AN IMPROVED WATERPROOF CLOTH OR FABRIC, MADD EITHER ELASTIC OR NON- ELASTIC, APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES, AND FOR AN IMPROVED MANU- FACTURE OF WATERPROOF HATS OR CAPS
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WILLIAM SIEVIER, of Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, and in the sixth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert William Sievier, His especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Robert William Sievier, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as J, the said Robert William Sievier,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the terin of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"AN IMPROVED WATERPROOF CLOTH OR FABRIC, MADD EITHER ELASTIC OR NON-
ELASTIC, APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES, AND FOR AN IMPROVED MANU-
FACTURE OF WATERPROOF HATS OR CAPS;" in which said Letters Patent there
is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Robert William Sievier, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of

page_text: the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto bad, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert William Sievier, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof (that is
to say)-
The first branch or object of my Invention is to produce nonelastic cloths
or fabrics, hats or caps, with a nap or pile fixed on the surface thereof, by
means of certain preparations of india rubber, and which preparations at the
same time render such cloths or fabrics, hats, or caps waterproof. And I
effect this first branch or object of my said Invention in the several ways or
modes following:-I effect my object in producing a waterproof cloth or fabric
with a nap or pile fixed on the surface in the following manner: I take cloth
or fabric made in the usual manner of cotton, wool, silk, or other similar
material, and I spread over its surface with a brush, or by any other convenient
mode, india rubber dissolved in spirits of turpentine or other proper solvent, and
I repeat the application, if necessary, so as to fix a sufficient quantity of the
preparation on the surface of the cloth or fabric, and so render it fit for the
next application which I am about to describe. I then take india rubber
dissolved in spirits of turpentine or other proper solvent, and I mix therewith
a portion of acetate of lead, litharge, sulphate of zinc, gum mastic, or any other
proper drying material, in the manner herein-after desribed; and I spread this
preparation over the surface of the cloth or fabric prepared for the purpose as
herein-before mentioned, in order to render it more perfectly waterproof, and
also for the purpose of receiving and more securely fixing on the surface of the
cloth or fabric the wool, cotton, silk, or other fibrous matter intended to form
the nap or pile. I then take wool, cotton, silk, hair, fur, or other fit and
proper fibrous matter or material, cut into proper and convenient lengths, and
lay or spread it upon or over the surface of the cloth or fabric prepared as
herein-before mentioned, for the purpose of forming the nap or pile. I then
press the cloth or fabric by means of rollers, brushes, or any other convenient
mode, so as to fix the nap or pile firmly to the surface of the intended cloth or
fabric. The cloth or fabric in this state must be hung up to dry, and when it
is dry, which will be sooner or later according to the temperature of the room
in which it is placed (the mean time required being about three or four days),
I brush the surface of the cloth or fabric, so as to remove all the superfluous
particles of wool, cotton, silk, &c., and which have not become attached to the
surface of the cloth or fabric by means of the said last-mentioned preparation

page_text: of india rubber. In case a woollen material has been used for the nap or
pile, the cloth or fabric will then present the appearance of woollen broad
cloth of the ordinary manufacture; and in case a cotton or silk material has
been used for the nap or pile, the cloth or fabric will have the appearance of
cotton or silk velvet, or other fabrics, which have a cut or cropped nap or pile
upon their surface. For common purposes, the cloth or fabric thus prepared will
not. require shearing, but when a particular even surface is required, it may be
sheared in the usual manner of shearing woollen broad cloths. The cloth
made in the manner herein-before described will be especially applicable for
outward garments, hammer cloths, coverings for seats of open carriages, for
bangings, druggets, and many other useful purposes. And I perform tho
aforesaid processes upon one or both sides of the cloth or fabric, as I may
think proper; and in case I perform the aforesaid processes on both sides of
the cloth or fabric, I either make both sides of the same color or of different
colors. Thus, for instance, one side of the cloth or fabric may be made blue,
and the other side brown. I also prepare a cloth, the surface of which shall
present a pattern in different colors as shown in table covers, ladies' cloaks,
and several other articles now in general use. In order to effect this purpose,
1 prepare a cloth or fabric of wool, cotton, silk, flax, or other similar substance,
for receiving and fixing the nap or pile, by covering the surface thereof with tho
aforesaid preparations of india rubber in the manner herein-before described.
I then take blocks, such as those used by paper stainers or calico printers, a
pattern having been cut or carved upon the surface thereof.
I then by means
of a resinous varnish attach woollen or other cloth to the surface of the pattern
cut upon the blocks, my object in doing which is, that the cloth upon the
surface of the pattern cut upon the blocks may be able to take up and
retain a certain quantity of moisture. I then moisten the surface of the
block thus prepared with water, and press the moistened surface upon a
quantity of the material intended to form the nap or pile of the pattern,
and a sufficient quantity of such material will then attach itself to the
moistened surface of the block. 1 then remove the block, with the material
so attached to it, and press it upon the surface of the cloth or fabric
prepared for its reception as aforesaid. The pressure of the block upon
the surface of the cloth or fabric will then cause the material intended
to form the nap or pile of the pattern to adhere to the aforesaid preparation
of india rubber spread over the surface of the prepared cloth, and the block
being removed, will leave the nap or pile fixed to the surface of the cloth
or fabric, and will so form the intended pattern. The pattern being thus
formed upon the cloth or fabric, I then proceed to cover the remaining un-

page_text: covered portion thereof with a material prepared for the nap or pile, and of
the colour intended for the ground of the pattern upon the cloth or fabric.
I then take the material prepared for the nap or pile of the ground and lay
or spread it over the whole surface of cloth or fabric. The material so laid or
spread over the whole surface will not adhere to those portions of the surface
which form or are covered by the pattern, but only to the other portions of the
surface which have not been covered with the nap or pile of the pattern.
I then press the cloth or fabric, as herein-before mentioned, so as to fix the
nap or pile firmly to the surface of the intended cloth or fabric, and dry and
brush the cloth or fabric in manner aforesaid; by which means I produce a
pattern on the cloth clear and distinct, and the cloth may either be sheared or
not, as before mentioned. Another mode of producing the pattern on the
intended cloth or fabric is, by cutting out the pattern in thin plates or sheets
of metal, pasteboard, parchment, or oil cloth, similar to the patterns used by
stencillers. I then place the plates or sheets so cut with the pattern upon
the surface of the cloth or fabric prepared for receiving the nap or pile, as
herein-before mentioned, and I take the material prepared for the nap or pile of
the pattern and lay or spread-it through the holes or interstices of the pattern
so cut through the said plates or shects upon that portion of the surface of the
cloth or fabric which is left uncovered by such plates or sheets, which material
will adhere to the preparation of india rubber upon the cloth or fabric, as
aforesaid, and form the intended pattern. The plates or sheets having been
removed, I then procecil to cover the ground of the pattern on the cloth or
fabric, as herein-before described; and also to press and dry and brush, and, if
necessary, to shear the cloth or fabric, as herein-before mentioned. I also
produce a cloth or fabric with a nap or pile in another manner (that is to say),
I prepare slivers of wool, cotton, hair, fur, or other fit and proper fibrous
material for forming the nap or pile similar to such slivers as are formed by
carding engines and other machines used for a similar purpose; and I prefer
the slivers to be made of a short wool or fibrous material' nixed with a small
portion of long wool or fibrous material, so as to hold the particles of short
wool or fibrous material together in going through the carding engine. The
slivers thus made are to be carefully laid or spread over the whole surface of
the cloth or fabric prepared for receiving the nap or pile in the manner
herein-before described, and then pressed or rolled so as to fix the slivers
firmly to the surface of the cloth or fabric. When the cloth is perfectly dry,
I gig, teazle, or brush the surface of the cloth or fabric produced by the
slivers, and then shear it in the ordinary manner of shearing woollen cloth, so
as to produce an even surface. In order to produce waterproof hats and caps

page_text: with a nap or pile on the exterior surface, I make or procure a shape or form
of the required fashion for the intended hat or cap, such shape or form being
made of felted materials, paper, gauze, woven wire, or any other fit or proper
materials in use for that purpose. I then prepare the surface of such shape
or form for receiving the nap or pile in the same manner as I prepare
the surface of any cloth or fabric to receive the nap or pile as herein-before
inmentioned or described. But in making the preparation of india rubber to
spread over the surface of the hats or caps for receiving and fixing the
nap or pile, I prefer using with the india rubber and spirit of turpentine
a large proportion of acetate of lead, litharge, sulphate of zinc, gum
mastic, or other fit and proper drying material, so as to produce a harder
surface, and make the nap or pile adhere more strongly to the surface of the
hat or cap, as well as the better to preserve the original shape or fashion of
the hat or cap. The surface of the hat or cap having been prepared for
receiving the nap or pile, as herein-before mentioned, I take wool, cotton,
silk, hair, or other fit and proper fibrous matter or material cut into proper
lengths, and lay or spread it upon or over the surface of the hat or cap
prepared as herein-before mentioned, for the purpose of forming the nap- or
pile. The hat or cap is then to be pressed so as to fix the nap or pile firmly
to the surface, and is also to be dried and the surface brushed, so as to remove
all superfluous particles of wool, cotton, silk, hair, &c., which have not become
attached to the surface of the hat or cap. And I, the said Robert Sievier,
do hereby declare that I do not claim, as any part of this first branch or object
of my Invention, the making or rendering of any cloth or fabric, hat or cap,
But I do claim,
waterproof by the means or application of india rubber.
as part of my said Invention, the mode of making or forming or effecting a
nap or pile upon the surface of waterproof cloths or fabrics, hats or caps, in
the manner herein-before described or mentioned.
And I hereby declare that the second branch or object of my Inven-
tion is to produce elastic waterproof cloths and fabrics, which I effect
as herein after mentioned. I produce an elastic waterproof cloth in
the following manner (that is to say)-I take sheets or pieces of india
rubber, of about the thickness of one-eighth of an inch, which I stretch
both in length and in breadth as far as I think necessary or proper,
I
according to the purpose to which they are intended to be applied.
then spread india rubber dissolved in spirits of turpentine or other proper
solvent over the surface of the sheet of india rubber; and I also take a
piece of gauze, strong bobbin-net lace, or any other similar open work fabric
of the same form and dimensions as the sheet or piece of india rubber
so stretched, and press it upon the surface of the sheet of india rubber

page_text: prepared as herein-before mentioned. I then allow the piece or sheet of
india rubber so stretched to dry, when the gauze, bobbin-net lace, or other
similar open work will be firmly fixed to it, and will prevent any over-
straining of the india rubber or elastic cloth, and limit its extensibility. I
then take india rubber dissolved in spirits of turpentine or other proper
solvent, and I mix therewith a portion of acetate of lead, litharge, sulphate of
zinc, gum mastic, or any other proper drying material, as herein-before
mentioned, and I spread this preparation over the surface of the piece or
sheet of india rubber covered as herein-before mentioned. I then take wool,
cotton, silk, or other fit and proper fibrous matter or material cut into proper
and convenient lengths, as aforesaid, and lay or spread it upon or over the
surface of the elastic cloth or sheet of india rubber, as herein-before men-
tioned, for the purpose of forming the nap or pile thereof. I then press the
elastic cloth or sheet of india rubber by means of a roller, or by any other
convenient mode, in order to fix the nap or pile firmly to the surface in manner
aforesaid; after which the said elastic cloth or sheet of india rubber must be
dryed and brushed, and, if necessary, sheared, as hercin-before mentioned;
and I perform this operation upon one or both of the sides of the picce or
sheet of india rubber. The cloth thus formed will be nearly inelastic, the
stretching of the piece or sheet of india rubber having temporarily suspended
its elastic property. By the application of heat in the usual and well-known
manner, the elastic property of the india rubber is restored, and the cloth
becomes an elastic waterproof fabric. I also prepare an elastic water-
proof fabric by uniting leather and india rubber, as herein-after described
(that is to say), I prepare pieces or sheets of india rubber and stretch
them in the manner herein-before mentioned. I then spread over their
surface, in manner aforesaid, india rubber dissolved as before mentioned, and
I take a piece of thin leather, or leather split or pared to a very thin
substance, and of the same size and dimensions as the stretched picco or
sheet of india rubber, and press it upon the surface of the piece or sheet of
india rubber, prepared as hercin-before mentioned, by a press, weights, or
other convenient means, until they are perfectly dry and united, which will
require a space of about five or six days. The fabric thus formed will be
nearly inelastic, the stretching having temporarily suspended the elastic power
of the india rubber. By the application of heat to about the 180th degree of
Fahrenheit's thermometer the india rubber will partially collapse and cause
the leather to have a corrugated surface similar to Morocco leather. Tho
fabric thus formed will now be both elastic and waterproof, and will applicable
for boots, shoes, belts, &c., and many other useful purposes. I also produce
a similar fabric by substituting cloth or some similar fabric in the place

page_text: of the split or pared leather. And I, the said Robert William Sievier, do
bereby declare that I do not claim as any part of my Invention the mode of
dissolving india rubber, the modes of preparing sheets of india rubber, or the
mode of spreading preparations of india rubber upon cloth.
Note. In order to prevent any difficulty in preparing the solution of india
rubber mixed with acetate of lead, litharge, or sulphate of zinc, or gum mastic,
the same may be prepared in the following manner :-If acetate of lead or
sulphate of zinc are used, they are to be calcined previously to their being
used, but litharge is not to be calcined. In mixing these ingredients with
turpentine I do so in the following proportions:-I mix about one ounce of
sulphate of zinc, acetate of lead, or litharge with about a quart of spirits of
turpentine, and the mixture must be frequently agitated during the space of
several days, after which the sulphate of zinc, acetate of lime, or litharge is
to be allowed to settle, and the spirits of turpentine is to be poured off for use.
The spirit of turpentine thus prepared is to be added to a solution of india
rubber, or the india rubber may be dissolved in it. In using gum mastic, the
gum is to be dissolved in spirits of turpentine in such quantity as to make it
of about the consistency of honey, and from about one twelfth to one sixth of
that mixture is to be added to and well incorporated with the solution of
india rubber.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert William Sievier, have hereunto
(L.S.) K. W. SIEVIER.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventh day of June, in the
sixth year of the reign of His Majesty King William the Fourth, the said
Robert William Sievier came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing contained
and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year of
His late Majesty King George the Third,
Inrolled the Seventh day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
thirty-six.