IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF NEEDLES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Brookes, of Loughborough, in the County
of Leicester, Overlooker of Picking-in Machines, and John Mayes, of
Loughborough, aforesaid, Manufacturer of Hosiery, for the Invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Brookes and
John Mayes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th December 1866.
I, WILLIAM BROOKES, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester,
Overlooker of Picking-in Machines, and JOHN MAYES, of Loughborough,
aforesaid, Manufacturer of Hosiery, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF
NEEDLES," to be as follows:-
These improvements in the manufacture or production of needles are as
follows:-We form a groove or grooves in the needle of sufficient depth to
allow the thread used in the needle to lie in such groove or grooves whereby
the substance or fabric through which the needle is passed in sewing or
stitching will not abrade or chafe the thread. The said groove or grooves is
or are made from or near the point of the needle and by the edge thereof, and
extends along the stem of the needle to any required length. A portion of the
stem of the needle has one-or-more turns or twists-given-to-it-according-to-
the work upon which the needle is intended to be employed.

page_text: Our Invention is not only applicable to needles used in sewing or stitching
machines, but it is also applicable to needles used for various other purposes
of similar character.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Brookes and John Mayes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
BROOKES, of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Overlooker of Picking-
in Machines, and JOHN MAYES, of Loughborough, aforesaid, Manufacturer of
Hosiery, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said William Brookes and John Mayes, Her special licence that we, the
said William Brookes and John Mayes, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said William Brookes and John Mayes, 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 Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR
PRODUCTION OF NEEDLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
William Brookes and John Mayes, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, 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 William Brookes and John Mayes,
do hereby declare the nature of our 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, reference being bad to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
These improvements in the manufacture or production of needles consist in
forming a groove or grooves in the needle of sufficient depth to allow the

page_text: thread used in the needle to lie in such groove or grooves whereby the
substance or fabric through which the needle is passed in sewing or stitching
will not abrade or chafe the thread. The said groove or grooves is or are
made from or near the point of the needle, and by the edge thereof, and
extend along the stem of the needle to any required length. A portion of the
stem of the needle has one or more turns or twists given to it according to the
work upon which the needle is intended to be employed.
Our Invention is not only applicable to needles used in sewing or stitching
Figures 1 to 6 inclusively, represent a number of our improved needles
constructed according to our Invention; these needles are drawn to an enlarged
scale to shew more fully the several grooves therein.
Figure 1 represents one such needle adapted for stitching strong or thick
fabrics or materials when a sewing machine is used, in which the needle
carrier or needle carriers on the bolt or bolts in which the needles are secured,
and such needle or needles have a straight vertical or horizontal motion given
to them.
Figure 2 represents a similar needle, but adapted for stitching lighter
or thinner fabrics or materials, and it is used in stitching machines wherein
the needle or needles and the carrier or carriers in which they are secured
have a straight vertical or horizontal motion given them.
Figure 8 represents one of our improved needles adapted for use in
machines in which a straight motion is communicated to the needle bar, when
such machines are employed for stitching leather or other similar substances
which require a chisel pointed needle to be used in the machine.
Figure 4 represents one of our improved needles having a cramp near the
eye, such needles may be advantageously used in machines termed hosiery
stitching machines, or they may be used in machines employed for stitching
soft open woven or looped fabrics.
Figure 5 represents one of our improved needles curved so as to be
suitable for employment in stitching or sewing machines, in which the needle
describes an arc of a circle instead of having a straight to-and-fro motion,
and is applicable in machines used for light or thin goods, and Figure 6 shews

page_text: one of our improved needles adapted for use in stitching machines wherein
the needle carrier or carriers, besides having a to-and-fro movement imparted
to it or them, has in combination therewith a rising and falling movement
communicated to it or them, and also to the needle when employed for stitching
light open fabrics or hosiery goods.
In each of the above needles the improvement consists in forming a groove
or grooves therein of sufficient depth to allow the thread used in the needle
to lie in the groove or grooves whereby the substance or fabric through which
the needle is passed in sewing or stitching will not abrade or chafe the thread.
The groove in each needle in the Drawings is indicated by an arrow.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and in what manner
the same may be performed, we declare that we claim, constructing needles
with a groove or grooves therein, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Brookes and John Mayes,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second day of
June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
seven.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
WILLIAM BROOKES. (L.S.)
JOHN MAYES.
(L.S.)