IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PILED FABRICS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hodson, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF PILED FABRICS."
Sealed the 18th November 1870, and dated the 20th May 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hodson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th May 1870.
66
I, THOMAS HODSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF PILED FABRICS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of velvets, velveteens, and
other similar piled fabrics, and consists principally in using a weft com-
posed of "rheea" or China grass fibre, or a weft of any other suitable
grass fibre, to form the pile or surface of the fabric, in combination
with a warp of cotton, linen, or other ordinary material. The cotton,
linen, or other warp is woven with the "rheea" or other grass fibre
weft in a power loom in the usual manner of weaving velvet or similar

page_text: "
piled fabric, the weft being floated over the warp threads, and the pile
cut longitudinally or lengthwise of the piece, so that the
"rhcea" or
grass fibre forms the pile or surface, whilst the cotton or linen warp
forms the chief part of the back or ground of the fabric. The " rheca
or other grass fibre will take the same dyes as the cotton or linen back,
and with equal facility, and the pile or surface formed of this material
will be found to present a much more brilliant and silky appearance
than the ordinary velvets or velveteens made with a cotton or linen face
or pile.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Hodson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th November 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
HODSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Hodson, Her special license
that I, the said Thomas Hodson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Hodson, my executors,
administrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF PILED FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas Hodson, 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
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 Thomas Hodson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say) :—
This Invention relates to the manufacture of velvets, velveteens, and
other similar piled fabrics, and consists principally in using a weft com-
posed of "rheea" or China grass fibre or a weft of any other suitable
grass fibre to form the pile or surface of the fabric, in combination with
a warp of cotton, linen, or other ordinary material. The cotton, linen,
or other warp is woven with the "rheca" or other grass fibre weft in a
power loom in the usual manner of weaving velvet or similar piled fabric,
the weft being floated over the warp threads and the pile cut
longitudinally or lengthwise of the piece, so that the "rheca" or grass
fibre forms the pile or surface, whilst the cotton or linen warp forms the
chief part of the background of the fabric. The "rheea
or other grass
fibre will take the same dyes as the cotton or linen back, and with equal
facility, and the pile or surface formed of this material will be found to
present a much more brilliant and silky appearance than the ordinary
velvets or velveteens made with a cotton or linen face or pile.
"
"
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
Improvements in the Manufacture of Piled Fabrics," together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention, the use or employment of a weft composed of "rheea" or
China grass fibre in combination with a warp of cotton, linen, or other
ordinary material for the manufacture of velvets, velveteens, and plushes
as herein-before more particularly described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hodson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witnessed by
JOHN HUGHES,
Clerk to George Davies, C.E.,
Office for Patents,
St. Ann's Sq.,
Manchester.
THOMAS HODSON. (L.S.)