IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VEGETABLE FIBRES, WITH A VIEW TO THEIR MANUFACTURE INTO TEXTILE FABRICS."
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomson, of the Seafield Works, Dundee, in
the County of Forfar, North Britain, Spinner and Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VEGETABLE FIBRES,
WITH A VIEW TO THEIR MANUFACTURE INTO TEXTILE FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
September 1862.
I, JOHN THOMSON, of the Seafield Works, Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, Spinner and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VEGETABLE
FIBRES, WITH A VIEW TO THEIR MANUFACTURE INTO TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a combination of certain chemical and mechanical
processes for treating vegetable fibres, whereby such fibres can be made to
resemble the fibre or staple of cotton, wool, or silk, and become better adapted
to the manufacture of textile fabrics, either by themselves or mixed with other
and more costly materials.

page_text: According to this Invention it is proposed to treat the fibres of jute, flax,
tows, codillas, Manilla hemp, hemp of all kinds, and other vegetable fibres by
first immersing them in a solution of caustic soda, for the purpose of softening
and splitting up the fibre. The fibres are then removed from the solution and
subjected to a centrifugal or other suitable mechanical contrivance, for the
purpose of removing the superabundant moisture therefrom. The fibres aro
then steeped in a solution of chloride of lime or some other suitable chemical
solution, for the purpose of improving the color and removing any extraneous
matters adhering to or mixed with the fibres, the subsequent effect of the
solution being neutralized by treating the fibres with diluted acids. The fibres
treated as herein-before described are then dried and prepared for spinning by
tho ordinary or other suitable process.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Thomson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMSON, of the Seafield Works, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North
Britain, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Thomson, Her special license that I, the said John Thomson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Thomson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any s
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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VEGETABLE FIBRES, WITH A VIEW TO THEIR
MANUFACTURE INTO TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Thomson, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal
of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: 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 John Thomson, 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, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a combination of certain chemical and
mechanical processes for treating vegetable fibres, whereby such fibres can be
made to resemble the fibro or staple of cotton, wool, or silk, and become
better adapted to the manufacture of textile fabrics either by themselves or
mixed with other and more costly materials.
According to this Invention it is proposed to treat the fibres of jute, flax,
tows, codillas, Manilla hemp, hemp of all kinds, and other vegetable fibres by
first immersing them in a solution of caustic soda, for the purpose of softening
and splitting up the fibre. The fibres are then removed from the solution and
subjected to a centrifugal or other suitable mechanical contrivance, for the
purpose of removing the superabundant moisture therefrom. The fibres aro
then steeped in a solution of chloride of lime or some other suitable chemical
solution, for the purpose of improving the colour and removing any extraneous
matters adhering to or mixed with the fibres, the subsequent effect of the
solution being neutralized by treating the fibres with diluted acids. The
fibres treated as herein-before described are then dried and prepared for
spinning by the ordinary or other suitable process.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in the treatment of
vegetable fibres with a view to their manufacture into textile fabrics, may be
properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe in detail the several
processes or mode of operation which I prefer to use in treating vegetable
fibres, that is to say :-
In treating jute so that it may resemble wool or other fine fibres, and be
capable of being spun by the machinery used for such fibres, it is operated
upon as follows:-The jute is primarily divided into bales, or parcels of
three hundred pounds weight each. This quantity of the fibre is first dressed
with a solution composed of eighteen gills of oil and one ounce of soda, mixed
in three and a half gallons of water; the jute is divided into strikes or
small parcels, and laid in layers, the dressing liquor being sprinkled uniformly
over the layers as the heap is formed. The fibre is allowed to remain in this
state for about two days, when the strikes are passed through a crushing

page_text: machine, for the purpose of softening the fibres. The next operation is to
immerse the jute or other fibre in a solution of caustic alkali, soda rendered
caustic by the addition of lime, is preferred for this purpose. This solution is
prepared of a strength equal to forty degrees of specific gravity, as indicated
by the hydrometer, and it is preferred to be used as cold as possible. The
quantity of this caustic solution required for treating one "bale" of jute is
about twenty-four gallons; the jute is steeped in the solution and allowed to
remain therein about one hour. The jute is then removed from the cistern or
vessel containing the caustic solution, and placed in a hydro-extractor or
rotatory dryer, for the purpose of removing the greater portion of the super-
fluous moisture. When this has been done, the fibrous material is taken out
of the drying machine, and is then washed in clean water, which may be
either hot or cold; this cleanses the fibre from the caustic solution, and
propares it for the next operation of "souring." A solution of sulphuric acid
is prepared of one and a half degrees specific gravity; the water used for
mixing with the sulphuric acid may be either hot or cold. The fibre is
steeped in this acidulous solution, and after removal therefrom is washed in
clean water to prevent any further action of the acid upon the fibre. When
this is done the operator has in readiness a solution of chloride of lime
dissolved in water, and of a strength of about two degrees of specific
gravity, this solution is preferred to be used at a temperature of one hundred
and thirty degrees Fahrenheit, or thereabouts. The fibre is steeped in this
solution for about thirty minutes, and is stirred occasionally during that time.
The jute is then removed from the bleaching solution, is washed in clean
water, and afterwards "soured" by immersing it in an acidulous solution, as
herein-before described. Finally, the fibre is dried, either by exposure to the
air or by the application of artificial heat, which completes the process. This
mode of treatment is applicable to various kinds of fibre, as, for example,
codillas, Manilla hemp, and other kinds of hemp, flax, tow, and other generally
similar kinds of vegetable fibres, which, after being treated in the manner
I have described, are rendered suitable for manufacturing into various kinds
of textile fabrics.
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 what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the system or mode of treating
vegetable fibres, for the purpose of rendering them more suitable for the

page_text: manufacture of textile fabrics, which system of treatment consists in subjecting
the fibres to a series of chemical operations, as herein-before described or any
mere modification of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-three.
JOHN THOMSON. (L.s.)