IMPROVE- MENTS IN PRESERVING POTATOES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John King, of 140, Leadenhall Street, in
the City of London, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRESERVING POTATOES."
Sealed the 9th July 1866, and dated the 12th January 1866..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick John King at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th January 1866.
I, FREDERICK JOHN KING, of 140, Leadenhall Street, in the City of
London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING POTATOES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the improved preservation of potatoes in a
cooked or partially cooked state, whereby such potatoes are ready for
immediate use when desired without the addition of milk or butter, such
additions being in places where the preserved potatoes are most in demand
difficult of obtainment. In carrying out this Invention the potatoes are
first well washed and cleansed from dirt and then boiled or steamed until
the skins just show symptoms of cracking; they are then peeled or
stripped of their skins in any convenient manner, and the eyes or specks
taken out, the potatoes so prepared are then forced through a cylinder or
vessel with perforations so as thoroughly to disintegrate or finely divide
the mass of potatoes then in a state of pulp. Beneath or otherwise in
connection with the cylinder or vessel lastly described is another vessel
into which the potatoes are forced, and whilst in this vessel I add a small

page_text: quantity of milk or butter, or both, in any convenient manner; the mass
is then kneaded or well incorporated together, and divided into layers or
strata or small particles for the purpose of more conveniently reducing it
to dryness; when thoroughly dried it is ready for packing. Instead of
adding the milk and butter at the stage of the manufacture above
described, they may be added to the vegetable when in the cylinder or
press.
3
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick John King in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th July 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS, SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
JOHN KING, of 140, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of January, in the year of our.
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Frederick John King, Her special license that I, the
said Frederick John King, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Frederick John King, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree 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 PRESERVING POTATOES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick John King, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to 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 Frederick John King, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to the improved preservation of potatoes in a
cooked or partially cooked state, whereby such potatoes are ready for

page_text: immediate use when desired without the addition of milk or butter, such
additions being in places where the preserved potatoes are most in demand
difficult of obtainment. In carrying out my Invention the potatoes are
first well washed and cleansed from dirt, and then boiled or steamed until
the skins just show symptoms of cracking; they are then peeled or stripped
of their skins in any convenient manner, and the eyes or specks taken out;
the potatoes so prepared are then forced through a cylinder or vessel with
perforations so as thoroughly to disintegrate or finely divide the mass of
potatoes then in a state of pulp; beneath or otherwise in connection with
the cylinder or vessel lastly described is another vessel, into which the
potatoes are forced, and whilst in this vessel I add a small quantity of milk
or butter, or both, in any convenient manner; the mass is then kneaded
or well incorporated together and divided into layers or strata or small
particles for the purpose of more conveniently reducing it to dryness, and
when thoroughly dried it is ready for packing. Instead of adding the
milk and butter at the stage of the manufacture above described they may
be added to the vegetable when in the cylinder or other vessel. I have
found in practice that one ounce of butter to three pounds of potatoes,
or half a pint of milk to three pounds of potatoes, or a moiety of each of
these quantities to every three pounds of potatoes when both butter and
milk are added will give a good result, but I wish it to be understood that
I do not confine myself to these or any other proportions.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the addition of milk
or butter, or of milk and butter to potatoes during the preparation of the
same with a view to their preservation as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick John King, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
JAMES WILKINS,
Douglas, Isle of Man.
FRED. JOHN KING. (L.S.)