A CERTAIN IMPROVED MODE OF MANUFAC TURING BONNETS AND HATS
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
OLDHAM, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Silk Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Fifteenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and forty-three, in
the sixth year of Her reign, did give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Oldham, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas Oldham, my exors, admors,
and assigns, and such others as I, the said Thomas Oldham, my exors, adiñors,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and .no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter, during the term of years therein mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Colonies and
Plantations abroad, my Invention of "A CERTAIN IMPROVED MODE OF MANUFAC
TURING BONNETS AND HATS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso that I, the said Thomas Oldham, shall particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Oldham, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following Instrument in writing, reference being
had to the Figures therein contained, and to the Drawings thereunto annexed.
My Invention consists in making bonnets and hats of a double cloth united
in the weaving at equal distances throughout, and thereby leaving narrow
cases or openings parallel to each other for the reception of canes, and in the
introduction of such canes into such of the cases of the cloth as may be
required. The lines of union of the double cloth are narrow, so that the cases
are as near to each other as it is practicable to make them. By the use of
such a fabric it is obvious that canes may be introduced in any part of the
cloth, so that by introducing two or more of them in cases adjoining each
other, one in each case, greater stability may be given to that part of the
bonnet or hat, and by leaving an equal or unequal number of empty cases
between the introduced canes, any diversity of patterns capable of being made
by the introduction of canes can be produced. By the combination of canes
with such a fabric as I have described, the delay and expence are avoided of
sewing two cloths together to form cases for the reception of canes in the
parts required. Such woven cases are uniform in width, and that part of the
double cloth in the bonnets or hats between the canes is firmer, in consequence
of the cloths being united throughout at short distances.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a bonnet having four cases side by side filled with cases
round the front to give stability to that part of it. Adjoining these are three
empty cases, followed by two other cases, each of which are filled with a canc.
This succession of three empty cases, followed by two full ones, continues to
the crown of the bonnet, and, with the drawing of the cloth into folds or plaits
upon the canes, forms the pattern.
Figure 2 represents a hat with four cases side by side, each filled with a
cane, and the four next cases empty. This succession is continued throughout
the hat. The top side of the brim is covered by an extra piece of double
cloth with all the cases empty, as shewn in the Drawing.
Figure 3 represents a piece of double cloth, such as I have before described,
with cases throughout, having short pieces of cane introduced in some of the
cases, which pieces of cane extend beyond the cloth on each side to shew a
diversity of patterns made by introducing canes at various distances, and
leaving empty cases between them.

page_text: Figure 4 represents a section of the piece of cloth and canes shewn in
Figure 3, with the canes colored yellow.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
I carry it into effect, I declare that I do not claim as of my Invention the
weaving of double cloth with hollow cases; nor do I claim the introduction of
between two cloths sewed together
But I do claim as of my Invention
canes into cases that have been produced
after having been woven as single cloths.
the using of cloths of silk or other fibrous materials woven double, forming
cases throughout when combined with canes introduced into any of the cases,
and applied in the manufacturing of bonnets and hats.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Oldham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.
THOMAS (L.s.) OLDHAM.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fourteenth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1843, the aforesaid Thomas Oldham came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifi-
cation aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-three.