IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR THE PREPARATION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS THEREFROM
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ferrar Fenton, of Mappleton, in the County of
Derby, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
CERTAIN VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR THE PREPARATION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS
THEREFROM."
Sealed the 21st August 1863, and dated the 19th May 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ferrar Fenton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
May 1868.
I, FERRAR FENTON, of Mappleton, in the County of Derby, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREAT-
MENT OF CERTAIN VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR THE PREPARATION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS
THEREFROM," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the preparing and softening of the fibres of
talli ramee, urtica tenacissima, China grass, Assam grass, Japan hemp
and flax, Shanghai hemp, and Italian hemp with a view to the removal
therefrom of the gummy and resinous matter, and to effect the perfect separa-
tion of the fasciculæ of fibres, whereby they are rendered applicable to the
manufacture of fine textile fabrics, being spun either alone as long or short
fibres, or mixed with wool or cotton.
In carrying out this Invention the fibres to be treated are first boiled in a
solution of any carbonate of potash or of soda, in the proportion of about
80 pounds of carbonate to the ton of raw fabric. In treating Japan fax
or Italian hemp, however, two-thirds of the above quantity of carbonate

page_text: to the ton of fibre will be found sufficient. These proportions are to be
adopted when treating the fibres in their natural long condition, in which
case, in order to prevent them from entangling, they may be either tied
in bundles or skeins after laying them straight, or they may be disposed
perfectly straight in baskets closed with a lid or cover to keep the fibres
in order, and then the baskets are immersed in the boiling solution. When
it is desired to prepare those fibres with a view to their being subsequently
mixed with wool or cotton or spun alone in a short state, it is preferred to cut
the long raw fibres to the desired length by any of the well known means
for that purpose, and then to boil the short fibres in one or other of the
solutions herein-before mentioned, but the proportion of carbonate may be
considerably reduced, as the short fibres are acted upon much quicker than
the long ones. In some cases the fibres may be cut after boiling, and then
"devilled." The raw fibres are in all cases boiled until each fascicula is
entirely disengaged from the outer skin and coat of gummy or resinous matter
and silicate, and will separate readily on being rubbed between the fingers,
which will generally be attained after boiling from 6 to 8 hours. The solu-
tion is then drawn off, and a stream of hot water is allowed to run on to the
fibres, in order to remove any adhering refuse matter, after which the fibres are
placed in a powerful fulling mill or beating "dolly," and well beaten, during
which operation a jet of water is caused to play over them. This operation is
continued until the fine fibres are thoroughly separated one from another, after
which they may be submitted to the well known bleaching process. When
bleaching those fibres, however, which are intended to be mixed with wool
or cotton, I avoid the use of soap as much as possible in washing away the
chlorine, preferring pure water alone for that purpose. The fibres are then
dried and the short ones afterwards "devilled," whilst the long ones are
passed through any suitable softening and breaking machine (I prefer to
use Marshall's flax softener or breaker), when they are ready to be carded or
packed for spinning. The fulling mill or "dolly" which I prefer to use in
beating the fibres is that employed for fulling hosiery and cloth.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Ferrar Fenton, Her special license that I, the said Ferrar Fenton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ferrar
Fenton, my executors, administrators, or 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 TREATMENT OF CERTAIN VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR THE PREPARATION OF
TEXTILE MATERIALS THEREFROM," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Ferrar Fenton, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one
of them, 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 Ferrar Fenton, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what inanner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the preparing and softening of the fibres of
tallee ramee, urtica tenacissima, China grass, Assam grass, Japan hemp
and flax, Shanghai hemp, and Italian hemp with a view to the removal
therefrom of the gummy and resinous matter, and to effect the perfect
separation of the fascicula of fibres, whereby they are rendered applicable to
the manufacture of fine textile fabrics, being spun either alone as long or
short fibres, or mixed with wool or cotton.
In carrying out my said Invention the fibres to be treated are first boiled
in a solution of any carbonate of potash or of soda in the proportion of about
eighty pounds of carbonate to the ton of raw fibre. In treating Japan flax
or Italian hemp, however, two-thirds of the above quantity of carbonate to the
ton of fibre will be found sufficient. These proportions are to be adopted when
treating the fibres in their natural long condition, in which case, in order to
prevent them from entangling, they may be either tied in bundles or skins
after laying them straight, or they may be disposed perfectly straight in baskets

page_text: closed with a lid or cover to keep the fibres in order, and then the baskets are
immersed in the boiling solution. Or the following process for softening the
fibres before bleaching may be employed:-I take a mixture of soda ash
and quick (caustic) lime in about the following proportions, namely, nine
pounds avoirdupois of soda ash, and eighteen pounds of quicklime, and
dissolve them in the water I use for boiling the fibre, say, about the above
quantity to two hundred gallons of water, or instead of the soda ash I take
about five pounds' weight of carbonate of potassa in conjunction with the
above-named quantity of quicklime to make my softening wash, using one
or the other according to the condition of the raw fibre, which can only be
ascertained by inspection and practical judgment as to which may be pre-
ferable; the proportions of the wash, however, must be varied frequently to
meet the state of the fibre. When it is desired to prepare these fibres with
a view to their being subsequently mixed with wool or cotton or spun alone in
a short state, it is preferred to cut the long raw fibres to the desired length by
any of the well-known means for that purpose, and then to boil the short fibres
in one or other of the solutions herein-before mentioned, but the proportion of
carbonate may be considerably reduced, as the short fibres are acted upon
much quicker than the long ones. In some cases the fibres may be cut after
boiling and then "devilled." The raw fibres are in all cases boiled until each
fascicula is entirely disengaged from the outer skin and coat of gummy and
resinous matter and silicate, and will separate readily on being rubbed
between the fingers, which will generally be attained after boiling from
six to eight hours. The solution is then drawn off, and a stream of hot
water allowed to run on to the fibres, in order to remove any adhering
refuse matter, after which the fibres are placed in a powerful fulling mill or
beating "dolly" and well beaten, during which operation a jet of water is
caused to play over them. This operation is continued until the fine fibres
are thoroughly separated one to another, after which they may be submitted
to the well-known bleaching process. To give the fibre after bleaching a
silky finish, I carefully pass it through a bath of dilute spirit of salt (muriatic
acid) of about five degrees of strength, immediately after which I plungo it
into a bath of cold water, and finally destroy the acid by means of soap.
When bleaching those fibres, however, which are intended to be mixed with
wool or cotton, 1 avoid the use of soap as much as possible in washing away
the chlorine, preferring pure water alone for that purpose. The fibres are then
dried and the short ones afterwards "devilled," whilst the long ones are
passed through any suitable softening and breaking machine (I prefer to use
Marshall's flax softener or breaker), when they are ready to be carded or

page_text: packed for spinning. After bleaching 1 prepare the fibre of China grass,
rhea, and tallec rameo for combing by maceration in a scalding bath
of soap and carbonate of soda for a space varying from twelve to twenty-four
hours, so as to thoroughly saturate it, when after drying it is ready for delivery
to the comber. Should it be desirable to render the fibre uninflammable for
the manufacture of ladies' clothing, I immerse it in a hot or cold bath of
tungstate of soda of moderate strength, and then dry it in a stove room
without washing out the tungstate liquor, but I do not claim this mode of
treatment. The fulling mill or "dolly" which I prefer to use in beating the
fibres is that employed in fulling hosiery and cloth.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
The preparing and softening of the fibres of tallee ramee, urtica tena-
cissima, China grass, Assam grass, Japan hemp and flax, Shanghai hemp, and
Italian hemp in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ferrar Fenton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three.
FERRAR FENTON. (L.s.)