AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR BRUSHING THE HAIR
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOSEPH WILLIS, Assistant Schoolmaster, of Bleak Villa, Henley-on-Thames,
and of Cherbourg House, Great Malvern, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR BRUSHING THE HAIR, to be as
follows:-
:
This invention consists of a chair, to which is affixed a driving wheel with the
ordinary treadle or other driving gear, but with this gear so arranged that either
the person sitting in the chair or using the apparatus, can himself drive the wheel,
or it can be driven by other means.
The wheel communicates a rotatory action by means of a band or other suitable
device to a rod, axle or other contrivance fixed above or in convenient proximity
to the head of the person sitting in the chair or using the apparatus. Thence it is
carried to an ordinary circular brush by means of a rubber band. The brush is
guided either by the person using the apparatus or by another person as may be
most convenient; and the apparatus is so constructed that if desired it can be
obtained without a seat and used with any ordinary suitable seat, or chair, or in
conjunction with a toilet table, or the like, or be placed in position in a lavatory.
Dated this Second day of October 1885.

page_text: I JOSEPH WILLIS of Bleak Villa, Henley on Thames tutor do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR BRUSHING THE
HAIR and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
1
I fix a driving wheel in such a position that it can be operated upon by the
foot or feet, somewhat in the same manner as the driving wheel of an ordinary
sewing machine is operated, and arrange 'standards' straight or otherwise, which
support a rigid shaft, pulley, or cone, above, or in convenient proximity to the head
of the person using the apparatus.
This shaft, pulley or cone is made to revolve by means of a belt or band extending
to it from the driving wheel and it can be 'speeded' as desired.
Thence the motion is conveyed by means of another belt or band, generally but
not necessarily of rubber, to an ordinary circular brush which is guided either by
the person using the apparatus or by another as may be most convenient.
For ladies' use I often provide one or more brackets or arms extending from the
standard and bringing the brush into convenient proximity to the head. Also
instead of an ordinary circular brush I often adopt this device for brushing long
hair I fix a series of small brushes, which are carried round with the band to
which they are fixed, on rollers arranged so as to give the band and brushes rather
an elliptical than a circular motion. Sometimes also instead of a series of small
brushes I fix the bristles to the band.
The apparatus attached to a chair forms a complete hair-brushing chair and in
that case the motion can be communicated either by the person in the chair or by
another, whilst the standards and stays may serve as the framework for the chair
or not as desired.
I very frequently either attach the apparatus to a toilet-table or incorporate it
in its construction with a toilet-table; and, for use in a lavatory I often combine
it with an ordinary shampooing basin or with a looking glass.
The framework I make of any suitable material and when combined with a
shampooing basin I sometimes arrange the pipe or tube supplying the water so
that the shampooing and brushing can be performed simultaneously: but in this
case it is necessary to use a shield with the brush to avoid splashing.
It is obvious that the apparatus may take various shapes to suit the exigences
of special cases, and when it is intended to be attached either to a chair, or a toilet-
table, or a shampooing basin, or a glass, or the like, I generally make the stays
that keep the standards in position to expand telescopically or otherwise, so that
the apparatus can be readily attached to articles of different width.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be

page_text: understood that I do not claim broadly or irrespectively of the improvements
herein before set forth the combination of a treddle and crank shaft mounted on a
chair or table for hair-brushing purposes, for I have discovered that such, combined
with a flexible shaft, is not new, but I declare that what I claim is
The improved apparatus for brushing the hair constructed substantially as above
described with standards or their equivalents and a rigid shaft cone or pulley, for
the purpose specified.