IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCARFS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Swonnell, of Lothian Road, Camberwell
New Road, in the County of Surrey, Traveller, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCARFS."
Sealed the 4th November 1864, and dated the 6th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Swonnell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th May 1864.
I, ALFRED SWONNELL, of Lothian Road, Camberwell New Road, in the
County of Surrey, Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCARFS," to be as
follows:-
The object of this, Invention is so to construct scarfs that they will admit of
being worn either end upwards, and also with either side to the front so as to
present to the eye after each shift of position a fresh or unfaded portion of the
silk or other material of which the scarf is composed.
One mode of carrying out this Invention is to join together at their opposite
ends the front pieces of the scarf (or those parts that cover the front of the
shirt) by means of a band which is intended to pass round the back of the,
wearer's neck. These, front pieces will be similarly shaped at both ends,,
and each side will be made alike, or so as to allow of either side being brought,
to the front. In fitting on this scarf, it is to be drawn over the head, and one
cross piece is to be laid across the other, and secured in that position by a
breast pin or otherwise.

page_text: When applying the Invention to a scarf that will not require the withdrawal
of the breast pin to allow of the removal of the scarf, I use a detachable
"tie" instead of the neck bands before mentioned. The front pieces cross
each other as in the first arrangement, and are joined together at their opposite
ends. Two "barrels are provided (one at each end of the scarf) to receive
the tie or neck band which is passed through them diagonally, and the ends
tucked under the front pieces; when the neck band is worn or discolored it may
be replaced by a new one to match the turned scarf, and the barrel may if
thought desirable be made capable of shifting to present a fresh surface to
view.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Swonnell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
SWONNELL, of Lothian Road, Camberwell New Road, in the County of Surrey,
Traveller, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent,, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Alfred Swonnell, Her special license that I, the said
Alfred Swonnell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Swonnell, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCARFS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Swonnell, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 Alfred Swonnell, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
The chief object of this Invention is to produce reversible scarfs, that is,
scarfs which when faded or worn at one part will admit of being turned many
times to present at each change a fresh or unfaded portion to view.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn two arrangements of scarf
whereby this object is attained, both of which admit of being worn either end
upwards and also with either side to the front so as to present to the eye after
each shift of position a fresh or unfaded portion of the silk or other material
of which the scarf is composed...
!
Fig. 1 shews the more simple arrangement which consists in joining together
at their opposite ends two properly shaped pieces a, a, by means of
bands b, b.. The parts which are intended to cover the front of the shirt
are shaped out at their ends to fit the neck of the wearer, and slightly
curved, and the curve is continued so that the front pieces join the bands
without forming an angle at the junction. Before effecting this junction'
a twist must be put in one of the bands to allow of the crossing of the front
pieces without a twist remaining in one of the bands. The bands b, b, are
severally intended to pass round the back of the wearer's neck. It will be
seen that the front pieces a, a, are similarly shaped at both ends.
of this scarf are to be made of like material so as to allow of either face'
being brought to the front. In fitting on this scarf, which forms a kind of
endless band, it is to be drawn over the head, and one front piece is to be
laid across the other, and secured in that position by a breast pin or stud.
This construction of scarf admits of eight changes being made to bring fresh
portions into view.
Both faces
When applying the Invention to a scarf that will not require the withdrawal
of the breast pin to allow of the removal of the scarf, I use a detachable "tie"
instead of the fixed neck bands before mentioned, which tie may, when
desired, be used as an ordinary tie or detached from the scarf. Fig. 2.shews
this arrangement of scarf in front view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of
the same, and Fig. 4 is a back view with one of the "barrels "unstitched and
thrown back to shew the crossing of the tie and the construction of the scarf
more clearly. The front a, a, may be made in one or two pieces.. Before
joining together at the ends by sewing as shewn at b, Fig. 4, the fabric is to
receive a twist so that the back face of one end and the front face of the other
end shall come together. This allows of the fabric forming the peculiar.
figure shewn in the Drawing, and when it is thus folded it is secured.

page_text: by stitches at the points 2, 2. Two barrels c, c, are provided (one at each
end of the scarf to receive the tie or neck band.d which is passed through.
them diagonally and secured by a pin, the ends being tucked under the front
pieces to keep them out of sight. The barrels are formed of a piece of the
silk or other material used in the manufacture of the scarf cut to the shape
shewn at Fig. 5 and lined to increase its stiffness. It is folded at the middle
as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 5; the barrels thus, prepared are lapped
over the top and bottom, of the scarf, and stitched at the angles :1, 1, to the
scarf, an opening is thus left, at each side of the barrel for the insertion of the
ends of the tie, which ends are stiffened by pasteboard or otherwise to facilitate
their insertion. When inserted they are drawn tight by the wearer, and the
ends crossing each other at an angle; putting tension on the tie will cause the
scarf to rise and take its proper place close under the wearer's collar. This
scarf it will be understood, may be used either end up, and to change the face
of the scarf it will only be necessary to remove the tie and turn the scarf
inside out. The tie is then to be inserted in the barrel so that its ends shall,
come out at what is now the back of the scarf. When the neck band or tie
is worn out it may be replaced by, a new one to match the turned scarf, and.
to this end it may be desirable to sell two neck bands or ties with each scarf.
This scarf admits of four changes besides the band being used detached..
Having now, set forth the nature of my Invention of improvements in the
construction of scarfs, and explained the manner of carrying the same into.
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters:
Patent I claim, constructing reversible scarfs in the manner and for the
purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Swonnell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,.
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane..
ALFRED SWONNELL. (L.S.)