IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC LACES OR TRIMMINGS USED FOR MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC LACES OR TRIMMINGS USED FOR MILITARY
AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Narcisse Alfred
Helouis, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 9th September 1876, and dated the 16th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1876.
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ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC LACES OR
TRIMMINGS USED FOR MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of metallic laces or
trimmings for military and other purposes, and consists,-
1st. In the employment of two, three, four, five, or more different metals super-
posed in the order hereafter described.
2ndly. In the application of platinum, either pure or alloyed, or of another metal
capable of replacing platinum, such as palladium, for example, for coating metallic
threads used in the manufacture of military and other trimmings.
In the improved metallic trimmings of this Invention, the several metals of which
the threads are composed are superposed in the following order, whatever may be
the number of metals employed.
1st. Copper (in the centre), platinum, and gold in the case of
gold lace or trimming.
2nd. Copper, silver, platinum, and gold.
3rd. Copper, aluminum, platinum, gold.
4th. Copper, aluminum, silver, platinum, gold.
5th. Aluminum, silver, platinum, gold.
6th. Copper, aluminum, and gold.
7th. Aluminum and gold.
8th. Aluminum and silver.
9th. An alloy of aluminum and silver in each of the above cases.
In this list certain of the metals may be replaced by others, and I have therefore
indicated the above by way of example only.
[Prion Ad71

page_text: In "silver" trimmings no gold is used, and platinum or palladium, either pure or
alloyed, may form the covering surface. The platinum or other metal may be
applied either by superposition on the sheet, by electro deposition, or by other
mechanical or chemical means; for instance, a heated rod of copper may be intro-
duced in a tube or perforated ingot of platinum also heated, and the whole then
laminated or drawn by suitable means. The platinum in cooling unites itself to
the copper or other metal core, and does not separate therefrom in the operation of
wire drawing.
The application of platinum or other metal, such as palladium for instance, to a
thread of copper or silver, or a thread of copper or other metal covered with silver,
prevents the oxidation and the sulphuration of these metals.
I employ platinum, palladium, pure or alloyed, or their equivalent, not only for
"silver" trimmings, but also for gold trimmings, the thin coating of gold in gold
lace or trimming of the ordinary make having been found insufficient to prevent
the oxidation of the metals beneath.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
September 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC LACE OR
TRIMMINGS USED FOR MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from
abroad by Narcisse Alfred Hélouis, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of metallic laces or
trimmings for military and other uniforms and costumes, and consists,―
1st. In the employment of two, three, four, five, or more different metals super-
posed in the order herein-after described.
2nd. In the application of platinum, either pure or alloyed, or of another metal
suitable as a substitute for platinum, such as palladium for example, for coating
metallic threads used in the manufacture of military and other trimmings.
In the improved metallic trimmings of this Invention, the several metals of
which the threads are composed are superposed in the following order, whatever
may be the number of metals employed.
1st. Copper (in the centre), platinum, and gold in the case of
gold lace or trimming.
2nd. Copper, silver, platinum, and gold.
3rd. Copper, aluminium, platinum, gold.
4th. Copper, aluminium, silver, platinum, gold.
5th. Aluminium, silver, platinum, gold.
In this list certain of the metals may be replaced by others, and I have therefore
indicated the above by way of example only.
In silver trimmings no gold is used, and platinum or palladium, either pure or
alloyed, as follows, may form the covering surface.
Platinum and copper.
Platinum and aluminum.
Platinum and silver.
Platinum and zinc.
or palladium alloyed with the same metals, the platinum or palladium being in such
proportion (from about 5 to 10 per cent. about) as to retain the qualities of
inalterability and flexibility. The platinum or other metal may be applied either
by superposition in the leaf, by electro deposition, or by other mechanical or
chemical means; for instance, a heated rod of copper may be introduced in a tube
or perforated ingot of platinum also heated, and the whole then laminated or drawn
by suitable known means. The platinum in cooling unites itself to the copper or other

page_text: metal core, and does not separate therefrom in the operation of wire drawing. I
may also similarly introduce a rod of silver, copper, a rod of fine silver, or a rod of
silver having a core of copper into a welded or other platinum tube at a white heat,
but the best mode is to apply the platinum in the leaf, as in gilding and silvering,
only in this case the platinum is first gilt, as the smallest quantity of gold greatly
facilitates the operation.
The application of platinum or other inalterable, inoxidizable, non-sulphurable
metal, such as palladium for instance, to a thread of copper or silver, or a thread of
copper or other metal covered with silver, prevents the oxidation and the sulphu-
ration of these metals.
I employ platinum, palladium, pure or alloyed, or their equivalent, not only for
"silver" trimmings, but also for gold trimmings, the thin coating of gold in gold
lace or trimming of the ordinary make having been found insufficient to prevent
the oxidation of the metals beneath. I may also employ aluminum for covering
silver, copper, &c., for the manufacture of inalterable metallic laces or trimmings.
1st example. For gold laces the metals are superposed in the following
order:
2nd example. For silver laces.
3rd example.-
Copper, or silver, or alloy.
Aluminum.
Platinum.
Aluminum.
Gold or platinum.
4th example. Especially intended for inferior qualities, which should burn with
a white flame according to the varying proportions of the aluminum.
Aluminum at the centre.
Copper.
Silver, platinum, or gold.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The new manufacture of metallic laces or trimmings by the superposition of
several metals in the order indicated, whatever may be the mode in which said
superposition is effected, as described.
2nd. The use in the manufacture of gold and silver laces or trimmings of
platinum, palladium (or other metal possessing the same inalterable qualities),
whether pure or alloyed, for preventing the oxidation and sulphuration of threads
of copper or silver, or threads composed of several metals superposed, as herein-
before specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)