IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR TIPPING OR FINISHING FABRICS MADE IN IMITATION OF SHAL SKINS AND OTHER SIMILAR FABRICS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Booth, of Ovenden, near Halifax, in the
County of York, Manufacturer, and James Briggs Gardam, of
Halifax aforesaid, Finisher, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS FOR TIPPING OR FINISHING FABRICS MADE IN IMITATION OF SHAL
SKINS AND OTHER SIMILAR FABRICS."
Sealed the 24th June 1878, and dated the 3rd May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Booth and
James Briggs Gardam at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 3rd May 1878.
We, JAMES BOOTH, of Ovenden, near Halifax, in the County of
York, Manufacturer, and JAMES BRIGGS GARDAM, of Halifax aforesaid,
Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR TIPPING OR FINISHING FABRICS MADE IN IMITATION
OF SEAL SKINS AND OTHER SIMILAR FABRICS," to be as follows :—
Our Invention relates to the finishing of fabrics made in imitation of
seal and otter skins, and other such like fabrics, the surface pile of
which, being first dyed in comparatively light soft colours, is afterwards

page_text: "tipped" on the outer edge with darker colours, leaving the roots of the
pile untouched.
The "tipping" process has hitherto been done by hand, the workman
laying on the dark colour by means of a hand brush passed backwards
and forwards over the surface of the pile. This method is open to 5
serious objections, such as the very limited amount of work which one
man can do, and the uneven effect produced both with regard to the
depth of pile affected by the colour on the hand brush, and the want of
uniformity in the distribution of the colour.
Now our Invention consists in dispensing with hand labour, and in 1
the use of a machine so constructed that the colouring matter for
tipping the pile is applied thereto by means of a series of rotary brushes,
by preference three in number, the first of which receives the colour
from direct contact with a copper roller revolving in the colour trough,
and provided with suitable "doctors" for regulating the amount of 1
colour to be given off by the roller to the brush.
After receiving the colour from the first brush the fabric then
passes into contact with the second, which brushes the pile in the
opposite direction, and then with the third which runs in the same
direction as the first.
There are suitable guide rollers acting on the back of the fabric,
each capable of ready adjustment for guiding it properly through the
machine, and for regulating the extent or depth to which it is desired
that the rotary brushes shall penetrate into the pile.
By the means described we not only obtain great uniformity of effect
and distribution of colour, but we can do with this machine as much
work as would require a large number of workmen to do by hand.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Booth and James Briggs Gardam in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd November 1873.
8

page_text: 1
turer, and JAMES BRIGGS GARDAM, of Halifax aforesaid, Finisher, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said James Booth and James
Briggs Gardam, Her special license that we, the said James Booth and
James Briggs Gardam, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said James Booth and James Briggs
Gardam, 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 Ohannel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR TIPPING OR FINISHING FABRICS MADE IN
IMITATION OF SEAL SKINS AND OTHER SIMILAR FABRICS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said James Booth and James Briggs
Gardam, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of
one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 James Booth and James Briggs
Gardam, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
Our Invention relates to the finishing of fabrics made in imitation of
seal and otter skins, and other such like fabrics, the surface pile of which,
being first dyed in comparatively light soft colors, is afterwards
tipped" on the outer edge with darker colours, leaving the roots of the
pile untouched.
66
The "tipping" process has hitherto been done by hand, the workman
laving on the dark color by means of a hand brush passed backwards

page_text: and forwards over the surface of the pile. This method is open to serious
objections, such as the very limited amount of work which one man can
do, and the uneven effect produced both with regard to the depth of pile
affected by the colour on the hand brush, and the want of uniformity in
the distribution of the colour.
5
Now our Invention consists in dispensing with hand labour, and in
the use of a machine so constructed that the coloring matter for
tipping the pile is applied thereto by means of a series of rotary brushes,
by preference three in number, the first of which receives the color
from direct contact with a copper roller revolving in the color trough, 1
and provided with suitable "doctors" for regulating the amount of
color to be given off by the roller to the brush..
After receiving the colour from the first brush the fabric then passes
into contact with the second which brushes the pile in the opposite
direction, and then with the third which runs in the same direction as 1
the first.
There are suitable guide rollers acting on the back of the fabric,
each capable of ready adjustment for guiding it properly through the
machine, and for regulating the extent or depth to which it is desired
that the rotary brushes shall penetrate into the pile.
By the means described we not only obtain great uniformity of effect
and distribution of colour, but we can do with this machine as much
work as would require a large number of workmen to do by hand.
And in order that our said Invention may be more clearly understood,
and readily carried into effect, we will proceed aided by the accom- 1
panying Drawing more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING,
which represents a section of machinery for tipping or finishing, arranged
according to our Invention.
a is the fabric to be operated upon; b, b¹, b³, are revolving brushes;
c is a copper or other roller for receiving colouring matter from the
color trough d, and transmitting it to the first revolving brush b; e is
a "doctor"
or scraper
to regulate the amount of color transmitted to

page_text: effectually prevent this splashing of the color at the edges of the fabric
in cases where the widths vary a little a small angular plate e³ is used.
£,ƒª, ƒª, are adjustable rollers acting on the back of the fabric a to
determine the depth of pile affected by the brushes; and 9, G, g, aro
guide rollers and bars or rods to guide the fabric away from the brushes
after they have operated thereon. The fabric a to be operated upon is
placed on a table h or on the floor, and is conducted through the
friction devices i, i, whence it is conducted to between the first revolving
brushes b, 61, 63, and the rollers in the direction of the arrow. This first
revolving brush rotates in a direction contrary to that of the course of
the fabric through the machine, and applies the color it has received
from the roller c to the fabric to a depth determined by the roller f.
The fabric thence passes to between the revolving brushes 6', 6³, and the
rollers f¹, f, the revolving brushes 6¹ and 6ª revolving in the directions
indicated by the arrows.
We have not shown the gearing for communicating motion to the
various rollers and brushes, as such will be readily understood.
The machine, as shown in the Drawing, is simply arranged for
finishing what are termed "plain" imitation seal or otter skins, but in
cases where a shaded effect is required to be produced in the fabric by
means of alternate light and dark stripes running lengthwise of the
fabric the colour trough is divided into the required number of sections,
and supplied with the requisite. variety of shading colors; and the
color roller c is also in this case made in corresponding sections, and
is caused to deliver the colour to a carrying roller covered with cloth,
felt, or other suitable materials, and from this carrying roller the colour
is transmitted to the first revolving brush b, whilst in order to obtain a
gradual shading off of the darker and lighter colors, the one into the
other, another or second roller, covered with cloth or other suitable
O material, is caused to rotate in contact with the brush b, as well as with
the first carrying roller; and this second roller, as it revolves, is also
caused to traverse endwise in its bearings, by which means the respective
colors are gradually shaded off into each other instead of the various
shades appearing on the surface of the cloth in abrupt sharply
5 defined lines.
G
0
We would here remark that we have not thought it necessary to give
Drawing of this modification of the annaratus, as such will be readily

page_text: understood by a competent mechanic from the description above
given.
The fabric after passing through the machine is again folded or
cuttled, and is. thence taken into a steamer for the purpose of
steaming or setting the colors. After being in the steamer for about
half an hour the surplus coloring matter is washed off, and the fabric
is finished in the usual manner.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the mode
in which we carry the same into effect, we would have it understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein shown and 1
described; but what we do claim is, the employment of mechanical
means for tipping or finishing fabrics made in imitation of seal and
otter skins, and other similar fabrics, in manner substantially as herein
shown and described.
In witness whereof, wo, the said. James Booth and James Briggs 1
Gardam, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirty-first
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-three.
JAMES BOOTH.
(L.S.)
JAMES B. GARDAM. (L.S.)