IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF FELT HATS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Mollady, of Denton, near the City of
Manchester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF FELT HATS."
Sealed the 5th July 1872, and dated the 24th January 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Mollady at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th January 1872.
I, JOHN MOLLADY, of Denton, near the City of Manchester, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FELT HATS," to be as follows:-
.
:-
In the manufacture of woollen felt hat bodies it has heretofore been
customary to receive the web.of woollen fibres from a carding engine
on to revolving cones until a sufficient thickness has accumulated; these
cones of fibres are then taken to the harḍening machine, and from
thence to the milling machine to complete the hat bodies.

page_text: Another mode of making the bodies of felt hats is by collecting short
fibres of fur or fur and wool by exhaustion on a perforated cone.
Now my Invention consists in combining the two processes above
referred to to produce improved felted hat bodies, that is to say, I divide
the forms produced on the cones from the carding engines into two
equal parts, or I make them in separate parts. I then place one of
these portions of the form on a perforated cone, and cause a certain
quantity of wool dust or fly or other fibre to accumulate thereon by
exhausting the air through the perforated cone. I then cover the wool
dust or fly with the other portion of the form, thus leaving the portion
made of short fibres between the two others; the forms so combined
are then taken to the wool hardening and milling machines in the usual
manner.
Another part of my Invention consists in making a band, technically
called "brimming," of wool fly or other short fibre, and this band is
introduced between the divided cone made of longer fibre from the
carding engine.
The object of my Invention is to produce a better article and at less
expense; this mode of manufacturing hat bodies also reduces the wear
of the cards in the wool carding engine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Mollady in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th July 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MOLLADY, of Denton, near the City of Manchester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in
the thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Mollady, Her
special licence that I, the said John Mollady, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Mollady,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
'

page_text: 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 Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT HATS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Mollady, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
O be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Mollady, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
5 be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):
-
. In the manufacture of woollen felt hat bodies it has heretofore been
customary to receive or collect the web of woollen fibres from a carding
engine on to revolving cones until a sufficient thickness has accumulated;
O these cones of fibres are then taken to the hardening machine, and from
thence to the milling machine to complete the hat bodies.
Another mode of making the bodies of felt hats is by collecting short
fibres of fur or fur and wool by exhaustion on a perforated cone.
Now my Invention consists in combining the two processes above
6 referred to to produce improved felted hat bodies.
.
In performing my Invention I collect the web of woollen fibres from
a carding engine on to a revolving cone or cones in the usual manner,
but instead of allowing the web to accumulate on the cones until
sufficient fibres are collected to make the hat body, as now customary,
I stop the operation when about from one-third to one-half of the usual
quantity has been collected, thereby forming the first portion of my
improved felt hat body; or I divide the forms produced on the cones
in the usual manner into two equal parts to form the first portion of my
improved felt hat body. I then place one of these portions on a per-
forated cone, in which a partial vacuum is formed by exhaustion, as
usual, and cause a certain quantity of wool fly or other short fibres to
accumulate thereon; I then cover the wool fly or other short fibres with

page_text: the other portion of the form made of woollen fibres from the carding
engine, thus leaving the portion made of short fibres between the two
others; the forms so combined are then taken to the hardening and
milling machines, by which they are hardened and milled in the usual
manner.
The improved hat bodies so manufactured are equal (when finished in
hats) in appearance and they are as durable as those made entirely of
woollen fibres, while they can be produced at less expense.
My Invention may be modified by making the foundation or first
portion of the hat body of woollen fibres from the carding engine in the 1
manner above described; this foundation is then placed on a perforated
cone, and a surface of fur is collected thereon by exhaustion in the usual
manner; this combined woollen fibre and fur hat body is then hardened
and milled.
Another part of my Invention consists in making a band with a layer 1
of wool fly or other short fibre, and this band or brimming is introduced
by hand between the divided cone made of longer fibre from the carding
engine.
The object of my Invention is to produce a similar or a better article
at less expense; this mode of manufacturing hat bodies also reduces the 2
wear of the cards in the wool carding engine, because instead of passing
the wool fly or short fibre through the carding engine it is collected on
the perforated cone.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the
manner of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do 2
not intend to limit myself to the details given, as the same may be
varied, but that what I claim as my Invention is, the combination of the.
two processes hitherto used separately in the manufacture of felt hats to
produce felt hats of an improved description.
In witness whereof I, the said John Mollady, have hereto set 3
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
JOHN MOLLADY. (L.S.)