IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 128, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." -A communication from abroad by
Adolphus Henry Polko, of Ratibor, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
Sealed the 20th February 1868, and dated the 30th August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
80th August 1862.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS,
AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by
Adolphus Henry Polko, of Ratibor, in the Kingdom of Prussia, to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists of using straw instead of the usual materials for the
weft with any strong material such as flax or hemp for the warp threads,
cotton or wool may be used, but they will not be so durable as flax. I use
an ordinary loom such as is generally used for weaving linen cloth, but to
facilitate the use of the straw I make the shuttle with a spring from the
centre extending to each end, which being pushed back allows the straw to
enter through the opening. To keep up the supply of the straw weft,
I place an assistant at each side of the loom (a child will be sufficient) and

page_text: supply each of them with one or more extra shuttles, so that they will always
be ready with a charged shuttle to place on the loom as it is required. This
fabric may be advantageously used for carpets or floorcloths, window blinds,
and similar purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th February 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "In-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by Adolphus Henry Polko,
of Ratibor, in the Kingdom of Prussia, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 fol-
lowing statement (that is to say):-
This Invention consists of using straw instead of the usual materials for the
weft, with any strong material such as flax or hemp for the warp threads,

page_text: cotton or wool may be used, but they will not be so durable as flax. I use
an ordinary loom, such as is generally used for weaving linen cloth, but to
facilitate the use of the straw I make the shuttle with a spring from the
centre extending to each end, the ends of which spring being pressed down,
allows the straw to enter through the openings. To keep up the supply of
the straw weft, I place an assistant at each side of the loom (a child will be
sufficient) and supply each of them with one or more extra shuttles, so that
they will always be ready with a charged shuttle to place on the loom as it is
required. This fabric may be advantageously used for carpets or floorcloths,
window blinds, and similar purposes.
This Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the figures and
letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top view;
Fig. 2 a bottom view, and Fig. 8 a side view of my improved shuttle adapted
for weaving straw as the weft of woven fabrics.
In Fig. 1a, represents the shuttle; b, the spring which is fixed in its
centre by means of small screws c, d, e, f, the ends of the spring 6 being
pressed down allows the straw to enter through the openings 9, 9', Fig. 2.
Fig. 3 is a side view of my improved shuttle shewing the peculiar formation or
cutting away of the ends to allow the free passage of the straw, and h, h³, two
pieces of metal let into the ends to prevent their wearing by coming into
constant contact with the picker stick.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I desire it to be understood that I claim the
improvements in the manufacture of woven fabrics and in apparatus employed
therein, as described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
E. I. HUGHES. (L.B.)