IMPROVEMENTS IN GARMENTS AS PART OF MALE ATTIRE
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Atkinson, of Corporate Buildings, Newcastle-
on-Tyne, in the Town and County of the same, Shirt Maker, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GARMENTS AS PART OF MALE ATTIRE."
Sealed the 1st April 1858, and dated the 5th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Atkinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
October 1857.
I, ROBERT ATKINSON, of Corporate Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the
Town and County of the same, Shirt Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GARMENTS AS PART OF MALE ATTIRE,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction of garment, which I term
a "vest shirt," and consists in combining a vest or waistcoat front with any
ordinary shirt, the two garments being sewed together so as to form one com-
pound garment. The vest front may be made of any desired form or cut, and
is tightened or adjusted to the figure by a strap and buckle, in the ordinary
manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Atkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
ATKINSON, of Corporate Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the Town and
County of the same, Shirt Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by IIer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Atkinson, Her special license that I, the said Robert
Atkinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Robert Atkinson, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
GARMENTS AS PART OF MALE ATTIRE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Atkinson, 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 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 Robert Atkinson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction of garment, which I
term a "vest shirt," and consists in combining a vest or waistcoat front with
any ordinary shirt, the two garments being sewed, buttoned, or otherwise
fastened together so as to form one compound garment. The vest front may
be made of any desired form or cut, and is tightened or adjusted to the figure
by a strap and buckle in the ordinary manner.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall refer to the
several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the Figures.

page_text: The annexed Drawing represents a front elevation of the "vest shirt" com-
plete. A is the body of the shirt, which may be of any of the ordinary or
improved shapes, and B is the vest front, which is sewed, buttoned, or other-
wise secured or attached to the body of the shirt at those parts only which are
indicated in the Drawing by dotted lines at C, C, namely, from the shoulder
strap to the armpits; the rest of the vest front being perfectly loose, and
tightened or adjusted to the figure by the ordinary straps and buckle D.
A garment of this construction will be found much lighter and cooler for
summer wear than an ordinary vest used in addition to the shirt, by reason of
the back of the vest being according to the present Invention altogether
dispensed with.
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 would observe in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating
from the principals or main features of my said Invention ; but what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the combination of a
vest front with a shirt, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Atkinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
ROBERT ATKINSON. (L.S.)