Improvements in the Manufacture of Feather Plumes for Military and other Uses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Feather Plumes for Military
and other Uses.
I, WILLIAM DE WILDE CATER, of 88, St. James Street, in the County of London,
Army Accoutrement Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of feather plumes for military and
other uses and is designed to provide plumes of a handsome appearance capable of
substitution for plumes of osprey feathers or other such plumes.
In making my improved feather plumes I take ostrich feathers and for a short
distance from the midrib of the feather on each and for the length of the same
I underlay a strip of fabric or foundation, on this I lay a tape of fine fabric, then
the feather itself and then another tape of fine fabric. These pieces of fabric
under and overlaying the feather I proceed to sew together with the barbs of the
feather between them at distance of say half an inch from the shaft or midrib on
each side thereof and in line therewith. Having by such sewing in lines locked
the barbs in place so as to preserve their correct relative positions I proceed to
cut the sewn fabric and the barbs into two separate strips along two lines--one
at each side of the shaft, which shaft I remove.
The individual barbs locked in the sewn strips have say half an inch of their
cut ends protruding from the sewn strips of fabric and the rest of such barbs lie
between or project beyond such holding fabric. Now I proceed to draw individual
barbs partly through the holding fabric until the various ends of the barbs
have been adjusted so as to produce the best appearance. These barbs and strips
are then further sewn by machine or otherwise permanently together, and the
ends of the barbs are trimmed for military purposes to a sharply defined
uniformity.
To form the plume a stem of (say) whalebone or metal is provided and bound
with suitable fabric and upon this the strips of feather fabric are now secured
thereupon in a helical or other direction by sewing, binding, or otherwise, with
the binding fabrics tightly around the stem and the feather barbs and barbules
inclining outwards in a regular irregularity of disposition forming a very effective
ornament.
A waterproof or other cement may be used in aid of the locking effect between
the barbs and their holding strips, or between the strips and the covering of the
stem of the plume.
Some of the barbs may be tied down over and around the end of the stem at
the commencement of the building of the plume.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Feather Plumes for Military
and other Uses.
I, WILLIAM DE WILDE CATER, of 88, St. James Street, in the County of London,
Army Accoutrement Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of feather plumes for military and
other uses and is designed to provide plumes of a handsome appearance capable of
substitution for plumes of osprey feathers or other such plumes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a part of an ostrich feather ready for operation upon.
Fig. 2 shows a part of feather with its underlay of narrow ribbon.
Fig. 3 shows the same as if with underlay and overlay ribbons first tacked, or
stitched together (as at 1)-to keep the barbs in place and then sewn as here shown
as an example in double and single rows-2 and 3, but other number of rows may
be used.
Fig. 4 shows the side portions of the feather and its retaining strips, with the
shaft or quill and adjacent waste portion severed by cutting on the lines 4 and 5,
or similarly.
Fig. 5 shows a stem for a plume with the strip of feather barbs locked in
place, being entwined around the stem-to build up a plume aided by stitches at
intervals.
a indicates the feather shaft.
b the barbs.
c the barbules.
d the underlay fabric.
e the overlay fabric.
f the stem.
1, 2 and 3 are lines of stitches.
6, shows a line of stitches which unites the shaft and the fabric beneath.
In making my improved feather plumes I first arrange upon a stretched sheet
of muslin or fine fabric my materials-feathers and their staying ribbons-and
tack and sew them thereto as will be described viz. :)
I take ostrich feathers and for a short distance from the mid rib a of the
feather on each side and for the length of the same I underlay a strip or strips d
of narrow tape, ribbon or the like, then the feather itself and then another strip
or strips or tapes e of narrow ribbon preferably one tape to each side of the shaft
above and below i.e. four tapes. These pieces of tape or ribbon d, e under and
over laying the feather I proceed to sew together with the foundation-fabric and
the barbs 6 of the feather between them at a distance of say, half an inch more or
less according to circumstances from the shaft a or mid rib on each side thereof
and in line therewith or otherwise as found most convenient. Having by such
sewing in lines locked the barbs b in place so as to preserve their correct relative
positions, I proceed to cut the sewn ribbons in their arrangement in pairs with
the foundation fabric and the barbs into two separate strips along two lines 4, 5 or
thereabouts one at each side of the shaft a which shaft or other waste material
I remove.
Although I have not in the drawing shown the sheet of foundation this may be
taken to be represented by the material on which the drawing is made and it
may be stretched on any suitable frame.

page_text: The individual barbs locked in the sewn strips, have, say, half an inch of their
cut ends protruding from their sewn strips of fabric and the rest of such barbs
lie between, or project beyond, such holding fabric. Now I proceed to draw
individual barbs partly through the holding fabric until the various ends of the
barbs have been adjusted so as to produce the best appearance. These barbs and
strips are then further sewn, by machine or otherwise, permanently together, and
the ends of the barbs are trimmed for military purposes to a sharply defined
uniformity.
To form the plume a stem of (say) whalebone, or metal is provided and bound
with suitable fabric and upon this the strips of feather fabric are now secured in
a helical or other direction by sewing, binding, or otherwise, with the binding
fabrics tightly around the stem and the feather barbs and barbules inclining
outwards in a regular irregularity of disposition forming a very effective orna-
ment, but of course the disposition of the tapes of pluming may be varied to taste
or requirement.
A waterproof or other cement may be used in aid of the locking effect between
the barbs and their holding strips or between the strips and the covering of the
stem of the plume.
Some of the barbs may be tied down over and around the end of the stem at
the commencement of the building of the plume.
The lines of the fabric sewn on each side of the shaft of the feather may be straight
or curved or of other convenient figure best adapted to the attainment of the
desired end that is to say the regulation or uniformity of the contour of the tips
or ends of the barbs practically the lines are so assimilated to the curves of the
outlines of the feathers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In the manufacture of military, or other feather plumes; securing in posi-
tion and effecting the separation of the locked barbs from the natural shaft of
the feather, and the application of the strips of imprisoned feather barbs, in the
building up of the plume on a stem, or support with or without the aid of water-
proof or other cement, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. As a new article of manufacture a feather plume for military and other
uses consisting of a strip, or strips of fabric enclosing and locking in position
barbs of ostrich or other feathers, which have been prepared, as set forth, built
up into suitable forms on a stem or support and with, or without the aid of a
waterproof, or other cement, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 31st day of October 1899.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.