IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESSING, SMOOTHING AND FINISHING GARMENTS OR PARTS OF GARMENTS, ALSO FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN, OR WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS PROVISIONAL
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Beecroft and James Henry Beecroft both of Leed's
in the County of York for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR PRESSING, SMOOTHING AND FINISHING GARMENTS OR PARTS OF GARMENTS,
ALSO FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN, OR WOVEN OR FELTED FABRICS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Beecroft and James
Henry Beecroft at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
5th October 1883.
WALTER BEECROFT and JAMES HENRY BEECROFT both of Leeds in the County of
York "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESSING, SMOOTHING AND FINISHING
GARMENTS OR PARTS OF GARMENTS, ALSO FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN OR WOVEN
OR FELTED FABRICS
"
This invention consists in the arrangement or combination of apparatus or
mechanism by the use of which we facilitate the pressing smoothing and finishing
of garments or parts of garments it is also applicable for pressing woollen or other
woven or felted fabrics and by such invention better work is accomplished and a
great saving of time and labour is effected.
The smoothing iron is hung or supported on the end of a horizontal tube or rod
mounted so as to slide freely between two or more pairs of runners, such runners
being fitted in suitable bearings on a carriage attached to a vertical pillar. This
pillar may be raised and lowered or turned at pleasure in its bearings by a treadle
movement actuated by the attendant or by hydraulic or other suitable means,
thus enabling the attendant to bring down the iron on to the material for pressing
purposes, or to withdraw it therefrom, also by such arrangement the iron may be
moved to any part of the sleeve board.
The table or bench and framework may be of ordinary construction.

page_text: On the table is mounted a pillar to which one end of the sleeve board is hinged.
The sleeve board can therefore be swivelled round clear of the table at the will of
the attendant for the purpose of receiving the garment or other material. The
carriage supporting the sliding tube or rod is by preference balanced by suitable
weights or springs.
The products of combustion from the smoothing iron are carried off through
the horizontal sliding tube or when preferred we provide turret or dome ventilator.
The burner consists of a bar formed in one piece of brass or other suitable
metal and V shaped. Instead of drilled or circular perforations we form slits along
the surface cut right through to the hollow or interior of the box, through these
slits the gas passes for burning purposes. The,,burner is attached to an iron or
other suitable plate which also covers the opening in the smoothing iron such plate
or cover being retained closed by hinged catches.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Beecroft and James Henry Beecroft in the Patent Office
on the 5th April 1884.
WALTER BEECROFT and JAMES HENRY BEECROFT both of Leeds in the County of
York IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRESSING SMOOTHING AND FINISHING
GARMENTS OR PARTS OF GARMENTS ALSO FOR PRESSING WOOLLEN OR WOVEN OR
FELTED FABRICS
This invention consists in the arrangement or combination of apparatus or
mechanism by the use of which we facilitate the pressing smoothing and finishing
of garments or parts of garments, it is also applicable for pressing woollen or other
woven or felted fabrics and by such invention better work is accomplished and a
great saving of time and labour is effected.
The smoothing iron is hung or supported on the end of a horizontal tube or rod
mounted so as to slide freely between two or more pairs of runners such runners
being fitted in suitable bearings on a carriage attached to a vertical pillar. This
pillar may be raised and lowered or or turned at pleasure in its bearings by a
treadle movement actuated by the attendant or by hydraulic or other suitable
means thus enabling the attendant to bring down the iron on to the material for.
pressing purposes or to withdraw it therefrom, also by such arrangement the iron
may be moved to any part of the sleeve board.
The table or bench and framework may be of ordinary construction
On the table is mounted a pillar to which one end of the sleeve board is hinged.
The sleeve board can therefore be swivelled round clear of the table at the will of
the attendant for the purpose of receiving the garment or other material. The
carriage supporting the sliding tube or rod is by preference balanced by suitable
weights or springs.
The products of combustion from the smoothing iron are carried off through the
horizontal sliding tube or when preferred we provide a turret or dome ventilator
The burner consists of a bar formed in one piece of brass or other suitable metal
and V shaped. Instead of drilled or circular perforations we form slits along the
surface cut right through to the hollow or interior of the box, through these slits
the gas passes for burning purposes. The burner is attached to an iron or other
suitable plate which also covers the opening in the smoothing iron such plate or
cover being retained closed by hinged catches.
And in order that our invention may be more clearly understood reference is
given to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and marks thereon
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig 1 is a front elevation and Fig 2 is a side elevation of a machine for pressing
smoothing and finishing garments or parts of garments also for pressing woollen or
woven or felted fabrics constructed in accordance with our invention. Figs 3 to 7
shew details to be hereafter described.
runners c C.
The smoothing iron a is hung or supported on the end of the horizontal tube or
rod b which is mounted so as to slide freely between two or more pairs of
These runners are fitted in bearings in the carriage d attached to the
vertical pillar e. The pillar e passes through the bearings or sockets fƒ fixed to
the table g and is connected at its lower end to the treadle h by means of the
hinged lever i and connecting rod k in such a manner that the smoothing iron a
11
1

page_text: In addition to the above vertical movement the carriage d and tube b can be rotated
horizontally about the vertical pillar e, and the tube b slid backwards and forwards
between the runners c c. By this arrangement the smoothing iron a can be readily
moved to any part of the sleeve board m and brought down on to the material with
any desired degree of pressure.
Instead of the carriage d with the horizontal sliding tube b, the ordinary elbow
jointed arm n may be attached to the vertical pillar e as shewn in Fig 3
Instead of foot-pressure the vertical pillar e may be raised and lowered by
hydraulic or other suitable pressure, and in place of the counter weight / balance
springs may be employed. The table or bench n and framework o may be of
ordinary construction
On the table g is mounted the pillar in which is fitted the vertical pin q to
which one end of the sleeve board m is hinged. The sleeve board can therefore
be swivelled round clear of the table at the will of the attendant for the purpose
of receiving the garment or other article to be operated upon
The products of combustion from the smoothing iron a may be carried off
through the dome or turret ventilators w.shewn in Fig 7 or through the horizontal
sliding tube b. Fig 4 is a longitudinal section, Fig 5 an end elevation and Fig 6 a
cross section of the smoothing iron and its connection to the horizontal sliding
tube; in which a is the body of the smoothing iron and b the horizontal sliding
tube. These are connected together by the hollow cup or ball and socket joint r.
The hollow cup or ball r is made with a horizontal groove round its centre in
which are provided the holes s to allow the products of combustion to escape from
the interior of the smoothing iron a, through the hollow cup or ball into the
horizontal tube b. The burner t is attached to the end cover u of the smoothing
iron which can be readily detached by opening the hinged catches in the position
indicated by dotted lines in Fig 5.
Having now described the nature of Our said Invention and shewn by the aid
of drawings how the same may be carried into practice we would have it understood
that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details and configuration of the parts
we have described and shewn as the same may be varied or modified without
departing from the nature of our said Invention but what we claim is :—
1° The arrangement and application of pillar e and parts connected
therewith for raising and lowering the smoothing iron a also for transmitting
the required pressure to the same substantially as shewn in Figs 1, 2, and 3
2° The arrangement and application of hollow tube band parts for
connecting the smoothing iron a thereto for conveying away the products of
combustion from the smoothing iron.
3° The arrangement and application of the hinged catches v substantially
as herein set forth
4° The general arrangement and combination of the various parts forming
the machine for pressing smoothing and finishing garments and parts of
garments also for pressing woollen and other woven or felted fabrics
substantially as shewn in Figs 1 and 2
In Witness whereof we the said Walter Beecroft and James Henry Beecroft
have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty eighth day of March in
the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty four.