IMPROVE- MENTS IN SATCHELS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE GUSSETS OF LEATHER SATCHELS, BAGS, AND PURSES, AND OF THE GUSSETS OF OTHER ARTICLES MADE OF LEATHER
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Thompson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th October
1865.
I, FREDERICK THOMPSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SATCHELS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE GUSSETS OF LEATHER
SATCHELS, BAGS, AND PURSES, AND OF THE GUSSETS OF OTHER ARTICLES MADE OF
LEATHER," to be as follows:-
My improvements in satchels consist in dispensing with the ordinary flap
by which the satchel is closed, and substituting therefor a cover sliding on the
straps of the satchel. The said sliding cover is of a size proper to fit on the
open top of the satchel, and is provided with a gusset (which may be made
in the manner herein-after described), which enables it to expand in the same
way as the satchel itself. The said sliding cover closes the satchel and
excludes rain more effectually than the ordinary flap cover, and enables the
satchel to be readily opened and closed.
My improvements in the manufacture of the gussets of leather satchels,
bags, and purses, and of the gussets of other articles made of leather are as
follows: In the ordinary manufacture of the gussets of leather articles the
said gussets are made of a separate piece of leather, properly shaped and
fixed by sewing or otherwise between the sides or in the required part of the
article. In making the said gussets according to my Invention, I do not
employ. a separate piece of leather, but make them by joining the edges of

page_text: the parts between which the gusset is required, and shape the said joined parts
into a gusset in the manner herein-after explained.
I will describe this part of my Invention as applied to the manufacture of
the gusset of a satchel. In cutting out the two sides of the satchel I leave
the leather of such a size that on the three sides at which the gusset is to be
formed there is sufficient leather to form when turned inwards one-half the
gusset. I sew the edges of the two pieces of leather together at the three
sides, forming the bottom and ends of the satchel, the undressed surface of
each piece of leather being outwards. There is thus produced a bag turned
inside out. I then turn the bag, so as to bring the dressed side of the leather
outwards. I next wet or damp the leather bag all over, and insert in the
inside a mould or model of the shape which it is intended the interior of the
finished satchel shall have, the said mould consisting of a piece of board of
the shape of a satchel, and having a V-shaped groove on three of its edges.
By means of a piece of string passed round the edge of the bag I force the
said edge on three sides into the groove on the three edges of the mould, and
by means of a tool, such as is ordinarily used in working leather, I work out
the wrinkles in the leather which lies in the said groove. There is thus
formed the required gusset between the sides of the satchel. The string is
removed, and the mould taken from the inside of the satchel. The leather
is allowed to dry when the gusset is complete. Instead of working the
gusset into form by a tool, as described, an outer mould or die may be
employed to force the leather into contact with the groove in the edges of the
inner mould.
In applying my Invention to other articles I proceed in the manner
described with respect to satchels, the moulds employed having the form
required to suit the article to be made.