IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR CURLING AND SETTING SILK, FELT AND OTHER HAT BRIMS
Year: 1884

page_text: We HENRI POLAK of the Hyde Hat Company of Raglan Street Hyde in the
County of Chester Hat Manufacturers and HENRY LOWE of 79 Great Norbury
Street, Hyde in the same County Manager do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR CURLING AND SETTING
SILK, FELT AND OTHER HAT BRIMS and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following,
statement:-
These improvements relate to the curling and setting or shaping of the brim of
Silk Felt and other Hats at one operation and to the Machinery or Apparatus for
effecting the same.
Hitherto it has been the practice to first form the curl on the brim and then to
submit the Hats to further operations either by hand or by Machinery to complete
the necessary shaping and setting of the brim.
In order that this our said invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect we have hereunto affixed a sheet of drawings
illustrating the existing mode of putting the curl only in to the brim of Hats in
juxtaposition with illustrations of our improved apparatus for curling and shaping
or setting the brim of Hats at one and the same operation. The same letters of
reference are used to denote similar parts in all the views.
Diagram No 1 illustrates a sectional view of the Hydraulic Press and india-
rubber bag hitherto employed to form the curl on the brim of hats,-Diagram N° 2
illustrates the plan of the metallic brim plate-Diagram N° 3 is a side sectional view
of the base of the frame detached and Diagram N° 4 is a perspective view of the
usual Hydraulic Press employed and shewing the base in position therein, this
machine is only capable of putting the curl into the brim as hereinbefore
described.
Diagram N° 5 is a sectional view of our improved apparatus shewing all the
parts in position, Diagram N° 6 represents a plan and Diagram N° 7 a side exterior
view of our improved india-rubber bag-Diagram N° 8 is a transverse section and
Diagrams N° 9 and 10 are respectively a plan and side exterior view of our
improved arched form of base and brim plate and Diagram N° 11 is a side sectional
view of the corresponding setting plate and wooden brow secured to the inside of
the india-rubber bag shewn in Diagram N° 5 and hereinafter more particularly
described.

page_text: In carrying out our invention we take a metallic or wooden frame "a" (formed
in one or more pieces for convenience of removal) shaped to exactly correspond
with the curl and shape or set of the hat brim required and we mount this
frame "a" upon the arched base frame "b," If the frame "a"be formed in two
or more pieces then it is advisable to have a thin sheet of Brass"
al" (see
Diagram N° 5) to fit on the top of the frame 'to. cover the joints and thus not to
mark the felt or other brim To the inside of the india-rubber bags "c" which in
accordance with this invention is also suitably formed to correspond with the arch
of the hat brim required (as illustrated in Diagrams N°. 6 and 7) we affix a zinc
or other metallic plate d" or its equivalent in other suitable materials
corresponding in arch and set to the frame "a" and to the underside of this
plate "d" we attach a wooden.or metallic brow "e" with hollow "e" in the same
covered by preference with sheet iron, This brow is designed to enter the inside
of the hat and so to keep the band thereof in shape whilst the iron plate.
effectually prevents the bag under pressure pushing the zinc or other plate "d"
out of shape.
"
a
It will thus be apparent that when the hat is placed upon the frame "
" in the
Hydraulic Press and the hydraulic pressure exercised in the usual manner upon
the improved india-rubber bag "c" that the plate "d" comes down on to the hat
brim and presses the same on to the frame "a" and thus owing to the particular
configuration of the india-rubber bag such brim is caused to partake of the exact
form of the frame "
and the curling and setting of such brim are performed
a
27
simultaneously and at one operation.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. The improvement in curling or shaping and setting the brim of Silk, Felt
or other hats simultaneously and by one operation substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2nd. The improved construction of arched base frame supporting a frame shaped
to exactly correspond with the curl and shape or set of the hat brim required in
combination with the improved correspondingly shaped India-rubber bag, Plate,
and brow substantially as and for the purpose. hereinbefore described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
3rd. The improved india-rubber bag formed, to correspond in shape with the arch
of the hat brim required substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
4th The combination of india-rubber bag and, zinc or other metallic plate and
hollow brow substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawing..
Dated this twanto fifth day of Lahm 100%.