An Improved Method of and Device for Pressing or Ironing Hat-brims.
Year: 1888

page_text: An Improved Method of and Device for Pressing or Ironing
Hat-brims.
I, JOHN ROBINSON KELSEY, of 1 Worship Street, Finsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Hatter do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the pressing or "ironing down" of the curls of hat-brims
after the shaping thereof; and comprises an improved method of and device for
effecting this operation.
Heretofore such pressing or "ironing down" has been effected either by hand by
passing an ordinary hatters' iron over the surface of the curl, or by pressure in a
machine with the application of heat. The former is a comparatively tedious operation;
the latter is objectionable by reason of the liability to injury of the hat-brim by over-
heating.
By my invention I provide for very effectually and expeditiously pressing or "ironing
down" the curls of hat-brims without liability to overheating of the same.
For this purpose I provide pieces of metal which are curved so that they correspond
in shape with the surface of the curl to be pressed or with a portion thereof. I heat
these pieces by means of gas or otherwise and place them upon the surface of the curl
and then apply the requisite pressure thereto by hand or by suitable mechanism.
The device which I prefer to use for this purpose is constructed as follows, that is to
say-It is made in two parts each of which consists of a bar of iron or other suitable
metal which is bent or curved so that it is of semi-elliptical shape, that is to say, each
bar corresponds in shape with one half of the hat-brim; these bars are provided with
handles to facilitate the manipulation thereof, and one of the said bars is provided at
ts extremities with pins or studs which fit into holes or sockets in the extremities of
he other bar.
In using the said device two operators stand one on each side of the shaping machine,
nd taking the two parts of the device by the handles after the bars have been suffi-
iently heated, they slide the said parts in opposite directions over the curl of the hat-
rim until the said pins or studs enter the said holes or sockets; they then exert the

page_text: requisite pressure to the curl by means of the said device, and then separate the two
parts and place them in or upon the heating apparatus, which should be kept at such
a temperature as to prevent overheating of the material of the hat-brins.
Other means may, if desired, be provided for uniting the two parts of the device
when brought together as above described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An improved Method of and Device for Pressing or Ironing
Hat-brims.
I, JOHN ROBINSON KELSEY of 1 Worship Street, Finsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Hatter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention relates to the pressing or "ironing down" of the curls of hat brims
after the shaping thereof; and comprises an improved method of and device for
effecting this operation.
Heretofore such pressing or "ironing down" has been effected either by hand by
passing an ordinary hatters' iron over the surface of the curl, or by pressure in a
machine with the application of heat. The former is a comparatively tedious opera-
tion; the latter is objectionable by reason of the liability to injury of the hat-brim by
overheating.
By my invention I provide for very effectually and expeditiously pressing or "ironing
down" the curls of hat brims without liability to overheating of the same.
For this purpose I provide pieces or bars of metal which are curved so that they
correspond with the curvature of the curl to be pressed or with a portion thereof. I
heat these pieces by means of gas or otherwise, and place them upon the surface of the
curl and then apply the requisite pressure thereto by hand or by suitable mechanism.
The device which I prefer to use for this purpose is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing in which
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a side elevation showing my improved device in position upon the curl of
a hat brim.
1

page_text: Like letters indicate corresponding parts in these two figures.
A is a hat, B is the brim thereof, Bi is the curl of the said brim.
a, a are two pieces or bars of iron or other suitable metal, each of which is bent or
curved so that it is of semi-elliptical shape, and corresponds with one half of the curl
of the hat brim; the said pieces or bars a are provided with handles to facilitate the
manipulation thereof.
My improved device is more especially designed for heating the curl of a hat-brim
while the hat is in the shaping machine and after the clamps have been drawn once
over the curl to partially shape the same. The said clamps are then drawn over the
curl again to finish the shaping thereof.
It is usually found that in shaping the curl it is necessary to heat the same after it
has been operated upon once by the clamps, and then to subject it again to the action
of the clamps. This heating of the curl has usually been effected by means of an
ordinary iron. It is however very difficult to heat the curl uniformly throughout by
means of an ordinary iron.
In using my improved device, two operators stand one on each side of the shaping
machine, and taking the two parts of the device by the handles b, after the pieces or
bars a have been sufficiently heated, they slide the said parts in opposite directions
over the curl B' of the hat-brim until the extremities of the said bars a meet as above
described.
The ends of the two pieces or bars a meet beneath the delivery rods of the machine
and are thereby held down. The operators then exert the requisite pressure upon the
curl B¹ by means of the said device, and then separate the two parts and place them
in or upon the heating apparatus, which should be kept at such a temperature as to
prevent overheating of the material of the hat-brims.
For heating the said pieces or bars a, I may employ gas or other suitable medium.
I sometimes provide the extremities of one of the said pieces or bars with pins or
studs, adapted to fit into holes or sockets provided for that purpose in the extremities
of the other piece or bar, when the said pieces or bars are brought in contact.
Other means may if desired, be provided for uniting the two parts of the device
when brought together as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I claim
First. The improved method of pressing or "ironing down" the curl of a hat-brim
by heating pieces or bars of metal curved to correspond with the said curl, placing the
said pieces thereon and applying the requisite pressure by hand or by suitable
mechanism, substantially as set forth.
Second. A device for pressing or "ironing down" the curls of hat-brims comprising
pieces or bars suitably curved (with or without pins or studs and holes or sockets) and
provided with handles substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 16th day of November 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.