Improvements in the Manufacture of Imitation Straw Hats.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Imitation Straw Hats.
I, JOHN LEITCH POLLOCK of 5 Rue St. Cecile, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the known process of producing hats from cotton or
other cloth in imitation of Leghorn or other straws by the process of pressing or
blocking in a galvano mould by a hydraulic press, and the invention consists in
embossing the two faces of the cloth at one and the same operation thus producing
ou the under face of the brim of the hat and also if desired on the interior of the
hat a straw or other effect in place of the plain surface hitherto obtained
from rubber or cloth pads. The hat so blocked is afterwards cleaned and
waterproofed.
To carry this invention into effect I employ a die and matrix. The female
matrix is made by galvano plastic process to represent the texture of a straw hat
of the kind desired, the male die is made of caoutchouc or other convenient
material. Between the male die aud the cloth of which the hat is composed I
insert a fabric the texture of which corresponds with that which is required to be
impressed on the under face of the brim or interior of the hat and this fabric
extends over the rim only or over the brim and interior of the crown or otherwise
according as I desire to impress its texture on the brim only or within the crown
or both or in parts only of the same.
This fabric may be metallic or of cotton, silk, vegetable or animal fibre, hair,
wool or caoutchouc or of other material and by the pressure exercised in blocking
its texture is impressed on such parts of the under side of the hat as it cover
while the exterior of the latter is impressed by the matrix. After the pressure
the fabric is removed with the die.
The invention may also be carried out by using a galvano plastic male die for
impressing the interior and a caoutchouc or similar female matrix for the exterior,
the fabric aforesaid being then placed between the matrix and the cloth for the
impression of the exterior.
The hat thus produced is then rendered waterproof in any convenient way.
-1906
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Imitation Straw Hats.
I, JOHN LEITCH POLLOCK of 5 Rue St. Cecile, Paris in the Republic of
France, Manufacturer 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 known process of producing hats from cotton or

page_text: other cloth in imitation of Leghorn or other straws, by the process of pressing or
blocking in a mould by a hydraulic press, and the invention consists in embossing
the two faces of the cloth at one and the same operation thus producing on the
underface of the brim of the hat and also if desired on the interior of the hat a
straw or other effect in place of the plain surface hitherto obtained from rubber or
cloth pads. The hat so blocked is afterwards cleaned & waterproofed. The
advantage of this new process is to obtain hats of linen or other fabric giving a
perfect imitation of those in straw and by waterproofing such hats they may be
washed without deterioration and last a practically indefinite time. The annexed
drawing illustrates the mode of manufacture by a section through the dies
and hat.
To carry this invention into effect I employ a die and matrix. The female
matrix A is made by galvano plastic process to represent the texture of the straw
hat of the kind desired, the male die B is made of caoutchouc or other convenient
material as in the process heretofore used. Between the male die and the cloth C
of which the hat is composed, I insert a fabric D the texture of which corresponds
with that which is required to be impressed on the under face of the brim or interior
of the hat and this fabric extends over the brim only or over the brim and interior
of the crown or otherwise according as I desire to impress its texture on the brim
only or within the crown or both or on parts only of the same. This fabric may
be metallic, or of cotton, silk, vegetable or animal fibre, hair wool, caoutchouc or
of other materials.
By the pressure exercised in blocking, the caoutchouc of the male die adapts
itself exactly to the upperlying face of the fabric D and its texture is impressed
on such parts of the face of the hat as this fabric D covers, while the exterior of
the hat is impressed by the matrix. After the pressure the fabric is removed with
the die.
The invention may also be carried out by using any other plastic material than
caoutchouc for the male die B or by using a metallic male die produced by an
electrotype B for impressing the interior and a caoutchouc or similar female
matrix A for the exterior, the fabric D aforesaid being then placed between the
matrix A and the cloth C for the impression of the exterior that of the interior
being given by the metallic male die.
The hat thus produced is then rendered waterproof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
A process for the manufacture of hats of linen or other cloth to imitate straw
consisting in obtaining the impression of one of the faces by means of a matrix or
die produced by electrotype and the impression of the other face by the inter-
position of a fabric between the said face and a die or matrix of plastic matter
substantially as herein before described.
Deted this 22nd day of October 1000
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agents to Applicant.