IMPROVED HEAD PLAITS, FOUNDATIONS FOR WIGS, BRACELETS, AND OTHER PLAITED ORNAMENTS FOR PERSONAL WEAR
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Speight, of 19, Woodbridge Street, Clerken-
well, in the County of Middlesex, Hair Worker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED HEAD PLAITS, FOUNDATIONS FOR WIGS, BRACELETS, AND OTHER
PLAITED ORNAMENTS FOR PERSONAL WEAR."
Sealed the 5th March 1858, and dated the 26th September 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Speight at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th September 1857.
I, GEORGE SPEIGHT, of 19, Woodbridge Street, Clerkenwell, in the County
of Middlesex, Hair Worker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVED HEAD PLAITS, FOUNDATIONS FOR WIGS, BRACELETS, AND OTHER
PLAITED ORNAMENTS FOR PERSONAL WEAR," to be as follows:-
My Invention refers first to "plaits" used as additions or ornaments to the
natural hair and worn on the head by ladies, (which are now ordinarily made
of human hair) also to "guards" or watch chains, bracelets, and other orna-
ments, now also ordinarily made of human hair; and my Invention consists
of manufacturing such plaits and ornaments of dyed manilla hemp, or of dyed
jute, or of dyed manilla hemp and jute combined.
The hemp or jute having been first dyed of the required color or shade, is
combed out, made to receive the proper gloss, and then worked up into plaits.

page_text: Hitherto,
for the head, and for bracelets, guards, or neck chains, or other objects, in the
same manner as is now practised in working up human hair, the appearance
of which is imitated by the hemp or jute so manufactured, but the latter is
lighter, cheaper, and less liable to become disturbed or displaced, which is a
considerable advantage, especially for plaits worn on the head.
foundations for wigs have been made of very white hair, which was difficult to
procure, on account of the extreme whiteness required. Now, my Invention
further consists in manufacturing such foundations of very white manilla
hemp, or very white jute, (preferring to use it spun to a sufficient guage) which
is worked up in the same manner as is done with human hair, for which it
here forms a cheap and efficient substitute.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Speight in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th March 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SPEIGHT, of 19, Woodbridge Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex,
Hair Worker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, 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 George Speight, Her special licence that I, the said George Speight,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Speight, 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 "IMPROVED HEAD PLAITS,
FOUNDATIONS FOR WIGS, BRACELETS, AND OTHER PLAITED ORNAMENTS FOR PERSONAL
WEAR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,the said George Speight,
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 Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Speight, do hereby declare.
the nature of the 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 thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention refers, first, to plaits to be worn on the head by ladies as
ornaments or additions to the natural hair, and which are now commonly
made of human hair; and my Invention also refers to plaits for bracelets and
other ornaments, now also ordinarily made of human hair; and my Invention
in these respects consists in manufacturing such plaits of dyed manilla hemp,
or of dyed jute, or of dyed manilla hemp and dyed jute combined.
The hemp or jute having been dyed of the desired color, is combed out,
receives a gloss, and is worked up into plaits for the purposes stated. These
improved plaits form effective substitutes for those made of human hair but
are lighter and cheaper; and when used for the head dress, especially, are
less liable to become disturbed when in wear, which is a great advantage for
that description of adornment.
I now proceed to particularize the best means for carrying my said Invention
into effect.
"
The hemp or jute is first dyed of the required shade, by any known mode-
of dyeing, and is then softened and has its "dress" taken out by passing it
through, and completely saturating it in a preparation composed of sulphuric
acid, soda, oil, and water mixed together, and forming a lather or frothy
composition; and this I prefer to do while the hemp or jute is still damp
from the dyers, (or I damp it expressly) because I have found that it absorbs
the oil better when in that state. The hemp or jute is next combed and passed
through brushes to give the requisite gloss, and is then cut into suitable
lengths, and worked up into plaits in the same manner as is now practised in
working up human hair for similar purposes. Very elegant patterns of head
ornaments may be made by combining my improved head plaits with chenille,
flowers, ribbons, &c. The plaits intended for making up into bracelets and
other ornaments may be finished off with clasps or other appendages and
adornments, as is now done with hair ornaments of like description.
Hitherto, foundations for wigs have been made of very white hair, which is
difficult to procure on account of the extreme whiteness needful; now my
Invention further consists, in manufacturing such foundations of very white
manilla hemp or very white jute, preferring, in carrying this part of the
Invention into effect, to use the hemp or jute spun to a sufficient gauge, and
then working it up in like manner as is now done with human hair, for which
it forms, in this respect, a cheap and effective substitute. Such foundations

page_text: may be employed for wigs or perukes covering the whole of the head, or for
wigs extending over only a portion of the scalp, such as are commonly called
"fronts."
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare, that,-
First, what I claim as new, in respect of my improved head plaits, in the
employment in or for manufacturing the same of dyed manilla hemp or of
dyed jute, or of dyed manilla hemp and dyed jute combined.
Second, what I claim as new, in respect of my improved bracelets and other
ornaments, is the employment of dyed manilla hemp or of dyed jute, or of
dyed manilla hemp and dyed jute combined, in or for manufacturing plaits for
the same.
And, third, what I claim as new, in respect of my improved foundations for
wigs, is the employment of very white manilla hemp or of very white jute, in
or for manufacturing the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Speight, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-eight
Witness,
M. HENRY,
77, Fleet Street.
GEORGE SPEIGHT. (L.S.)