IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORSETS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Pretty, the younger, of the Firm of
Footman, Pretty, and Nicolson, of Ipswich, in the County of
Suffolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CORSETS."
Scaled the 20th October 1873, and dated the 22nd August 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Pretty at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd August 1873.
I, WILLIAM PRETTY, the younger, of the Firm of Footman, Pretty,
and Nicolson, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFActure
OF CORSETS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
corsets.
Corsets as at present constructed are put together in such a manner as
to form ridges or ribs on the inner surface, which are often a-source of
discomfort to the wearer, and they are also liable to become distorted

page_text: and to loose their shape in wear. I obviate these objections in the
following manner :-In constructing corsets I employ a peculiar fabric
known as "coutille," and the several parts having been suitably
fashioned are seamed together. The seams are then opened on the
outside and flattened, and over them straps of the same or other suitable
material are attached. These straps also serve to retain the stiffness.
There is also a broad band, which will not yield or stretch longitudinally,
passed around the corset, and this band lies and is attached beneath the
straps.
-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Pretty in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 21st February 1874:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PRETTY, the younger, of the Firm of Footman, Pretty, and Nicolson, of
Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Pretty, Her special
license that I, the said William Pretty, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Pretty, my executors,
'administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree witlı, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
thcrein expressed, should and lawfully might inake, 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 OF CORSETS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Pretty, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Pretty, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
corsets.
Corsets as at present constructed are put together in such a manner
as to form ridges or ribs on the inner surface, which are often a source
of discomfort to the wearer, and they are also liable to become distorted
and to lose their shape in wear. I obviate these objections in the
following manner :-In constructing corsets I employ a peculiar fabric.
known as "coutille," and the several parts having been suitably
fashioned are seamed together. The seams are then opened on the
outside and flattened, and over them straps of the same or other suitable
material are attached. These straps also serve to retain the stiffeners.
There is also a broad band, which will not yield or stretch longitudinally
passed around the corset, and this band lies and is attached beneath the
straps.'