IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FINISHING OF HATS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Giles Atherton of Virginia Mills, Stockport in the
County of Chester Hat Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE FINISHING OF HATS "
Communicated to him from abroad by George
. Yule of Newark in the State of New Jersey in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Giles Atherton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January 1883.
"
GILES ATHERTON of Virginia Mills, Stockport in the County of Chester, Hat
Manufacturer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FINISHING OF HATS
me from abroad by George Yule of Newark in the State of New Jersey in the
communicated to
United States of America,
This Invention relates to the finishing of hats and has for its principal object to
dispense with the necessity for the ordinary ironing and finishing processes. Sand
is heated in a hopper chamber or receptacle and a quantity of the hot sand is
poured or placed upon the hat which is supported by a block. The hat with the
sand upon it is then subjected to pressure within a hydraulic or screw or other
press. The hot sand finishes the surface of the hat and abstracts the moisture
therefrom. The hat may be placed in a receptacle or chamber or be surrounded
with a ring or casing or other arrangements may be made the important
feature being the employment of heated sand under mechanical pressure for the
purpose. In some cases the hat may be placed in a mould and the sand be poured
or run into the hat and on to the brim pressure being applied to the sand.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Giles Atherton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd July
1883.
"
GILES ATHERTON of Virginia Mills, Stockport, in the County of Chester, Hat
communicated to
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FINISHING OF HATS
me from abroad by George Yule of Newark in the State of New Jersey in the
United States of America
This Invention relates to the finishing of hats and has for its principal object to
dispense with the necessity for the ordinary ironing and finishing processes. Sand is
heated in a hopper, chamber or receptacle and a quantity of the hot sand is poured
or placed upon the hat which is supported by a block. The hat with the sand upon
it is then subjected to pressure within a hydraulic or screw or other press.
hot sand finishes the surface of the hat and abstracts the moisture therefrom.
The
The
In order that the invention may be fully understood I have attached hereunto a
sheet of drawings made to a scale of about one inch to the foot and marked with letters
of reference. In the said drawings Fig 1 represents a sectional elevation and Fig 2 a
plan of a machine designed for use in the carrying into effect of the said Invention.
In the said Figs A is a hopper to contain heated sand, and B, B, are six presses
which are mounted upon a table C and are arranged around the said hopper. In
each press is a box or receptacle b and to the bottom of the box is secured a hat
mould as seen in the case of the box which is represented in section in Fig 1.
box is provided with trunnions which are mounted to turn in the base d of the
press so that the box can be tilted. A piston plate e is carried by an arm f which
is mounted to swing upon a pillar d' which forins part of the base. The said arm
can be turned by means of a projecting handle f' so that the plate e can be brought
over the box or can be moved out of the way inward toward the hopper or outward
The plate e is mounted upon the end of a
as in case of two of the plates in Fig 2.
screw which works in a nut formed or fixed in the outer end of the arm f and the
said screw is provided with a cross handle g whereby the screw can be turned to
force down the piston plate into the box. The said hopper A-in the example-is
of a rectangular form in cross section and is comparatively deep so that it can
contain a store of sand which is heated by means of steam pipes h which are
arranged within the hopper. The bottom of the hopper inclines outward from the
centre to delivery spouts i, i, which deliver the heated sand into the press boxes
Each spout is fitted with a valve or shutter whereby the flow of sand can be
.started or stopped at will. Each spout is arranged to deliver sand into one of the
press boxes. On each side of the hopper is a trunk or shaft k through which pas
the ascending and descending buckets of an elevator which raises sand from a
trough m which is below the working table and delivers the sand into the hopper
The chain of buckets passes around a wheel n which is actuated by suitable gearing
The apparatus is used in manner as follows. A hat or hat body is placed upon
mould or block in one of the press boxes and the valve in the corresponding spou
When the press bo
is opened whereby the hat is entirely covered with hot sand.
is sufficiently full the surface of the sand is roughly leveled and the piston plate
brought over the box and screwed down so as to press the sand into forcibl
contact with the hat which is thereby forced into close contact with the surface
the mould. The pressure is or may be maintained for a suitable interval and th
screw is then turned to withdraw the piston plate which is moved out of the wa
The press box is then tilted by means of a handle o so as to discharge the sand in
the trough m from whence the sand is returned by the elevator to the hopper

page_text: that the same sand is used over and over again. If preferred hollow moulds may
be used and the sand be run or poured into the interior of the hat as indicated by
Fig 3. The construction and arrangement of the machinery may be varied to any
extent so long as the heated sand is run or poured into the box or casing containing
the hat mould and pressure is applied to the sand.
less or more than six presses and in some cases the hopper and elevator may be
A single press may be used or
dispensed with and the sand be heated by any suitable means and be poured or
run into the press box or casing in any suitable manner.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of the said Invention and
the manner in which and means whereby the same may be carried into effect
I would have it to be understood that I claim :-
First. The finishing or treating of felt hats by means of loose heated sand poured
or run on to or into the hat which is supported by a block or mould and the
application of pressure to the sand substantially as set forth and indicated.
And secondly a machine for finishing hats in which the hat is placed upon or
within a suitable block or mould within a press, box or casing into which heated
sand is run from a hopper or receptacle and is forcibly pressed upon the hat by
suitable means.
In witness whereof I the said Giles Atherton have hereunto set my hand and
seal this eleventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eighty-three
Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON
41 John Dalton St, Manchester.
(Agent for the Patentee)
GILES ATHERTON (LS.)