IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION FEATHERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION FEATHERS." A cominunication from abroad
by Morris Simon Heymann, Seymour Morris Heymann, and Henry Morris
Heymann, all of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 26th September 1879, and dated the 30th July 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1879;
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION FEATHERS."
A communication from abroad by Morris Simon Heymann, Seymour Morris Hey-
mann, and Henry Morris Heymann, all of the City, County, and State of New
York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to a new manner of making imitation ostrich feathers.... It
is also applicable to the production of imitations of other feathers, and consists
principally in making the vanes of the imitation feather from transverse strips or
pieces of fibrous fabric of peculiar construction, which pieces are clasped and held
by and between the two halves of a divided quill or stem. The sections of the
vane are preferably made on a machine, which is described in another application
for Letters Patent of even date herewith; but they may be made in any other
suitable manner, and I do not here confine myself to any special construction of
such vanes, otherwise than as hereinafter more fully stated.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved
imitation feather; Figure 2, a cross section of the same; and Figure 3, a diagram
showing its construction. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
The letter A represents the quill or stem of the imitation feather, and B, B, are
the vanes thereof. This quill, which is made of metal or india-rubber, wood, cellu-
loid, or any other analogous substance, is a tapering stick, preferably flexible, which
stick is split from its thicker end to its tapering point, either entirely or partly, and

page_text: between which the cross pieces a, a, that constitute the vanes B, B, of the feather
are clasped and held; in fact, the real quill of a genuine feather may be used as the
quill for this imitation feather by splitting it from the point down the proper dis-
tance and clamping the cross-pieces a, a, between them; then re-uniting the two
parts of the quill and joining them either by means of proper cement or glue, or
mechanically by fasteners of suitable kinds, such as fine pins, fine wire, or
otherwise.
The cross-pieces a, a, are placed one close to the other in regular or more or less
irregular rows between the two halves, of the quill, as indicated in the diagram,
Figure 3: Each of the cross pièces a, a, is composed of a central stem or quill, and
of laterally projecting tufts or feathery vanes, so that when. the. several cross
pieces a, a, have been united by a quill A and properly crimped as indicated in
Figure 1, the appearance will be that of a genuine ostrich feather, and if not
crimped or otherwise bent into shape or with longer and closer fibres on the
cross-pieces, the appearance of any other feather may be imitated. After the cross
pieces a, a, have been properly located and secured in the quill A by joining the
two halves of the quill as stated, the cross-pieces may be cut and trimmed to the
proper length; or they may be so cut before being placed; but I prefer to cut them
after they have been confined in the quill, as this enables the operator to shape
the quill precisely as desired.. The parts a, a, are finally crimped by a beating iron
or in any other suitable manner to produce the desired effect. Thus, an imitation
feather which is flexible, of beautiful appearance, and which, when regarded from
either side will represent a natural feather, is obtained.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new; and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,-
1. The imitation feather composed of the slit or double-quill A and of the cross
strips a, a, clamped between the two parts of the quill, substantially as herein shown
and described.
2. An imitation feather composed of. a quill or central stem A, and of vanes
-B-B,-each-vane-being-composed-of-cross-pieces_a,.a, of which_each_has_a_central
stem and laterally projecting fibre, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I,, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine..
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