A NEW OR IMPROVED COM- BINATION REPRESENTING THE ADVANTAGES OF A WOOLLEN SHIRT WITH THE APPEARANCE WHEN IN WEAR OF A LINEN ONE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Davis, of 19, Chadwell Street, Myddleton Square,
in the City of London, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED COM-
BINATION REPRESENTING THE ADVANTAGES OF A WOOLLEN SHIRT WITH THE
APPEARANCE WHEN IN WEAR OF A LINEN ONE.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Davis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1876.
LOUIS DAVIS, of 19, Chadwell Street, Myddleton Square, in the City of London.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINATION REPRESENTING THE ADVANTAGES OF A
WOOLLEN SHIRT WITH THE APPEARANCE WHEN IN WEAR OF A LINEN ONE"
The shirts to be similar in shape to those now in wear, but made or constructed
of flannel, cloth, or other woollen materials, with fronts (either partially or wholly
attached), the neckbands and wristbands or cuffs thereof to be made of linen, calico,
or other cotton materials, thus forming a new or improved shirt which will combine
the advantages of a woollen shirt with the appearance when in wear of a linen one.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Louis Davis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th February
1877.
Louis Davis, of 19, Chadwell Street, Myddleton Square, London. "A New Or
IMPROVED COMBINATION REPRESENTING THE ADVANTAGES OF A WOOLLEN SHIRT
WITH THE APPEARANCE WHEN IN WEAR OF A LINEN ONE."
Hitherto shirts have been made of one class of material throughout, such as all
linen or all woollen, and great want has been felt for (and the medical faculty has
advocated) the wear of flannel as being much healthier in both summer and winter,
for in winter the use of flannel promotes and retains warmth, and in summer it
absorbs the perspiration, and not only gives great comfort to the wearer, but prevents
cold, as when a linen shirt is saturated with perspiration and gets cold and comes in
[Price 4d1

page_text: contact with the body of the wearer it chills it by reason of the pores of the skin
being open.
Woollen, and especially flannel shirts, would be more generally worn, but they
are objected to by many on account of the unsightly appearance caused by their
want of the white front or bosom, neckbands, cuffs, and wristbands. It is true that
the front or bosom can be supplied by the use of a false one known as a "dickey,"
but this is for many reasons objectionable and impracticable for the purpose of taking
the place of a white fronted shirt
Now the object of my Invention is to remedy these evils, and yet at the same
time to keep the same shape of shirt to those now in wear.
I proceed with reference to the accompanying Drawings to illustrate shirts made
according to my Invention.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are front views of my improved shirts
Figure 1 shows a woollen shirt body and sleeves, with linen neckband, cuffs, and
bosom or front, herein-after, to avoid repetition, called "front" only. A is the
body of the shirt, and B the sleeves, both of which are of woollen material; C is the
front; C¹, the neckband; and C², the cuffs, all of which are of linen, calico, or other
cotton material or fabric, and secured to the body and sleeves by sewing. In
Figure 1 the shirt is shewn closed or buttoned, and in Figure 2 it is shewn opened
or unbuttoned, and the front distended, in order that the underneath portion, which
is woollen, may be easily seen, and it is cut low at the neck at a so as to be hidden
by the linen front when buttoned and in wear. It is detached from the body, but
is secured to the neckband by sewing
Figure 3 shows a second modification or arrangement. Here the linen front is
entirely connected with or attached to the woollen body by sewing, and it may
have a backing of woollen material so that the wearer's chest is as well (or even
better) protected than by the ordinary woollen shirts now in use.
A shirt made according to my first improvement, and shewn in Figures 1 and 2,
has the front C wholly unconnected with the body A, but such front is connected
to the neckband C for a portion of its circumference, so as to facilitate the washing
of the parts
Although I have shewn the shirts with cuffs attached to woollen sleeves, yet it is
obvious that when the wristbands are linen or woollen ones linen false cuffs are
used
It will therefore be readily seen that shirts made according to my Invention,
while combining the advantages of a woollen shirt with the appearance of a linen
one when in wear, will supply a want long felt, besides being a great boon to the
wearer by tending to promote health and comfort.
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 combination of materials com-
prising or forming a shirt, the body and sleeves of which are made of flannel or
other woollen material, while the front or bosom (which may be wholly or partially
connected to such body), the neckband, cuffs, and wristbands are of linen, calico, or
other material composed of cotton, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Davis, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
CONRAD J DAVIS,
Sol³.,
10, Moorgate St.,
E C.
LOUIS DAVIS. (L.S.)