IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING SHIRTS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bernard Drukker, of 116, High Street, Whitechapel,
London, Shirt Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING
SHIRTS."
Sealed the 26th October 1858, and dated the 27th April 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bernard Drukker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
April 1858.
I, BERNARD DRUKKER, of 116, High Street, Whitechapel, London, Shirt
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MAKING SHIRTS," to be as follows:-
In my proffession as shirt maker I have succeeded like many others in obtain-
ing a true fit of the shirt, particularly the front of the shirt, but it is generally
known that through the different positions of the body the front of the shirt
will quickly wrinkle. This inconvenience subjects the said front to be quickly
spoiled and soiled by the hands continually pushing the folds under the
braces. This is only a momentary remedy, for as soon as the body moves
again the folds will shift from under the braces. Others, endeavouring to
prevent this inconvenience, have recourse to pins with which they fasten the
shirt and the braces together. This practise is generally followed by the pin
tearing the shirt or pricking the body, and should it become loose may in
its fall have fatal consequences, whilst the front of the shirt will instantly

page_text: resume its usual contortions. The use of the present worn braces, besides
causing the afore-mentioned inconveniences, is considered by anatomists to
impede the proper and natural developement of the shoulders and chest.
My Invention is a shirt constructed in such a manner as to obviate all the
above mentioned disadvantages, simply to abolish the use of the common
braces, and to add to the shirt or shoulder parts supporters for the trousers,
with different loops or button holes, which being adjusted to the buttons of
the trousers will cause the front of the shirt to fit to the shape of the chest,
and also prevent the shirt from shifting its position or raising in the back. In
addition to this essential advantages, the front of the shirt will remain clean
much longer than usual, the folds not being injured by pins or soiled by the
hands will retain their proper position, and greatly conduce to the health and
cleanliness of the body, as through my Invention every clean shirt brings also
the improved clean braces, also saving time in dressing; this, as well as the
expense of braces, would be a great desideratum to the army.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I may observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be new
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is, the general arrangement of the parts by
means of which a shirt is constructed, where the use of the common braces
will become unnecessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Bernard Drukker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th October 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BERNARD
DRUKKER, Shirt Maker, of 116, High Street, Whitechapel, London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant unto him,
the said Bernard Drukker, Her special licence, that he, the said Bernard

page_text: Drukker, his executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as he, the
said Bernard Drukker, his executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENT IN MAKING SHIRTS UPON A NEW PRINCIPLE, INASMUCH AS THIS NEW
PRINCIPLE IS CONSIDERED BENEFICIAL TO THE BODY, TASTEFULL FOR TOILET, AND
ALSO ECONOMICAL," upon the condition (amongst others) that he, the said
Bernard Drukker, his executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under his, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention and in what
manner the same was to be performed, 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 he, the said Bernard Drukker, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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:-
In my proffession as shirt maker I have succeeded like many others in
obtaining a true fit of the shirt, particularly the front of the shirt, but it is
generally known that through the different positions of the body, the front of
the shirt will quickly wrinkle. This inconvenience subjects the said front to be
quickly spoiled, and soiled by the hands continually pushing the folds under
the braces; this is only a momentary remedy, for as soon as the body moves
again the folds will shift from under the braces. Others, endeavouring to
prevent this inconvenience, have recours to pins, with which they fasten the
shirt and the braces together. This practice is generally followed by the pin
tearing the shirt or pricking the body, and should it become loose may in its
fall bave fatal consequences, and the front of the shirt will instantly resume
its usual contortions. The use of braces besides causing the afore-mentioned
inconvenience, is considered by anatomists to impede the proper and natural
developement of the shoulders and chest.
My Invention is a shirt constructed in such a manner as to obviate all the
above-mentioned disadvantages, simply to abolish the use of the common
braces, and to add to the shirt or shoulder parts supporters for the trousers,
with different loops or button holes, which being adjusted to the buttons of the
trousers, will cause the front of the shirt to fit to the shape of the chest, and
also prevent the shirt from shifting or raising its position in the back. In

page_text: addition to these essential advantages, the front of the shirt will remain clean
much longer than usual, the folds not being injured by pins, or soilds by the
hands, will retain their proper position, greatly conduce to the health and
cleanliness of the body, as through my Invention every clean shirt brings also
clean braces, saving time in dressing; this, as well as the expences of braces,
would be a great desideratum to the army.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effects, I may observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the presise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the
principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be new,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent, is, the general arrangements of the parts by means
of which a shirt is constructed where the use of the common braces will become
unnessescery.
In witness thereof, he, the said Bernard Drukker, has hereunto set his
hand and seal, this
day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
B. DRUKKER. (L.S.)