IMPROVE- MENTS IN DUNGING FABRICS PREPARATORY TO DYEING
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Knowles, of Tottington Mill, near Bury, in
the County of Lancaster, Calico Printer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DUNGING FABRICS PREPARATORY TO DYEING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Knowles at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
October 1857.
I, SAMUEL KNOWLES, of Tottington Mill, near Bury, in the County of
Lancaster, Calico Printer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DUNGING FABRICS PREPARATORY TO DYEING," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in a new mode of effecting that operation in dyeing
the textile fabrics which is technically called "dunging," the object of which
is the fixation of the mordants. As usually performed, the mordanted pieces;
are run through heated water containing the dung, or one of its numerous
substitutes, in suspension or solution as the case may be. The operation so
performed is usually incomplete, and is repeated by running the pieces for a
considerable time in a fresh quantity of a similar mixture. I substitute for
this tedious and uncertain process the following operation:-I impregnate the:
mordanted piece in a solution of one of the dung substitutes, or in a mixture
of dung and water (preferring the former of a definite strength proportionate

page_text: to the quantity of mordant upon the pieces), and I immediately run the pieces
rapidly through a chest or chamber charged with steam, and then wash them
thoroughly, after which they are at once ready for the dyeing process.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Knowles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th April 1858.
•
08
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
KNOWLES, of Tottington Mill, near Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Calico
Printer, send greeting
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Samuel Knowles, Her special licence, that I,, the said Samuel
Knowles, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Samuel Knowles, my 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN DUNGING FABRICS PREPARATORY TO DYEING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Knowles, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
ánd 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 I, the said Samuel Knowles, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in a new mode of effecting that, operation in dyeing
the textile fabrics which is technically called "dunging," the object of which
is the fixation of the mordants. As usually performed, the mordanted pieces
are run through heated water containing the dung, or one of its numerous
substitutes, in suspension of solution, as the case may be. The operation so

page_text: performed is usually incomplete, and is repeated by running the pieces for a
considerable time in a fresh quantity of a similar mixture. I substitute for
this tedious and uncertain process the following operation:-I "pad" or other-
wise impregnate the mordanted piece in a mixture of dung and water, or in a
solution or mixture in water of the dung substitutes (preferring the latter), of
a definite strength, proportionate to the quantity of mordant upon the pieces,
and I immediately run the pieces rapidly through a chest or chamber charged
with steam, and then wash them thoroughly, after which they are at once
ready for dyeing. By this process I effect the solution of the "thickener," and
fixation of the mordant, which is the object of the "dunging," more certainly,
and by a great diminution of time and labour.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Knowles, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
ROBERT HADFIELD,
of Tottington Mill,
near Bury, Lancashire.
SAMUEL KNOWLES. (L.S.)