IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED AND PILE FABRICS
Year: 1855

page_text: Scaled the 80th May 1856, and dated the 4th December 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Marsh, at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th December
1855.
I, JOHN MARSH, of Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LOOPED AND PILE FABRICS
to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in adapting certain new mechanical arrangements
and combination of parts to that class of bobbin-net machines known in the
"single-tier "machines, for the purpose of producing new and
improved descriptions of work not heretofore produced in the manufacture of
looped and piled fabrics.
The principal features of novelty, as regards the mechanism by which these
improvements are to be and may be effected, consist, firstly, in the use & em-
ployment of four point bars instead of only two, as heretofore practised; and,
secondly, in looping the pile thread to only one shuttle thread or bobbin thread,
that is to say, I use two of such said point bars for taking up the pile threads; for
which purpose I place one point bar at the front of the machine, and the other

page_text: I place at the back thereof, and I employ the other two point bars for taking
up the weft threads after they have passed through the warp and pile threads;
and by thus using the aforesaid four point bars;. I am enabled to hold the last
made row of loops and the weft threads firm during the forming of the next row
of loops, and the passing of the shuttles or bobbins through the warp threads
and pile threads for fastening them together, so that by the use of the two
aforesaid additional point bars, I am enabled to hold the loops in a somewhat
similar manner to that in which the weaver's wire holds the loops while the
pile is being cut and the wire put in the pile shed, and the shuttles pass
through the warp threads to fasten them together; and by the above improved
method I produce an even and uniform surface of the pile, so that it may be
used without cutting. I propose also,. as a further improvement in the manu-
facture of looped and pile fabrics, to introduce amongst the pile work satin
figures or patterns, as also lace work, either separately or combined, namely,
pile and satin work, or lace and pile work, or pile, lace, and satin work. In
order to make a plain piece of velvet pilc, I join the shuttle thread or bobbin
thread with both the back and front warp threads in the form of the letter A;
the pile comes out in the front, so that when the work is "knocked" together
it will become a flat piece, and by introducing a "picker" at either the front
point or back point of the form it will be made into lace, according to the
design required, and the pile threads can be stopped off, so that it will then
become wove satin. I would here observe, that by using a cross-guage
machine the shuttles or bobbins will hold more silk or cotton; at the same time
I can make fine velvet by using more warp and pile threads to one shuttle
thread or bobbin thread, which cannot be accomplished by the machines as
heretofore constructed and employed in the manufacture of looped & pile
fabrics. In some instances I use perforated bars, and when this is the case the
warp and pile threads pass through stumps, and move from one side of the
stump to the other.. The mode hitherto usually practised, of passing the
bobbins and carriages through the warp threads, has been to pass them from
front to back and from back to front of the machine alternately; whereas,
according to these improvements, they are passed first from the front to the
centre of the machine, then from the centre to the front, then from the front
to the back, from the back to the centre, then from the centre to the back, and,
finally, from the back to the front of the machine, by which I open the pile
threads and separate them from the warp threads, and thus allow the points to
take up the pile loop, &c., as above stated.
In conclusión, the improvements above referred to in the manufacture of
looped and pile fabrics consist in using six warp threads, more or less, to one

page_text: shuttle thread or bobbin thread, and three pile threads, more or less, to one
shuttle thread or bobbin thread; or I can use six pile threads, more or less, by
working them two together, in the same way that I use three pile threads, as
above stated; or I can use nine pile threads, more or less, to one shuttle thread
or bobbin thread; that is to say, I can use more than six warp threads to one
shuttle thread or bobbin thread, so long as I increase the number of pilo
threads in proportion to the number of warp threads employed, always looping
the pile or pile threads to the same shuttle thread or bobbin thread.
I use the perforated bars, before mentioned, for moving the warp threads, or
I can use bars with guides attached to them, and holes in the ends of said.
guides for the warp threads and pile threads to pass through; the above bars
aro operated upon by jacquard machinery in the usual way. I also operato
upon the warp threads or pile threads with instruments termed "pickers,"
which are also operated upon by the "jacquard;" the cards thereof are perfo-
rated according to the desired pattern, and the pickers operate upon either the
warp threads or the pile threads, so as to move them either to the right hand
or to the left hand of the shuttles or bobbins, said shuttles or bobbins passing
through the aforesaid warp threads aud pile threads from back to front of the
machine, and vice versa.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Marsh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MARSH, of Nottingham, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the
year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Marsh, Her special licence that I, the said John Marsh, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Marsh, my executors, administrators, and 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 THE MANUFACTURE
OP LOOPED AND PILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the

page_text: said John Marsh, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 John Marsh, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My improvements consist in adapting certain new mechanical arrangements
and combinations of parts to that class of bobbin-net machines known in the
trade as "single-tier" machines, and are designed for the purpose of producing
new and improved descriptions of work not heretofore produced in the manu-
facture of looped and pile fabrics by such machines.
The principal features of novelty, as regards the mechanism which I employ,
and by which my said improvements are to be and may be effected, consist,
firstly, in the use and employment of four point bars instead of only two
point bars, as heretofore practised in bobbin-net machines, employed in the
manufacture of looped and pile fabrics; and, secondly, in looping the pile
threads to only one shuttle thread or bobbin thread, that is to say, I use two
of such said point bars for taking up the pile threads; for which purpose,
I place one point bar at the front of the machine, and the other I placo
at the back thereof, and I employ the other two point bars for taking up the
weft threads after they have passed through the warp and pile threads, and
by thus using the aforesaid point bars I am enabled to hold the last made
row of loops and the weft threads firm during the forming of the next row
of loops, and the passing of the shuttles or bobbins through the threads
warp
and pile threads for fastening them together, so that by the use of the two
aforesaid additional point bars I am enabled to hold the loops in a somewhat
similar manner to that in which the weaver's wire holds the loops while
the pile is being cut and the wire put in the pile shed, and the shuttles or
bobbins pass through the warp threads to fasten them together; and by the
above improved method I produce an even and uniform surface of the pile, so
that it may be used without cutting, if required. I propose also to introduce
amongst the pile work satin figures or patterns, as also lace work, either sepa-
rately or combined, namely, pile and satin work, or lace and pile work, or pile,
lace, and satin work. In order to make a plain piece of velvet pile, for
example, I join the shuttle thread or bobbin thread with both the back and

page_text: front warp threads in the form of the letter A; the pile comes out in the front,
so that when the work is knocked together it will become a flat piece, and
by introducing a "picker" at either the front point or the back point of the
form it will be made into lace, according to the design required, and the pile
threads can be stopped off, by which it will then become wove satin. I would
here observe, that by using a coarse guage machine the shuttles or bobbins
will hold more silk or cotton; at the same time I can make fine velvet by
using more warp and pile threads to one shuttle thread or bobbin thread,
which I believe has not heretofore been accomplished by single tier bobbin-net
machines as hitherto constructed and employed in the manufacture of looped
and pile fabrics. In some instances I use perforated bars, and when this is
the case the warp and pile threads pass through perforated guide bars, and
move from one side of the carriage to the other.
The mode hitherto usually practised, of passing the bobbins and carriages
through the warp threads, has been to pass them from front to back, and from
back to front of the machine alternately; whereas, according to my said
improvements, they are passed first from the front to the centre of the machine,
then from the centre to the front, then from the front to the back, from the
back to the centre, then from the centre to the back, and, finally, from the back
to the front of the machine, by which I open the pile threads and separate
them from the warp threads, and thus allow the points to take up the pile
loop, &c., as above stated.
Another feature in my said improvements consists in using six warp
threads, more or less, to one shuttle thread or bobbin thread, and three pile
threads, more or less, to one shuttle thread or bobbin thread; or I can use six
pile threads, more or less, by working them two together in the same way that
I use three pile threads, as above stated; or I can use nine pile threads, moro,
or less, to one shuttle thread or bobbin thread, that is to say, I can use more
than six warp threads to one shuttle thread or bobbin thread so long as I
increase the number of pile threads in proportion to the number of warp
..threads employed, always looping the pile or pile threads to the same shuttle
thread or bobbin thread. I use the perforated guide bars, before mentioned,
for moving the warp threads, or I can use bars with guides attached to them,
and holes in the ends of said guides for the warp threads and pile threads to
pass through; the above bars are operated upon by jacquard machinery
in the usual way, or by notched wheels, according to the pattern of the
work. I also operate upon the warp threads or pile threads with instru-
ments termed "pickers," which are also operated upon by the "jacquard,"
the cards thereof being, perforated according to the desired pattern, and tha

page_text: pickers operate upon either the warp threads or pile threads, so as to move
them either to the right hand or to the left hand of the shuttles or bobbins,
said shuttles or bobbins passing through the aforesaid warp threads and pile
threads from back to front of the machine, and vice versa.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now pro-
ceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same
into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of referenco marked
thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
At Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of certain parts of a single tier
bobbin-net machine, showing the adaptation of my said improvements thereto;
Fig. 2 is a back elevation of the same, exhibiting more particularly the
arrangement and disposition of the several cams necessary for imparting the
requisite movement to the several point bars and catch bars; Fig. 3 is a
transverse and vertical section, taken through the line C. D, at Fig. 2, shewing
the relative positions of the point bars and catch bars with respect to the comb
bars, bobbins, warp rollers, lacing rollers, and finished work roller, as also the
cam and its respective levers, eniployed for imparting motion to the back extra
point bar; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the driving end or head of the.
machine, exhibiting the arrangement of the driving gear employed for impart-
ing rotatory motion to the cam shaft; Fig. 5 is a transverse and vertical
section, through the line A, B, at Fig. 2, of the cam and its respective levers,
employed for knocking out the front extra point bar; Fig. 6 is a transverse
and vertical section, through the line E, F, at Fig. 2, of the cam and its
respective levers, employed for knocking out the back extra point bar.
At Sheet 2, Fig. 7 is a section, through the line G, H, at Fig. 2, of the cam
and its respective levers, employed for imparting motion to the back main point
bar; Fig. 8 is a section, through the line I, K, at Fig. 2, of the cam and its
respective levers, employed for imparting motion to the back catch bar; Fig. 9
is a section, through the line L, M, of the cam and its respective levers, em-
ployed for imparting motion to the front main point bar; Fig. 10 is a section,
through the line N, O, at Fig. 2, of the cam and its respective levers, employed
for imparting motion to the front knocking out main point bar; Fig. 11 is a
section, through the line P, Q, at Fig. 2, of the cam and its respective levers,
employed for giving motion to the front extra point bar; Fig. 12 shows the
ratchet wheel; and Fig. 13, its respective cam, employed for imparting motion
to the front catch bar. The said cam and wheel are represented detached from

page_text: the machine, and are drawn full size; these pieces are shown applied to the
machine at Fig. 1 of Sheet 1. At Sheet 2, Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, respec-
tively exhibit detached parts (herein-after particularly referred to), drawn
to a scale of full size, to render the construction thereof more intelligible.
At Sheet 3, Fig. 19 to 26 inclusive respectively exhibit the shape of the several
cams before referred to, and exhibitted at the several Figures of Sheets 1 & 2.
At Sheets 3 & 4, Figs. 27 to 32 inclusive respectively exhibit the notched
wheels employed for "shogging" the several guide bars, herein-after referred
to, and through which the threads pass from the warp roller and the lacing and
Opile rollers, said wheels being arranged and disposed in the order herein-after
described. Figs. 27 and 28 are the back and front lacing wheels; Fig. 29,
the back weaving wheel; Fig. 30, the back pile wheel; Fig. 31, the front
weaving wheel; Fig. 32, the front pile wheel. The back lacing wheel is
placed uppermost, and the several other wheels are arranged and disposed in
the order lastly above described. I would here remark that I have found the
wheels exhibitted at Sheet 4 answer better than those at Sheet 3.
At each of the foregoing Figures of each Sheet of Drawings I employ
similar letters of referenco to denote corresponding parts, in so far as such
parts appear or can be seen at each of the said Figures respectively.
A, A, is the framing of the machine, which may be of cast iron; B, C, aro
ordinary spindle bars, to which are connected the back point bar D and front
point bar E, which are of the ordinary kind; G is the back extra point bar ;
and II, the front extra point bar, which are new, and are connected by castings
a and b to the top fixed bar 1 by bent levers c and d, Figs. 3, 5, 6, of which
there are two, one at each end of the bars G and H, but only one appears at
the Drawing; K, K', are the back and front ordinary landing bars, to which
are hinged in the usual way the back and front catch bars L, L', also of the
ordinary kind; M, M', are ordinary back and front comb bars; N, one of the
bobbins or shuttles; 0, 0, perforated guide bars; the arrangement, disposition,
and construction of these guide bars is shewn more clearly at Figs. 15 and 16
of Sheet 2. P, an ordinary facing bar; Q, the finished work roller; R, the
warp roller; S, the back and front lacing rollers; T, the back and front pilo
rollers; U, shafts, upon which are keyed the bevilled gearing employed for
transmitting motion to the several parts of the machine by means of the
cranked handle V, as at Fig. 1 and 4; W is the cam shaft, upon which aro
keyed the several cams exhibitted at Sheet 3, 19 to 26 inclusive, and employed
for imparting motion to their respective point bars and catch bars, as herein-
after stated; X is an upright spindle, upon which are keyed the several notch
wheels marked 27 to 32 inclusive, as exhibitted at Sheet 3 and 4, same being

page_text: At the commencement of the operation, the guide bars and pile bars should
be in such a position with respect to each other and the comb bars as that the
weaving, lacing, and pile threads range in the order exhibited at Fig. 16 of
Sheet 2, which for the sake of distinction I will call the first position, where
3 denotes 10 threads ranging in a line in the 10 front guide bars and opposite
to the combs; 4 denotes 10 other threads ranging in a line in the 10 back
guide bars, and also opposite to the solid part of the combs; but instead of
being in a line with the threads 3, they stand one gate of the combs to the
right hand, so as to be at each side of the bobbin or shuttle, and thus allow a
clear space for the bobbin containing the weft thread to pass through; 5 and 6
denote the positions of the pile threads and their respective bars, represented by
red lines, of which bars there are 6 in addition to the 20 guide bars; through
these pile bars the pile threads pass in the order exhibitted.. a marks the pile
bars; and b, the guide bars..
It will be seen; upon referring to Fig. 16, that three pile threads are opposite
to and in a line with each of the.10 threads respectively marked 3 and 4 in
the front and back bars. The several threads being arranged and held in the
above-mentioned positions, the bobbins are then moved from back to front of
the machine, or vice versâ, as the case may be, and whilst held by ono or
other of the catch bars, the rotation of the notch wheels operates upon the
guide bars so as to "shog" or move said guide bars and their respective
threads into the position exhibitted at Fig. 17, which I will call the second
position. The position of the threads will now be as follows:-5 threads out
of each of the 10 threads marked 3 and 4 will have passed to the right hand of
the machine, thus mixing with the pile threads 5 and 6, which remain in
the first position; the bobbins being now moved in the opposite direction, are
again held by the opposite catch bar, after which the notch wheels operate
upon the pile bars and guide bars, so as to "shog" or move them and their
respective threads into the following 3rd position. The pile threads move
either from 1 to 2 or from 2 to 1, that is to say, the pile threads move two
gates of the combs, and the other threads move into the 1st position. The
bobbins being now moved in the opposite direction and again held, the notch
wheels, now operate upon the guide bars and place the threads in the following

page_text: 4th position; that is to say, the pile threads remain in the 3rd position, and
the other threads change their position, i. e., 5 of the threads at front of the
machine and 5 at back move to the right hand, as before stated, and this
completes the movement of the threads. When the threads are in the 1st
position, and the bobbins and carriages are central between the two combs,
then the two front point bars are caused to descend and enter the work, the top
point bar takes hold of the pile threads and the bottom point bar remains out
of the threads, the two back point bars remain in the threads, one of said bars
holding the pile threads and the other the ground threads; the carriages then
move to the back of the machine, and the top front bar rises and carries the
pile up, and the bottom bar rises to get out of the way of the catch bar; the shed
is then opened by shogging the guide bars, as before stated, and the threads
are brought into 2nd position; the carriages then move from the back to the
centre; and simultaneously with this movement the extra and bottom point
bar descends, and entering the threads, takes up the ground threads, and as
this bar ascends, the carriages and bobbins move to the front of the machine;
then the shogging of the bars moves the threads into the 3rd position; and
simultaneously with this movement the two back point bars are drawn out of
the work, and as the carriages and bobbins move from the front to the centro
of the machine the aforesaid back bars descend; the top bar entering the
threads takes up the pile, and the bottom bar moving out of the threads rises
out of the way of its respective catch bar, as before stated; the threads then
move into the fourth position, the carriages and their bobbins having previously
passed from the centre to the front of the machine; then the bottom back point
bar descends as the carriages move from the front of the machine to the centre
thereof, and take into the ground threads; the carriages then move to the back
of the machine, and the bottom bar ascends and carries up the ground threads;
the shogging of the bars then moves the threads into the 1st position, and
the several movements of the machine are repeated as before, and in this
manner and by these means the pile work and ground work are produced.
I would here remark, that as the mechanism employed for shogging the
guide bars, moving the carriages and the ordinary back and front, as
also the finished work roller, are such as are well known and in common
use in single-tier bobbin-net machines employed in the manufacture of lace,
it is unnecessary for me here to enter into any detailed description thereof;
at the same time I would remark, that as regards the several cams and
notched wheels employed for properly effecting my said improvements, they
should be arranged, disposed, and fixed upon their respective shafts in the
relative positions denoted by the corresponding numerals marked upon each

page_text: separate cam and notch wheel, as exhibitted at the several Figures of Sheets
3 and 4; that is to say, the aforesaid cams and notched wheels should be so
fixed upon their respectiue shafts as that the corresponding numerals all range
in a line with and come opposite to each other, otherwise the cams and wheels
will not perform their office properly.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of "Im-
provements in the Manufacture of Looped and Pile Fabrics," together with the
best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect,
I desire it to be distinctly understood that I am fully aware of bobbin-net
machines combined with certain other mechanism having heretofore been
employed in and for the manufacture of looped and pile fabrics; I do not,
therefore, claim as my Invention the exclusive use of bobbin-net machinery
for the above purpose, except when the same is'employed in conjunction with
the improved mechanism above described, and combined therewith in the
manner and for the purpose above stated, and represented by the Drawings
hereunto annexed; neither do I intend to limit or confine myself to the precise
details of construction exhibited by such said Drawings, so long as the principle
of construction of my said Invention be retained; and I hereby declare that
what I claim as my Invention intended to be secured to me by the above in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly, the use and adaptation to a single-tier bobbin-net machine of the
two extra point bars marked G and H for taking up the pile, and serving
the purpose of pile wires, as ordinarily employed in the manufacture of pilo
fabrics, as above stated.
Secondly, the mode set forth of producing pile work from a single bobbin,
whereby I dispense with the necessity for cutting the pile as heretofore practised
in the manufacture of pile fabrics, as above stated.
Thirdly, the general arrangement of the mechanism above described, and
represented by the Drawings, and the use and employment thereof for effecting
the combined operations of the machine, and by which I am enabled to effect
improvements in the manufacture of looped and pile fabrics, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Marsh, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 4th day of June, A.D. 1856.