A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF COMBS FOR IMPARTING COLOUR TO OR IMPROVING THE APPEARANCE OF THE HUMAN HAIR, IN THE PREPARATION OF SOLID HAIR DYES FROM THE COMPOUNDS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE AFORESAID, AND IN TREATING PAPER AND OTHER FABRICS OR MATERIALS TO RENDER SAME FIT FOR USE IN DYEING HUMAN HAIR.”
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hickisson, of Southgate Road, Hackney, in the
County of Middlesex, Marking Ink Manufacturer, for the Invention of A
NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF COMBS FOR IMPARTING COLOUR TO OR
IMPROVING THE APPEARANCE OF THE HUMAN HAIR, IN THE PREPARATION OF
SOLID HAIR DYES FROM THE COMPOUNDS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE
AFORESAID, AND IN TREATING PAPER AND OTHER FABRICS OR MATERIALS TO
RENDER SAME FIT FOR USE IN DYEING HUMAN HAIR.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hickisson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1878.
JAMES HICKISSON, of Southgate Road, Hackney, in the County of Middlesex,
Marking Ink Manufacturer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF COMBS FOR
IMPARTING COLOUR TO OR IMPROVING THE APPEARANCE OF THE HUMAN HAIR, IN
THE PREPARATION OF SOLID HAIR DYES FROM THE COMPOUNDS EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTURE AFORESAID, AND IN TREATING PAPER AND OTHER FABRICS OR
MATERIALS TO RENDER SAME FIT FOR USE IN DYEING HUMAN HAIR."
According to my Invention I manufacture combs of any of the usual combinations
of chemical compounds or agents employed for dyeing or imparting colour to the
human hair, combining with such compounds or agents suitable substances to form
a base or body; such, for example, as vulcanite, india-rubber, glue, gelatine, or
other tenacious substance; or I employ manganese, nitre, or other suitable substance
in order to fix or maintain the compounds or agents in a solid form or mass.
The compounds or agents after having been combined with any of the above
named tenacious or other substances, assume a plastic or semi-solid condition, and
they are then moulded or shaped into combs, after which they are allowed to dry
or dried.
To prevent the dye on the teeth of the comb injuring or staining the scalp I
insert in the end of each tooth a small pin, peg, stud, or button of horn, tortoishell,

page_text: bone, or other suitable material, so as to prevent the dye from coming into contact
with the scalp; and for preventing the hands or clothes from becoming stained the
stem of the comb may be provided with a bead or frame of glass, metal, wood, or
the like.
I can also form every alternate tooth of the comb manufactured from the chemical
compounds used in dyeing human hair of an oxidizing agent, so as to form a
mordant to fix the chemical compounds on the hair.
When the combs are manufactured of any one of the chemical compounds alone,
or combinations of compounds, the hair may be damped or moistened previous to
applying the combs thereto; or the combs themselves may be damped or moistened.
The compounds employed in the manufacture of my combs above mentioned can
be so prepared as to produce a hair dye in a solid form suitable for convenience and
transport; and this I effect by combining with such compounds a tenacious or
other suitable substance to form a base, and by drying them afterwards or allowing
them to dry, and then forming them into sticks, pills, lozenges, wafers, or other
suitable forms. Or the compounds, when brought into a solid form, may be reduced
to an impalpable powder by grinding, pounding, or other means; or they may be
in granulated form, and when required for use must be dissolved in water or other
liquid.
For treating paper or other like fabrics or materials to render them fit for use in
dyeing human hair, I first soak or steep such fabric or materials (which may be in
the form of strips or in other suitable form) into any one or into any two or more
of the chemical compounds employed in the manufacture of liquid hair dyes; and
when such strips have become thoroughly saturated and impregnated they are then
withdrawn and allowed to dry or dried; when dry these strips so charged or
impregnated can be employed either singly or in combination by immersing them
in any suitable liquid, so as to deprive them of their chemical charge, which, on
becoming liberated by the action of the liquid thereon, imparts to such liquid
properties suitable for employment as a dye for human hair. By these means any
desired amount of the liquid can be made and used as required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Hickisson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th June
1879.
JAMES HICKISSON, of Southgate Road, Hackney, in the County of Middlesex,
Marking Ink Manufacturer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF COMBS FOR
IMPARTING COLOUR TO OR IMPROVING THE APPEARANCE OF THE HUMAN HAIR, IN
THE PREPARATION OF SOLID HAIR DYES FROM THE COMPOUNDS EMPLOYED IN THE
MANUFACTURE AFORESAID, AND IN TREATING PAPER AND OTHER FABRICS OR
MATERIALS TO RENDER SAME FIT FOR USE IN DYEING HUMAN HAIR"
According to my Invention I manufacture combs of any of the usual combinations
of chemical compounds or agents employed for dyeing or imparting colour to the
human hair, combining with such compounds or agents suitable substances to form
a base or body; such, for example, as vulcanite, india rubber, glue, gelatine,
dextrine, or other suitable tenacious or gelatinous substance; or I employ manga-
nese, nitre, or other suitable substance soluble in water, in order to fix or maintain
the compounds or agents in a solid form or mass.
The compounds or agents after having been combined with any of the above
named tenacious or gelatinous, or other suitable substances, assume a plastic or semi-
Bolid condition, and they are then moulded or shaped into combs, after which they
are allowed to dry or dried.
I sometimes form every alternate tooth of the comb of any of the combinations
of chemical compounds or agents, and the intervening or intermediate teeth of an
oxidizing agent or oxidizing agents, so as to form a mordant to fix the colour
imparted by the dyeing compound or agents to the hair.
In another method or modification instead of manufacturing the combs of the
chemical compounds, I fit or arrange between the teeth of ordinary combs slabs or
blocks of any of the compounds or agents, or combinations of the same, used in
dyeing human hair and soluble in water, so that I provide a ready means of
imparting colour to or improving the appearance of the human hair at a greatly
reduced cost. The compounds formed into the slabs or blocks, and fitted in the
spaces between the teeth, must not extend the entire length of the teeth, in order
that the chemical compounds should not come in contact with the scalp; 7/8 of the
length of the teeth will be found sufficient.
In order also to prevent the dye on the teeth of those combs manufactured by
the method first herein described from injuring or staining the scalp, I insert in the
end or point of each tooth a small pin, peg, stud, or button of horn, tortoishell,
bone, or other suitable material; and for preventing the hands of the user from
becoming stained the stem of the comb may be provided with a bead or frame of
glass, metal, wood, or the like.
It is desirable to damp the hair previously to applying the comb thereto; or, if
desired, the comb may be damped instead, or it may be heated.
The compounds employed in the manufacture of my combs above mentioned can
be so prepared as to produce a hair dye in a solid form suitable for convenience of
transport and immediate use; and this I effect by combining with such compounds
a tenacious, gelatinous, or other suitable substance to form a base, and by then
drying them, or allowing them to dry, form them into sticks, pills, lozenges, wafers,
or other suitable forms. Or the compounds, when brought into a solid form, may
be reduced to an impalpable powder by grinding, pounding, or by other means; or
they may be reduced to a granulated form and when required for use must be dissolved
in water or other suitable liquid or combination of liquids.
For the purpose of treating paper or other like fabrics or materials to render
them fit for use in dyeing human hair, I proceed as follows:-I first soak or steep
such fabrics or materials (which may be in the form of strips or in other suitable
form) into any one or into any two or more of the chemical compounds employed in the

page_text: manufacture of liquid hair dyes; and when such strips have become thoroughly
saturated and impregnated they are then withdrawn and allowed to dry or dried;
when dry, these strips so charged or impregnated can be employed either singly or
in combination by immersing them in any suitable liquid so as to deprive them of
their chemical charge, which, on becoming liberated by the action of the liquid
thereon, imparts to such liquid properties suitable for employment as a dye for the
human hair. By these means any desired amount of the liquid can be made for
use as required.
I sometimes employ these strips so charged in combination with my improvements
applied to ordinary combs, when such are formed with the blocks or slabs of
chemical compounds between the teeth by fixing on either side of such teeth a
strip of the prepared fabric, so as to retain the blocks or slabs in place and to help
to dye the hair at the same time.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,—
First. The manufacture of combs from any of the combinations of chemical
compounds or agents used in dyeing human hair, employing in conjunction with
such compounds or agents, dextrine, or other suitable gelatinous or tenacious
substance to form a base or body therefor, and render the same suitable for being
moulded, formed, or shaped into combs, as herein described for the purposes set
forth.
Second. Manufacturing combs in the manner herein described, and having every
alternate tooth composed of an oxidizing agent or oxidizing agents to form a
mordant for the purpose of fixing on the hair the colour obtained from the chemical
compounds or agents.
Third. Fitting or arranging between the teeth of ordinary combs blocks or slabs
formed of the compounds or agents, or combinations of same, used for dyeing
human hair, whereby a ready means of imparting colour to the human hair is
provided, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The preparation of hair dyes in a suitable form for convenience of
transport and use by making them in sticks, lozenges, wafers, pills, or in powder, or
in other suitable form, whereby on being dissolved in a suitable liquid they are
instantly rendered serviceable, as herein set forth.
Fifth. The method hereinbefore set forth of treating paper or other fabric or
material to render the same fit for use in dyeing human hair.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Hickisson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JAMES HICKISSON. (L.S.)