the same length and breadth as the first or
undermost piece, and I next sew the two pieces of hair cloth together
with broad stitches all along the edges, so that they enclose the layers
of animal hair. When a packet of felted material has thus been formed
or when several such packets have been formed and are superimposed
on one another, they are subjected to the process of felting by mechanical
means, whereby the fibres or filaments of the materials are intimately
combined together into a compact mass. The felted fabric is made
into sheets or rolls, and it is piled up for several days before being
dried.
The improved fabric is an excellent non-conductor of heat, and it is
applicable among other uses for lining boilers and other steam apparatus
to prevent loss of heat and consequent waste of fuel. It is also
applicable as a protective covering or lining for pipes, waterways, and
tanks against frost in cold weather, and it is also serviceable as a non-
conductor of sound and as a carpet or as a fabric to be placed underneath
carpets. It is also useful for extracting oils and like products, and it is
applicable for filters, dinner mats, and linings for boxes for preserving
food and keep it hot and fresh.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim the manu-
facture of the improved felted fabric herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Antonio d'Azambuja, have hereunto
set my. hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
Witness,
W. J. VAN DEN BROEK.
ANTONIO D'AZAMBUJA. (L.8.)