AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CURLING AND CUTTING HAT BRIMS BEFORE SETTING
Year: 1885

page_text: We, HENRY HERBERT TURNER and ALBERT TURNER both of Whitehouse Iron
Works Denton, in the County of Lancaster, Hatter's Machinists, do hereby declare
the nature of said. Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CURLING AND
CUTTING HAT BRIMS BEFORE SETTING" to be as follows:--
It consists of a bedplate, upon which slide in suitable slides, two metal bearers,'
which are drawn together or forced apart by means of a shaft carrying a double
screw with reversed threads.
Upon each of these metal bearers, is secured by suitable thumb screws, a metal
plate or band of semi elliptical form. The inside edges of these plates are formed
to the exact shape which is required for the inside edge of the hat brim after it is
curled, and can be forced by means of the screw beforementioned over the edges of
an arched or convex oval plate which is fixed between them, (upon springs, india-
rubber, or other elastic material) upon the bedplate. In the centre of this oval
plate is fixed a hat block of suitable shape and form, and at the back and front of
the bedplate are two thin plates, (over which the ends of the side plates slide) fixed
in a suitable manner).
Attached to the back of the bedplate are two suitable levers carrying suspended
between them a weight of oval shape made in the form of a thick oval band of
metal, with a central opening, this can be raised and lowered as desired.
In use, a hat is warmed and placed upon the block, a metal brim plate is now:
placed upon the brim and the oval weight lowered upon it. The two side plates are
now forced by the screw over the middle plate, forcing the back and front plates.
inwards and curling the brim in the operation.
While the curl of the brim is held tightly between the plates, we pass a knife
(made to slide upon the inside edge of the plates) round the hat, which cuts the
brim curl to its exact shape.

page_text: An Improved Apparatus for Curling and Cutting Hat Brims
before Setting.
We, HENRY HERBERT TURNER and ALBERT TURNER both of Denton, in the
County of Lancaster Hatter's, Machinists, 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 :—
It consists first, of a bedplate, upon which slide in suitable grooves, two metal
bearers, which can be drawn together or forced apart by means of a shaft carrying
a double screw with reversed threads, and revolving in suitable bearings fixed to
the bedplate, or other convenient part.
Upon each of these metal bearers is secured by suitable thumbscrews, or other
suitable fastenings, a metal plate or band, of semi-elliptical form. The inside edges
of these plates, are formed to the exact-shape which is required, for the inside edge
of the hat brim after it is curled, and can be forced by means of the screw before-
mentioned, over the edges of an arched, or convex, oval plate which is fixed
between them (upon springs, indiarubber, or other elastic material) upon the
bedplate.
In the centre of this oval plate, is fixed, (by thumb screws, or any other suitable
temporary means) a moveable hat block or shape, (which may be either a brim
block or any other shape) of suitable size and form; and fixed in a suitable
manner to the back & front of the bedplate are two thin plates over which the
ends of the side plates slide, or other suitable means for completing the junction of
the ends of the plates.
Pivoted to the back of the bedplate are two suitable levers carrying suspended
between them, a weight of oval shape made in the form of a thick oval band,
having a central opening through which the body of the hat can pass. This weight
can be raised or lowered as desired.
In use, a hat is warmed and placed on the block, a metal brim plate, of the size
the brim is required to be, is placed upon it, and the oval weight is lowered upon
the brim plate.
The two side plates are now forced by the screw over the middle plate, forcing
the back and front plates inward and curling the brim in the operation.
While the curl of the brim is held tightly between the plates a knife made to
slide upon the inside edge of the plates is passed round the hat, cutting the brim
to its exact shape.
In order that the foregoing may be better understood we send herewith a Sheet
of Drawings in which:-
Fig. 1 is a plan and Fig. 2 a side view of the apparatus.
In both Figs. a indicates the bedplate, b the slides, in which slide the metal
bearers c c, worked by the double screw shaft d d, ec indicate the metal plates,
f the inside edge formed to the exact shape of the required brim, g the arched
centre oval plate, h the hat block, i the end plates the lever or levers carrying
hollow weight 1, the dotted lines m show its position when lowered.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1st The apparatus, substantially as described and shown hereinbefore, and in the
accompanying drawing, for the purpose set forth.
2nd An arched, or convex oval centre plate, substantially as described and shown
herein before and in the accompanying drawing, for the purpose set forth.
3rd Two semi elliptical plates, with shaped inside edges, to act as combined
guides and curlers, substantially as described and shown hereinbefore and in the
accompanying drawing for the purpose set forth.