A NEW METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BUTTONS OF A MATERIAL NOT BEFORE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1790

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CLAY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Japanner, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the
Twenty-third day of February, in the thirtieth year of His reign; did give and
grant unto me, the said Henry Clay, His especial licence that I, the said
Henry Clay, during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A NEW METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
BUTTONS OF A MATERIAL NOT BEFORE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Henry Clay,
under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and how the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within.one calendar month after the date
of-the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same (relation being
thereunto had) may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW,YE; that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Clay, do hereby declare that my said Invention of a new method of
manufacturing buttons of a material not before used for that purpose is
described in manner following (that is to say):-
First, I turn, grind, cut, or file a piece of slate or slit stone into the shape
or form of a button, leaving a recess or space in the top to receive the knot

page_text: or tyed ends of the catgut, silk wire, or other material, which later is to be
put through one or more holes perforated or drilled through the slate or slit
stone for that purpose. The ends of the loop are afterwards tyed in a knot to
keep them fast or secure to the slate or slit stone. This being effected,
another piece of slate or slit stone is then to be glewed or connected to the
top of the former piece, with a recess or without; after which the button is
finished by turning it in a lathe, or by grinding, cutting, filing it, or otherwise
making it smooth and even. If a shank of metal is wanted or preferred
instead of the loop of catgut, silk wire, or other material, the shank is to be
put into or through a single piece or pieces of slate or slit stone, glewed or
connected together by matting or otherwise, putting through the slate or slates,
and leaving a metal stud or other ornament on top of the button. Or the
shank may be inserted or put through wood, leather, paper, or other material;
and then the ends of the shank being returned or beat down upon the surface,
may be filed, ground, and made smooth, so as to be glewed, cemented, or
fixed to the piece of slate or slit stones, as before. After the buttons are so
made and finished, they may be engraved, engine cut, painted, japanned, or
otherwise ornamented, as fancy may suggest.
In witness whereof, the said Henry Clay hath hereunto set his hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of March, One thousand seven hundred and
HENRY CLAY. (L.S.)
Inrolled the Twenty-second day of March, in the year above mentioned.