IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING PROCESSES. AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eustache Michel-Sainton, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING PROCESSES. AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 26th November 1860, and dated the 7th June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eustache Michel-Stainton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th June 1860.
I, EUSTACHE MICHEL-SAINTON, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING PROCESSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
THE SAME," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of seamless
ribbed hose, which are diminished and increased in size as required at the
different parts, and have designs either striped or shaded made in them by
means of a single continuous thread, the colour of which is adapted to the
design required to be obtained, as also in the double at the top of the stocking
as formed in the ordinary stocking loom for making seamless hose.
I do not claim the Invention of the manufacture of seamless hose; but
what I claim as my Invention is the system of diminishing the hose to make

page_text: it fit the leg, obtaining a design, and widening it at the heel and also on the
hem by means of a continuous thread.
My improved hose are manufactured on what are termed circular looms
for making ribbed hose, which are, as is well known, arranged in different
sizes, according to the requirements of the hose. The loom is composed of
two parts, the one vertical, and the other horizontal. To produce diminution
I arrange on one of the frames, according to the disposition of the loom,
several needles, begining by one, two, three, four, and so on, according to the
width of the stocking; the needles rise with their plates by means of a hinged
or oscillating motion. The bottom of the leg being finished, I replace the
needles to form the heel, increasing their width to an extent never hitherto
obtained; I also effect the narrowing by the disposition of the material in
three or four threads, which I double and then more or less twist by turning
the loom so as to tighten the threads; for this purpose I employ fine and
coarse materials for different parts of the stocking, so as to afford the requisite
proportions for the top and bottom of the leg. I can also obtain this result by
the guilloching or quilting process. The top of the stocking is made by means
of a guilloching machine, & the bottom of the hose I make ribbed, the
difference between the two materials will produce the width required.
To give suitable proportions to my improved stocking for commencing the
double top, I pass between the two frames a thread of the same material as is
used for forming the stocking, or any other thread of more or less strength
may be employed, or even a thread of india-rubber, either covered or not,
forming a chain in the fabric; either of those methods will produce the
desired effect.
I claim as my Invention the manufacture of seamless ribbed hose by means
of a single thread, which are diminished & increased in size as required, either
by lessening the number of the needles on one or other of the frames, or by
tightening the fabric, or by the employment of a finer thread, or, lastly, by the
top of the stocking being guilloched, & the bottom part of the leg ribbed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Eustache Michel-Sainton, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EUSTACHE
MICHEL-SAINTON, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, in the Empire of 3
France, Manufacturer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Eustache Michel-Sainton, Her special licence that I, the said Eustache
Michel-Sainton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Eustache Michel-Sainton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at anytime 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNITTING PROCESSES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Eustache Michel-Sainton, 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 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 Eustache Michel Sainton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of seamless
ribbed hose, which are diminished and increased in size as required at the
different parts, and have designs either stripped, or shaded, or otherwise, made
in them by means of a single continuous thread, the color of which is adapted
to the design required to be obtained.
I am not ignorant of seamless hose having been made before this day, but
my system of diminishing and increasing the hose to make it fit the different
parts of the leg, heel, and foot, and also the border by which the hose or
stockings are commenced, with strips or shades made in them by means of a
single continuous thread, the color of which may be deversified as required, is
entirely new and claimed by me as being of my Invention.
My improved hose are manufactured on what are termed circular looms
for making ribbed hose, which are; as well known, arranged in different sizes,
according to the requirements of the hose. The loom is composed of two
frames, the one vertical, and the other horizontal. To produce diminution
I take off on one of said frames, according to the disposition of the loom,

page_text: several needles, beginning by one, two, three, and so on, according to the
width of the stocking. The needles are removed together with their plates by
means of a hinged or oscillating motion. The lower part of the leg being
finished, I place the needles again to form the heels, increasing their width to
an extent never hitherto obtained. I also obtain the narrowing by the
disposition of the material in three or four threads, which I double and then
more or less twist by turning the loom so as to tighten the threads more or
less. For this purpose I employ fine and coarse materials for different parts
of the stocking, so as to afford the requisite proportions for the top and bottom
of the leg. I can also obtain this result by the guilloching or quilting process.
To effect this I fit (and this constitutes a particular feature of my Invention)
on my loom, arranged so as to produce every size of hose, such as sleeves,
wristbands, mittens, gaiters (for children), socks of all sizes, comforters,
drawers, nightdresses, and similar articles, of ribbed hosiery, another con-
trivance, which I secure to the loom by means of a second looper working
only on one frame for producing double loops, which is done in same manner
as for producing double ribbed, quilted, guilloched, or other loops. The top
of the hose I obtain by the above means, and the bottoms by means of
ordinary ribbing process, as is done for all other articles with different sizes
and designs; I also produce a seamless foot by placing my stocking, after it
has thus been manufactured by my own process, on a circular loom for
making plain looped hose of any suitable size, according to the requirements
of the desired article, and where the narrowing of the foot is effected
mechanically. The top of the stocking being made by the guilloching process,
and the bottom being ribbed, the difference between the two textures will
produce the width required.
For giving suitable proportions to my improved stocking, and for com-
mencing the border or double top, I pass between the two frames a thread of
the same material as is used in forming the stocking, or any other thread of
more or less strength may be employed, or even a thread of india-rubber,
either covered or not, forming a chain in the fabric. I may also for obtaining
the border double the fabric, and thus produce the outer part. Any of those
methods will produce the desired effect. One merit of my Invention also
consists in uniting tissues of different widths for the purpose of forming both
designs and proportions in all articles of hosiery.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I desire it to be
distinctly understood that what I claim as new, and as being of my Invention,
is manufacturing seamless ribbed hose by means of a single thread, which said
hose are diminished and increased in size as required, either by lessening the

page_text: number of needles on one or other of the frames, or by tightening the fabric,
or by the employment of a finer thread, or, lastly, by the top of the stocking
being guilloched, and the bottom part of the leg ribbed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eustache Michel-Sainton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the year
or our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
MICHEL SAINTON. (L.s.)