AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF PREPARING THE FIBRES OF THE PLANT ABUTILON AVICENNÆ TO THE MANUFACTURE OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES HERETOFORE MANUFACTURED FROM OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF PREPARING THE FIBRES OF
THE PLANT ABUTILON AVICENNÆ TO THE MANUFACTURE OF VARIOUS
SUBSTANCES HERETOFORE MANUFACTURED FROM OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRES."
-A communication from abroad by James' Hoppin McConnell, of
Springfield, Illinois, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lako
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th April 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF PREPARING THE
FIBRES OF THE PLANT 'ABUTILON AVICENNE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF VARIOUS
SUBSTANCES HERETOFORE MANUFACTURED FROM OTHER VEGETABLE FIBRES," a
communication, to be as follows:-
The plant the application of the fibrous qualities of which is the
subject of my discovery or Invention is called by botanists "abutilon

page_text: avicennae," and is known by the common names of "Indian mallow,"
"velvet leaf," and "stamp weed." It grows upon any land that is
suitable for the culture of Indian corn, and varics from six to fourteen
fect in height. Its leaf is orbicular cordate, slightly dentate, abruptly
acuminate at the apex, and upon its upper side is velvety, whence it
derives one of its common names above given. Its stalk has a central
core of pith, surrounded by a woody layer, and this in turn is covered by
a fibre of extraordinary length, strength, and brilliancy of colour, which
is enveloped by a thin and delicate skin.
The plant is cut down near the ground when fully grown, the leaves
removed, and the stalks crushed between rollers, or broken by any
suitable means. It is then retted or steeped in water, whereby the
fibres are partially separated, and the woody portions and refuse are
detached.
This process may take from six to fourteen days. It must be dis-
continued as soon as it is found that the gum is dissolved and the fibres
are detached from the woody portions of the plant. Great care and
experience are required in this operation, for if it is discontinued too
soon the fibre cannot be easily manufactured, and if continued too long
the fibre will be partially destroyed. It is then hatchelled or heckled to
remove the tow and other refuse, and may then be manufactured into
cordage or twine, or may be woven or braided. The said fibres are
bleached with soda ash and pure water. This fibre treated in the
manner described has a remarkable length, strength, evenuess, and
brightness of colour. It is cultivated and manufactured more casily and
less expensively than flax or hemp, and is applicable to a greater variety
of purposes than either of these fibres.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of April, in the year

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
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 "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS OF PREPARING THE FIBRES OF THE PLANT ABUTILON AVICENNE' FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF VARIOUS SUBSTANCES HERETOFORE MANUFACTURED FROM OTHER
VEGETABLE FIBRES," a communication to me from abroad by James
Hoppin McConnell, of Springfield, Illinois, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert
Lake, 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
Scal 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 Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The plant the application of the fibrous portions of which is the
subject of this discovery or Invention is called by botanists "Abutilon
avicennæ," and is known by the common names of "Indian mallow,"
"velvet leaf," and " stamp weed." It grows upon any land that is
suitable for the culture of Indian corn, and varies from six to fourteen
feet in height. Its leaf is orbicular cordate, slightly dentate, abruptly
acuminate at the apex, and upon its upper side is velvety, whence it
derives one of its common names above given. Its stalk has a central
core of pith, surrounded by a woody layer, and this in turn is covered by
a fibre of extraordinary length, strength, and brilliancy of colour, which
is enveloped by a thin and delicate skin.
In practising my said Invention the plant is cut down near the
ground when fully grown, the leaves are removed, and the stalks

page_text: crushed between rollers, or broken by any suitable means. It is then
retted or steeped in water, whereby the fibres are partially separated,
and the woody portions and refuse are detached.
This process may take from six to fourteen days. It must be dis-
· continued as soon as it is found that the gum is dissolved and the fibres
are detached from the woody portions of the plant. Great care and
experience are required in this operation, for if it is discontinued too
soon the fibre cannot be easily manufactured, and if continued too long
the fibre will be partially destroyed. It is then hatchelled or heckled to
remove the tow and other refuse, and may be at once manufactured into
cordage or twine, or may be woven or braided. The said fibres are
bleached with soda ash and pure water. This fibre treated in the
manner described has a remarkable length, strength, evenness, and
brightness of colour. It is cultivated and manufactured more casily
and less expensively than flax or hemp, and is applicable to a greater
variety of purposes than either of these fibres.
Having thus fully described tho said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim, the
preparation of the fibres of the plant "Abutilon avicenna" for manu-
facturing purposes, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
EDWARD C. JACKSON.
W". ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)