A MACHINE TO BE AFFIXED OR ATTACHED TO HORIZONTAL, WARP, OR VANDYKE KNITTING FRAMES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURING BY SIMPLE, NEAT, AND EXPEDITIOUS METHOD, LACE OR NETWORK, OF VARIOUS FIGURES AND QUALITIES, WITH THREAD, SILK, COTTON, WORSTEAD, OR OTHER MATERIAL PRODUCED FROM ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, OR MINERAL SUBSTANCES
Year: 1804

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
BROWN, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Lace Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourteenth day of
May, in the forty-fourth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said
Robert Brown, His especial licence that I, the said Robert Brown, should
and lawfully might, during the term of years therein mentioned, make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "A MACHINE TO BE AFFIXED OR ATTACHED TO HORIZONTAL, WARP, OR
VANDYKE KNITTING FRAMES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURING BY
SIMPLE, NEAT, AND EXPEDITIOUS METHOD, LACE OR NETWORK, OF VARIOUS FIGURES
AND QUALITIES, WITH THREAD, SILK, COTTON, WORSTEAD, OR OTHER MATERIAL
PRODUCED FROM ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, OR MINERAL SUBSTANCES;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Robert
Brown, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to cause a parti-
cular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within one calendar month from the date of the said Letters Patent,
otherwise the said Letters Patent to be void, as by the said Letters Patent,
relation being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said

page_text: Robert Brown, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described by the
Plans or Drawings hereunto annexed, and in manner following, that is to
say:
Letter F is an entire perspective Drawing of the said machine, attached to
the horizontal, warp, or vandyke knitting frame.
Figures I. II. III. IV. V. VI. are Drawings of the minute parts of the
separate pieces of machinery, composing together the said machine, which I
describe and explain in manner following, that is to say:
Figure I. represents the main bar of the said machine (with the handles to
work it), separated from the other bars with which it is when working con-
nected. It is supported at the ends upon two axles (denoted by letters x, x),
which enter a hole in each of the cranks of a crank bar, in the same manner
as in the old horizontal warp frame. One of the axles is moveable (as repre-
sented by the Figure of the axle at X), for the greater facility of taking off or
putting on the bar. Letters S, S, are two slots, screwed on the front edge of
the bar, in order to admit the screws of the telegraph (another part of the said
machine, herein-after described), and represented in the said Drawings by
letters S, S, Figure IV. b, b, are two catches, with an upper and lower stop in
each, for holding down the thumb levers attached to the falling bars (other
parts of the said machine herein-after described and represented in the said
Drawings by the letters a, a, in Figures II. and III.). When the said thumb
levers are put under the lower stops of the said catches, they keep the eyes of
the guides in a right line. The upper stops of the catches prevent the falling
bars from falling too low when the thumb levers are thrown off the lower
stops of the said catches. Letter m is a stop, similar to one used in the said
old warp frames, to keep up the machine. Letter n is a stop, similar also to
one used in the said old warp frame, to regulate the distance at which the
guides shall enter the needles when laying the threads. A (underneath one
end of the Figure I.) represents one of the end bits, slotted; two of which are
affixed to each end of the said main bar, next to the stops (m and n), by
screws, inserted at the points a, a, in Figure I. In these end bits the axles.
of the said falling bars (represented by letters a, a, a, a, in Figures II. and III.)
are supported and work, being received into holes perforated in each of the
said end bits, tapped on the outside to admit a regulating screw. The end
bits, supporting the upper falling bar, are placed with the perforated parts
upwards. Those supporting the lower falling bar are placed with the perfo-
rated parts downwards. Underneath the center of the main bar is a tapped
hole to receive the screw (W) of the swing bar, as represented herein-after in
Figure V

page_text: Figure II. represents the skeleton of the bottom falling bar, with tapped
holes for the screws, which fasten the leads.
Figure III. represents the top falling bar, with the leads screwed upon its
upper surface.
Letter k is a single guide lead, with its guides cast in it. o is
a single guide. p is a pioneer lead, with the pioneers cast in it. 9 is a single
pioneer. The guide leads on the bottom falling bar are screwed to the under
surface; and underneath cach of these, by the same screw, is fastened the
pioneer lead, with the face p downwards. The pioneers are for the purpose of
separating the threads in their approach to the guides, so that the guides may
fall freely. Their number is equal to the guides on one bar, or to half the
number of needles in the frame. The letters a, a, in Figures II. and III. are two
thumb levers, one on each falling bar, and are opposite or near to the handles
on the aforesaid main bar, when the machine is put together. They are for
the purpose of raising or letting down the respective falling bars, as herein-
after represented, under the description of Figure IV.; and they are so attached
to each of the said falling bars by a screw, as to have play sufficient for being
thrown off or put under the stops of the catches.
Figure IV. represents the telegraph bar, and the handle by which it is moved.
It is a slide moving above the before-described main bar, and is attached to it
by means of the screws (S, S) which pass through the slots (represented by
the letters S, S, in Figure I.), and enter into the bar. It is kept steady in it's
position when moved by the heads of those screws, being larger than will pass
through the slots. V, V, are two drivers, of which on the telegraph's motion
the one or the other, by means of a tooth on the lower edge, drives off a thumb
lever from one of the catches (b, b, Figure I.), and lets down the falling bar,
to which the thumb lever so driven off is attached. 3, 4, are two horizontal
pins, receiving betwixt them the crank a of the stretching bar (another part of
the said machine, herein-after described, under Figure VI.); in which position
the said stretching bar is, upon the motion of the said telegraph bar, carried
alternately backwards and forwards, so that the catches b and c, in Figure VI.,
may in turu enter the teeth of the circular rack at the end of each beam, on
which the warp is wound; and, by pressing on the thumb bit at the extremity
of the said crank a, the stitches are drawn up.
Figure V. represents the swing bar. This bar is attached to the bottom of
the aforesaid main bar by the screw W in the centre, which passes through into
the said main bar. The swing bar works on the said last-mentioned screw,
and regulates the sideway movement of the machine whilst laying the threads
over the needles, by its ends stopping against the inner sides of the cranks of
the crank bar. It has a slotted bit, represented by letter y, screwed on each

page_text: end for it's adjustment. 5 and 6 are two finger bits, by which either end of
the swing bar is pushed in.
Figure VI. represents the stretching bar, the use of which has already been
described under 3 and 4, in Figure IV. This bar is affixed, by a screw passing
through the slot at it's end, to an arm fastened on the side piece of the wood-
work (as represented in the perspective entire view of the said machine and
frame, letter F), Q. The making of some particular species of lace (as herein-
after mentioned) will require the following alterations to be-made in the said
machine, namely, that the aforesaid swing and telegraph bars be taken off,
and that in their stead be substituted the rack (letter E, underneath Figure I.),
which on these occasions is fixed to the aforesaid main bar on the upright pin
or pivot (e, Figure I.), through the centre hole (e, Figure I.). It embraces
the perpendicular pin (g, Figure II.), with its forked end g; and, at the same
time, adınits through the upright notch h the horizontal pin (h, Figure III.).
By means of these two pins, when turned upon its pivot, the said rack moves
the two falling bars in opposite directions; the regulating screws in the afore-
said end bits being drawn back to give liberty to this motion, which is regu-
lated in distance by the spring D receiving into its notches b, b, the teeth of
the falling bars (b, b, Figures II. and III.). This spring is screwed to the
main bar at the hole d (Figure I.).
Having thus described the different parts of my said new-invented machine,
I now proceed to describe, specify, and explain the mode in which the same is
worked, so as to produce the lace or network above mentioned. The warp is
wound on two beams, with arbors or spindles fastened in the ends, which
arbors are supported and turn on screw points, passing through arms fixed on
the side pieces of the woodwork, and entering the ends of the arbors. Two
perforated bobbins are put on the arbors at one of the ends, and are kept from
turning by square parts of the arbors entering into correspondent squares in
the bobbins. The ends of a line are fastened to the bobbins, and a weight
suspended on the line to keep the threads tight between the beams and the
needles, as the beams turn round by the threads feeding the needles. The
line winds round the bobbins, and draws up the weight, which is let down
again by taking the bobbins off the squares of the arbors.
To make Brussels lace:-The machine is set to a two-needle shog (a
technical term for it's sideway movement, the distance of two needles).
The swing bar is so adjusted that when put in at either end it stops the
sideway movement half the distance it would otherwise move. The thumb
levers attached to the falling bars are put under the lower stops of the
catches. The threads on one beam are entered through the eyes of the

page_text: guides on one falling bar, and those on the other beam through the eyes
of the guides on the other falling bar. One thread from each beam enters
between every pioneer. It may be necessary to remark, that when the
threads are much inclined to twist, there is, exclusive of the pioneers
already described, another row of pioneers used, which enters between
the threads at the bottom of the crank bar. This row of pioneers is made of
straight wires, fastened in a slip of wood, which is supported by arms on the
side pieces of the woodwork, or fixed to the crank bar. The work is set on in
the same manner as in the common horizontal warp frame; and when the
proper number of courses (necessary for the quality of the lace designed,
namely, two for the lace now describing) are worked with the swing bar in on
the right-hand or floor side, the telegraph is moved, which lets down one of
the falling bars so low, that the guides on it will not lay the threads over the
needles. The swing bar is then pushed in on the left or window side, and the
machine held to the right or floor side, and the threads laid over half of the
needles, which form loops on them. The swing bar is then pushed in on the
right or floor side, and the machine held to the left or window side, and the
threads are laid over the other half of the needles, forming loops likewise on
them. The whole of the loops are then brought under the needle beards, and
the needles pressed, and the stitches brought over the loops. The thumb is then
pressed on the thumb lever attached to the bar let down, which raises it up;
and the lever is turned under the lower stop of the catch. The stitches are
then drawn up, by pressing the thumb on the thumb bit at
the stretching bar, or they may be drawn up by turning the beam with the
hand. Two more courses are then made, as before, and the telegraph is
moved, which lets down the other falling bar; and the swing bar and machine
are used in the same manner as when the first falling bar was let down. The
same process is continued to the end of the piece.
the extremity of
To make Tactic lace:-The process is in every respect the same as before
described to make the Brussels lace, differing only by letting down one falling
bar twice in succession, and then the other twice, whereas in making the
Brussels lace, the falling bars are let down alternately.
To make Valenciennes lace:-The alterations are to be made in the said
machine, as explained under letter Q, after the description of Figure VI. The
machine is set to a one-needle shog, which is the distance of its sideway move-
ment for laying the threads over one needle. The threads are entered through
the guides, and between the pioneers, in the same manner as before described
for making the Brussels and Tactic lace. In making this lace, the machine iş
always held to the left or window side. Two courses being worked, the lower

page_text: falling bar is then let down by the thumb, turning the thumb lever from under
the lower stop of the catch. The falling bars are then moved one nick each,
in contrary directions, by the rack, which causes the threads through the
guides on one falling bar to cross those on the other falling bar. The bar that
was let down being raised again by pressing the thumb on the thumb lever
attached to it, one course is worked laying the threads over contrary needles.
The same falling bar is again let down, and the bars are moved by the rack to
their former nicks, when two courses are worked, the same as at the beginning.
The same falling bar is then again let down, and both the falling bars are
moved by the racks into contrary nicks, by turning the rack the contrary way
to that which crosses the threads the last time. One course is worked with
the threads crossed, and the same falling bar is again let down, and the bars
are moved by the rack. into the nicks from which they were removed. The
falling bar is then put up, and the above process is repeated to the end of the
piece.
I have thus described the modes of making the three different sorts of lace,
above named, as the most satisfactory means of describing the nature and use
of my said Invention, reserving to myself the right of making such other lace
or network as the said machine is capable of making, by varying the move-
ments.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Fifth
day of June, in the forty-fourth year of His said Majesty's reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and four.
IL. ENFIELD, a Master
traordinary in Chancery.
ROBERT BROWN. (L.S.)
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the samo Fifth day of June, in the
year above mentioned, the aforesaid Robert Brown came before our Lord
the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid, and
all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also the
Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute in
that case made and provided.