CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS OR COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD CALLED SOU'-WESTERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abraham Braham and Lewis Braham, both of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS OR COVERINGS FOR
THE HEAD CALLED SOU'-WESTERS."
Sealed the 4th August 1868, and dated the 14th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abraham Braham and
Lewis Braham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 14th April 1868.
We, ABRAHAM BRAHAM and LEWIS BRAHAM, both of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS OR
COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD CALLED Sou'-WESTERS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to a certain description of hats called "sou"-
westers" used principally by seafaring men, which are usually composed
of canvas or woven fabric and flannel and made in sections sewn
together and then painted outside or otherwise waterproofed.

page_text: The improvements consist in manufacturing such descriptions of hats
or coverings for the head of one entire piece without scams or sewing,
which is to be effected by the use of ordinary felt hat-making machinery,
the blocks and steam or hot chamber being altered to suit the peculiar
shape of the "sou'-wester." The woven fabric is first attached to the
flannel lining by glue or cement, and a piece sufficiently large is held
tightly and stretched or pulled out by two operatives whilst it is being
presssed into form by the pressing blocks; the outside canvas or woven
fabric is then painted or waterproofed and the edges being cut or trimmed
round and bound the hat is completed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Abraham Braham and Lewis Braham in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ABRAHAM
BRAHAM and LEWIS BRAHAM, both of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord Oue thousand eight "hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Abraham Braham and Lewis Braham,
Her special license that we, the said Abraham Braham and Lewis
Braham, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said Abraham Braham and Lewis Braham, our 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 "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS OR COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Abraham
Braham and Lewis Braham, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands
and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Abraham Braham and Lewis
Braham, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to
say) :-
Our Invention relates to a certain description of hats called "sou-
westers" used principally by seafaring men, which are usually composed
of canvass or woven fabrics and flannel and made in sections sewn together
and then painted outside or otherwise waterproofed.
The improvements consist in manufacturing such description of hats
or coverings for the head of one entire piece without seams or sewing,
which is to be effected by the use of ordinary felt hat-making machinery,
the blocks and steam or hot chamber being altered to suit the peculiar
shape of the "sou'wester." The woven fabric is first attached to the
flannel lining by glue or cement and a piece sufficiently large is held
tightly and stretched or pulled out by two operatives whilst it is being
pressed into form by the pressing blocks; the outside canvas or woven
fabric is then painted or waterproofed and the edge being cut or trimmed
round and bound the hat is completed.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention we wish it
to be understood that we claim the novel and peculiar method or
process of forming or manufacturing a covering for the head known
as "sou'-westers" out of one entire piece as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Abraham Braham and Lewis
Braham, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-eight.