IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RUGS AND MATS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Milburn, of Radcliffe, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF RUGS AND MATS."
Sealed the 19th December 1871, and dated the 6th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Milburn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th July 1871.
I, GEORGE MILBURN, of Radcliffe, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RUGS AND MATS," to be as follows,
that is to say:-
-
My Invention has for its object the manufacture of rugs or mats. so
as to imitate the ordinary heald rugs or mats made by stitching healds
on suitable fabrics, or made by weaving the healds into the fabric
without stitching, and consists in the use of any required number of
threads so arranged that they may be woven into the fabric forming the

page_text: back of the rug or mat so as to imitate the heald rugs or mats now
generally in use.
A definate number of picks of weft is first put into the cloth to form
the back, and then the threads to form the part imitating the healds are
made to form the upper part of the shed, and a rod of sufficient size to
give the required length of material is woven in, then a definate number
of picks to form the back and another rod woven in, and so on till any
convenient number of rods are woven in, which are then withdrawn, the
threads being cut to form the appearance of healds.
This process does not require knitted healds, the rugs or mats being
formed in the loom without knitting.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Milburn in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
MILBURN, of Radcliffe, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Milburn, Her special licence
that I, the said George Milburn, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Milburn, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should. at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
The ManufacturE OF RUGS AND MATS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said George Milburn, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and

page_text: cause me same to be fica Great Seal ratent Umce within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Milburn, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
samo is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My Invention has for its object the manufacture of rugs and mats so
as to imitate the ordinary heald rugs and mats made by stitching healds
on suitable fabrics or made by weaving the healds into the fabrics
without stitching, and consists in the use of any required number of
threads so arranged that they may be woven into the fabric forming the
back of the rugs or mats now generally in use.
A definite number of picks of weft is first put into the cloth to form
the back, and then the threads to form the part imitating the healds is
made to form the upper part of the shed, and a rod of sufficient size, to
give the required length of material is woven in, then a definite number
of picks to form the back and another rod woven in, and so on till any
convenient number of rods arc woven in, which are then withdrawn,
the threads being cut to form the appearance of healds.
This process does not require knitted healds, the rugs or mats being
formed in the loom without knitting.
A loom with three treadles is used for weaving the rugs and mats,
one yarn beam containing the yarn or warp to form a portion of the
back of the rugs or mats, and another beam containing the worsted to
form the upper portion of the rugs or mats are used. Two of the treddles
are used to form the back and the other treddle is used to form that
portion to imitate the healds. A definite number of picks of weft or
cord are first put into the warp to form the back by the use of the two
before-mentioned treddles of the loom as in ordinary weaving, then by
the use of the other treddle the worsted yarn is thrown below the part
forming the back, and by means of a rod containing a hole or loop a
cord coated with pitch is passed across the shed, and a weight or spring
attached to the said treddle brings back the worsted yarn above the
upper surface of the back, and a rod of the required size being placed
on the other yarn the last-named treddle is again pressed and another
portion of cord coated with pitch is passed across the shed and the first

page_text: rod woven in; then a definite number of picks are put in to form a
portion of the back and another rod woven in as before stated, and when
about ten rods have been woven in the worsted enclosing the rods is
cut on the upper part, and the rods are then liberated and a portion
This
of the rug or mat is completed in imitation of heald rugs or mats.
process is repeated until the desired length of the rug or mat is attained.
The rug or mat as it is manufactured is wound on the cloth beam of
the loom in the ordinary manner.
My object in using cord coated with pitch is to prevent the threads
forming the upper portion of the rug-or-mat from being-loose or with-
drawn, for it is found that the pitch holds them securely in the back
and makes the rug or mat more durable.
The material forming the upper part of the rug or mat is dyed when
required of any suitable colour before being used in the loom.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the said Invention is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that what I claim is, the manufacture of rugs and mats as
herein stated in imitation of heald rugs and mats by weaving the
materials together as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Milburn, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
THOMAS BALDWIN;
Bury,
Lancashire.
GEORGE MILBURN. (L.S.)