A NEW OR IMPROVED HAT SHAPING MACHINE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Robinson Kelsey, in the employ of Messrs. Lewis
F. Marsh & Company, of Castle Green, Bristol, Hat and Cap Manufacturers,
for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED HAT SHAPING MACHINE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Robinson Kelsey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th July 1881.
JOHN ROBINSON KELSEY, in the employ of Messrs. Lewis F. Marsh & Company;
of Castle Green, Bristol, Hat and Cap Manufacturers.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED
HAT SHAPING MACHINE."
The object of this Invention is a new or improved hat shaping machine, and
consists in mounting upon a suitable frame a couple of uprights whose upper ends
form guides for the movements of a cross head, which can be actuated by a treadle,
and returned by a spring or weight. The frame supports a table having a block,
which can be removed at pleasure, and another one substituted for a different
shaped hat body. The table also supports boxes, in which gas jets are arranged
for heating them. Between the space occupied by the hat body when in position
and the heating boxes I arrange pressers, said pressers being under control of rods
attached to the cross head and the treadle before mentioned. The presser rods are
connected to levers whose opposite ends are pinned to the uprights, so that the.
pressers in their up or down motions move in segments of circles. The boxes are
arranged under the action of a lever to move to and from the hat body, and clamps
actuated by springs act in conjunction with the pressers and the heated boxes to
give the necessary shape to the hat and the curl to the brim, the curl being a
permanent one and "sett" by the action of the heat, the pressure on one side, and
the coldness of the block on the other.
The two features of novelty in my Invention are the two pressers brought into }
position by means of levers acted upon by a treadle, and the back and front clamps
acting in conjunction with the side boxes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, & of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said John Robinson Kelsey
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th March 1882.
JOHN ROBINSON KELSEY, in the employ of Messrs. Lewis F. Marsh & Company,
of Castle Green, Bristol, Hat and Cáp Manufacturers. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
HAT SHAPING MACHINE."
The object of this Invention is a new or improved hat shaping machine, and
consists in mounting upon a suitable frame a couple of uprights whose upper ends
form guides for the movement of a crosshead actuated by a treadle and returned
by a spring or weight. The frame supports a table, and has a block which can be
removed at pleasure, and another one substituted for a different shaped hat body.
The table also supports sliding boxes, in which gas jets may be arranged for heating
them.
Between the space occupied by the hat body when in position and the moveable
boxes I arrange pressers (formers), said pressers being under control of rods
attached to the crosshead and the treadle before mentioned. The presser rods are
connected to levers whose opposite ends are pinned to the uprights, so that the
pressers in their up or down motions move in segments of circles. The boxes are
arranged under the action of a lever to move to and from the hat body, and front
and back clamps act in conjunction with the pressers and the boxes to give the
necessary shape and sett to the hat brim, the curl being a permanent one by the
action of the heat and pressure on one side and the coldness of the block on the
other, the brim being set and the curl made at one operation.
The two features of novelty in my Invention are the two pressers brought into
position by means of levers acted upon by a treadle, and the back and front clamps
acting in conjunction with the side boxes.
My Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the complete machine, one view having
the pressers or curl formers lifted out of contact with the hat shown upon the
block; Figure 3 a plan of the table portion; Figure 4, a section through the
same; Figure 5, a plan and front view of the presser or side curl formers
detached.
A is the frame of the machine; B, B, the uprights thereon; C is the crosshead
guided on posts D, D, when moved down by the treadle E, as in Figure 2, through
the rods F, F, or up, as in Figure 1, by the counterpoise G, the treadle being hung
from the pivot bar H at back of frame A. The crosshead C has suspended two
rods I, I, passing through the top stay Jas a guide.
The pressers or side formers K, K, are connected by screw pins a, a, to the
rods I, I, to enable them to be removed and others substituted at pleasure. The
short legs b, b, of the rods I, I, are pinned to knuckle levers L, L, from which they
describe a peculiar curvular motion to enable the formers to be placed against the
hat body K' and down upon the brim. After the curling operation the pins f. f,
are removed and the parts d, d, which are part of the rods I, I, lift by the return
of the treadle under the action of the weight G, the parts K, K, being then
removable by hand to be again affixed to the parts d, d, ready for acting upon
another brim.
The table M supports the block or mould N (see Figure 4) and also two guide
irons P, P, which rest against the sides of it, with top edges corresponding in
height and shape to the top of the mould; Q, Q, are side boxes or side curlers with
flanges c, c, to pass over the top edges of the guide irons P, P, and of the mould N
to force the projecting portions of the hat brim over upon the pressers K, K. The

page_text: boxes move in guides in the table M under the action of a cam R, see Figure 3, by
a hand lever S, which action also moves the front and back clamps T, T, to press
up the front and back portions of the brim, which pressure acts simultaneously with
or instantaneously after the side curling, whereby a mechanical all round curling of
the brim is made without producing a wrinkle in it where the edges or parts of the
two side curlers and the front and back clamps meet.
The front and back clamps T, T, may be moved by the same cam R or in other
suitable manner. I prefer however to form diagonal slots in them, so that they
slide to and from upon pins on the side box flanges simultaneously when the boxes
are moved by the cam and lever.
The formers or pressers K, K, Figure 5, are each in two parts, so that the inner
portions d, d, may be part of the rods I, I, the outer or "shaped" parts which
regulate the shape of the curl being secured by screw pins f,f. The parts K, d,
impart the actual shape and set to the whole of the brim.
After the hat is shaped the foot is removed from the treadle and the pins f. f.
drawn out; the inner ring d, d, immediately rises, and the actual curl mould K is
left and is then easily removed by hand. When the curl is very large, and the
space between its, inner edge and the side of the hat is too small to liberate K
without disturbing the shape of the curl, I form each half curl moulds K of
two pieces, see Figure 6; a pin unites them whilst being used, and then they
can be easily withdrawn by pulling one to the right and the other to the left.
In the annexed Drawings I have shown a silk hat in position upon the block,
and the appliances arranged to form the " Anglesea" curl, but other shapes or
curls can be produced by fitting the requisite shaped pressers K, K, d, d, to the
rods I, I. The Invention is applicable to all kinds of hard brimed hats, whether
in felt or other material.
The shape, construction, and arrangement of the frame can be varied to suit
tastes or desires, and also the positions, arrangement, and actions of the working
parts. I therefore wish it to be understood that I make no claim to novelty in
the machine shown in the Drawing, except in so far that it enables my Invention
to be understood, which said Invention consists of,—
First. Two suspended pressers K, K, brought into position mechanically by
rods B, B, levers L, L, acted upon by a treadle or its equivalent for the
purpose described, and substantially as shown in the annexed Drawings,
Secondly. Back and front clamps T, T, acting in conjunction with side boxes Q, Q,
for producing mechanically a curling over at the sides and a curling up at the
back and front of the brim of a hat instantaneously and simultaneously, the
clamps acting in conjunction with said side boxes, substantially as described with
reference to the annexed Drawings.
Thirdly. I claim the particular arrangement and mode of action of the working
parts, Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings, for shaping, pressing, and setting
a hat, and for curling the brim thereof simultaneously in the same machine, as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Robinson Kelsey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
JOHN ROBINSON KELSEY. (L.S.)