Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Silk Worm Gut.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Silk Worm Gut.
I, MORRIS CARSWELL, JUNIOR, of 90, Mitchell Street, in the County of the City
of Glasgow, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method for manufacturing silk worm
gut for fishing purposes whereby the natural length of each strand is very
greatly increased. At present the longest length of gut procurable is about
20 inches although a very limited quantity can sometimes be procured to measure
about 24 inches, manufactured in the ordinary way, whereas manufacturing accord-
ing to my improved method an unlimited quantity can be produced as long as 30,
36, and even over 40 inches.
The present length of gut usually measures about 24 inches over all, but as a
curious curl comes in about 6 inches from each end the serviceable part of the
gut is reduced to about 12 inches. Now my invention is mainly directed to
avoiding these curls (a thing that up to the present has been unanimously
attributed to nature) and so produce lengths of gut that will be serviceable
nearly from end to end, as they would be free from the curls above mentioned.
My invention consists in tearing open the silk worm when it has reached the
proper stage and placing the two long silk sacks or veins that each worm con-
tains in a basin along with some of the green fluid that comes out of each worm
as it is torn open.
It will be noticed that the ends of these silk sacks are folded
or doubled back. When these silk sacks are thrown into the liquid which is
intended to solidify the secretion of liquid silk, the liquid does not attack the part
of the surface protected by the doubled back ends as quickly as the other exposed
parts of the surface with the result that when the silk sacks are taken out of the
liquid and drawn out, at the points where the bends took place one half of the
surface is still liquid or nearly so and besides causing the strand to curl up for
about half an inch has no strength. Now I take each silk sack out of the basin
above mentioned before the solidifying liquid has been added and straighten each
one out on a flat dish or other suitable utensil extending in a straight line with
the centre portion the ends that were in nature doubled back. I then very care-
fully pour on a suitable solidifying liquid and as it now attacks each part of
the surface equally the result is that when each length is carefully drawn out
no curls appear and the length is sound from end to end except the short distance
that has been flattened by the operator's fingers.
Dated the 13th day of May 1897
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Silk Worm Gut.
I, MORRIS CARSWELL, JUNIOR, of 90, Mitchell Street, in the County of the City
of Glasgow, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say: -
This invention relates to an improved method for manufacturing silk worm
gut for fishing purposes whereby the natural length of each strand is very
greatly increased. At present the longest length of gut procurable is about
20 inches although a very limited quantity can sometimes be procured to measure
about 24 inches, manufactured in the ordinary way, whereas manufacturing accord-
ing to my improved method an unlimited quantity can be produced as long as 30,
36, and even over 40 inches.
The present length of gut usually measures about 24 inches over all, although
certain species of silk worm produce much longer gut, but as a curious curl
comes in about 6 inches from each end the serviceable part of the gut is reduced
to about 12 inches. Now my invention is mainly directed to avoiding these curls
or imperfections (a thing that up to the present has been unanimously attributed
to nature) and so produce lengths of gut that will be serviceable nearly from end
to end, as they would be free from the curls or imperfections above mentioned.
My invention consists in taking the species of silk worms that produce the
longest lengths of gut and tearing same open when it has reached the proper
stage and separating from the remainder of worm the two long silk sacks or
veins that each worm contains. It will be noticed that the ends of these silk
sacks are folded or doubled back. When these silk sacks are, in their natural state
as heretofore, thrown into the liquid which is intended to solidify or stiffen the
secretion of liquid silk, the said liquid does not attack the. part of the surface
protected by the doubled back ends as quickly as the other exposed parts of the
surface with the result that when the silk sacks are taken out of the liquid and
drawn out, at the points where the bends take place one half of the surface is still
liquid or nearly so and besides causing the strand to curl up for about half an
inch the gut has no strength at this point or this curl may be caused by the silk
sack partly solidifying in the bent up natural state. Now I take each silk sack
above mentioned before the solidifying liquid has been added and straighten each
one out on a flat dish or other suitable utensil extending in a straight line with
the centre portion, the ends that were in nature doubled back. I then very care-
fully pour on a suitable solidifying liquid such as diluted claret wine and as it
now attacks each part of the surface equally the result is that when each length
is carefully drawn out the above mentioned curls or imperfections do not appear
and the length is sound and serviceable from end to end except the short distance
that has been flattened by the operator's fingers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: :-
First. The herein described method of manufacturing long lengths of silk
worm gut substantially as set forth.
Second. In a method of manufacturing silk worm gut, the straightening out

page_text: of the natural bends in the silk sack before adding the solidifying liquid, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Third. Silk worm gut produced in long lengths substantially as set forth.
D
T.1
1000
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.