AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIRTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Swonnell, of Peckham, in the County of Surrey,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIRTS."
Sealed the 24th May 1878, and dated the 27th November 1877. .
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Swonnell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1877.
ALFRED SWONNELL, of Peckham, in the County of Surrey. "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIRTS."
Many attempts have heretofore been made to produce a reversible cuff for shirts,
but the only success which has been achieved in this direction consists of a loose
cuff, which may be turned end for end, and secured by a button or stud to the
wristband of the shirt.
Now the object of the present Invention is to form on the shirt sleeve a rever-
sible cuff, which in either of its two positions shall have a sightly appearance, and
present no undue increase of thickness at the wrist like that occasioned by the use
of a temporarily attached cuff. To this end I make the attached cuff on one side, the
counterpart of the face of a detached reversible cuff, and on the other side I so form
the cuff that at the middle of its width it will present two lips of linen of such a
depth as will go to form a wristband, between the opposite sides of which the end
of the sleeve is to be inserted, as is the case with ordinary wristbands.
By this construction and arrangement, the cuff, when its whole depth is presented
to view, will show no central seam, and when it is reversed and a portion of the cuff
is hidden within the sleeve, the band and cuff will appear to be formed in one
piece.
The edges of the cuff, whichever is brought outermost, will, unlike the turn-over

page_text: cuffs heretofore used, present a stiff edge like the ordinary cuff, and will have as
little tendency to wear at its edges. This cuff will be buttoned in the act of but-
toning the wristband, and it may be used with or without link studs, as taste or
convenience may dictate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Swonnell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th May
1878.
ALFRED SWONNELL, of Peckham, in the County of Surrey. "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIRTS."
Many attempts have heretofore been made to produce a reversible cuff for shirts
but the only success which has been achieved in this direction consists of a loose
ouff, which may be turned end for end, and secured by a button or stud to the
wristband of the shirt.
Now the object of the present Invention is to form on the shirt sleeve a reversible
cuff, which in either of its two positions shall have a sightly appearance, and present
no undue increase of thickness at the wrist like that occasioned by the use of a
temporarily attached cuff.
To this end I make the attached cuff on one side, the counterpart of the face of a
detached reversible cuff, and on the other side I so form the cuff that at the middle
of its width it will present two lips of linen of such a depth as will go to form a
wristband, between the opposite sides of which the end of the sleeve is to be
inserted, as is the case with ordinary wristbands.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews a portion of a shirt sleeve fitted
with a cuff, according to this Invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagram shewing the mode
of constructing and applying the cuff.
In these Figures A represents the sleeve, and B, B, the cuff. This cuff is formed
of a piece of linen b, which constitutes what may be termed the outer face of the
cuff, and of two pieces of linen 6', 62, which together constitute what may be termed
the inner face of the cuff. The external edges of these pieces are connected together
as usual by sewing, but the internal edges of the pieces 61, 62, are caused to embrace
the edge of the sleeve, and form a wristband a, a.
By this construction and arrangement the cuff, when its whole depth is presented
to view, will shew no central seam, and when it is reversed and a portion of the
cuff is hidden within the sleeve, the band and cuff will appear to be formed in one.
piece, as shewn in Fig. 1.
The edges of the cuff, whichever is brought outermost, will, unlike the turn-over
or folded cuffs heretofore used, present a stiff edge like the ordinary cuff, and will
have as little tendency to wear at its edges. This cuff will be buttoned in the act
of buttoning the wristband, and it may be used with or without link studs, as taste.
or convenience may dictate.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improvement in the
Manufacture of Shirts," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,

page_text: I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I
claim the application to shirts of a reversible cuff, constructed substantially as and
for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Swonnell, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. SWONNELL. (L.S.)