IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF LACE
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Brailsford and Joseph Gadsby, both of the
Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Draughtsmen, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF LACE
Sealed the 13th March 1868, and dated the 17th September 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Brailsford and
Joseph Gadsby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 17th September 1867.
We, WILLIAM BRAILSFORD and JOSEPH GADSBY, both of the Town and
County of the Town of Nottingham, Draughtsmen, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR
PRODUCTION OF LACE MADE ON BOBBIN NET OR TWIST LACE MACHINES," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention consists in producing a peculiar combination of what are
called "meshes" and weavings, or "finings," especially with a view of

page_text: obtaining better imitations of what are known as "Chantilly" laces, which
laces are at present best produced on the pillow by hand.
Now according to our Invention we proceed as follows:-The ground of
each breadth of lace is composed of "meshes," the pillars of which are com-
posed of two bobbin threads and two warp threads which are worked together.
The crossings of the ground we make with four warp threads which cross
each other in pairs of threads, and which are placed and worked in such
manner as to imitate the crossings in the pillow lace; the warp threads are
then traversed in pairs of threads to form the ground until they are required
to make the weavings or finings, when they become separated, and will thus
form a fine gauge weaving or fining, and also a coarse gauge traversed warp
ground firmer and of better quality than the traverse warp ground heretofore
made, which is produced of the pillars composed of one bobbin thread and
one warp thread, while the crossings are composed of two warp threads only.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Brailsford and Joseph Gadsby in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
BRAILSFORD and JOSEPH GADSBY, both of the Town and County of the Town
of Nottingham, Draughtsmen, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said William Brailsford and Joseph Gadsby, Her special licence that
we, the said William Brailsford and Joseph Gadsby, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns,, or such others as we, the said William Brailsford and
Joseph Gadsby, our executors, administrators, and 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
MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION. OF LACE MADE ON BOBBIN NET OR TWIST LACE
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said William

page_text: Brailsford and Joseph Gadsby, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or their, or one of our or their hands and seals,
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 we, the said William Brailsford and Joseph
Gadsby, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our Invention consists in producing a peculiar combination of what are
called "meshes" and weavings, or finings, with a view of obtaining better
imitations of what are known as "Chantilly" laces, which laces are at present
best produced on the pillow by hand.
To effect this object the ground of each breadth of lace is composed of
meshes, the pillars of which are composed of two bobbin threads and two
warp threads which are worked together. The crossings of the ground we
make with four warp threads, which cross each other in pairs of threads, and
which are placed and worked in such manner as to imitate the crossings in
the pillow lace; the warp threads are then traversed in pairs of threads to
form the ground until they are required to make the weavings or finings,
when they become separated, and will thus form a finer gauge weaving or
fining, and also a coarse gauge traversed warp ground firmer and of better
quality than the traverse warp ground heretofore made, which is produced with
pillars composed of one bobbin thread and one warp thread, while the crossings
are composed of two warp threads only.
We do not confine ourselves to the details set forth, for we may vary or
modify them as occasion may require so long as we restrict ourselves to the
nature of the Invention. We may not in all instances employ two bobbin
threads to each pillar, or four warp threads to each crossing; but we may
produce a graduated or varied mesh by alternating the number of bobbin
threads in the pillar. In such cases we do not traverse the warp threads
constantly in pairs or the same distances.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, we declare that we claim, the arrange-
ment of the warp threads and bobbin threads in such manner as to produce
an open ground or mesh in conjunction with fine weavings, and, the orna-
mentation thereof by the use of embroidering threads, so as to present a

page_text: resemblance to the pillow or hand-made lace known as Chantilly" lace,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Brailsford and Joseph Gadsby,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
WILLIAM BRAILSFORD. (L.S.)
JOSEPH GADSBY.
(L.S.)