IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDED SKIRTINGS AND CORDED PETTICOATS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Smith, of Longridge, near Preston, in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDED SKIRTINGS AND CORDED PETTICOATS."
Sealed the 27th March 1857, and dated the 9th January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Smith at the
Offieo of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
January 1857.
I, ROBERT SMITH, of Longridge, near Preston, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDED SKIRTINGS AND CORDED
PETTICOATS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the novel manufacture of a corded fabric for theso
purposes, having the cords or ribs thrown up upon the top surface or face of
the cloth whilst the under surface or back remains flat or uncorded. This is
accomplished by dividing the yarn into two equal parts, so as to make two
warps, one being considerably longer than the other, and so arranged that the
long warp is employed to cover the corded surface, and the shorter one to
make the plain back beneath the ribs or cords. By this method of weaving
such fabrics they are made stronger and stiffer, the warps do not fray or break
as is usual in gorded skirtings, and a more durable fabric is produced.
1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SMITH, of Longridge, near Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Smith, Her especial license that I, the said Robert Smith, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORDED SKIRTINGS AND CORDED PETTICOATS," upon the
condition, amongst others, that I, the said Robert Smith, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Smith, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
.
My Invention consists in the novel manufacture of a corded fabric to be
used or worn as skirtings or petticoats, having the cords or ribs thrown up or
found upon the surface or face of the cloth, that is, upon one side only,
whilst the under surface or back remains flat or without the cord or cords.
This is accomplished in the weaving of the fabric by dividing the yarn into
two equal parts, so as to make two warps, one being considerably longer than
the other, and so arranged that the longer warp is employed to cover the
corded surface, and to bind or hold the cords upon the surface of the cloth,
and the shorter warp is used to form the plain back beneath the ribs or cords,
both warps being woven together between the ribs or cords, thereby forming

page_text: a fabric between the cords similar to the plain portion of the skirt or that
part which is without cords. By this method of weaving or manufacturing
such fabrics a stronger and stiffer material is obtained, the warps do not fray
or break as is usual in corded skirtings, and a more durable fabric is thereby
produced.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I claim
the above-described novel and peculiar manufacture of corded skirtings and
corded petticoats, wherein the cords or ribs are thrown up or formed entirely
upon one side or surface only of the cloth or fabric.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
ROBERT SMITH. (L.S.)