IMPROVED MEANS AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING THE VANES OR BEARDS FROM QUILLS, AND APPLYING THE FEATHERS OR DOWN THUS OBTAINED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS AND FELTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVED MEANS AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING THE
VANES OR BEARDS FROM QUILLS, AND APPLYING THE FEATHERS OR DOWN THUS
OBTAINED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS AND FELTS."
munication from abroad by François Clément Bourguignon, of Donchery
(Ardennes). France. Manufacturer.
A com-
Sealed the 11th February 1879, and dated the 22nd August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1878.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Welligton Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVED MEANS AND MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING THE VANES OR BEARDS FROM QUILLS, AND APPLYING THE
FEATHERS OR DOWN THUS OBTAINED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS
AND FELTS." A communication from abroad by François Clément Bourguignon, of
Donchery (Ardennes), France, Manufacturer.
The first part of this Invention relates to an improved machine for stripping the
vanes or beards from quills, based mainly upon the use of a cuttting or stripping
roller or cylinder of small diameter, fed by means of an endless cloth, and com-
bined with an arrangement ensuring the production in the apparatus of a current
of air of suitable force to carry away the down obtained, and cause it to deposit
itself at a distance from the apparatus; the greater, the lighter the down. Thus the
coarsest, and consequently the heaviest, matters fall near the apparatus, while the
finest, and consequently the lightest down, deposits itself only at the end of a
long conduit provided in the apparatus.
The classification of the products takes place therefore automatically and without
any loss of down; further, the operation necessitates no management injurious to
the health of the operatives.

page_text: I may also use cutting or stripping rollers of small diameter combined with an
arrangement of knives placed at variable distances apart, between which the quills
are guided by feeding cylinders arranged at the extremity of the endless cloth, and
which hold the quills while they are rapidly stripped by the machine.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing represents a machine for stripping quills
according to this Invention.
It is composed, as shown, of a stripping, cutting, or ravelling cylinder or drum A,
mounted on a frame formed of two cheeks or side pieces B of wood or of metal, joined
together by bolts and cross pieces C. This cylinder or drum A may have on its
circumference either sharp points or saws or very strong card teeth; but it is above
all essential that these teeth should be perfectly set or sharpened.
In front of the cylinder A is arranged an endless cloth D, moveable over two
rollers E, and upon the endless cloth is placed the quill to be stripped; it is thus led to
the feeding cylinders F, G, and these bring it to the opening or outlet left between tho
two knives H, the distance apart of which may be regulated by adjusting screws.
Experience has proved that the smaller the diameter of the cylinder A, and the
greater the speed at which it is driven, the better the work; it is because the small
diameter of this cylinder permits its boing kept very close to the inlet orifice, so
that the quill or feather, however small, is reached by the teeth, pins, points, or
cutters of the drum, according to the mounting which may have been adopted for
this apparatus.
As may be seen on the Drawing the box formed by the two cheeks or side
pieces B, which carry the ravelling or stripping drum A, is open at its two ends
and closed at the top by a sheet-iron or other covering to prevent the escape of
dust, which might be injurious to the workpeople; this opening of the box B,
which is extended at the back of the machine by means of a long wooden or
metal box I, also open at its two ends, permits the obtaining of a current of fair,
which carries away the down, and which may be increased either by the arrange-
ment given to the cylinder or by the addition of small fans or flyers placed at each
of its ends or within it.
Under these conditions, and by leaving free behind the machine a very long
passage (say from ten to twelve yards) in which the down may deposit itself, all
manipulation and all sorting of the material is avoided, and the operation may be
effected without affecting in any way the health of the persons entrusted with tho
work, and without the loss of any kind of down.
It will be understood that I may vary the shape and particular arrangements of
the various parts of this apparatus, and especially the incans employed for producing
the current of air, the effect of which is to ensuro automatically the classification of
the down obtained, the heaviest parts falling very near to the stripping or ravelling
druin, whilst the lightest are only deposited at a considerable distance from it.
Many endeavours have been made to find a practical means of utilizing feathers
in the manufacture of various fabrics, but they are not easily spun, and the
obstacles to their use have not hitherto been overcome.
It has been sought to use the down, the price of which is very high, but it cannot
undergo any preparation, and is wanting in strength and cohesion; it resists
manufacture, and has the defect of lodging upon other clothes disagreeable traces of
its origin.
With a view to the utilization of quills or feathers hitherto deemed useless, my
informant bas, after many trials, succeeded in transforming the vanes or feathers of
the most ordinary quill into a down of sufficient consistency to be used in the
manufacture of woven fabrics and stuffs of various kinds, the means used, and
which, by reason of their novel application, constitute a part of this Invention, are
as follows:-
Quills or feathers usually considered of no value, and thrown aside as
waste, are taken and passed through a carding engine, a devilling or willowing
machine, or a cutting or ravelling machine (preference being given to this latter),
or any other similar machine which I term (as aforesaid) the stripping machine,

page_text: which detaches the vanes, feathers, or beards from the quills, and from this is made a
down suitable for making "eider down" quilts, having sufficient strength, suppleness,
and cohesion, I may mix it with half, two-thirds, or three-fourths of wool, according
to the cloth or fabric which it is desired to manufacture, the mixture then takes
place in the spinning, as with other yarns to be afterwards woven. Fabrics made
of this mixture may be easily dyed, and be made up into very warm and extremoly
light clothing.
Another part of this Invention consists in a very simple means of securing or
incorporating the down or feathers into very fine, close, and light stuffs, even flannel,
so that it will resist the most vigorous brushing.
Feathers, having like wool, some parts much finer than others, a mixture is
made of fine feathers with fine wool, say, in equal proportions, with 15 per cent. of
oleine, as in oiling any other materials, the spinning then takes place. If however
the oiling is done three or four days before the spinning, the feather is less volatilo,
and is more tractable in the machines, giving 5, 6, 7, and 8000 metres to the
kilogramine, according to the thickness which it is desired to obtain, care being
taken to sort the fine parts together, so as to obtain stuffs of different qualities.
Fabrics may be made indifferently with a warp of pure wool, or a warp having
from 20 to 50 per cent. of feathers, according to the fabrics it is desired to produce;
it is however indispensable to set up the warp sufficiently wide, say 1/, more than
the desired breadth), as the fulling absorbs 50 centimetres, in 1 meter 5 centi-
metres. It is however unnecessary to full lengthwise, as in this way the feathers
hold and adhere perfectly.
To make light stuffs, two threads must be doubled or twisted together, after
which the feather cannot be disengaged any more than the wool.
The weaving being finished, the knots which may have been left by the weaver
are removed, the fulling then takes place, 2, 3, or 4 hours sufficing for a piece
50 metres long, and as it leaves the fulling machine it is scoured like other stuffs;
it is then dried and beaten, until the feather shows the fabric, and when brushed, is
ready for sale.
To make light stuffs, nouveautés, and flannel, the thread or yarn must be combed
and twisted.
Feathers prepared according to this Invention may also be used in the manu-
facture of felts for hats, for boots, and other purposes, as the feather fulls well, and
may be applied like silk. In this case, the feathers having been well stripped by
the machine, are mixed with silk, wool, or the hair or shag of the rabbit, hare,
musk rat, or beaver, or other animal or vegetable fibre in the proportion of from
ten to fifty per cent., according to the requirements of the article to be produced;
this mixture being made, it is passed to the bow, then to the basin, and finally to
the full mill; it is then napped or pounced, according to the kind of hats it is
desired to obtain, and this felt may undergo all the operations of hat making. It
will thus be understood that by adopting this system, feathers may be used, not
only in the lightest fabrics, but in stronger and thicker or coarser fabrics, as well as
in felts for hats, coverings for the feet, and other purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Scal Patont Office on the 21st
February 1879.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVED MEANS AND MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR STRIPPING THE VANES OR BEARDS FROM QUILLS AND APPLYING THE
FEATHERS OR DOWN THUS OBTAINED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOVEN FABRICS
AND FELTS." A communication from abroad by François Clément Bourguignon, of
Donchery (Ardennes), France, Manufacturer.
The first part of this Invention relates to an improved machine for stripping the
vanes or beards from quills, based mainly upon the use of a cutting or stripping
roller or cylinder of small diameter, fed by means of an endless cloth, and combined
with an arrangement ensuring the production in the apparatus of a current of air
of suitablo force to carry away the down obtained, and cause it to deposit itself at
n distance from the apparatus; the greater, the lighter the down. Thus the coarsest,
and consequently the heaviest, matters fall near the apparatus, while the finest, and
consequently the lightest, down deposits itself only at the end of a long conduit
provided in the apparatus.
The classification of the products takes place, therefore, automatically, and without
any loss of down; further, the operation necessitates no management injurious to
the health of the operatives.
I may also use cutting or stripping rollers of small diameter combined with an
arrangement of knives placed at variable distances apart, between which the quills
are guided by feeding cylinders arranged at the extremity of the endless cloth, and
which hold the quills while they are rapidly stripped by the machine.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing represents a machine for stripping quills
according to this Invention.
It is composed, as shown, of a stripping, cutting, or ravelling cylinder or drun A
mounted on a frame formed of two cheeks or side pieces B, of wood or of metal,
joined together by bolts and eros pieces C. This cylinder or drum A may have on
its circumference either sharp points or saws, or very strong card teeth, but it is
above all essential that these teeth should be perfectly set or sharpened.
In front of the cylinder A is arranged an endless cloth D, moveable over two
rollers E. Upon this endless cloth is placed the quill to be stripped; it is thus led
to the feeding cylinders F, G, and these bring it to the opening or inlet left between
the two knives H, the distance apart of which may be regulated by adjusting
screws.
Experience has proved that the smaller the diameter of the cylinder A, and the
greater the speed at which it is driven, the better the work; it is because the small
diameter of this cylinder permits its being kept very close to the inlet orifice, so
that the quill or feather, however small, is reached by the teeth, pins, points, or
cutters of the drum, according to the mounting which may have been adopted for
this apparatus.
As may be seen on the Drawing, the box formed by the two cheeks or sido
pieces B, which carry the ravelling or stripping drum A, is open at its two ends and
closed at the top by a sheet iron or other covering to prevent the escape of dust,
which might be injurious to the workpeople. This opening of the box B, which is
extended at the back of the machine by means of a long wooden or metal box I,
also open at its two ends, permits the obtaining of a current of air, which carries
away the down, and which may be increased either by the arrangement given to
the cylinder, or by the addition of small fans or flyers placed at each of its ends, or
within it.
Under these conditions, and by leaving free behind the machine a very long
passage (say from ton to twelve yards) in which the down may deposit itself, all

page_text: manipulation and all sorting of the material is avoided, and the operation may be
effected without affecting in any way the health of the persons entrusted with the
work, and without the loss of any kind of down.
It will be understood that I may vary the shape and particular arrangements of
the various parts of this apparatus, and especially the means employed for pro-
ducing the current of air, the effect of which is to ensure automatically the classifi-
cation of the down obtained, the heaviest parts falling very near to the stripping or
ravelling drum, whilst the lightest are only deposited at a considerable distance
from it.
Many endeavours have been made to find a practical means of utilizing feathers
in the manufacture of various fabrics, but they are not easily spun, and tho
obstacles to their use have not hitherto been overcome.
It has been sought to use the down, the price of which is very high, but it cannot
undergo any preparation, and is wanting in strength and cohesion. It resists
manufacture, and has the defect of lodging upon other clothes disagreable traces of
its origin.
With a view to the utilization of quills or feathers, hitherto deemed useless, my
informant has, after many trials, succeeded in transforming the vanes or feathers of
the most ordinary quill or plumage into a down of a sufficient consistency to be used
in the manufacture of woven fabrics and stuffs of various kinds. The means used,
and which by reason of their novel application constitute a part of this Invention,
are as follows:-
Quills or feathers or plumage usually considered of no value and thrown aside as
waste are taken and passed through a carding engine, a devilling or willowing
machine, or a cutting or ravelling machine (preference being given to this latter), or
any other similar machine, which I term (as aforesaid) the stripping machine, which
detaches the vanes, feathers, or beards from the shaft or stem of the quill; and
from this is made a down suitable for making eider down quilts having sufficient
strength, suppleness, and cohesion. I may mix it with half, two-thirds, or three-
fourths of wool, according to the cloth or fabric which it is desired to manufacture,
the mixture then takes place in the spinning, as with other yarn, to be afterwards
woven. Fabrics inade of this mixture may be easily dyed and be made up into
very warm and extremely light clothing.
Another part of this Invention consists in a very simple means of securing or
incorporating the down or feathers into very fine, close, and light stuffs, even flannel,
so that it will resist the most vigorous brushing.
Feathers having, like wool, some parts much finer than others, a mixture is made
of fine feathers with fine wool, say, in equal proportions, with 15 per cent. of oleine,
as in oiling any other materials; the spinning then takes place. If, however, the
oiling is done three or four days before the spinning, the feather is less volatile and
is more tractable in the machine, giving 5, 6, 7, or 8,000 métrès to the kilogramme,
according to the thickness which it is desired to obtain, care being taken to sort
the fine parts together, so as to obtain stuffs of different qualities.
Fabrics may be made indifferently with a warp of pure wool or a warp having
from 20 to 50 per cent. of feathers, according to the fabrics it is desired to produce;
it is, however, indispensable to set up the warp sufficiently wide (say '/, more than
the desired breadth) as the fulling absorbs 50 centimetres, in 1 metre 50 centimetres.
It is, however, unnecessary to full lengthwise, as in this way the feathers hold and
adhere perfectly.
To make light stuffs two threads must be doubled or twisted together, after
which the feather cannot be disengaged any more than the wool.
The weaving being finished the knots which may have been left by the weaver
are removed; the fulling then takes place, 2, 3, or 4 hours sufficing for a piece 50
metres long, and as it leaves the fulling machine it is scoured like other stuffs; it is
then dried and beaten until the feather shows the fabric, and when brushed is ready
for sale.

page_text: To make light stuffs, nouveautés, and flannel the thread or yarn must be combed
and twisted.
Feathers prepared according to this Invention may also be used in the manu-
facture of felts for hats, for boots and other purposes, as the feather fulls well and
may be applied like silk. In this case the feathers having been well stripped by
the machine are mixed with silk, wool, or the hair or shag of the rabbit, hare, musk
rat, or beaver, or other animal or vegetable fibre, in the proportion of from ten to
fifty. per cent., according to the requirement of the article to be produced; this
mixture being made, it is passed to the bow, then to the basin, and finally to the
full mill. It is then napped or pounced, according to the kind of hats it is desired
to obtain, and this felt may undergo all the operations of hat making. It will
thus be understood that by adopting this system feathers may be used not only in
the lightest fabrics but in stronger and thicker or coarser fabrics, as well as in felts
for hats, coverings for the feet, and other purposes.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, I claim
as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, the improved
means and machinery or apparatus for stripping the vanes or beards from the shaft
or stem of quills, and the application of the feathers or down thus obtained in the
manufacture of woven fabrics and felts, substantially as herein-before described,
and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.