IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHTING AND FINISHING SILKS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hawley, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Silk Dyer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WEIGHTING AND FINISHING
SILKS."
Sealed the 17th December 1878, and dated the 21st June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hawley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1878.
THOMAS HAWLEY, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Silk Dyer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN WEIGHTING AND FINISHING SILKS."
The object of my Invention is fully explained in the title.
By the use of the combination of substances herein-after mentioned a more
glossy surface is procured, and a heavier silk is obtained.
The ingredients I use may either be applied as a mixture, or be placed upon the
surface of the silk one upon another.
The dressing I employ is a combination of isinglass, gelatine, glue, or such other
or similar articles with sugar, gluecose, or other saccharine substances.
It is found by applying the above combination of substances in the necessary
proportions (which vary according to the colour and texture of the silk) a
greatly improved lustre, finish, and weight in the silk so dressed is obtained, and
as before explained this combination of dressing may be applied in any convenient
manner, and in any quantity that may be desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Hawley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st December
1878.
THOMAS HAWLEY, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Silk Dyer. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN WEIGHTING AND FINISHING SILKS."
The object of this Invention is explained in the title.
By the use of the combination of substances herein-after mentioned a more
glossy. surface is procured, greater durability is ensured, whilst at the same time an
equally weighty silk is obtained, as has been hitherto produced,
The ingredients I use are by preference applied as a mixture, that is, applied in
an already mixed condition, but they may in some cases be placed upon the silk
one upon the other.
The dressing I employ then for the purposes of my Invention is a combination of
isinglass, gelatine, glue, or such other or similar gelatinous matters combined with
sugar, gluccose, or other like saccharine substances.
It is found by applying this combination of substances in their proper proportions
(which necessarily vary according to the color and texture of the silk to which
they are applied) that a greatly improved lustre, finish, and weight is given to the
silk so dressed, and as before explained this combination of dressing may be applied
in any convenient manner, and in any quantity or proportion which may be
necessary.
The application of these substances to the silk may be, if desired, in the process
of dyeing, but I much prefer that the application shall be made immediately after
the dyeing is complete.
My Invention may, if desired, be applied to all kinds of silks, but it is designed
principally for application to coloured silks, that is, to silks of all colors, with the
exception of black.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same may be carried into effect, I desire it to be understood that I claim as the
Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, the
improved mode or manner of weighting and finishing silks by the employment or
use of isinglass, glue, gelatine, or such other or similar gelatinous matters in com-
bination with sugar, gluecose, or other like saccharine substances, substantially as
herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, J, the said Thomas Hawley, have hereunto set_my_hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
THOMAS HAWLEV
THOMAS HAWLEV
(L.S.)