Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 4th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th July, 1888
SAMUEL POTTER HOWARD Inventor 20 Princes Street Cavendish Square London
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is the production of Straw Plush Plait, having a plush
or pile raised on the surface, after the manner of fabrics. I produce the plush or
pile in the following manner. I so cut the straws, which form the fancy edge or
border of the Plait, that they project at intervals, forming a fringe of Straw tubes,
from a quarter to half an inch in length. By means of small circular segment knives,
I cleave each straw into a tuft of filaments, of any degree of fineness required, this
produces the appearance of plush or pile, and when made into hats and bonnets,
produces all the effect of fabrics, the beauty of which is much enhanced, by the
bright enamel of the outside Straw contrasted with the dead surface of the inside of
the Straw.

page_text: SAMUEL POTTER HOWARD Manufacturer 20 Princes Street Cavendish Square
London do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of my Invention is the production of Plush Plaits having a plush or pilo
raised on their surface after the manner of fabrics. I produce the pile or plush in the
following manner. I cut the straws which form the fancy edge or border of the
plait, so that they project at intervals, forming a fringe of straw tubes, of any
required length. By means of a small circular segment knife, I cleave each straw into
a tuft of filaments of any degree of fineness required. This gives an entirely new, and
novel appearance to straw plaits, and when sewn into Hats and Bonnets, the effect of
a plush or pile is produced, the outside portion of the Straw being bright, the inner
side being dull, adds great beauty to the material.
In order to make the originality of my Invention more clearly understood, I
proceed to describe the method of production of the plaits hitherto in use. It is well
known throughout the Trade, that in the process of making straw plaits, whether with
four straws only, or a greater number, the special straws which form the fancy edge,
or border, are set in at regular intervals, on account of the short lengths. They are
twisted when damp into the pattern required and so interwoven, that the straws run
smoothly and continuously throughout the entire length; The fancy design is
unbroken and uniform. The best known examples which illustrate the principle, are
the twist head plait, the one purl, moss head, lace, feather, and loop, which are types
of all the plaits which have hitherto been made. I produce the plush or pile on the
surface, in the following manner. The Straws which are set in to form the outer edge
or fancy border, are cut at regular intervals which leaves the ends of the straws
projecting from the plait; By means of a circular segment knife or cutter, I cleave
each straw through to the end of the tube; a tuft of Straw filaments, or pile, or plush
is immediately produced, the fineness of which is regulated by the number of divisions
in the knife. I toughen the plush by wetting it with warm water, which prepares it
for the manufacture of Hats and Bonnets. The production of the Novelty of Hats
and Bonnets of Straw Plush is thus accomplished.
Having given in detail the process of making the plush plait, I do not confine myself
to the exact details as laid down, for example the pile or plush may be prepared
beforehand and inserted by the Straw Plaitter in the process of making the plait,
which would be the same production when finished.

page_text: I do not claim the segment knife or circular cutter as part of my Invention, as it
will be obvious, that other ways of cutting the Straws and producing the pile may be
adopted; The sole object of my Invention being the production of a new and original
kind of plait having a pile or plush on the surface after the manner of fabrics, and
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and after what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
The right of making plush plaits, in all varieties of Straw which can be utilized for
the manufacture of Hats and Bonnets.