AN IMPROVED MATERIAL FOR AND AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT TIPS, WHICH MATERIAL IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT AND OTHER BOXES OR CASES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rowland Crook, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Hat Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MATERIAL FOR AND AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT TIPS,
WHICH MATERIAL IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT AND OTHER
BOXES OR CASES."
Sealed the 18th August 1857, and dated the 20th February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Rowland Crook at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th February 1857.
I, JOHN ROWLAND CROOK, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED MATERIAL FOR AND AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
HAT TIPS, WHICH MATERIAL IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT AND
OTHER BOXES OR CASES," to be as follows:-
Hat tips are those articles now made in leather and fitted to the top of the
hats of the army, the police, and other bodies exposed to the weather. Now,
my Invention consists in forming tips, and hat and other boxes, of one, two, or
more thicknesses of cotton or other textile fabric, stiffened by shellac or other
suitable stiffening agents, and then japanned. The fabric is strained and fitted
over metal or wooden forms of the shape and size of the top of the hat
on which the finished tip is to be fitted, or of the shape and size of the
intended hat or other box. By these means a waterproof tip, as efficient as a

page_text: leather tip, and more neat in appearance, is produced at a very much reduced
price. The hat or other boxes formed as aforesaid are very durable, and far
cheaper than those made of leather.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Rowland Crook in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ROWLAND CROOK, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Hat Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Rowland Crook, Her special licence that I, the said John Rowland
Crook, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Rowland Crook, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
MATERIAL FOR AND AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT TIPS, WHICH
MATERIAL IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT AND OTHER BOXES OR
CASES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Rowland
Crook, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describo 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 John Rowland Crook, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof:-
Hat tips are those articles now made in leather and fitted to the top of the
hats of the army, the police, and other bodies exposed to the weather. Now
my Invention consists in forming tips, and hat and other boxes, of one, two, or
:

page_text: more thicknesses of cotton or other textile fabric, stiffened by shellac, or other
suitable stiffening agents, and then japanned, painted, coloured, or varnished.
The fabric is strained and fitted over metal or wooden forms of the shape and
size of the top of the hat on which the finished tip is to be fitted, or of the
shape and size of the intended hat or other case. By these means a water-
proof tip, as efficient as a leather tip, lighter, and more neat in appearance, is
produced at a very much reduced price. The hat or other cases formed as
aforesaid are very durable and far cheaper than those made of leather. This
material can be employed for the manufacture of every description of box or
case where leather has hitherto been used, such as cases for knives, swords,
and other cutting instruments.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the improved material hercin-before described for the purposes
herein named.
And, second, the manufacture of hat tips and hat and other boxes or cases,
in the manner herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said I, the said John Rowland Crook, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JOHN ROWLAND CROOK. (2.5.)