Improvements in Methods of and Means for Restoring and Re-utilizing Hats and other Head Coverings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 12th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Means for Restoring and
Re-utilizing Hats and other Head Coverings.
WILLIAM VERO of 81 Douglas Buildings Marshalsea Road Borough
London S.E. in the County of Surrey Hat Manufacturer. I do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
every
My invention relates to helmets, busbies, shakos, hats & of
caps
description, made from any kind of material whatever, such as cork, felt, gossamer,
straw, grass, pith, leather, skins etc.
The objects of my invention are, 1st to renovate, cleanse, repair, renew and
reconstruct every description of coverings for the head, which have been worn, by
a new and novel principle. In carrying my invention into effect, various and
different processes, have to be carried out, which is determined by the kind of
material, the body or foundation is made from. I now give a short description of
my processes hereafter to be more particularly described:
In the first place after having collected my old head dresses together, I at once
place them, just as received from the collectors, into a "disinfecting room," specially
fitted up for this purpose and thoroughly fumigate them, with burnt sulphur, or
other suitable purifier; every description of covering for the head, which have been
worn, undergo this treatment in the first instance.
In the second process all sorts are carefully unstripped of their trimmings, and in
the case, of cork helmets, shakos, busbies, hats & caps, these have their linings, and
covers taken off; each class of bodies or foundations are now sorted, and placed in
separate bins, and are now ready to undergo, the various processes, necessary for
each class of work.
It is a well known, and admitted fact, that all kinds of head dresses, are not so
much damaged in wear, as they are soiled by persperation, by the loseing of there
shape, and by being faded in colour, as a consequence of this, efforts have now and
again been made, to renovate, all sorts of head coverings, for further service, but
because, of the unpractical methods adopted, only very little success; was the
result of these efforts, and at the present time the considerable value, there is in
made up material, is permitted to be wasted, to the public disadvantage, there as
ever been a desire to reclaim this value, but the principle, to properly cleanse,
without damaging the bodies, to repair, and re-construct, as never been practically
carried out, but by my present invention all difficulties, are removed and a
successful result secured.
My third process as for its object, to free from all kinds of felt bodies or
foundations, that have been through my first, and second processes, every particle
of grease, and to thoroughly cleanse from all extraneous matter; hitherto this as
been aimed at being accomplished, by the aid of alkalis, and soft soap, but the
grease, and extraneous matter was only partly removed, and this at the expense of
damageing the felt body, and the stiffening in the felt, thereby destroying the object
in view, by my invention, the chemicals I employ to clense, my foundations are
based, upon the cleanseing and extractive force, of hydro carbons; which, not only,
as no injurious effect upon the felt body, or the stiffening in the bodies, but as a
most highly beneficial effect upon them. To accomplish this part of my invention,
I place my bodies or foundations into a large vat, which may be heated by steam

page_text: or fire after my liquor is made up which is composed of chemicals suited to my
purpose hereafter further described. I allow my bodies or foundations to soak, in
the cold liquor, about 12 hours, after which I heat the liquor, in my No. 1 vat, and
give them gentle boiling for about 45 minutes, keeping the felt bodies upon the
move, all the time, which is one by putting into motion, a whizz inside the vat, or
by hand labour as may be preferred, they are now ready to be taken out of
vat No. 1, and are now put into a large hydraulic press, filled with hot liquor. The
liquor is now, let out from the press-and the hydraulic pressure, put on to the
whole mass of steaming, hot felt hoods, after all moisture is pressed out, that can
be. They are now ready to be put into vat No. 2, which as been made up ready,
with clean liquor, and with chemical ingredients, as before used in vat No. 1;
gently boil, and keep on the move for about 15 minutes; now take bodies out, and
put them into the hydraulic press, screw press, or put singly through, pressure
rollers. These operations, may be repeated, as often as is necessary, but the
greatest portion of the felt, bodies, will be now free from grease, and all extraneous
matter, but those which are not, sufficiently clean, are now taken to a plank, with a
jacket pan heated by steam attached, here they are brushed, in a strong chemical
solution, where the very worst, are alsolutely freed from all grease and extraneous
matter. My felt bodies are now ready to be sorted, for the different classes of
work, they are suitable for, and are ready for next opperation.
In
My fourth process relates, to what is well understood as, "half stiffened" framed,
and soft felt bodies, which have all gone through the foregoing processes. These
felt bodies, are now treated in accordance, with there particular condition.
those cases, which are necessary, I take to the planking machine, where I alter the
shapes of my bodies, by this well known process, and in other cases, I reduce the
size of my bodies by shrinkage, and improve the felt in the usual manner, as is well
understood.
My fifth process relates, to all kinds of felt hats, which have been carefully
prepared, upon the foregoing system, which is to re-dye, or re-colour them, in the
usual way, well known to the trade, after which the renewed felt bodies, are
shaped and finished exactly as new work.
All head coverings, made upon a cork body, of every description, are treated by
my invention, in a new and novel manner, and some of the processes materially differ
from, the felt body processes. All cork head dresses which have been worn, are
treated in the first place, upon my first, and second processes, herein described, but
my process to cleanse, and free from grease, and all extraneous matter, that is upon
cork bodies, after they are stripped, is to brush them, with a strong chemical
solution, suitable to my purpose, after which my cork body is clean, and ready for
next opperation.
My next opperation, is governed by the class of work, desired to be produced.
One or two examples will make clear the novelty of my invention.
"A." If my cork body is to be re-constructed upon a black, or drab cotton lining,
the linings are pulled over a block, the same shape as the cork bodies are under
opperation.
"B." Upon the inside of my cork body, I have put one coat of suitable stiffening
to strengthen my body, this only in cases where it is deemed necessary, I now
place one or more coats upon the inside of cork body, of india rubber solution, &
let this dry,
now place one or more coats of india rubber solution, upon my
lining, upon the helmet block. I now take my cork body, and place it upon a free
jet of steam, which is in a box, covering over with canvass; or by preference, a
inetal bell shaped cover, so as to sufficiently heat the cork body through, I now
quickly pull my body over the lining, which as been india rubber solutioned upon
the helmet block, forceing the two together, so that the cork body and lining are
fixed together, and the cork body is now the true shape of the block.
According to my invention another plan of construction is
"C." I now take a hard felt body, which as been renovated, up to the re-dyeing.
process. This I steam upon a helmet block, or shape, desired, I now put, one or

page_text: more, coats of india rubber solution, upon this, I now take my cork body, and fix
over the felt body, in exactly the same manner, as "A" & "B" before described.
"D." By my present invention, I am able to successfully employ, the hatters
hydraulic press, in the construction of cork helmets, etc. for the purposes of consoli-
dation, to do this, it is necessary to have iron moulds, the exact shape, of the cork
hat, cap, or helmet, to be pressed; but before cork shapes, can be pressed, they
must, be heated before pressure, is put upon them, hithertoo, this has been attempted
to be done, but always with dry heat, placeing the cork body into ovens, this as
always caused, certain failure, to the operation, but by my present new, and novel
method, I heat, the cork, or compound body, over a free jet of steam, having a
metal bell shaped cover over, by which means, the cork body, is softened by moist
steam heat, and the body, immediately being placed into a heated iron mould,
which is already in the hatters hydraulic press; the power is now applied, and the
perfect consolidation is successfully accomplished. The many advantages of perfect
consolidation is well understood, renovated cork helmets, hats or caps may be
constructed with, or without, hydraulic pressure, as the operator prefers.
Gossamer bodies, which have been worn are treated, in exactly the same manner,
as cork bodies, with one exception, shellac water proof, also spirit shellac varnish,
is used to stick the felt body lining, to the gossamer body, in some cases, instead of
with india rubber solution.
Straw, leatlier, and other bodies, made from any kind of material, are cleaned,
and renovated, upon the above principles.
.
By my present invention, every description, of helmet hat, & cap, cover, which
as been worn, and stripped off, of any kind of body, I renovate, in the exact manner,
as before described, under the treatment of felt body, processes, first, second, third
and fifth. Woollen cloth helmet and cap covers, which have been used, for
military, and police, purposes, are specially adapted, to be renewed, under my new
and novel principle, after the re-dyeing process, the woollen cloth cover, is steamed,
ironed, pressed and finished, up to a nap, and surface, practically equal to a new
cover.
Dated this 12th day of February 1894.
WILLIAM VERO,
81, Douglas Buildings, Marshalsea Road, Borough, London, S.E.
Improvements in Methods of and Means for Restoring and
Re-utilizing Hats and other Head Coverings.
I, WILLIAM VERO, of 81, Douglas Buildings, Marshalsea Road, Borough,
London, S.E. in the County of Surrey, Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved method of and means for restoring and
renovating hats or other head coverings of all descriptions made from any kind of
material, the objects being to re-utilize the same.
In carrying my invention into effect I proceed as follows:-
The collection of old head coverings, after being thoroughly disinfected in any
suitable manner, are carefully stripped of all their trimmings and are sorted out in
classes according to the material of which the bodies or foundations are made, the
coverings being also sorted.
The bodies or carcases are now subject to a cleansing process to remove all
grease and other extraneous matter, the process employed varying with the material
of which the said bodies or carcases are made.
Taking those made of felt first, the bodies are soaked and afterwards boiled in a vat

page_text: containing a cleansing fluid consisting of one part of benzoline or other hydro-carbon
and 80 parts of water. The bodies are preferably allowed to soak in the cold
liquid for about 12 hours and are afterwards gently boiled for about 45 minutes,
the bodies being kept on the move during the whole time of boiling either by hand
or by any suitable mechanical device. After the boiling, the bodies or carcases
are subjected to pressure to remove all moisture from them; this may be coveniently
effected by a wringing machine, press or other equivalent arrangement. Those
bodies or carcases which are not sufficiently cleaned by one treatment are subjected
to the same process over again and as often as may be necessary.
The bodies or carcases which are so soiled that they will not yield to the above
treatment are treated to a rough brushing in a strong solution of the cleansing fluid
by the aid of a suitable plank and steam heated jacket pan.
It will thus be seen that this invention differs materially from the system at
present adopted which consists in cleaning the bodies by means of a strong solution
of alkali together with the use of soft soap, the action of these chemicals upon the
felt being most destructive, they remove the grease but practically destroy the felt
body because of the corrosive action of an excess of alkali upon the fibre of the
felt, and also because an alkali is a solvent of the stiffening or proof in the felt
body, whereas by my method of cleaning with the use of hydro-carbons the grease
and all extraneous matter is extracted and at the same time the felt is improved
and the proof or stiffening therein more firmly fixed.
Bodies or carcases made of cork and other material which will not stand boiling,
are simply brushed with the cleansing fluid.
The
The bodies having been thoroughly cleansed as herein before described are now
ready to receive their covers which may be of any suitable material. Felt bodies
which require to be re-dyed or coloured are so dyed or coloured at this stage.
bodies are then shaped and finished in a similar manner to new work, the sizes and
shapes being altered by any of the well-known processes.
After
I prefer to remake up bodies or carcases of cork in one of the following ways:-
The stripped and cleansed cork bodies are given one or more coats of stiffening-
both inside and outside-made of shellac, glue or other suitable material.
the stiffening is dry the lining is put in the body in the well-known manner this
being done the body is ready for covering or pressing, the latter being effected
either before or after covering as preferred. In some cases I do not put any cotton
or other lining inside the renovated cork body, simply leaving the cork covered
with the stiffening solution in which case I prefer colouring the stiffening solution
and thus obtain any colour for the inside of the body.
According to another method I take one or two renovated hard felt bodies-one
body only being required when it is large enough to make the desired shape, two
being required when the shape is too large for one body. I then shape the
renovated hard felt bodies by steam and pull them over a block of the required
shape. I then take a stripped aud cleansed cork body and stick it to the felt body
by means of rubber solution.
I wish it to be understood that I may combine a felt and cork body or any parts
thereof together in other ways than as before described to utilize them to the best
advantage.
The pressing operation of the cork bodies is effected by what is known as the
hatters' hydraulic press with iron moulds of the desired shape required. The cork
bodies are first placed over a free jet of steam in any suitable manner and when
they are sufficiently heated by this moist heat thus obtained they are at once placed
into the iron moulds in the press and pressure immediately applied to them so that
the body is perfectly consolidated and any unevenness and irregularities are forced
into the interior thus giving a perfectly smooth surface to the exterior.
Felt, gossamer and other bodies may be treated in a similar manner, but in some
cases I find it expedient to use a spirit shellac varnish instead of a rubber solution.
In some cases the renovated felt bodies are steamed upon shapes or blocks in the
usual manner,
after which they are covered with tweed cloth or other suitable

page_text: woven or felted material, by giving the felt body one or more coats of india rubber
solution, the cover being likewise treated, the solutioned surfaces being then pressed
together preferably in moulds, either hot or cold by means of the hydraulic press
used by hatters.
In some cases the old covers of helmets and the like may be used instead of
using new ones.
If the old covers are to be re-used they are first of all thoroughly cleaned by the
use of hydro-carbons as hereinbefore described, re-dyed if necessary, and are then
ready for use.
Those covers made of wool or of the best material are renovated by the above
process practically equal to new.
It will be seen that by this invention every description of cork, felt or gossamer
head gear which has been worn can be renovated and made practically equal
to new.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of the processes hereinbefore described, but that 1 hold myself at liberty to
make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clain is:
(1.) The improved means and methods for restoring and re-utilizing old hats and
other head coverings, as herein before described.
(2.) In a process for restoring and re-utilizing old hats and other head coverings,
the use of a hydro-carbon with water as a cleansing agent.
(3.) In a process for restoring and re-utilizing old hats and other head coverings,
the use of steam or moist heat for softening cork bodies before being moulded or
shaped by pressure as herein before set forth.
(4.) An improved process for restoring and re-utilizing old hats or other head
coverings consisting in covering an old and renovated felt body with a new or
renovated cover of felted or woven material, as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 12th day of December 1894.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.