THE APPLICATION OF A VEGETABLE FIBRE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER MATTERS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED AND OTHER FABRICS, ALSO A SUBSTITUTE FOR FLOCK OR POWDERED WOOL, AND AS A MATERIAL FOR PADDING OR STUFFING, AND FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "THE
APPLICATION OF A VEGETABLE FIBRE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER
MATTERS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED AND OTHER FABRICS, ALSO A
SUBSTITUTE FOR FLOCK OR POWDERED WOOL, AND AS A MATERIAL FOR
PADDING OR STUFFING, AND FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Mr. Jean Louis Abeilhou, of 29, Boulevart St.
Martin, Paris, Priest.
Sealed the 7th November 1862, and dated the 10th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
May 1862.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "THE APPLICATION OF A VEGETABLE FIBRE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH
OTHER MATTERS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED AND OTHER FABRICS, ALSO AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR FLOCK OR POWDERED WOOL, AND AS A MATERIAL FOR PADDING OR
STUFFING, AND FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
There exists in all countries waste marshy ground containing peat or
stagnant water. These unproductive tracts are found not only on the sea
coast but also on the borders of rivers, streams, canals, and in excavations
along the sides of railways. These tracts abound in an aquatic plant tech-

page_text: nically termed "typha," and commonly known as reeds or bulrushes. This
plaut may be known by its lanceolated leaves, the edges of which are as sharp
as the keenest razor, and by its flower or head, the tuft of which is in the
form of a distaff composed of close and compact seeds surmounted with a spike
covered with a silky down. I am aware that its leaves have already been used
for rushing common chairs, but hitherto the fruit or flower has never been
applied for
any industrial purpose..
I have proved by recent experiments that the down of this vegetable is not
only of commercial value, but it may be made to fulfil an important part in
various manufactures, and prove of great advantage for agricultural and other
purposes.
In the months of August, September, and October, when the blossom,
flower, or fruit of the typha has arrived at maturity, it is gathered and the
leaves stripped off, after which the down is placed in a dry and airy situation.
When the down is sufficiently dry to be treated it is placed on gratings or
screens formed of wire similar to those employed by wool beaters. The down
is beaten with two wooden rods, during which time the seeds become
separated from the down and fall through the grating, while the down rises
up in the air and then falls upon the grating in white flakes similar to snow.
This first operation, which is for the purpose of separating the seed from the
down, is of great importance; there then remains to purify the down for
rendering it suitable for application to various purposes. I then take an arcon
(an instrument used in hat making), and work the down until it possesses the
fineness of silk, and has a silvery appearance. In these two operations a
beater may be substituted for the gratings, and the arcon replaced by a blower
or card, which apparatus are well known, or the same result may be obtained
by using chemical products. Next comes the felting operation. The down
of the typha being too short to be employed .alone, I add one-third or half the
quantity of hares' or rabbits' hair, or it may be hair of the beaver; this
mixture. wrought well with the arcon possesses a softness, fineness, and greater
brilliancy than if the hair of the hare; rabbit, or beaver were used separately.
If this mixed material be now felted in the ordinary manner of making felt, it
will produce felt of great fineness, strength, and of superior appearance, which
may be dyed of any tint. This improved vegetable felt may be applied with
success for all kinds of head dresses, civil, ecclesiastic, and military, for
shakos, police hats, fez or Greek caps, waterproof caps, printed fabrics, hat
linings in general, head dresses, hat shapes, masks, and other articles.
The down of the typha may not only be made into felt, but it may also be
successfully employed in weaving by mixing it with silk, wool, cotton, flax,

page_text: China grass, or other fibre; by this combination a cheaper fabric may not only
be made, but of superior strength and appearance to those fabrics madė
without the addition of the down. The down of this plant may also be used
with advantage instead of Cashmere wool in the manufacture of shawls and
other similar articles, as also in lieu of eider or swans' down, and that of other
animals, for pillows and other purposes, and instead of wool in the manu-
facture of flock, paper, and artificial flowers. It should be observed that the
down imparts to the papers and flowers the softness and brilliancy of velvet,
while wool flock possesses a harsh, dull, dead appearance.
This vegetable down may also be used with advantage in the manufacture
of paper generally, and particularly in that of rice and China papers, in relief
printing, as also in the manufacture of Wilton and other carpet, and other
analogous materials, and upholsterers' hangings, in fabrics for trowsers, drawers,
mantles, liveries, and other dresses; as also in the manufacture of wadding
and its various combinations for gloves, head dresses, coverings for the feet,
and lastly for all kinds of lace and trimmings. This felt may also be used as
a substitute for the cloth used in printing fabrics for flannel, and instead of the
cloth used for oil or other paintings. Successive trials have also proved that
the down of the typha, by its suppleness, softness, and clasticity, may be
successfully employed either alone or in combination with india-rubber vul-
canized or of other nature, gutta percha or other similar matters, and applied
for covering billiard tables, machine bands, and other purposes. It possesses
the same superiority when used for carriage fittings and furniture and saddlery,
also in the manufacture of hammer and saddle cloths, cushions, pillows, air
mattresses, for covering stools, saddle bows, and instead of wood for horse
collars, which by its suppleness prevents gatting of the draught or other
animals. It may also be applied for the manufacture of knee caps, blankets,.
shabracks, cavalry equipments, holsters, knapsacks, scabbards, hunting bottles,
gaiters, and other hunting and travelling equipments. This substance may
also be employed with advantage instead of corks for closing bottles containing
gaseous or other liquids, for making seamless pipes, fire buckets, for all kinds
of carded substances, also as a substitute for leather or other known materials.
It may also be used as artificial leather, such as glazed leather or oil cloth,
the detritus may serve for the manufacture of tarred felt for roofing, as also
for printing rollers, washers, springs, and pump hose for railways and steam
engines, for pads of doors and windows, for the rollers and small cylinders
used for conducting the threads in spinning silk, wool, cotton, or flax, for the
endless webs used in paper making, and in the manufacture of tobacco, also
in binding and making books and registers, and for cases of all kinds.

page_text: It will be unnecessary here to enumerate the incalculable advantages
attending the use of the down of typha in its numerous applications, it being
the only vegetable suitable for conversion into a félt, and from its insect
destroying nature it is free from their attacks, which ordinarily deteriorate or
destroy all other vegetable matters.
SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Clark,
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 "THE APPLICATION OF A VEGETABLE
FIBRE ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER MATTERS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
FELTED AND OTHER FABRICS, ALSO AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR FLOCK OR POWDERED WOOL,
AND AS A MATERIAL FOR PADDING OR STUFFING, AND FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,"
a coma. to me from abroad by Mr. Jean Louis Abeilhou, of 29, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris, Priest, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
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 I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
(that is to say):-
There exists in all countries waste marshy ground containing peat or
stagnant waters. These unproductive tracts are found not only on the sea
coast, but also on the borders of rivers, streams, canals, and also in excavations
along the sides of railways. These tracts abound in aquatic plants technically
termed "typha," and commonly known as reeds or bulrushes. This plant
may be known by its lanceolated leaves, the edges of which are as sharp as
the keenest razor, and by its flower or head, the tuft of which is in the form
of a distaff composed of close and compact seeds surmounted with a spike
covered with a silky down. I am aware that its leaves have already been
used for rushing common chairs, but hitherto the fruit or flower has never
been applied for any industrial purpose.
I have proved by recent experiments that the down of this vegetable is
not only of commercial value, but it may be made to fulfil an important part
in various manufactures, and prove of great advantage for agricultural and
other purposes.
In the months of August, September, and October, when the blossom,
flower, or fruit of the typha has arrived at maturity, it is gathered, and the
leaves stripped off, after which the down is placed in a dry and airy situation.
When the down is sufficiently dry to be treated, it is placed on screens or
gratings formed of wire, similar to those employed by wool beaters; the down
is beaten with two wooden rods, during which time the seeds become sepa-
rated from the down and fall though the grating, while the down rises up in
the air and then falls upon the grating in white flakes similar to snow. This
first operation, which is for the purpose of separating the seed from the down,
is of great importance; there then remains to purify the down for rendering
it suitable of application to various purposes. I then take an arçon (an
instrument used in hat making), and work the down until it possesses the
fineness of silk, and has a silvery appearance.
In these two operations a
beater may be substituted for the gratings, and the arçon by a blower or card,
which apparatus are well blown, or the same result may be obtained by using
chemical products. Next comes the fellting operation. The down of the
typha being too short to be employed alone, I add one-third or half the
quantity of hares' or rabbits' hair, or it may be hair of the beaver; this
mixture wrought well with the arçon possesses a softness, fineness, and
greater brilliancy than if the hair of the rabbit, hare, or beaver were used
separately. If this mixed material be now felted in the ordinary manner of
making felt, it will produce felt of great fineness, strength, and superior

page_text: appearance, which may be dyed of any tint. This improved vegetable felt
may be applied with success for all kinds of head dresses, civil, ecclesiastic,
and military, for shakos, police hats, fez or Greek caps, waterproof caps,
printed fabrics, hat linings in general, head dresses, hat shapes, masks, and
other articles.
The down of the typha may not only be made into felt, but it may also be
successfully employed in weaving, by mixing it with silk, wool, cotton, flax,
China grass, or other fibre; by this combination a cheaper fabric may not
only be made, but of superior strength and appearance to those fabrics made
without the addition of the down. The down of this plant may also be used
with advantage instead of Cashmere wool in the manufacture of shawls and
other similar articles, as also in lieu of eider or swans' down and that of other
animals for pillows and other purposes, and instead of wool in the manu-
facture of flock papers and artificial flowers. It should be observed that the
down imparts to the papers and flowers the softness and brilliancy of velvet,
while wool flock possesses a harsh, dull, dead.appearance.
This vegetable down may also be used with advantage in the manufacture
of paper generally, and particularly in that of rice and China papers, in
relief printing, as also in the manufacture of Wilton and other carpets, and
other analogous materials, & upholsterers' hangings, in fabrics for trowsers,
drawers, mantles, and other dresses; as also in the manufacture of wadding,
and its various combinations in gloves, head dresses, coverings for the feet;
and, lastly, for all kinds of lace and trimmings. This felt may also be used
as a substitute for the cloth used in printing fabrics for flannels, and instead
of the cloth used for oil or other paintings. Successive trials have also
proved that the down of the typha, by its suppleness, softness, and elasticity,
may be successfully employed either alone or in combination with india-
rubber, vulcanized or of other nature, gutta percha, or other similar matters,
and applied for covering billiard tables, machine bands, and other useful
purposes.. It possesses the same superiority when used for carriage fittings,
furniture, and saddlery, also in the manufacture of hammer aud saddle
cloths, cushions, pillows, air mattresses, for covering stools, saddle bows, and
instead of wood for horse collars, which by its suppleness prevents galling of
the draught or other animals. It may also be applied for the manufacture of
knee caps, blankets, shabracks, cavalry equipments, holsters, knapsacks,
scabbards, hunting bottles, gaiters, and other hunting and travelling equip-
ments. This substance may also be employed with advantage instead of corks
for closing bottles containing gaseous or other waters, for making seamless
pipes, fire buckets, for all kinds of carded substances, as also a substitute for

page_text: leather or other known materials. It may also be used as artificial leather,
such as glazed leather or oil cloth; the detritus may serve for the manufac-
ture of tarred felt for roofing, as also for printing rollers, wasliers, springs,
and pump hose for railway and steam engines, couplings, pads for doors and
windows, for the rollers and small cylinders used for conducting the threads
in spinning silk, wool, cotton, or flax, for the endless couplings used in paper
making, in the manufacture of tobacco, also in binding and making books
and registers, and for cases of all kinds.
It will be unnecessary here to enumerate the incalculable advantages
attending the use of the down of typha in its numerous applications, it being
the only vegetable substance suitable for conversion into a felt; and from
its insect destroying nature, it is free from their attacks, which ordinarily
deteriorate or destroy all other vegetable matters.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
JANES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)