AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TIE FOR NECKCLOTHS AND NECK RIBBONS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Swonnell, of Kingston-on-Thames, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TIE FOR NECKCLOTHS AND NECK RIBBONS,
Sealed the 24th February 1854, and dated the 24th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Swonnell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 24th August 1853.
I, ALFRED SWONNELL, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TIE FOR NECKCLOTHS AND NECK
RIBBONS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO NECK RIBBONS OF CAPS AND BONNETS," to be
as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the fastening of neck-
cloths and other neckties, and at the same time prevent injury to the
fabric of which the tie is composed occasioned by the creasing of the
fabric to produce a bow.
In manufacturing gentlemen's neckties according to this Invention I.
take three pieces of the fabric that is to form the tie, and cut and fold

page_text: them to a suitable length and breadth for forming a band that will
reach round the neck and tie, taking care that the longitudinal scam in
the end pieces is in front. These pieces I sow together on the reverse
side to that of the middle piece.
One end piece, instead of connecting directly with the middle, I sew
to one side of a loop that forms the centre of the bow, and the middle
piece I sew to the other side of the loop, and thus leave a space in the
loop for the insertion of the other end piece when the necktie is to be
fastened. The end piece that is fixed to the loup I fold in the form of
a half bow, and secure it by stitching in that position, and when fasten-
ing on the necktie I fold back the other end piece to correspond there-
with, and insert it into the loop at the back of the fixed half bow. I
then secure the necktie-by-means-of-an-elastic-cord, a hook and eye,
other analogous contrivance.
From the above description it will be understood that the Invention
is also applicable to the fastening of bonnet ribbons, cap ribbons, waist
bands, or sashes, &c., and will always ensure to the wearer a sightly bow,
however unskilful the wearer might be in forming a bow according to
the ordinary manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Swonnell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ALFRED SWONNELL, of Kingston-on-Thames, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself,. Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Swonnell, Her special 3
license that I, the said Alfred Swonnell, my executors, adininistrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Swonnell, my executors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, 'froni time to time and at all times thereafter during the termi
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 "AN IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF TIE FOR NECKCLOTHS AND NECK- RIBBONS, APPLICABLE ALSÓ
TO NECK RIBBONS OF CAPS AND BONNETS," upon the condition (amongst.
others) that I, the said. Alfred Swonnell, 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 Alfred Swonnell, 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, reference being had to the Drawing here-.
unto annexed; and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say):
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the fastening of neckcloths
and other neckties, and at the same time prevent injury to the fabric
of which the tie is composed, occasioned by the creasing to which such
material is exposed to produce a bow.
In manufacturing gentlemen's neckties according to this Invention I
take three pieces of the fabric that is to form the tie, and cut and fold
them to a suitable length and breadth for constructing a band that will
reach. around the neck and tie in front. These pieces I connect
together by sewing, taking care that the longitudinal seam in the end.
pieces is on the reverse side to that of the middle piece. One end piece,.
instead of connecting directly with the middle, I sew to one side of the
barrel ".or central part of the bow, and the middle piece I sew to the
other side of the barrel, and thus leave a space therein for the insertion.
of the other end piece when the necktie is to be fastened. The end
piece that is fixed to the barrel I. fold in the form. of a half. how, and
secure it by. stitching in that position; and when applying the. necktie.

page_text: I fold back the other end piece to correspond therewith, and insert it
into the barrel at the back of the fixed half bow. Or, in place of
forming a half bow of the fixed end piece, I so far form the bow that
it will only be necessary for its completion to pass the other end piece
through the barrel, and thus display a second end. I then secure
the necktie by means of an elastic cord or hook and eye or other
analogous contrivance.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1, shews the mode of arranging
the several pieces which are to form the band and tic so as to hide the
longitudinal scams. The middle piece a, being intended to fit against
the back of the neck has its longitudinal seam inwards, and the end
pieces, and c, (the former of which forms the fixed portion of the
bow, and the latter the removeable portion,) have their longitudinal
seams on the opposite side. Figures 2, and 3, show the Invention as
applied to form a gentleman's necktic. At Fig. 2, the necktie is
shewn as open; and at Fig. 8, as closed. d, is the barrel of the bow,
and to it the pieces a, and b, are attached in such a manner that it
forms a permanent connection between them, while at the same time
it admits of the cd c, being passed through the barrel to complete the
bow, as shewn best in the diagram, Fig. 4.
A button catch or hook is attached to the end of the part a, adjoin-
ing the barrel d, as shewn by dots at Fig. 2, and a loop or band of
elastic material is attached to the other end thereof for the purpose of
connecting with the button catch or hook, and securing the tie-to the
neck of the wearer.
Provision may be made for shifting the attachment from one eyelet
hole to another (see Fig. 5), whereby the tightening or loosening of the
necktic, according as the fancy or feeling of the wearer may dictate, is
effected.
As a modification of the above, instead of requiring the end c, to be
folded back to form the second loop of the bow, I complete a perma-
nent bow to the extent shewn at Fig. 6, and use the end c, to form the
second terminal to the bow, passing it through the barrel d, as shewn in
red at Fig. 7. The attachment will in this case be the same as in the
former case, but so much of the band as is equivalent to the parts a,

page_text: and c, will be in one piece, there being no necessity to turn the longi-
tudinal seam outwards.
For long end cravats, instead of forming a bow, 1 elongate the end
pieces b, c, as shewn at Fig. 8, and attach them to the middle piece u, as
explained with reference to the first arrangement. I also apply to the
cravat an elastic or other fastening for preventing it from shifting its
position or becoming loose on the wearer's neck.
From the above description it will be understood that the Invention
is also applicable to the fastening of bonnet ribbons and cap ribbons,
and as the mode of applying it must be evident, no further explanation
will be necessary. One great and obvious advantage resulting from the
use of this Invention is, that a sightly how may always be ensured,
however muskilful the wearer may be in forming a bow according to
the ordinary method.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and set forth the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim the manufactur-
ing of "ties" for the neck, as above described, wherein one extremity
of the band or ribbon composing the neckcloth or neck ribbon is passed
through the fixed barrel of the bow when the tie is in use.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Swonnell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
ALFRED SWONNELL. (L.S.)