IMPROVE MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT BODIES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Loughborough
Park, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT BODIES."
A communication from abroad by James Seeley Taylor, residing at Dau-
beny, Connecticut, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 3rd February 1868, and dated the 9th August 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomlinson
Bousfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 9th August 1862.
I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HAT BODIES," to
be as follows:-
⚫ This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of hat
bodies, and relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus consisting in an inverted
perforated cone placed in an exhausted chamber in connection with a picker
arrangement for picking and blowing fur, for the purpose of facilitating the
process of forming hat bodies. For this purpose a square shaped chamber is
used (though the form may be varied) of the proper dimensions to receive a
large sized perforated cone, which is, inverted and suspended in a revolving
metal ring on the top of the chamber. On one side of the chamber is an
opening, in which is placed a revolving fan or blower for the purpose of

page_text: exhausting the air from the chamber. On the top of the chamber is placed
an iron frame with an opening in the top; in this iron frame the iron or other
metal ring above mentioned is fitted in such a manner as to turn freely by
means of a small pinion fitting into teeth or cogs on the outer edge of the
revolving ring. The frame that supports the ring is suspended in a joint or
binge on each side, so as to be easily raised or lowered by means of a riser.
Between this plate or metal frame and the exhaust chamber is placed or fastened
a strip of leather or other suitable material, to prevent the air from passing
into the chamber, except the air which is drawn into the chamber through the
cone in the opening on the top of the frame. The perforated cone is fitted to
the revolving ring by means of a copper rim fastened to the outer edgo of the
cone. In connection with this arrangement is used a picker arrangement,
consisting of a feed apron, feed rollers, and picker operating in a manner
similar to the arrangement ordinarily used for picking and blowing fur. The
picking apparatus is supported on a frame constructed in such a manner as to
raise and lower the picker and feed rollers at the will of the operator. The
frame that supports the picker and feed arrangements is supported on each
side by a collar passing around the boxes that support the driving shaft. In
front and immediately under the picker are placed two screws in such a
manner as to raise and lower the picker by means of bevil gears on the screw
shaft fitting into bevil gear on a shaft placed across the machine over and
above the screws and immediately under the picker and feed rollers; this is
to connect the two screws so that they shall both turn at the same time and
at the same distance. Over the picker is placed a narrow cap of any suitable
metal or material, for the purpose of preventing the fur from being thrown
back over on the feed apron. The whole machinery is connected with belts
and gearing in the form and manner usually adopted in operating machinery
for preparing and blowing fur. In working the machinery the fur, having
been previously properly prepared, is placed evenly on the feed apron in the
proper quantity for making one hat body. The feed apron is caused to revolve
slowly, by which the fur is carried forward between the two feed rollers, which
being previously bound with firm woollen cloth hold the fur between the rollers
until the picker in its rapid motion picks out the fur and throws it out and
forward over the perforated cone suspended in the revolving ring; the fur is
drawn downwards into the cone, and is deposited on the inner surface of the
cone. To make the hat body heavier towards the tip, the picker is to be raised,
which causes more fur to be deposited on the tip of the hat body. To make
the hat body heavier on the brim, the picker is to be lowered, which will cause
a heavier deposit of fur on the brim, or the same result may be obtained by

page_text: means of changing the position of the frame that supports the cone, thus, if
the cone is tipped down on the side next the picker, the fur will be deposited
heaviest on the tip of the hat body, and if the side next to the picker is raised,
then the fur will be deposited heaviest on the brim.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 9th February 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of the Loughborough Park, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing dato the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, Her special licence, that I, the said
George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to timo
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 APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF HAT BODIES," a communication to me from abroad by James Seeley Taylor,
a person resident at Daubeny, Connecticut, in the United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Tomlinson
Bousfield, 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 cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after tho
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in apparatus to be used in.

page_text: 3
the manufacture of hat bodies, and relates to a novel arrangement of apparatus
for manufacturing hat bodies; this apparatus is shewn in the annexed Drawings,
and consists in an inverted perforated coue placed in an exhausted chamber in
connection with a picker arrangement for picking and blowing fur for the
purpose of facilitating the process of forming hat bodies. For this purpose a
square shaped chamber is used (though the form may be varied) of the
proper
dimensions to receive a large sized perforated cone, which is inverted and
suspended in a revolving metal ring on the top of the chamber. On one side
of the chamber is an opening, in which is placed a revolving fan or blower for
the purpose of exhausting the air from the chamber. On the top of the
chamber is placed an iron frame with an opening in the top, in this iron framo
the iron or other metal ring above mentioned is fitted in such a manner as to
turn freely by means of a small pinion fitting into teeth or cogs on the outer
edge of the revolving ring. The frame that supports the ring is suspended in
à joint or hinge on each side so as to be easily raised or lowered by means of
a riser. Between this plate or metal frame and the exhaust chamber is placed
or fastened a strip of leather or other suitable material, to prevent the air from
passing into the chamber, except the air which is drawn into the chamber
through the cone in the opening on the top of the frame. The perforated
cone is fitted to the revolving ring by means of a copper rim fastened to the
outer edge of the cone. In connection with this arrangement is used a picker
arrangement consisting of a feed apron, feed rollers, and picker operating in a
'manner similar to the arrangement ordinarily used for picking and blowing
fur. The picking apparatus is supported on a frame constructed in such a
manner as to raise and lower the picker and feed rollers at the will of the
operator. The frame that supports the picker and feed arrangements is
supported on each side by a collar passing around the boxes that supports
the driving shaft. In front and immediately under the picker are placed two
screws in such a manner as to raise and lower the picker by means of bevil
gears on the screw shaft fitting into bevil gear on a shaft placed across the
machine over and above the screws, and immediately under the picker and feed
rollers; this is to connect the two screws so that they shall both turn at the
same time and at the same distance. Over the picker is placed a narrow cap of
any suitable metal or material for the purpose of preventing the fur from being
thrown back over on the feed apron. The whole machinery is connected with
belts and gearing in the form and manner usually adopted in operating
machinery for preparing and blowing fur. In working the machinery the fur,
having been previously properly prepared, is placed evenly on the feed apron
in the proper quantity for making one hat body. The feed apron is caused to

page_text: revolve slowly, by which the fur is carried forward between the two feed rollers,
which being previously bound with firm woollen cloth hold the fur between
the rollers until the picker in its rapid motion picks out the fur and throws
it out forward over the perforated cone suspended in the revolving ring; the
fur is drawn downward into the cone, and is deposited on the inner surface of
the cone. To make the hat body heavier towards the tip, the picker is to be
raised, which causes more fur to be deposited on the tip of the hat body. To
make the hat body beavier on the brim, the picker is to be lowered, which will
cause a heavier deposit of fur on the brim, or the same result may be obtained
by means of changing the position of the frame that supports the cone, thus, if
the cone is tipped down on the side next the picker, the fur will be deposited
heaviest on the tip of the hat body, and if the side next to the picker is raised,
then the fur will be deposited heaviest on the brim. To remove the hat from
the cone there is another cone made of the same material and perforated in
the same manner, which is dropped down into the cone in which the hat is
formed, thus holding the hat between the two.cones. The whole is then
removed and immersed or hardened by any of the well known methods for
that purpose. It is found that no cloth is necessary to be placed over the hats
to prevent their becoming ruptured or injured in any way during the process
of immersion.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
ATO
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (..)