AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF MACHINERY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VALENCIENNES, CHANTILLY, BRUSSELS, AND OTHER SIMILAR LACES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British
and Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire
of France, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF MACHINERY
FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VALENCIENNES, CHANTILLY, BRUSSELS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR LACES."-A communication from Jean François Regis-Laporte,
residing at No. 3 Rue St. Fiacre, Paris.
Sealed the 14th February 1862, and dated the 12th September 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th September 1861.
I, MARC ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent
Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF
MACHINERY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF VALENCIENNES, CHANTILLY, BRUSSELS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR LACES," to be as follows:-
The Invention communicated to me consists in an improved combination of
machinery adapted to the production of netted fabrics, identical in texture and
appearance with hand made Valenciennes, Chantilly, Brussels, and other
ornamental laces of like description. The greater number of the mechanical
elements which enter into this combination are borrowed from machines
already known in different branches of textile manufactures and more especially

page_text: The essential objects to be attained in the mechanical production of real
lace are, 1stly, the means of rendering each thread independent, that is to
say, capable of passing from right to left, of changing with one of its neigh-
bours, or of remaining stationary as required so as form the twists of which the
fabric is composed; and 2dly, the means of causing one or several threads
to cross a given number of others, for the production of certain ornamental
effects in passing alternately above and below each corresponding thread by
a single motion either to right or left.
Plate 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents the improved machinery
open.
Plate 2, represents it closed.
Plate 8, represents some of the principal details of the combination. In
all these plates, the similar parts of the mechanism are indicated by the same
letters of reference.
A, B, is a fan shaped reed, the widest part of which, corresponding with the
gauge of the loom, is formed by the points of the teeth 1 to 12, while the
width of its lower section C corresponds with that of the lace to be produced.
The number of these reeds applied to each loom is consequently equal to
the number of bands comprised in the width of the latter. The iron teeth 1
to 12 are sealed by their lower extremities in the leads D mounted on a
borizontal bar E in front of the loom. This bar is suspended at the point F
to a lever receiving its movement from a connecting rod set on the upper
part of the loom at the back. This connecting rod is acted on by the point
bar shaft, which is also mounted at the back of the loom. The horizontal
bar E is provided on each side with a small arm G supporting a roller H
which, running under the curved guide plate I, I, determines the direction
of the reed points. The range of this bar should be sufficiently wide to
prevent the interference of the teeth extremities, with the circular motion at
the interior of the loom. When the bobbin carriages J, J, J, meet in tho
combs K, K, at the centre of the loom, the teeth of the fan reeds seize the
twists (immediately above the delivery point of the threads,) and carry them
towards the working bar L, where they are alternately taken up by the small
points M, M, sealed in leads which are mounted on the iron bars N, N. The
twists thus seized by the points M, M, which correspond with those of the
fan shaped reeds, are maintained in position to form the lace, which is wound
off a little higher up by the roller O. The thread of which the lace is to be
made, is wound upon the bobbins P., set upon the carriages J, J, each provided

page_text: with a circular groove Q, Q, and with talons R. This arrangement corres-
ponds with the bobbins employed in the manufacture of lace by the hand.
The thickness of the carriages should be somewhat less than that of the gauge
of the loom, and the talons should be sufficiently thick to permit their free
circulation in the grooves S, S, of the combs K. These combs K, are made
of iron, and are ranged side by side in leads on the central bar T, T. Their
upper section forms a concave or curved surface, so as to allow the circular
motion of the carriages. The number of combs varies according to the
working gauge which is determined by their thickness. The horizontal and
moveable central bar T, T, is composed of two iron cross pieces connected
by spaced ties. Its extremities are supported and maintained by adjusting
screws, which allow it to slide freely while guiding it to right and left in its
movement, which is communicated by cams acting on jacquarded droppers.
These cams, to the number of eight, are set in parallel couples on two hori-
zontal arbors revolving at half the speed of the main shaft. The alternate
movement to right and left of the central bar is determined by four of these
cams. The remaining four serve to maintain the bar in the position given
to it by the first series as often as it may be required to rest stationary or
move to the right, this arrangement being rendered necessary by its tendency
to return to its starting point under the action of the spring with which it is
provided. Should it be intended to return to the left in the succeeding motion
the number of droppers brought under the action of the fixing cams should
correspond with that of the ports formed by the motive series. The droppers
of one couple of each series of cams should rise together at the first motion,
those of the other couple at the second motion, and so on alternately under
the action of a jacquard apparatus set above the loom at the right hand side.
By this arrangement the central bar may either be kept stationary, moved
several times in succession to the right according to the quantity of free ports
or to the left, according to the quantity of ports which may have passed to the
right. In the combs supported by this bar, are placed the carriages carrying
the threads, by which the right and left crossings of different lengths are
formed. These carriages meet on the bar after having changed their position
under the action of the jacquarded bolts and are divided into odds and evens.
The horizontal movement from right to left should commence as soon as the
carriages have entered the bolts, and the check points U have completed the
downward stroke, but should be suspended before the stop bars quit their
position. The check points U are formed of iron or steel sealed in lead and
arranged to correspond with the odd carriages. The leads are mounted on a
bar U set parallelly to the central bar in front of the loom. To this bar U'

page_text: is imparted a vertical motion by which the points are led in front of the
openings of the combs containing the odd carriages, so that those remaining
on the central bar may not be carried to the front by the neighbouring even
carriages. The thickness of these points should be somewhat less than that
of the gauge of the loom. Their upward motion should be effected as soon as
the carriages come into line on the central bar while the downward stroke should
coincide with the penetration of the carriages into the jacquarded bolts. These
jacquarded bolts V, W, X, Y, Z, are sealed in leads by the extremities V, and
set on cross pieces a, a, mounted at each side of the loom at equal distances
from and parallel to the central bar. The number of bolts in each lead is half
that of the combs, and the opening of each is set directly in front of the corres-
ponding opening of the opposite comb. Each bolt is divided into three parts,
1stly, the section V, W, X, the extremity V of which is sealed in the lead,
while the part W is shaped to correspond with the groove of the carriage;
2dly, the section Y rivetted between the above first part and that marked Z,
aud which corresponds in thickness with the bottom of the carriage groove;
Sdly, the section Z rivetted to the part V, W, X, over the part Y. These
three sections should, when together, form a thickness slightly inferior to that
of the gauge of the loom. The bolts are jacquarded by means of guide bars
on which are soldered a number of forks, holding between their teeth the
section X, so that the bars actuated by a jacquard apparatus mounted to the
left of the looin, carry the free extremities of the bolts by the distance of one
port to the right or left. The number of guide bars varies according to the
number of threads required by the lace to be produced. Each bar is provided
with a number of forks equal to the number of bars comprised in the width
of the loom, and each fork corresponds with a given bolt of each band. The
motion of the bolts commences when the ears of the carriages are disengaged
from the dividers b, b, by the push pieces c, c, and the stop bars d, d, have
taken up their position. They only become stationary when the carriages are
completely in the combs. The stop bars d, d, are set parallelly at each side
of the central bar, and receive a vertical motion from a shaft set beneath the
centro of the loom. This shaft communicates with the main driving shaft by
means of an inclined arbor. The object of the stop bars, is to prevent the
carriages on entering the bolts from descending of themselves during the
movement of the central and guide bars. e, e, e, e, are the articulated motion
picces set at each extremity of the loom, and each composed of two branches
ff, forming a species of compass arrangement. These compasses open and
close, under the action of a series of cams and rollers mounted on the lower
shaft, and in so doing impart a circular movement to the cross ties 9, 91 by

page_text: which they are connected. These cross ties support the push pieces c, c, as
also the axles of the catch bars h, and hooks i, i, of the tumblers j, j, of the
rocking lever k, k, and of a holding bar of the same hooks i, i, all these
pieces having a circular action. The dividers b, b, are set on the inner side
of each cross tie g, g¹, and serve to separate the carriages into odd and even
numbers preparatory to their being run into the bolts, the even numbers in
front and the odd numbers at the back. This separation should be effected
as soon as the carriages come into line on the cones set on the central bar.
The thickness of the teeth of these dividers should be lower than that of
the gauge of the loom. h is a catch bar set on the front of the loom and
forming a hook by means of which the even carriages when separated on the
central bar are drawn by the ears into the front bolts. This motion being
completed the catch bar is raised by a crescent m corresponding with the
lower shaft, so that the push pieces c, c, are set in gear by -the continued
opening of the compass branches. The hind catches i, i, are composed of
jacquarded hooks the pivots of which are supported by settings n sealed in
leads mounted on the back of the cross tie g¹. On the separation of the
carriages the books which have not been raised by the jacquard apparatus
fall into the ears of the odd carriages, under the action of the rocking
lever k, k, by which they are freed at this moment. The hooks raised
by the jacquard are maintained in position by the holding bar l, and are
thus prevented from rising when carrying forward the carriages in the upward
movement of the compass arrangement. As soon as the carriages enter the
bolts this holding bar falls out of gear and the rocking lever k, k, comes into
play. At this moment the jacquard apparatus mounted behind the loom
begins to raise the hooks, which are intended in the succeeding motion to
leave the carriages on the central bar. The action of the catch bar h and
hooks i,, is simultaneous. The push pieces c, c, are thin bars of steel
suspended by screw heads under the cross ties g, g'. The compass branches
continuing to open up after the escape of the carriages from the catch bar
and books h, i, 2, throw these push pieces into gear by causing them to slide
forward under the action of the fixed stops o, o, so as to disengage the car-
riages from the dividers. In the downward movement of the compass branches
the carriages are again carried into line in the centre of the combs. The
push pieces when in gear are maintained by the tumblers j, j, set in mortices
by the extremities p, p. The carriages being brought into line the opposite
extremities j, j, of the tumblers come in contact with a check piece q, q, by
which they are thrown out of gear and the push pieces are withdrawn by
a
a spring leaving free play to the dividers. The remaining components of the

page_text: complete loom, as also the general details of construction and arrangement of
the auxiliary jacquard apparatuses, are for the most part reproduced with slight
modifications from known machinery, and require for the moment no special
description.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Marc Antoine François Mennons in the Great Seal Patent
Offico on the 10th March 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 39,
Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Marc Antoine François Mennons, Her special licence that I, the said Marc
Antoine François Mennons, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OP MACHINERY FOR THE PRODUCTION
OF VALENCIENNES, CHANTILLY, BRUSSELS, AND OTHER SIMILAR LACES," a communi-
cation from Jean François Regis-Laporte, a person resident at No. 3, Rue
St. Fiacre, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Marc
Antoine François Mennons, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what mauner 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 late of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, do
hereby declare the nature of the 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 figures of the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters marked thereon, that is to say:-

page_text: The Invention communicated to me consists in an improved combination of
machinery adapted to the production of netted fabrics identical in texture and
appearance with hand-made Valenciennes, Chantilly, Brussels, and other
ornamental laces of like description. The greater number of the mechanical
elements which enter into this combination are borrowed from machines
already known in different branches of textile manufacture, and more
especially from the looms or frames at present applied to the production of
tulles and imitation lace.
The essential objects to be attained in the mechanical production of real
lace are, 1stly, the means of rendering each thread independent, that is to say,
capable of passing from right to left, of changing with one of its neighbours,
or of remaining stationary as required, so as to form the twists of which the
fabric is composed; 2dly, the means of causing one or several threads to
cross a given number of others for the production of certain ornamental
effects, in passing alternately above and below each corresponding thread, by a
single motion, either to right or left.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents the improved machinery
open.
Figure 2 represents it closed.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, represent some of the principal details of
the combination. In all these Figures the similar parts of the mechanism are
indicated by the same letters of reference.
A, B, is a fan-shaped reed, the widest part of which, corresponding with the
gauge of the loom, is formed by the points of the teeth 1 to 12, while the
width of its lower section C corresponds with that of the lace to be produced.
The number of these reeds applied to each loom is consequently equal to the
The iron teeth
number of bands comprised in the width of the latter.
1 to 12 are sealed by their lower extremities in leads D mounted on a hori-
zontal bar E in front of the loom. This bar is suspended at the point F to a
lever receiving its movement from a connecting rod set on the upper part of
the loom at the back. This connecting rod is acted on by the point-bar shaft,
which is also mounted at the back of the loom. The horizontal bar E is pro-
vided on each side with a small arm G supporting a roller H, which running.
under the curved guide plate I, I, determines the direction of the reed points.
The range of this bar should be sufficiently wide to prevent the interference of
the teeth extremities with the circular motion at the interior of the loom.
When the bobbin carriages J, J, J, meet in the combs K, K, at the centre of
the loom, the teeth of the fan reeds seize the twists immediately above the
delivery point of the threads, and carry them towards the working bar L,

page_text: where they are alternately taken by the small points M, M, sealed in leads,
which are mounted on the iron bars N, N. The twists thus seized by the
points M, M, which corrospond with those of the fan-shaped reeds, are main-
tained in position to form the lace, which is wound off a little higher up by
the roller O. The thread of which the lace is to be made is wound on the
bobbins P set upon the carriages J, J, each provided with a circular groove
Q, Q, and with "talons" R. This arrangement corresponds with the bobbins
employed in the manufacture of lace by the hand. The thickness of the
carriages should be somewhat less than that of the gauge of the loom, and the
talons" should be sufficiently thick to permit their free circulation in
the grooves S, S, of the combs K. These combs K are made of iron, and are
ranged side by side, in leads, on the central bar T, T. Their upper section
forms a concave or curved surface so as to allow the circular motion of the
carriages. The number of combs in each lead varies according to the working
gauge, which is determined by their thickness. The horizontal and moveable
central bar T, T, is composed of two iron cross pieces connected by spaced
ties. Its extremities are supported and maintained by adjusting screws, which
allow it to slide freely while guiding it to right and left in its movement,
which is communicated by cams acting on a system of jacquarded droppers.
These cams, to the number of eight, are set in parallel couples on two hori-
zontal arbors revolving at half the speed of the main shaft. The alternate
movement to right and left of the central bar is determined by four of these
caus. The remaining four serve to maintain the bar in the position given to
it by the first series, as often as it may be required to rest stationary or move
to the right; this arrangement being rendered necessary by its tendency to
return to its starting point under the action of the spring with which it is pro-
vided. Should it be intended to return to the left in the succeeding motion,
the number of droppers brought under the action of the fixing cams should
correspond with that of the ports formed by the motive series. The droppers
of one couple of each series of cams should rise together at the first motion;
those of the other couple at the second motion, and so on alternately under
the action of a jacquard apparatus set above the loom at the right-hand side.
By this arrangement the central bar may either be kept stationary, moved
several times in succession to the right according to the quantity of free ports,
or to the left according to the quantity of ports which may have passed to the
right. In the combs supported by this bar are placed the carriages carrying
the threads by which the right and left crossings of different lengths are
formed. These carriages meet on the bar after having changed their position
under the action of the jacquarded bolts, aud are divided into odds and evens.

page_text: the
The horizontal movement from right to left should commence as soon as the
carriages have entered the bolts, and the check points U have completed the
downward stroke, but should be suspended before the stop bars quit their
position. The check points U are formed of iron or steel, sealed in lead, and
arranged to correspond with the odd carriages. The leads are mounted on a
bar U set parallelly to the central bar in front of the loom. To this bar U¹
is imparted a vertical motion, by which the points are led in front of the
openings of the combs containing the odd carriages, so that those remaining
on the central bar may not be carried to the front by the neighbouring even
carriages. The thickness of these points should be somewhat less than that of
gauge of the loom. Their upward motion should be effected as soon as
the carriages come into line on the central bar; while the down stroke should
coincide with the penetration of the carriages into the jacquarded bolts. These
bolts V, W, X, Y, Z, are sealed in leads by the extremities V, and set on
cross pieces a, a, mounted at each side of the loom, at equal distances from
and parallel to the central bar. The number of bolts in each lead is half that
of the combs, and the opening of each is set directly in front of the corre-
sponding opening of the opposite comb. Each bolt is divided into three
parts, 1stly, the section V, W, X, the extremity V of which is sealed in the
lead, while the part W is shaped to correspond with the groove of the
carriages; 2dly, the section Y rivetted between the above first part and that
marked Z, and which corresponds in thickness with the bottom of the carriage
groove; 3dly, the section Z rivetted to the part V, W, X, over the part Y.
These three sections should, when together, form a thickness slightly inferior
to that of the gauge of the loom. The bolts are jacquarded by means of guide
bars, on which are soldered a number of forks holding between their teeth
the section X, so that the bars actuated by a jacquard apparatus mounted to
the left of the loom carry the free extremities of the bolts by the distance of
one port to the right or left. The number of guide bars varies according to
the number of threads required by the lace to be produced. Each bar is pro-
vided with a number of forks equal to the number of bands comprised in the
width of the loom, and each fork corresponds with a given bolt of each band.
The motion of the bolts commences when the ears of the carriages are dis-
engaged from the dividers b, b, by the push pieces c, c, and the stop bars d, d,
have taken up their position. They only become stationary when the carriages
are completely in the combs. The stop bars d, d, are set parallelly at each
side of the central bar, and receive a vertical motion from a shaft set beneath
the centre of the loom. This shaft communicates with the main driving shaft
by means of an inclined arbor. The object of the stop bars is to prevent the

page_text: carriages on entering the bolts from descending of themselves during the
movement of the central and guide bars. e, e, e, e, are the articulated motion
pieces, set at each extremity of the loom, and each composed of two branches
ff, forming a species of compass arrangement. These compasses open and
close under the action of a series of cams and rollers mounted on the lower
shaft, and in so doing impart a circular movement to the cross ties g, g', by
which they are connected. These cross ties support the push pieces c, c, as
also the axles of the catch bar h, and hooks i of the tumblers j, j, of tho
rocking lever k, k, and of a holding bar 7, of the same hooks i; all these pieces
having a circular action. The dividers b, b, are set on the inner side of each
cross tie 9, 9, and serve to separate the carriages into odd and even numbers
preparatory to their being run into the bolts, the even numbers in front, and
the odd numbers at the back. This separation should be effected as soon as
the carriages come into line on the combs set on the central bar. The thickness
of the teeth of these dividers should be lower than that of the gauge of the loom;
h is a catch bar, set on the front of the loom, and forming a hook, by means
of which the even carriages when separated on the central bar are drawn by
the ears into the front bolts. This motion being completed, the catch bar is
raised by a crescent m, corresponding with the lower shaft, so that the push
pieces c, c, are set in gear by the continued opening of the compass branches.
The hind catches i, i, are composed of jacquarded hooks, the pivots of which
are supported by settings n, sealed in leads mounted on the back of the cross
tie g'. On the separation of the carriages, the hooks which have not been
raised by the jacquard apparatus fall into the ears of the odd carriages under
the action of tho rocking lever k, k, by which they are freed at this moment.
The hooks i raised by tho jacquard mechanism are maintained in position by
the holding bar 1, and are thus prevented from rising when carrying forward
the carriages in the upward movement of the compass arrangement. As soon
as the carriages enter the bolts this holding bar falls out of gear, and the
rocking lever k, k, comes into play. At this moment the jacquard apparatus
mounted behind the loon begins to raise the hooks, which are intended in the
succeeding motion to leave the carriages on the central bar. The action of the
catch bar h and hooks i, i', is simultaneous. The push pieces c, c, are thin
bars of steel suspended by screw heads under the cross tics g, g'. The compass
branches continuing to open up after the escape of the carriages from the
catch bar and hooks h, i, throw these push pieces into gear by causing them
to slide forward under the action of the fixed stops 0, 0, so as to disengage the
carriages from the dividers. In the downward movement of the compass
branches the carriages are again thrown into line in the centre of the combs.

page_text: The push pieces when in gear are maintained by the tumblers j, j, set in
mortices by the extremities p, p. The carriages being thrown into line, the
opposite extremities j, j, of the tumblers come in contact with the check piece
q, q, by which they are thrown out of gear, and the push pieces are withdrawn
by a spring, leaving free play to the dividers. The remaining components of
the complete loom, as also the general, details of construction and arrange-
ment of the auxiliary jacquard apparatus, are for the most part reproduced
with but slight modifications from existing machinery, and require no special
description. In order to render more comprehensible the working of the
combination above described, I will here divide the play of the compasses into
four motions, which are executed at each complete revolution of their driving
shaft.
1st motion. Dead beat of the compasses when completely closed, as seen
in Figure 2.
2d motion. Upward or opening stroke.
3d motion. Dead beat of the compasses when completely open, as seen in
Figure 1.
4th motion. Downward or closing stroke.
1st motion. 1stly, during the first half of the dead beat of the compasses
when completely closed, the fan reeds A, B, C, having passed between the
threads complete their evolution while their points follow the dotted lines r, s, t,
(Fig. 2), to carry up the twists, and finally occupy the position indicated by
A, B. 2dly, the points M, M, come alternately into play at each second
motion, and seizing the twists carried up by the reeds maintain them in posi-
tion for the formation of the fabric at a short distance below the working
bar L. The twists being thus seized by one of the points M, M, the fan reeds
commence to withdraw from the threads. 3dly, the check points U ascend
and take up position in front of the openings of the combs containing the odd
carriages. 4thly, the points of the catches h, i, pass through the corresponding
ear pieces of the carriages, and at the same moment, or immediately there-
after, the holding bar takes up position between the hind extremities i, i¹,
when a given number of these catches are raised by the action of the
jacquard.
ed motion. During the up stroke of the compasses the fan reeds continue
their retreat, so as to leave the space clear, always in following the same line
as that by which they had come forward. The other movements are executed
in the following order :-Istly, the front catch bar h carries the even carriages
into the front bolts, and at the same time the jacquarded hooks i, i¹, lead the odd
.carriages into the hind bolts, with the exception of those left in the combs by

page_text: the books raised in the play of their jacquard (Fig. 1.) 2dly, as soon as the
carriages have freed the combs the stop points U descend, as seen in the same
Figure. 3dly, the carriages being completely passed into the bolts the stop
bars d, d, rise to the position shewn in the same Figure. 4thly, at this point
the catch bars h, i, let free the carriages, and the holding bar 7 rises slightly, so
as to allow their turn-over motion. 5thly, the carriages being in the bolts,
and the compasses still continuing to open, the push pieces c, c', come into play
to disengage the ears from between the dividers b, b. This disengagement
being effected, the extremities W of the bolts are directed either to the right
or left, or again remain stationary, according to the play of the jacquard cor-
responding with the guide bars. At this moment the push pieces c, c³,
complete their range, and are retained by the tumblers j, p, j', p'.
3d motion. During the first half of the dead beat of the compasses, when
completely open, the fan reeds complete their retreat (Figure 1), to commence
their re-entry towards the centre of the loom during the second half. The
other movements are executed in the following order :-1stly, the bar of the
combs T, T, passes to right or left, according to the design, and the order of
the jacquarded droppers. 2dly, the preceding movement being completed, the
stop bars d, d, descend to the position shewn in Fig. 2, so as to permit of the
carriages penetrating into the combs under the action of the push pieces c, c,
(Fig. 1.)
4th motion. During the downward movement of the compasses tho fan
reeds continue their progress towards the interior of the loom, as seen by the
dotted lines r, s, t. The other movements are executed in the following order:
-1stly, the carriages descend into the openings of the combs, which are in com-
munication with the extremity W of the bolts. 2dly, the carriages having been
carried into the combs the bolts become stationary. 3dly, the push pieces c, c³,
having thrown the carriages into line in the centro of the combs withdraw
immediately. 4thly, the carriages being brought into line the extremity A, B,
of the fan reeds occupy a position slightly above thein at the issue of the threads,
and between the latter. The reeds then commence to carry up the twists,
while penetrating further and further between the threads. 5thly, the carriages
being brought into line are separated into odds and evens by the dividers b, b,
(Figure 2.)
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into effect, I would have it understood that I lay no claim to any
of the constituents of the above mechanism taken separately, as these, I repeat,
are for the most part generally known and employed in different branches of
manufacture; but what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patout is,

page_text: the application in manner substantially as herein specified and represented in
the annexed Drawings, to the production of Valenciennes, Chantilly, Brussels,
and other similar laces of the different known mechanical elements above
enumerated, so combined and arranged as to form in their movement the
tressed or twisted texture peculiar to hand-made fabrics of that class.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.