A MACHINE FOR THE MAKING AND MANUFACTURING OF BOBBIN LACE, OR LACE NEARLY RESEMBLING FOREIGN LACE, BY MEANS OF WHICH SUCH LACE WOULD BE MADE TO MUCH GREATER ADVANTAGE THAN BY ANY OTHER MODE HITHERTO PRACTISED, AND FROM THE USE OF WHICH WOULD RESULT A CONSIDERABLE DECREASE OF EXPENCE, BEING CALCULATED TO PROMOTE AN EFFECTUAL SAVING IN TIME AND LABOUR
Year: 1809

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, JOHN HEATH-
COAT, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Lace Manufacturer, sends
greeting.
WHEREAS in and by certain Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date the Twentieth
day of March, in the forty-ninth year of the reign of His present Majesty
King George the Third, it is recited that I, the said John Heathcoat, had,
by my petition, that I had, after much labour, study, and expence, found out
and invented "A MACHINE FOR THE MAKING AND MANUFACTURING OF BOBBIN
LACE, OR LACE NEARLY RESEMBLING FOREIGN LACE, BY MEANS OF WHICH SUCH
LACE WOULD BE MADE TO MUCH GREATER ADVANTAGE THAN BY ANY OTHER MODE
HITHERTO PRACTISED, AND FROM THE USE OF WHICH WOULD RESULT A CONSIDERABLE
DECREASE OF EXPENCE, BEING CALCULATED TO PROMOTE AN EFFECTUAL SAVING IN
TIME AND LABOUR," which I conceived from repeated experiments would be
productive of great public utility; that I was the first and true Inventor
thereof, and that the same had not been made or used by any other person
or persons whomsoever, to the best of my knowledge or belief; and I
therefore most humbly prayed that His said Majesty would be graciously
pleased to grant unto me, my exors, adiñiors, and assigns, His Royal
Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, for the sole use, benefit, and advantage of my said
Invention, within that part of His said Majesty's United Kingdom of

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland called called England, His Dominion of Wales, and
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, for the term of fourteen years, pursuant to the
Statute in that case made and provided; and His said Majesty, being willing
to give encouragement to all arts, and inventions which might be for the
public good, was graciously pleased to condescend to my request; therefore
His said Majesty, of His especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion,
did give and grant unto me, the said John Heathcoat, my exors, adñiors, and
assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said John Heathcoat, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, and every of them, by
myself and themselves, or my or their deputy or deputies, servants or agents,
or such others as I, the said John Heathcoat, my exors, adññiors, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter, during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend my said Invention within that part of His
said Majesty's United Kingdom of England and Ireland called England, His
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner as to
me, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or any of them, should in my or their dis-
cretion seem meet; and that I, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, should and
lawfully might have and enjoy the whole profit, benefit, commodity, and
advantage from time to time coming, growing, accruing, and arising by reason
of the said Invention, for and during the term of years therein mentioned;
to have, hold, exercise, and enjoy the said licence, powers, privileges, and
advantages therein-before granted. or mentioned to be granted unto me, the
said John Heathcoat, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, for and during and unto
the full end and term of fourteen years from the date of those Presents,
next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended, according to the Statute in
that case made and provided; and it was thereby provided, that if I, the said
John Heathcoat, should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
Linstrument-in-writing-under-my hand and seal, and cause the same to be
inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, that
then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages thereby granted,
should utterly cease, determine, and become void.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said provisoe, I, the said
John Heathcoat, do hereby declare that my said Juvention is described in
the annexed Drawings, which is contained on six sheets of paper, and the
following description thereof, with a refference to such Drawings, is herein-after
set forth (that is to say):-

page_text: Figure 1, A represents a side view of the right-hand standard; the left
is exactly the same, except the upper arm a being reversed, as shewn by the
dotted lines; in the slit of a, the pivot screws b are put, on the pivots of which
the bars D, 9, are suspended. 2 shews an edge of 1, screwed down to the wood
frame with arms, 5, put upon the spindle d. 3, B represents the tube bar
plate;
a is a hole in which a pin is put on, which 20 is to work; b, b, are holes
to screw the plate to the standard A; c, c, are two pieces of iron screwed
on B, with holes d to receive the pins 6 of J, J. 4 represents a plate to screw
on the outside of the standard A, with gage screws b, b, to stop the tubo
bars J, J; for the position of 3 and 4, when properly fixed, see 42.
5 reprc-
sents the arm. 6 represents a standard, the tenant a of which is fixed in the
slit 6 of 5; 6 is a slit to receive the end a of 30. 7 represents a top view of
the cross bar C, and 8 a front view of the same; a, a, a, a, are holes to screw
it to the standard A. 9 represents the crank bar D, with the top point bar E
fixed in it; a is a handle; b, b, are leads, one of which is put upon each hole
of the bar; c, a stop screwed to the back of E. 10 represents the bottom point
bar; a, a, are leads, one of which is screwed at each hole to the under side of
10; b is a stop screwed to the back of 10, the upper part of which works
against the point of the screw c in 9; 10 is fixed in a crank bar similar to D;
c is a handle screwed to the under side of 10. 11 represents the cradle; at
a, a, a, a, are holes by which the cradle hangs on the pivots g 2; k, k, are two
small gage screws to regulate the back pair of bars G. 12 represents two pieces
of iron to screw on the cradle as in 13. 13 represents an end view of the
cradle; g, the spring; h, the bottom part of 14. 14 represents the conducting
plate screwed on h. 15 represents the saddles F, F. 16, G represents the
conducting bar, with combs a cast in it, in the same manner as a jack bar in a
stocking frame; there are four of these bars, and it is necessary the spaces
between the combs of all the bars should be in a line and at right angles with
the outermost edge of the outside bar; for this purpose I cast all four bars
together, using the counter b. 17 represents an end view of the conducting
bars G, fixed upon the saddles F, in a proper manner for work; the pins a, a, of
F, are put in the holes d of 13, and the screws in the other end of F bear upon
the parts of 11. 18 represents sections of the conducting bars G of the tube
bars J, J, and the position of the tubes when fixed for work; a is a plate
which is put to the back bar G to support the brasses. 19 represents the left-
hand racking lever, the holes in the socket c of which are put on the pin i of
the cradle 11; b is a pin to work in the notches a of 21; the part a of the
lever 19, when the bottom of the lever is drawn forward, acts as a wedge

page_text: between the end of the cradle and the saddle F', on which the front pair of bars
Gare fixed, which forces the said bars to the right; and when the lever is
moved reverse, the spring 9, 11, causes the said front bars to move back to
the left, the lever 21 is forced up to the pin 6 of 19 by a spring, and three
notches a are cut at proper distances, so that shifting the lever one notch will
move the said bars one-tenth of an inch. 20 represents the right-hand racking
lever, resembling the left, except being reversed for the opposite end, the hole
in the socket c of which is put upon a pin in the end of the plate B 3; the
part a acts a wedge between the cradle and the sliding nut c 2, which forces
the cradle and bars G to the left; a lever 21, with four notches, is fixed to
regulate the distance the cradle is moved each time, which notches are made
at such distance as will move the cradle one-twentieth of an inch.
21 repre-
sents the regulating levers; a is a plate screwed to the lever c, the left-hand
one has three notches, and the right-hand four; the hole 6 is put upon the
pin e 2. 22 represents the racking handle; a is a hole to be put upon a pin in
the plate II, fixed on the outside of the wood frame, see 42; b is a hole to
receive the end d of 19 and 20. 23 represents the plate I, and the spring c
screwed to it; a is a screw to strengthen the spring; b is a hole to screw it to
the wood frame in such a position that the end of the spring will bear against
the end of the cradle, and force it to the right, as represented in 43. 24 repre-
sents the front tube bar, with a lead of tubes screwed thereon, and holes for
the remainder; a is a hole for a screw to regulate the distance of the upper
ends of the tubes from each other; b, b, are pins. 25 represents the back tube
bar; the pins b, b, of J, J, work in the holes d of 3; and the screws b, b, in C,
are screwed so as to allow the bars to move one-twentieth of an inch; for the
position of the tubes and bars, see 18. 26 represents a handle to move the
bars J, J; the hole a is put upon a screw to be screwed in the hole c of 25;
the hole is screwed to the hole c of J, 24; the end c projects forward in
nearly an horizontal position; by moving the end c of the handle to the right,
the front tube bar is moved to the right and the back bar to the left, and so
vice versa. 27 is a cramp to be screwed to the under side of the wood frame,
so that the ends of the screw a will come on each side of the arms of the tube
bars J, J. 28 represents a plate of iron, which may be put between the tube
bars, if the brasses should sink in passing across from one side of the tubes
to the other. 29 represents a plate to support 28; a is a slit to receive the
end of 28; 6 is a hole to screw it to the wood frame, see 45. 30 represents
the back round bar, the ends a of which are fastened in the slit b of C; the
front round bar is exactly like this, except three inches and three-quarters

page_text: shorter; the parts fixed thereon are similar. 31 represents the socket in which
the spindle 34 works; a is a hole which is put upon 30; the hole b is made, as
represented in 31, to receive the spindle, and a part larger to receive the screw
head c of 34; d is a part cut out to receive the end 6 of 32. 32 represents the
moveable stop, which is fixed on 31, as shewn by the dotted marks in 30; the
projection a rests upon the pin d, and the part 6 moves in the space d of 31.
33 represents a stop similar to 32, except being reversed for the other hand.
34 represents the spindles, which are fixed in the end of 37. 35 represents a
rest, which is screwed upon c, 30, to support 36. 36 represents the short
shifting bar; the parts 6 are fixed upon the tenant a, and the holes c of b are
put upon the pivots d of 30; when in work, the parts d of 36 and 37 are put
into the notch of o, 41, by which the brasses o, 41, are moved backward and
forward. 37 represents the long shifting bar; a, a, are holes in which 34 is
fixed, the other end of the spindles 34 are put through the hole 6 of 31, and
the screw c is put into the end of the spindle; the screw head, being larger
than the spindle, will not pass down the hole b farther than represented in 31,
and the end, as 6 of 32, being put into the space d of 31, stops the said
screw from moving back; when the first division of the brasses o, 41, are put
through the tubes, 37 is then let fall into the space b, 17, by which motion the
end of 32 falls back from before the hole 6 of 31; and when the other
divisions of the brasses are moved towards the tubes, the end c of 34 projects
out at the end b, 31. 38 represents a right-hand lever, which works on a
pin put into the wood frame, see 45; at a the end of 40 is screwed upon it;
the upper end of 38 is connected with the bottom of 5 by a plate. 39 repre-
sents the left-hand lever, fixed in the same manner as 38. 40 represents the
lever cross lar; this bar is connected with the treddle No. 1 by a strap, which
passes over the pulley K; L is similar to 38, except the bottom part, which
is three inches shorter; M is similar to 39, except as in the last description;
N is similar to 40, except two inches shorter; this bar is connected with the
treadle, Number 2, by a hook, and is held up by weights fixed to the straps,
which pass over pullies fixed to the inside of the wood frame, so that the said
straps and weights will move clear of the bars. 41 represents the brass o,
consisting of a, the iron bottom, which is about the same thickness as the wheel
c, and the counter C, 16, is made a little thicker to allow the part a to move in
the space between the combs in G, 16, and the brass sides b, rivetted and sol-
dered together; the wheels c and the springs d are fixed to regulate the wheel,
which springs are made of watch mainsprings, or other proper materials; the
wheel consists of a boss of iron or brass, and two sides f, of latin brass rivetted

page_text: together; the holes may be either drilled or punched, I prefer the latter; the
sides should not be very hard; after they are rivetted and the edge trimmed,
put the parts g, which are the same thickness as the boss, into the groove of
the wheel, and stamp the wheel between two hard flat surfaces, after which
1 file each side smooth. To prevent the sides from closing together, I put the
wheel upon an iron heated nearly red hot; when the wheels turn a deep yellow
colour, I take them off and take out the pieces g; but if the sides still close
together; I put the pieces g in, and heat them more until I find the heat they
require, the wheel is put into the space between the sides of O, the said sides
being first gaged, so that when the wheel is put in, O shall be about one-
sixteenth of an inch thick, and the edges trimmed, and the axle h is put in
and hammered until it be fast in the wheel, the holes in the side being first
bored, so that fastening the axle in the wheel will not fasten it in the sides
of O; the small hole in the axle is to receive the end of a small bandle i, to
turn the thread upon the wheel. The brasses may either be put in as they
come up, or the whole may be taken out and wound together; I prefer the
latter. 42 represents a front view of the interior of the machine, shewing how
the parts are put together; to show as much as possible of the tube bar
leads 24, only one of the bars G is shewn. 43 represents a back view of the
interior parts of the machine. 44 represents the elevation of the machine
with work upon it; the work is kept a proper width by wires put across from
one edge to the other. 45 represents an end view of 44, shewing the position
of the levers 38 and L, and the position of 5, 6, and 30, when extended. Qis
a screw put through the wood frame, in a hole in the end of which the point
of the bottom roller axle works, and R is a stop to prevent 40 from sinking
too low and thereby taking the brasses from off the back conducting bar.
46, P, represents the tube, consisting of a the outside, which is made of very
thin latin brass, and the stake or small plate of iron b is put up the tube P,
to strengthen it; a is doubled, and the stake 6 is put the back part of the
tube, and rivets are put through the whole; c is an opening to let the thread
into thic tube; d is a substitute for the tube, being a plate of iron with hools
and grooves cut from hole to hole for the thread to pass up, as represented;
the tubes are about one-fortieth of an inch thick, and d is about the same
thickness. 47 represents a lever to raise the back shifting bars out of the
notches of the brasses; the pin a works in the hole of b, the end c being
under the the bottom edge of the back shifting bars when the brasses are in
the position for changing; the shifting bars bearing down the end d, raises the
shifting bars out of the notches of the brasses; is fixed in the top of the
slit of the left-hand standard.

page_text: The following is a reference to the Sheets on which the different Drawings;
are made:-
Sheet the first contains Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 21, 22 and 47. Sheet the second.
contains Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, and 37. Sheet the third contains Figures 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 38, 39, and 40. Sheet the fourth contains
Figures 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36. Sheet the fifth
contains Figures 41, 42, 43, and 46; and Sheet the sixth contains Figures 44
and 45. The thread is warped upon the bottom roller, 20 in an inch, which
threads are put into the tubes and fastened to the web of the top roller, from..
the wall of which a weight is suspended; the bottom roller is regulated by
weights in the same manner as the thread roller of a warp frame; the brasses
are put into cach groove of the conducting bar between the tubes to the
position for changing the shifting bars, as shewn in 18, and the back shifting.
bar 36 is put into the notches of the first division of the brasses, which are
put back, and a second division of the brasses are put in the same position, and
the back shifting bar 37 is put into the notches; the whole of the brasses are
then put back until the brasses are clear of the tubes, when the lever 20 is
pushed back a notch, and the end c of 26 is put to the left, and the second
division is brought forward, and when in the position as represented in 18.
the front shifting bar 86 is put into the notches, and the back shifting bar 37.
taken out; each of the round bars 30 are then extended until the back bar 37
falls into the back space b, 18, and the front bar 37 is taken out of the front
space b, 18; the lever 20 is put: down another notch, 26 is put to the right,
and the first division of the brasses is brought forward to the position for
changing shifting bars; when the front shifting bar 37 is put into the notches
and the back shifting bar 36 is taken out, the whole of the brasses are brought
forward to clear the tubes. Whenever the shifting bars 37 are not in the
notches they are in the spaces. 6, 18, which space allows them to fall suf-
ficiently low for the brasses to pass over them. The weights mentioned in the
description of N, bears the said bar N upward, which causes the front round
bar 30, and all the things fixed thereon, to move out to the position in which
it is described in 45, and bearing upon the treadle, No. 2, moves 30 towards
the conducting bars G. The bar 40, by its own weight, has the same effect
upon the back round bar 30, and bearing upon the treadle, No. 1, being con-
nected with 40 by a strap over the pulley K, moves 80 towards the bars G,
the lever 20 being in the bottom or back notch, and the lever 19 in the
middle notch. To take the crossings or joinings, 26 is put to the left and the
handle c, 10, is brought down to w, 14, which is regulated so that the bottom

page_text: points will enter the threads between the couples by the handle 10 bearing
against the plate 14. The handle is then moved upward to x, where the
points should be put back so as to clear the threads of the back division of the
brasses; the points aro then brought forwards, c, 10, still bearing against 14,
at Y. the points enter between the threads of the other division of the brasses.
This being done, 20 is raised or brought forward two, notches, and 26 is put
to the right; put the first division of the brasses through, raise 19 and 20 one
notch cach, put 26 to the left; put the second 'division of the brasses through,
lower 19 and 20 one notch, and put 26 to the right; bring the second division
of the brasses forward, raise 20 a notch, put 26. to the left, take up with the
top points;, bring the second division of brasses through, put 26 to the right,
take up with the bottom points as directed above, lower 19 a notch, put 26 to
the left; put tho first division through, raise 19 and 20 one notch each, put
26 to the right; put the second division through, lower 20 a notch, put 26 to
the left; bring the second division of the brasses forward, raise 20 a notch,
put 26 to the right; put the second division of the brasses through, lower 20
a notch, put 26 to the left; bring the second division forward, lower 20 a
notch, put 26 to the right, take up with the top points; bring the first division
of brasses through, put 26 to the left, and take up with the bottom points.
To take up with the top points, take hold of the handles, E and 10, and put
the point bar E back, so that the points shall be quito out of the work, then
bearing 10 to the right, and E to the left, bear E down until the points of E
slide in the eyes or grooves of the bottom points; bring E forward, still holding
the points in the grooves, and when the work is well on the points of E, let E
rise till the bandle stops at the screw in C; the screw in c of E is regulated
so as to conduct the top points into the grooves of the bottom points. When
anything is amiss with the tubes or threads that require the bars G to be
removed, put the brasses to the opposite side, and turn the shifting bars up,
and then-turn-the pair of bars G up, when the tubes and threads will be scen
without any obstruction. The first division of brasses works to the left, and
the second to the right; when the first division of brasses extend four brasses
farther to the left than the second, take the said four brasses from the first
division to the second, and at the other end put the same number from the
second division to the first. The point bars are held up by springs fixed to
the handles. The heaviest part of the machine is made of cast iron, and the
lightest parts are made of wrought iron and brass, and those made of brass
are either coloured in the Drawing, or notice in the Specification. This
machine is adapted to work thread made of flax, silk, cotton, or any other

page_text: material of which is usually made. If the wires put across to keep the work
proper width should break the edges of the lace, a stronger thread may be
worked on each edge. These machines may be made wider or narrower, finer
or coarser, by proportioning all the parts to the width or gage.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Heathcoat, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and nine.