AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR TESTING THE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE IN LINEN AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WALTER BENTLEY WOODBURY, of 35 Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Photographer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR TESTING THE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE IN LINEN AND
OTHER ARTICLES" to be as follows:-
"
This invention is based on the well known properties of gelatine, alone or in
combination with glycerine, sugar, or like hygroscopic materials, by which when
prepared in thin sheets and placed upon a damp surface, it has a tendency to curl
up, resuming its flat shape when dry.
I utilize such gelatino so prepared in the ordinary way in thin sheets by cutting it
into pieces of suitable size and form but preferably in the shape of a pointed star.
When such pieces are placed upon the linen or other article to be tested, if there bo
the least moisture in the latter the star shaped leaf will absorb sufficient to causo
it instantly to curl up at the points, but if on the other hand the linen or other
article be perfectly free from moisture the star will remain flat.
It will be evident that the gelatine sheet described can be cut into any form
and of any size and can be used to detect the presence of damp in beds, linen,
wearing apparel and other articles, thus preventing the danger arising from the
same not having been sufficiently aired.
DAL TOUL
C
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, WALTER BENTLEY WOODBURY, of South Norwood in the County of Surrey,
Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
DEVICE FOR TESTING THE PRESENCE OF MOISTURE IN LINEN AND OTHER ARTICLES
"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is based on the well known property of gelatine, alone or in
combination with glycerine, sugar or like hygroscopic materials, by which when
prepared in thin sheets and placed upon a damp surface; it has a tendency to curl
up, resuming its flat shape when dry.
I utilize such gelatine so prepared in the ordinary way, in thin sheets by cutting
it into pieces of suitable size and form but preferably in the shape of a pointed
star. When such pieces are placed upon the linen, beds, wearing apparel, or other
article to be tested, if there be the least moisture in the latter the star shaped leaf
will absorb sufficient to cause it instantly to curl up at the points, but if on the
other hand the linen or other article be perfectly free from moisture the star will
remain flat.
It will be evident that the gelatine sheets described can be cut into any form
and of any size and can be used to detect the presence of damp in beds, linen,
wearing apparel and other articles, thus preventing the danger arising from the
same not having been sufficiently aired.
I do not confine myself to any precise form and shape of the pieces of gelatine,
which may be varied infinitely, but having now particularly described and
ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the samo is
to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
As a device for testing the presenco of moisture in linen and other articles, a
thin sheet of gelatine, or gelatine in combination with glycerine, sugar, or like
hygroscopic materials, cut into pieces of any desired size and shape, and used in
the manner herein before described.
Dated this 19th day of December 1884.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Patentee.