IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PARING THE BRIMS OF HATS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Cree and Francis Cree, the younger, both of
Denton, in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PARING THE
BRIMS OF HATS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Cree and Francis
Cree, the younger, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st
July 1880.
FRANCIS CREE and FRANCIS CREE, the younger, both of Denton, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR PARING THE BRIMS OF HATS."
This Invention relates to the construction of a simple machine or apparatus
designed for the purpose of paring the edges of the brims of hats after being
curled.
In a suitable frame we support in bearings a shaft, at one end of which is a fly
wheel and handle, and at the other end a conical bowl or roller covered with india
rubber, felt, or other suitable material.
Above this conical bowl is mounted a slide carrying an adjustable knife for
paring the inner edge or curl, and a plate for pressing onto the brim and
preventing the knife from cutting through the same. There is also a curved guide
plate, against which the edge of the brim presses, and which is also adjustable by
means of set screws.
Opposite to the face of the conical bowl we have a table, which is adjustable to
such a height that when the hat is placed brim downwards on the table the edge
of the brim can be passed between the bowl and the pressing plate, the bowl
being connected to a weighted lever, which has a constant tendency to press the
bowl upwards and nip or hold the brim firmly between it and the pressing
plate.
Upon turning the shaft round by means of the handle the bowl will revolve, and
cause the hat to turn round against the curved guide plate, whilst the stationary
knife will pare the inner edge of the "curl" as it revolves, the pressing plate
holding the brim down and preventing the knife from cutting through the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Cree and Francis Cree, the younger, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st December 1880.
FRANCIS CREE and FRANCIS CREE, the younger, both of Denton, in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR PARING THE BRIMS OF HATS."
This Invention relates to the construction of a simple machine or apparatus
designed for the purpose of paring the edges of the brims of hats after being curled.
Such being the nature and object of our said Invention, we will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be clearly understood
we have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with Figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof:-
Fig. 1 on the annexed Drawings is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a front view, and
Fig. 3 a plan view of our improved paring machine.
In a suitable frame a, a, we support in bearings a shaft b, b, at one end of which
is a fly wheel c, c, and handle d, d, and at the other end a slightly conical bowl or
roller e, e, covered with india rubber, felt, or other suitable material.
Above this conical bowl e, e, is mounted a slide f, f, carrying an adjustable
knife g, g, for paring the inner edge of the "curl," and a plate h, h, for pressing
onto the brim of the hat and preventing the knife g, g, from cutting through the
same. There is also a curved guide plate i, i, against which the edge of the brim
presses, and which is also adjustable by means of set screws k, k.
Opposite to the face of the conical bowl e, e, we have a table Z, Z, which is
adjustable to such a height that when the hat is placed brim downwards on the
table the edge of the brim can be passed between the bowl e, e, and the pressing
plate i,, the bowl being connected to a weighted lever m, m, (only partly
shown in the Drawing), which has a constant tendency to press the bowl c, e,
upwards and nip or hold the brim firmly between it and the pressing plate h, h.
Upon turning the shaft b, b, round by means of the handle d, d, the bowl e, e,
will revolve, and cause the hat to turn round against the curved guide plate i, i,
whilst the stationary knife g, g, will pare the inner edge of the "curl'
revolves, the pressing plate h, h, holding the brim down and preventing the knife
from cutting through the same.
as it
The brim of the hat (previously to being pared) is fitted onto a plate n, n, with
small projecting clips o, o, which may either be fixed, as shown at Fig. 4 (in which
case separate plates will be required for each size), or they may be mounted on
spring slips p, p, as shown at Figs. 3 and 5, so as to be capable of expansion, and
the plates may be made in two pieces and fitted with india rubber or other springs
q, q, to cause them to clip the edge of the brimn.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention,―
The novel and peculiar construction of apparatus for paring the brims of felt hats,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, we, the said Francis Cree and Francis Cree, the younger,
havo hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirtieth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.