Improved Means for Smoothing and Polishing the Surface of Silk Hats or other Silk Plush.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1893
COMILLIE OFECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Smoothing and Polishing the Surface of Silk
Hats or other Silk Plush.
I RAYMOND THOMAS EDDY of 28 Faulkner Street Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, Merchant, 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:-
The principal object of this invention is to provide a ready means for giving a
smooth and brilliant polish to the surface of silk hats but the same means are equally
applicable for polishing hat plush or similar kinds of silk plush in the piece or
otherwise.
The invention consists in the use for this purpose of a handkerchief or piece of
woven "pongee" silk, or a pad covered with such woven material such handkerchief,
or piece or pad of silk being impregnated with concentrated essence of petroleum
prepared and treated in the following manner.
1 take a suitable quantity of pure concentrated essence of petroleum and I heat it
in a suitable vessel until its temperature is raised to boiling point I then add to the
boiling liquid alkanet root cochineal, indigo or other suitable dye in the proportion
of about half an ounce of alkanet root or dye to each pound of petroleum essence or
enough of the root or other dye stuff to match the color of the silk plush under
treatment, and I continue the boiling until the latter is reduced to about two thirds
of its original bulk and has assumed a turkey red or other desired color I then
remove the alkanet root, or other dye stuff, which is preferably contained in small
cotton bags for that purpose.
I then prepare a soft pad of any convenient size the surface whereof is covered
(by preference) with a piled or other woven fabric, or it may be of any other suitable
absorbent material, and I saturate this with the hot colored mixture prepared as
above described. Upon this pad so prepared and saturated I place a handkerchief
or piece of fabric woven from "pongce" silk and by passing a heated iron or roller
over the surface of the handkerchief or silk I cause the same to become impregnated
to a considerable degree with the preparation. The handkerchief is then calendered
in the usual way in order to equally distribute the mixture.
If this handkerchief or piece of woven pongee silk so impregnated be now
passed a few times over the surface of a silk hat it will be found to impart thereto a
brilliant lustre without giving it any oily or greasy appearance and without any
liability to promote the adhesion of dust thereto.
The handkerchief or piece of woven "pongee" silk thus prepared may be kept
and used for this purpose for a considerable time (some months) if it is not exposed
too much to the action of the atmosphere and when it loses its efficacy it can be
washed and impregnated over again as before.
In some cases instead of using simply a handkerchief or a piece of woven silk for
this purpose as above mentioned I prepare a small pad (of a convenient size to be
used by the hand) which I cover with woven "pongee" silk and I impregnate it with
the prepared petroleum essence and use it in the same manner.
It will of course be evident that a pad so made and prepared may be used for
finishing and polishing silk plush in the piece, or in other forms than that of a
Bilk hat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed' I declare that what I
claim is:-
The preparation and use for the nurpose of polishing the surface of silk hats or

page_text: other silk plush of a handkerchief or pad made of or covered with woven "pongee'
silk and saturated or impregnated with prepared petroleum substantially as herein-
before set forth and described.
Dated this 15th day of March 1893.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.