Improvements in Dressing and Finishing Fibrous Sub stances and Fabrics in the Manufacture of Paper, and in Printing Calicoes, &c.
Year: 1841

page_text: Improvements in Dressing and Finishing Fibrous Sub
stances and Fabrics in the Manufacture of Paper, and
in Printing Calicoes, &c.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HOUGH WATSON, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Chemist,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-first day of December, in the fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Hough Watson, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Henry Hough Watson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Henry Hough Watson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no other, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN DRESSING, STIFFENING, AND FINISHING COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS, PART OR PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER, AND ALSO TO
SOME OF THE PROCESSES OR OPERATIONS CONNECTED WITH PRINTING CALICOES AND
OTHER GOODS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I,
the said Henry Hough Watson, shall cause a particular description of the

page_text: nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Hough Watson, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following explanation thereof, that
is to say:-
My "Improvements in Dressing. Stiffening, and Finishing Cotton and other
Fibrous Substances, and Textile and other Fabrics, Part or Parts of which
Improvements are applicable to the Manufacture of Paper, and also to some
of the Processes or Operations connected with Printing Calicoes and other
Goods," consist, so far as regards dressing,
Firstly, in the removal, by singcing, of the fine protruding fibres and loose
filamentous matter from the articles and goods mentioned; and,
Secondly, in inbruing or impregnating the articles and goods with a certain
solution, mixture, or size, or with certain solutions, mixtures, or sizes, by which,
and when the articles and goods are dried therefrom, additional body and
stiffness is given them, and the fine fibres which before protruded are caused
to lic down. This kind of dressing is often called sizing when applied to yarn
or thread preparatory to its use in the process of weaving.
That part of my Invention which relates to improvements in the first descrip-
tion of dressing, I carry into effect by submitting yarn, thread, and textile and
other fabrics, whether composed of cotton or any other organic fibrous substance,
or of any mixture of organic fibrous substances, to the action of air, cithcr
atmospheric or that resulting from the ignition of combustible matter or other
air (of a temperature so high as to be capable of burning or charing fine or
down), organic fibres. For this purpose I prefer preparing the air by causing
atmospheric or other air containing oxygen to be blown or otherwise forced
upon charcoal, coke, or other combustible matter in an ignited state; by the
active combustion thus carried on, a highly heated air is produced. It is
found convenient to have the coke or other combustible placed in an ignited
state upon and distributed along the flat iron bed of a furnace about twelve
inches wide, twelve inches deep, and about twelve inches longer than the width
of the cloth intended to be dressed, in the middle and from one end to the other
of which bed there is an orifice about a quarter or half an inch wide; this
orifice externally communicates with one end of a pipe or channel, whose other

page_text: end is connected with a fan, bellows, or other apparatus capable of furnishing
a continuous and regular stream of air to the furnace to keep up the combus-
tion of the coke or the like. When the operation of dressing is going on, the
door of the furnace should be of iron and made to fit tight when shut, and may
be either at one end of the furnace or in one of the sides. The sides and ends
of the furnace, except the door, may be of brickwork, but the roof or top of
the furnace should be of iron or other metal capable of standing the long con-
tinued action of a high temperature. The roof may be flat or curved, or taper-
ing upwards to a narrow edge (ridged) from the sides of the furnace. Through
the middle of the roof and from one end to the other of it there should be an
orifice, from one twentieth to one fourth of an inch wide, for the emission of
the hot air; and besides this, there should be no vent for the emission of air
from the furnace. When the goods are intended to be dressed merely on
the surface, it is only requisite to cause them quickly to pass in an extended
state from one roller to another (as is usual in dressing by contact with a red-
hot metallic plate or the flame of combustible gas) at a short distance over
and across the orifice in the roof of the furnace when a stream of heated air is
passing therefrom, the distance of the goods from the orifice and the speed at
which they are to be passed being regulated at the discretion of the operator
according to the rate of combustion going on in the furnace, and to the force
of the air blowing into and through the furnace; but when it is desired that
the dressing shall be effected both on the surface of the goods and in the
interstices of their texture, a draft should be created on the upper surface of
the goods, and directly above the orifice from which the hot air is issuing out
of the furnace, by the application and use of the same apparatus which is
ordinarily used for a similar purpose when goods are being dressed by the
exposure of them to the action of the flame of combustible gas, and which,
being well understood, it is not necessary here to particularize.
I do not claim as part of my Invention the use of any apparatus herein
mentioned, nor the use of any particular materials of which the apparatus may
be formed. What I do claim is, the application to goods intended to be dressed
by singeing of air made so hot as to be capable of burning or charing the fine
fibres of organic matter, that is, the causing the goods which are to be dressed
and the heated air to be in contact with each other till the desired effect is
produced, not confining myself to any particular mode of causing the air to
be heated, nor to any particular manner of applying the air when heated.
That part of my Invention which relates to improvements in the second
description of dressing relates also to improvement in stiffening and finishing,
having the effect, according to the degree in which it is applied, of giving

page_text: increased body, marketable appearance, and seemingly improved quality, to
yarn, thread, cloth, and other goods spun, woven, or otherwise prepared or
manufactured from cotton or other fibrous substance, or from a mixture of two
or more kinds of fibrous substances; and I carry it into effect by immersing
the articles or goods in, or otherwise impregnating them with, a solution of
sulphate of magnesia, sulphate of soda, or sulphate of potash, or a mixture of
two or more of those salts, and then drying them. When it is intended that
the dressing, stiffening, or finishing material that is to be applied to the goods
shall possess more adhesiveness than that which would result from the use of
a solution simply of the salts mentioned, the solution may bave gum, mucilage,
or starch, or flour size mixed with it, the strength of the solution and the
quantity of gum or other adhesive matter to be added being regulated
and varied at the discretion of the operator, and according to the effect
intended to be produced. If the goods are desired to be made very stiff, the
solution of the salt will be required to be a saturated one, formed at the tem-
perature of sixty degrees, or higher; if they are not desired to be made stiff,
but to have a moderate apparent increase of body given them, it will be suffi-
cient that the solution used be of the specific gravity (temp. 60°) 1·15 or less.
The solution may be applied in the same manner as that in which a flour or
starch size solution or mixture is usually applied, and as, in such case, the
excess squeesed out by passing the goods between rollers, after which the
goods may be dried in the usual manner, when they will have required the
increased body and altered appearance.
This part of my Invention, so far as regards the use of a solution of sul-
phato of magnesia, is applicable to the manufacture of paper. The water
leaf or sheet of paper, having been formed and dried, is to be immersed in,
passed through, or otherwise impregnated with the solution of salt (the same
observations relative to the strength of the solution as above being attended
to), the excess of the solution being then removed by passing the paper
between rollers, or by passing it between folds of some absorbing substance.
The paper is to be dried, after which it will have more body and stiffness than
if the solution had not been applied.
What I claim in this part of my Invention is, merely the application of a
solution of sulphate of magnesia in the manufacture of paper, and the applica-
tion of a solution of sulphate of magnesia, sulphate of soda, or sulphate of
potash, or of a mixture of two or more of the salts, to the other descriptions
of goods above mentioned or alluded to, without confining myself to any precise
manner of effecting the application.
The next part of my Invention relates to improvements in stiffening and finish

page_text: ing, and consists in applying to cloth and other goods woven or otherwise pre-
pared or manufactured from cotton or other fibrous substance, or from a
mixture of two or more kinds of fibrous substances, a compound produced by
mixing a solution of sulphate of magnesia with a solution of resin in alkali
(this alkaline combination of resin being an article much used under the name
of "vegetable size" in the manufacture of paper), or with a solution of soap-
combination of tallow or other greese and alkali. A quantity of the alkaline
combination of resin (" vegetable size"), or of soap, being dissolved in water,
a saturated or other solution of sulphate of magnesia is added thereto, by
which a double decomposition takes place, the resin or grease (as the casc
may be) and the magnesia being precipitated together, and the sulphuric acid
and the alkali forming a sulphate of the alkali. The quantity of sulphate of
magnesia to be added depends upon the strength of the solution of resin, it
being known when sufficient has been added by a further addition not
forming more precipitate, and the strength of the solution of resin to which
the solution of sulphate of magnesia has to be added depends upon the thickness
of the mixture which the operator is inclined to use; the mixture may either
have starch or flour size mixed with it or not, according to the discretion
of the operator, and it may be used in the manner in which mixture of flour
size with china, clay, and other earthly matter is generally used, after which
the goods may be dried in the usual manner.
A modification, which I also claim, of this part of my Invention consists in first
passing the cloth or goods through, or otherwise impregnating them with, a solu-
tion of sulphate of magnesia, and in afterwards passing them through, or other-
wise impregnating them with, a solution of soap or of the "vegetable size," or
vice versa, whereby the double decomposition spoken of takes place, and a
mixture of magnesia and grease or resin is deposited in and among the fibres
of the substance of which the cloth or goods is formed; the cloth or goods,
after having had the excess of the finishing materials squeezed out by being
passed between rollers or otherwise and then dried, is rendered to a great extent
impervious to water. This part of my Invention, consisting in the use of a
compound formed by mixing a combination of alkali and resin, or a combination
of alkali and grease, with sulphate of magnesia, is applicable to the manu-
facture of paper. The sulphate of magnesia, instead of alum, is to be put
into the paper engine along with the vegetable size or soap, and therein
mixed with the pulp as alum and the vegetable size or soap generally are.
The sulphate of magnesia forms a substitute for the alum; and of its crystals,
about three hundred and thirty-two parts by weight are required to supply the
place of four hundred and eighty-seven parts of alum.

page_text: I do not claim, as part of my Invention, the use of the vegetable size or of
soap per se, either in the stiffening and finishing of goods or in the manufacturo
of paper; but I do claim the application of the compound formed by mixing a
combination of resin and alkali with sulphate of magnesia, and also the
application of the compound formed by mixing a combination of tallow
or other grease and alkali with sulphate of magnesia both in the stiffening
and finishing of goods and in paper making, whether the said compound
be mixed with any other ingredient or ingredients or not, and without
confining myself to any precise proportions or qualities of the several
ingredients used in forming the compounds, or to any particular manner of
applying the compounds.
The next part of my Invention also relates to improvements in stiffening
and finishing cloth and other goods woven or otherwise prepared or manu-
factured from cotton or other fibrous substance, or from a mixture of two or
moro kinds of fibrous substances; and cousists in submitting or exposing the
cloth or other goods, after having been immersed in or otherwise impregnated
with, or having had in any way applied thereto, a solution or mixture of or
containing sulphate of magnesia or alum; or other salt having a metallic oxide
for its base, to the action of an atmosphere of or one considerably impregnated
with ammonical gas, by which the magnesia, alumina, or other metallic oxide
becomes liberated from the acid with which it was combined, and is deposited
in or upon the cloth or goods. This part of my Invention, so far as regards the
use of ammoniacal gas for causing metallic oxides to be deposited in or upon
cloth and other goods, is applicable to some of the processes or operations con-
nected with printing calicoes and and other goods; for instance, an atmosphere
containing ammoniacal gas can be used as a substitute for a mixture of chalk
and water, or for a solution of lime or soda or potash in water, in causing the
deposition of alumina and other metallic oxides from the acids forming with
them salts, and which salts are applied to goods intended to have that style of
printing effected upon them called "padding." The salt, or mixture of salts,
or its solution, having been padded upon the calico or other goods, the calico or
goods, either before or after being in some degree dried, is to be exposed to an
atmosphere of or one considerably impregnated with ammoniacal gas; after
which it will not be necessary to wince in an alkaline solution or mixture of
chalk and water.
What I claim in this part of my Invention is, the causing cloth or other
goods, after the same has had in any way or in any degree applied thereto
a solution or mixture of any kind containing sulphate of magnesia, alum,
or other salt whose base is a metallic oxide, to be so acted upon by an

page_text: atmosphere of or containing ammoniacal gas, as that the metallic oxido
forming the base of the salt contained therein shall become deposited in or
upon the cloth, calico, or other goods.
The next part of my Invention relates to improvements in dressing, stiffening,
and finishing cotton and other fibrous substances, and textile and other fabrics,
and consists in applying thereto a combination of ammonia with lard, tallow,
oil, or other grease; or a combination of ammonia with wax, spermaccti, or
stearine, or a mixture of any two or more of those ammoniacal combinations,
either alone or mixed with starch or flour size, or gum mucilage, or any other
matter. To form the combination, the lard or other grease, or the wax, sper-
maceti, or stearine should be, softened or just melted by the application of heat,
and then should be added thereto liquor of ammonia, the mixture being agitated
till the combination is complete; when the preparation of the compound is well
managed, one part by weight of liquor of ammonia, whose specific gavity is
0.96, is enough for two parts of any one of the other mentioned articles. The
combination having been formed, and allowed to cool under exclusion from
atmosphere, may be diluted with water, and passed through a fine seive, when
the mixture or solution, either alone or with other matter, at the discretion of
the operator, may be applied to the cloth or other goods in the manner in
which starch or flour size is usually applied, and the cloth or goods may then
be dried and submitted to such other mechanical finishing operation as is
desired, the ammoniacal part of the combination which was applied having
been dissipated during the drying of the cloth or goods, and the grease, wax,
or other matter (as the case may be) being left therein or thereupon.
In this part of my Invention I do not claim the formation of a compound of
ammonia with lard, oil, or other grease; nor of ammonia with wax, spermaceti,
or stearine; but I claim the application to cloth or other goods, in the dressing,
stiffening, and finishing thereof, for whatever purpose the said cloth or goods
may be intended, combinations of ammonia with lard, tallow, oil, or other
grease, wax, spermatic, or stearine, and of ammonia, with all or any two or
more of the other several ingredients, however the said combination or com-
binations may have been formed, not confining myself to any particular pro-
portions of the ingredients forming the combination or combinations mentioned
or alluded to, nor to any particular manner of applying any of the com-
binations.
The next and last part of my Invention, which relates to finishing cloth and
goods, consists in drying them by the application of the heated air produced
by or resulting from the action of atmospheric air, or other air containing
oxygen, upon charcoal, coke, or other carbonaceous matter in a state of ignition.

page_text: HENRY HOUGH (L.s.) WATSON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourteenth day of June, in the
fifth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said Henry Hough
Watson came before or said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein con-
tained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument afore-
said was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth
year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Twenty-first day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-two.