IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE HOODS, APRONS, AND DASHES OF CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Fitzjames Russell, of Montpelier Square,
Hyde Park, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE HOODS, APRONS, AND DASHES OF CARRIAGES AND OTHER
VEHICLES."
Sealed the 5th June 1866, and dated the 7th December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Fitzjames Russe!!
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th December 1865.
I, GEORGE FITZJAMES RUSSELL, of Montpelier Square, Hyde Park, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HOODS, APRONS, AND DASHES OF CARRIAGES AND OTHER
VEHICLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of the
hoods, aprons, and dashes of carriages and other vehicles. Hitherto these
portions of the carriage have been made of leather, enamelled or otherwise,
but according to this Invention I propose to apply a fabric of silk, which
will be found not only sufficiently waterproof to exclude rain, but will also
present a very light and elegant appearance to be given to the hood of the

page_text: carriage. The hinged skeleton iron frames of the hood will also be made
much lighter, and thus the weight of the vehicle will be considerably
decreased. The apron should have a border and lining of strengthening
fabric, and the hood may also be lined for the sake of affording strength and
protection to the silk; so also with the dashes or splash boards the same!
principle is to be applied.
By this Invention the interior of a carriage when closed by the hood of
silk is rendered much cooler in summer than is the case where the ordinary
leather hood is adopted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Fitzjames Russell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
FITZJAMES RUSSELL, of Montpelier Square, Hyde Park, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me;
the said George Fitzjames Russell, Her special licence that I, the said
George Fitzjames Russell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George FitzJames Russell, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
țime 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 HOODS, APRONS, AND DASHES
OF CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said George Fitzjames Russell, 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 In-
vention, 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 George Fitzjames Russell, do hereby
'declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture or
construction of the hoods, aprons, and dashes of carriages and other vehicles.
Heretofore these portions of the carriage have been made of leather,
enamelled or otherwise, but according to this Invention I propose to apply
a fabric of silk, which will be found not only sufficiently waterproof to exclude
rain, but will also form a very light and elegant appearance to the hood of
the carriage. The hinged or jointed skeleton iron frames of the hood will
also be made much lighter, and thus the weight of the carriage or vehicle
will be considerably reduced. The apron should have a border and lining of
strengthening fabric, and the hood may also be lined for the sake of affording
strength and protection to the silk; so also with the dashes or splash boards
the same principle is to be applied.
By this Invention the interior of a carriage when closed by the hood of
silk is rendered much cooler in summer than is the case where the ordinary
leather hood is adopted.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I claim and desire to be secured to me
by the herein in part recited Letters Patent, the application of a fabric of
silk (in place of leather hitherto used) to the construction or manufacture of
the hoods, aprons, and dashes of carriages and other vehicles, substantially
as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Fitzjames Russell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
ALEX. M. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
GEORGE F. RUSSELL. (L.s.)