AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR WINDING OR FOLDING LACE, RIBBONS, AND OTHER SIMILAR GOODS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clayton Mewburn, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR WINDING OR FOLDING LACE, RIBBONS, AND OTHER
SIMILAR GOODS." A communication from abroad by the Firm of Alamagny
Damn Manufacturers
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clayton Mewburn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th March 1879.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer. "AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR WINDING OR
FOLDING LACE, RIBBONS, AND OTHER SIMILAR GOODS." [A communication from
abroad by the Firm of Alamagny and Oriol, of Paris, France, Manufacturers.]
The method generally adopted of making up, winding, or folding lace, ribbons,
and other similar goods for the market is defective in various respects. It is
inconvenient; the winding of the goods on simple cards causes a great waste of
time both to the retail dealer and to the user of the goods. On the other hand,
the rewinding or refolding of the goods in a shop, for example, is done with irregu-
larity and difficulty; they become creased and quickly lose their freshness, and
consequently depreciate in value.
With the winding or folding device which forms the subject of this Invention
the above drawbacks are overcome by making a sort of rotary winder in the form
of a board upon which the lace or other goods are wound, which is very easily
manipulated and allows of the goods being wound or unwound flat, and in a very
regular manner. It possesses therefore all the advantages of a real winder or reel,
and effects considerable economy in time and money.
The improved device is composed of the board hereinbefore referred to upon
which the lace or other goods are to be wound. This board has a hole or channel
formed at the middle of its length and passing through it for its whole width; and
in order that the said channel may not be of inconvenient length the board may be

page_text: hollowed out at the middle; this channel is for the purpose of receiving a metal
spindle which serves as a central pivot to the board when it is required to wind
the lace or goods thereon. The ends of the spindle or pivot after it has been
passed through the board are placed in two fixed or movable supports, and then by
causing the board to rotate in one direction or the other on the pivot the lace
becomes wound or unwound as required. Or the spindle may he held in one hand
while the lace is wound or unwound with the other hand. Or where supports for
the pivot are employed, as above mentioned, a cord passed through the channel of
the board and stretched between the supports may act as the spindle or pivot.
The spindle when not in use may be slipped under the folds or spirals of the lace.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Clayton Mewburn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st September 1879.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer. "AN IMPROVED DEVICE FOR WINDING OR
FOLDING LACE, RIBBONS, AND OTHER SIMILAR GOODS." (A communication from
abroad by the Firm of Alamagny and Oriol, of Paris, France, Manufacturers.)
The method generally adopted of making up, winding, or folding lace, ribbons,
and other similar goods for the market is defective in various respects. It is
inconvenient; the winding of the goods on simple cards causes a great waste of
time, both to the retail dealer and to the user of the goods. On the other hand,
the rewinding or refolding of the goods in a shop, for example, is done with irregu-
larity and difficulty; they become creased and quickly lose their freshness, and
consequently depreciate in value.
With the winding or folding device which forms the subject of this Invention
the above drawbacks are overcome by making a sort of rotary winder in the form
of a board upon which the lace or other goods are wound, which is very easily
manipulated and allows of the goods being wound or unwound flat and in a very
regular manner. It possesses therefore all the advantages of a real winder or reel
and effects considerable economy in time and money.
The annexed Drawings illustrate the Invention. Figures 1 and 2 are front and
side views of a winding board with a fabric wound thereon and ready for the
market; Figure 3 shows the board in action for the retail of the fabric; Figures 4
to 8 are detail views of various forms of spindles or pivots which may be fitted to
the board.
The improved device is composed of the board p of wood or even of cardboard
upon which the lace or other goods g are wound, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. This
board has a hole or channel c formed at the middle of its length and passing
through it for its whole width; and in order that the said channel may not be of
inconvenient length the board may be hollowed out at the middle; this channel is
for the purpose of receiving a metal or other spindle a which serves as a central
pivot to the board when it is required to wind the lace or goods thereon. This
spindle when not in use may be slipped under the spirals or folds of the lace. For
using or retailing the lace the spindle a is passed into the channel c, and by holding
it with one hand, as seen in Figure 3, the lace is wound upon or unwound from the
board with the other hand with the greatest ease. In practice the ends of the
spindle or pivot after it has been passed through the board may be placed in two
fixed or movable supports, and then by causing the board to rotate in one direction
or the other on the pivot the lace becomes wound or unwound as required.
where supports for the pivot are employed a cord passed through the channel of
the board and stretched between the supports may act as the spindle or pivot.
Or
Figures 5 to 8 show other forms of spindles or pivots which may be fitted to the
board. These spindles or pivots, which may be of iron, steel, copper, &c., and are
shown in action in Figure 4, are composed of a rod a' with a flat head 6 having a
mortise m cut in it so as to form a fork. The ends c¹, c¹, of the fork are slightly
bell-mouthed to facilitate the introduction of the board, and they go under the
material to be wound, nipping the board tightly. Two spindles can be placed
opposite each other, as seen in Figure 4, and they may be made to turn or rest in
a fixed support. Or instead of making the parts c¹, c¹, bell-mouthed they may be
flat, and in this case the edge of the board may be bevilled so that the board may
be easily inserted into the fork m. Figures 7 and 8 show a cheaper form of spindle.
It is composed of a rod d having two turns or twists at one end; the board is
nipped between the two spirals 8, 8', thus formed. These spirals may be round,

page_text: oblong, or otherwise, and be thinned at the front to facilitate their insertion under
the lace or other material.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the improved device arranged
and acting substantially as herein before described, and shown in the annexed
Drawings, for winding or folding lace, ribbons, and other similar goods.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.
J. C. MEWBURN. (L.S.)