Iм-. PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wilson, of the Borough and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne,. Hat. Manufacturer, for the Invention of "Iм-.
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS."
Sealed the 16th October 1861, and dated the 24th April 1861.1
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
April 1861.
I, WILLIAM WILSON, of the Borough and County of Newcastle-upon-
Tyne, Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS," to be as follows:-
This Invention bas for its object improvements in the manufacture of bats.
For this purpose a machine is employed for felting hat bodies made of fur,
and fur mixed with other materials used for making hats, the machine is
composed of a large oblong vessel or cistern containing water heated by steam
or otherwise, as in the "planking kettle," through this is made to pass an end-
less apron composed of a series of narrow pieces of wood-(with surfaces either
flat or fluted) attached to endless chains passing over a roller at each end of
the cistern. These rollers may be either partially or entirely out of the water,
but the apron is led below the surface by guide pullies, and moves along a
groove or ledge at the sides of the cistern to keep it level and in position as it

page_text: passes through in the water.
pended a block of wood or
Above it, at the centre of the cistern, is sus-
other material with fluted surface, and to this
block by suitable gearing a reciprocating or jigger motion is communicated.
The bodies to be felted having been formed and hardened, are rolled in
flannel or other cloths, and placed on the endless apron, and thus carried down
to and under the block, passing first under a piece of wood fixed slantingly
downwards, so that the rolls of bodies become tightened by contact with it,
the aforesaid block being lowered so as to press on them the reciprocating
motion as they pass through the cistern, gives the action needful for felting.
As different materials, as well as the same hat bodies in the process of
felting, require some variation in the working, the block is suspended from a
screw, by means of which the amount of pressure can be regulated according
to the judgment of the workman. The machine may also be made to work
at different and varying speeds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd October 1861.....
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WILSON, of the Borough and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Hat Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant 'unto me, the
said William Wilson, Her special licence that I, the said William Wilson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Wilson; 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
vénid, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF HATS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said. William. Wilson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their lands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said.
Letters Patent.
i
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Wilson, do hereby. declare:
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be; particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement thereof, that is to say:→
"
.
;
The object of this Invention is to felt "hat bodies.". The machines hitherto:
used for that purpose are only adapted for those formed of wool, or of wool
and a small portion of fur mixed with it; this machine is intended for those.
made entirely of fur, as well as for wool and fur mixed. It is illustrated by:
the accompanying Drawing.
A represents the frame, within which is placed a large wooden vessel or
cistern B; to contain water heated by steam; or otherwise, as in the ordinary.
hatters "planking kettle," and as is needful for. the felting process, through
this cistern and over rollers C, at each end of it, is made, to pass an endless:
apron D, composed of pieces of wood with their upper surfaces rounded. This
apron is directed to its place by guide, pullies E at each side and end of the
cistern, and passes under water over slides in the cistern placed to keep it
level.. On each side of the frame A is fixed an iron slide F, in which an iron
frame G is placed, to which is attached, by means of a screw H, and four
guide pins I, another iron frame J, having a wooden fluted board (the fluted
surface downwards) K attached to it by means of an upright rod L at each
side, which acts as a fulcrum to a lever with weights intended to balance the:
board. Between the frame J and the board K light elastic springs are
placed with guide pins to keep the board in position, and yet yield a little
upwards.
A crank shaft M is placed on the frame A, with two connecting rods N
attached to the iron frame G, so that when it is put in motion it communi-
cates a backward and forward, or jigger movement to the frame placed in the
slide F, and of course to the fluted board attached thereto. The mode of
operating the machine is as follows:-The cistern being sufficiently filled with
hot water, and motion by means of suitable and ordinary gearing given to the
endless apron D and frame G, the workman dips the bodies prepared for
felting into hot water, and rolls them in a cloth; he then places them on
the endless apron D, which carries them onwards into the water and under
the fluted board, where, between it and the rounded surfaces of the travelling
apron they receive the jigger motion needful for felting, passing from under it
they are opened out, "crozed," and passed through again until sufficiently
felted. The speed of the travelling apron can be regulated by the workman

page_text: according to the nature of the work, it will usually be from 24 to 40 feet per
minute, the crank shaft M will usually be driven at from 120 to 200 revolu-
tions per ininute. The springs and levers attached' to the board render its
downward pressure so light and elastic as not to injure the finest or most
tender materials, whilst the screw H gives the workman power, to increase it
as his judgment dictates. A small piece of wood is attached to the board
slanting upwards, so as to direct the rolls of hats under it, and prevent their
coming in contact with its edge, which might damage them at an early stage.
This is not shewn in the Drawing; as it would have hidden the front of the
jigger board, one side of the cistern is also not shewn that the endless apron
may be seen in the cistern.
Having now described my Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact
détails described, but what I claim is the felting hat bodies by means of a
machine consisting of a travelling apron made as described, combined to work
in a tank of hot water, together with the fluted jiggering board and screw for
regulating the action of the same as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wilson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
WILLIAM WILSON. (L.S.)