IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEALDS OR HARNESS EMPLOYED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hadfield, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
HEALDS OR HARNESS EMPLOYED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 4th July 1879, and dated the 11th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hadfield at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1879.
GEORGE HADFIELD, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEALDS OR HARNESS EMPLOYED IN LOOMS FOR
WEAVING."
In the manufacture of healds, it has hitherto been the custom after the healds
are knitted or woven, to prepare them for the loom by giving them a coating of
sizeing material, such as glue, flour, or starch, and subsequently to apply thereto one
or more coats of varnish, the object being to impart to the threads the requisite
degree of firmness and pliability.
My improvement consists in the treatment of the healds by means of a com-
position well known as " metallic soap," being an insoluble soap made by the boiling
together of oil with a metallic oxide and water, preference being given to those
composed of oxide of lead or zinc.
I reduce the soap to a semi-fluid state by the addition of spirits of turpentine,
petroleum spirit, or other suitable medium. It is then applied to the healds by
in eans of a brush or otherwise, and when dried it will be found to give the required
degree of stiffness and pliability to the healds, and at the same time they will be
more durable and smoother, and hence there will be less friction on the warp in the
loom.
This metallic soap may be used either entirely as a substitute for the sizeing and
varnishing process hitherto employed, or if preferred, it may be used in connection
or combination therewith, but I prefer to use it alone as being more effective and
less costly.

page_text: 111
the said George Hadfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th August
1879.
" IMPROVE-
GEORGE HADFIELD,-of-Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HEALDS-OR-HARNESS-USED-IN-LOOMS-FOR-WEAVING."
_In_the_manufacture of healds it has hitherto been the custom after the healds are
knitted or woven, to prepare them for the loom by giving them a coating of sizeing
material, such as glue, flour, or starch, and subsequently to apply thereto one or
more coats of varnish, the object being to impart to the threads the requisite degree
of firmness and pliability.
My improvement consists in the treatment of the healds by means of a com-
position well known as "metallic soap," being an insoluble soap made by the
boiling together of oil with a metallic oxide and water, preference being given to
those composed of oxide of lead or zinc.
I reduce the soap to a semi-fluid state by the addition of spirits of turpentine,
petroleum spirit, or other suitable medium. It is then applied to the healds by
means of a brush or otherwise, and when dried it will be found to give the required
degree of stiffness and pliability to the healds, and at the same time they will be
more durable and smoother, and hence there will be less friction on the warp in the
loom.
This metallic soap may be used either entirely as a substitute for the sizeing and
varnishing process hitherto employed, or if preferred, it may be used in connection
or combination therewith by employing the inetallic soap in the place of the sizcing
process, and then applying a coat of varnish above it, but I prefer to use it alone, as
being more effective and less costly.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together.
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention the
employment or use of "metallic_soap " for the treatment of healds or harness,
substantially as described, whether the same be employed entirely as a substitute
for the ordinary sizeing and varnishing process, or whether the "metallic soap" be
employed in lieu of the size and in combination with a conting of varnish.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hadfield, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
GEO. HADFIELD. (L.S.)