IMPROVE- MENTS IN GARMENTS FOR GENTLEMEN AND LADIES' WEAR
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Freeston Kirby, of Aldersgate Street, in
the City of London, Merchant Taylor, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GARMENTS FOR GENTLEMEN AND LADIES' WEAR."
Sealed the 10th February 1863, and dated the 15th August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Freeston Kirby
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th August 1862.
I, THOMAS FREESTON KIRBY, of Aldersgate Street, in the City of London,
Merchant Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN GARMENTS FOR GENTLEMEN AND LADIES' WEAR," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improvements, firstly, in garments for
gentlemen's wear, having for their object the combination of the vest and
coat in order to form one garment of the two. I propose to cut out the front
of the vest in the ordinary manner, and to attach the same to the inside of
the coat by means of sewing or by buttons or hooks and eyes, lacing, or other
fastening, and also to attach in a similar manner the back of the neck of the
vest to the inside of the neck of the coat. Or I propose to cut out the fore
part of the vest and the quarter body of the coat from one piece of material,
that is, when both the coat and vest are to be of the same material, thereby
economizing the cloth; the fore body of the coat may then be cut out and

page_text: attached to the vest at the situation where the under arm seam would other-
wise appear; but in cases where the waistcoat is desired to be of a different
pattern or material from the coat the first plan must be adopted. The
advantages of these methods are, that in warm weather the combined gar-
ment fitting closely to the back and sides of the wearer, prevents the circu-
lation or draught of air between the garment and body, and preserves the
wearer from taking cold in the loins. And in cold weather the coat may be
lined, or there may be a back attached to the coat; moreover, a more elegant
appearance is presented by the coat fitting closely into the hollow of the back.
In 'like manner, secondly, with regard to mantles, cloaks, or capes worn by
ladies, an interior body may be attached so as to fasten in front like a jacket,
whereby the mantle, cloak, or cape will be drawn closely to the waist of the
wearer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Freeston Kirby in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th February 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
FREESTON KIRBY, of Aldersgate Street, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth 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 Thomas Freeston Kirby, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Freeston Kirby, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Freeston Kirby, 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GARMENTS FOR GENTLEMEN AND LADIES' WEAR,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Freeston Kirby,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Freeston Kirby, 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 :-
This Invention consists in certain improvements, firstly, in garments for
gentlemen's wear, having for their object the combination of the vest and
coat in order to form one garment of the two; and, secondly, in mantles,
cloaks, capes, or jackets worn by ladies, the object of which is to attach an
interior body fastening in front, forming of the two one garment on the same
principle as in the first instance.
In order that my said Invention may be completely understood, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, as follows:-
I cut out the front of the vest for gentlemen's wear in the ordinary
manner, and attach the same to the inside of the coat by means of sewing, or
by buttons, or hooks and eyes, lacing, either elastic or otherwise, or webbing,
or other fastening; and I also attach in a similar manner the back of the
neck of the vest to the inside of the neck of the coat. Or I cut out the fore
part of the vest and the quarter body of the coat from one piece of material,
that is, when both the coat and vest are to be of the same material, thereby
economizing the cloth, the fore body of the coat may then be cut out and
attached to the vest at the situation where the under arm seam would other-
wise appear; but in cases where the waistcoat is required to be of a different
pattern or material from the coat the first plan must be adopted. The advan-
tages of these methods are, that in warm weather the combined garment
fitting closely to the back and sides of the wearer prevents the circulation or
draught of air between the garment and body, and preserves the wearer from
taking cold in the loins. And in cold weather the coat may be lined, or there
may be a back attached to the vest; moreover, a more elegant appearance
is presented by the coat fitting closely into the hollow of the back.
With respect to mantles, cloaks, capes, or jackets worn by ladies, I attach
an interior body thereto, so as to fasten in front like a jacket body, whereby
the mantle, cloak, cape, or jacket will be drawn closely to the waist of the
wearer.
The modes of fastening the interior body or jacket may be similar to
those described in the garments for gentlemen's wear, either by sewing,
buttons, hooks and eyes, lacing, or other suitable fastening, but I give the

page_text: preference to an elastic or flexible lacing or webbing, in order to afford ease
and comfort to the wearer.
Having now described the nature of said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion, that I do
not limit or restrict myself to the precise details I have herein expressed, as
the same may obviously be varied or modified without in any way departing
from the principles on which my Invention is based. The garments may be
made of any desired fabrics or materials, or combinations thereof, and they
may be of any pattern or figure, and of any desired shape to suit the taste of
the wearer; but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein
in part recited Letters Patent, are the "Improvements in Garments for
Gentlemen and Ladies' Wear," substantially in the manner herein specified
and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Freeston Kirby, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
THOMAS FREESTON KIRBY. (L.S.)
ALEX. C. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross,
London.