IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Turner, of Gresham Street, in the City of
London, Hatter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF HATS."
Sealed the 4th March 1859, and dated the 13th September 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Turner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th September 1858.
I, JOSHUA TURNER, of Gresham Street, in the City of London, Hatter, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF HATS," to be as follows:-
I propose, in order to render hats lighter, more flexible, and the better to
admit of ventilation, to dispense with the foundation material (now used in
making hats), either wholly or in part, and to introduce in lieu thereof
Brazilian chip, or grass, or straw prepared to receive the outer coating of
silk or plush. The side of the hat and sometimes the "tip" may be made in
the usual manner, but the brim will (according to my Invention) be always
composed of Brazilian chip, or grass, or straw, combined with other materials
usually used in the manufacture of hats..
15 SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joshua Turner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th March 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSHUA
TURNER, of Gresham Street, in the City of London, Hatter, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for, Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joshua Turner, Her special licence that I, the said Joshua Turner,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Joshua Turner, 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 MANUFACTURE OF HATS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Joshua Turner, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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. Joshua Turner, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 (that is to say):-
-
My Invention needs no Drawings to illustrate it, as similar blocks, irons,
et cetera, are used for blocking and shaping as are used for those purposes in
the manufacture. of hats made in the ordinary manner; nor is it necessary to
describe the mode or modes of preparing the materials (grass, or straw, or
Brazilian chip, or palm leaf,) for my purpose, as the preparation of those
articles, the platting (whether of the coarser or finer sorts), the sewing
together of the platted bands and the dyeing thereof of various colors, or
bleaching for straw color, are already well known, and constantly practised.
The object of my Invention is so to manufacture the hat that it shall be
lighter in weight and much more flexible than those in ordinary use; that the
hat, instead of forming at the joining of the body or foundation with the inner
portion of the brim a rigid circle round the head, shall be so flexible as
to adapt itself easily to the shape or form thereof, and be to the wearer a
comfortable covering thereto.
In manufacturing hats according to my Invention, I use for the "tip" and
"brim" prepared grass or straw, or the article known as Brazilian chip or
palm leaf, not making the "side" of the hat of this material, but of the

page_text: materials usually used for that purpose; and I would here observe, that
neither do I always make the entire "tip" of the Brazilian chip or palm leaf,
as in some cases I simply use this material to form a centre, serving as a
ventilator, the rest of the "tip" being of the same materials as the "side" of
the hat; and I sometimes wholly dispense with the grass, straw, chip, or palm
leaf in the "tip," the entire body or foundation then being of the ordinary
materials, but the "brim" of the hat will in every case be of a different material
to the "side" of the hat, and be made, as before stated, of prepared grass or
straw, or of Brazilian chip or palm leaf. I block and fashion in the ordinary
manner, and cover the hat with black, white, or other colored silk plush, silk,
or any other material suitable for the purpose, with the exception of the under
part of the "brim," which I leave uncovered, shewing thereby the material of
which it is composed, lessening the weight of the hat, and giving it additional
flexibility.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the means by
which it is carried into practical effect, I would observe that I lay no claim
to the exclusive use of any of the materials herein mentioned when used for
any other purpose than in the manufacture of bats according to my Invention;
nor do I confine myself to the precise details herein given, but I claim as of
my Invention and discovery the exclusive use in the manufacture of the "tips"
and "brims" of bats (either or both, wholly or partially,) of Brazilian chip, or
grass or straw prepared to receive the outer coating of silk plush or other
covering, leaving the under side of the "brim" always uncovered, as herein-
before set forth, detailed, or described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joshua Turner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
. One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
0
Witness,
W. E. GEDGE,
4, Danes Inn, Strand.
JOSHUA TURNER. (L.S.)