IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of FLOCKED FABRICS OR PAPERS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Handforde Drinkwater, of No. 3, Cannon
Street, in the City of London, Manufacturers' and Commission
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of
FLOCKED FABRICS OR PAPERS."
Sealed the 28th February 1873, and dated the 4th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Handforde Drink-
water at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 4th September 1872.
I, JOHN HANDFORDE DRINKWATER, of No. 3, Cannon Street, in the
City of London, Manufacturers' and Commission Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF FLOCKED FABRICS OR PAPERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the avoidance of the unsightly
appearance caused by tears, cracks, fractures, or bruises which is found
to be objectional in all flocked fabrics or papers where the grounding
or coloring matter is only applied on or to the surface of the same.

page_text: In order to carry out my Invention I cause the grounding or coloring
of the fabric or paper to permeate the substance thereof either by dyeing
or staining the material or materials of the fabric before manufacture or
by mixing the coloring or grounding matter with the half stuff or pulp
before it is formed into sheets or webs, or by causing the same to per-
meate the paper or fabric by immersing, applying, or passing it through
the coloring matter before it is pressed or sized and whilst it is in an
absorbent condition, so that the coloring or grounding may readily
distribute itself through the material or materials of which the paper or
fabric is formed. On the fabric or paper so colored or grounded the
pattern or patterns may be printed or formed in the usual manner, and
flocked or otherwise finished as required, and the flocking material or
materials used should be as near the color of the grounding of the
fabric or paper as possible in order to obtain the full benefits of my
Invention.
The flocking material or materials may be of the usual or any suitable
fibrous substance or substances, ground or otherwise prepared, of the
required fineness, and applied to the fabric or paper in the usual
manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Handforde Drinkwater in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN HAND-
FORDE DRINKWATER, of No. 3, Cannon Street, in the City of London,
Manufacturer and Commission Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queèn. Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give.
and grant unto me, the said John Handforde Drinkwater, Her special
licence that I, the said John Handforde Drinkwater, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Handforde
Drinkwater, my 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

page_text: 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 FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FLOCKED FABRICS OR PAPERS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Handforde
Drinkwater, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, 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 I, the said John Handforde Drinkwater, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the avoidance of the unsightly
appearance caused by tears, cracks, fractures, or bruises which is found
to be objectionable in all flocked fabrics or papers where the grounding
or colouring matter is only applied on or to the surface of the same.
In order to carry out my Invention the grounding or colouring of the
fabric or paper is caused to permeate the substance thereof either by
dyeing or straining the material or materials of the fabric before or
during manufacture, or by mixing the colouring or grounding matter
with the half stuff or pulp before it is formed into sheets or webs, or by
causing the same to permeate the paper or fabric by immersing, applying,
or passing it through the colouring matter before it is pressed or sized and
whilst it is in an absorbent condition, so that the coloring or grounding
may readily distribute itself through the material or materials of which
the paper or fabric is formed.
On the fabric or paper so colored or
grounded the pattern or patterns may be printed or formed in the usual
manner and flocked or otherwise finished as required, and the adhesive
material or materials used should be as near the colour of the grounding
of the fabric or paper as possible in order to obtain the ful benefits of
my Invention.
The flocking material or materials may be of the usual fibrous or any
le substance of substances ground Ox otherwise proved of th

page_text: The flock should be sifted or screened before being applied to the
surface or surfaces in order to obtain as far as possible evenness or uni-
formity of fineness throughout.
By preference I employ as a cement or adhesive for attaching the flock
xylonite varnish, Shackell and Edward's enamel varnish, equal portions
of French water, gold size, and methylated spirits, or what is known as
French mordant, the latter reduced or thinned by means of methylated
spirit and boiled oil in the proportion of one part French mordant, four
parts methylated spirit, and half part of boiled oil to the required con-
sistency, which is that of the ordinary paint used by house painters, and
where it is required to dry very slowly more oil may be used.
In place of methylated spirit pure spirits of turpentine may be
employed, but in order to remove the disagreeable odour of the same, or
of the methylated spirit where such is offensive, sufficient camphor or
other substance or substances, compound or compounds, with the re-
quired odour may be employed to remove this objection.
The application of methylated spirit to the fabric or paper so as to
damp the same before the adhesive cement or material is applied will be
found beneficial in applying the adhesive cement, causing it to adhere
evenly and uniformly to the same.
The material to be flocked may be passed through a heated box
chamber or passage either before or so soon as the adhesive cement or
substance has been applied thereto or thereon, and the flocking material
or substances may be then put on to the same on either or both surfaces
as the fabric or paper has been prepared or is desired.
When only one side or surface of a fabric is to be flocked the
adhesive cement or substance is applied to the desired surface, and the
under side of the fabric should pass for a short distance over a surface or
surfaces, roller or rollers, covered with felt or other suitable soft and
even material kept damped with methylated spirit in order to prevent
the adhesive cement or substance which may have percolated or passed
through the fabric from adhering to the dry surface with which the
under side is in contact.
All the adhesive cement or materials used for holding the flock on or
to the fabric or paper should be colored to the same tint as the fabric
or paper and the flock applied to the same. In those cases where a dark

page_text: flock is applied to a dark ground boiled oil may be employed and applied
in a heated state.
The adhesive cement or substance and the flock may be applied to one
or both surfaces of the fabric or paper in the usual and any convenient
manner.
By the improvements herein-before described I am enabled to produce
flocked fabrics or papers free from the objections which are found to arise
from tears, cracks, fractures, or bruises in flocked fabrics or papers as
usually made, and where the grounding or colouring matter is only
applied on or to the surface or surfaces of the same, and my improved
fabrics or papers are peculiarly applicable for the manufacture of
mourning hat bands, armlets, covering boxes, cases, coffins, and for use
in other cases where such materials are applicable.
When used for mourning hat bands I take a piece of the fabric or
paper and cut it to the usual depth or depths of such bands either on
the straight or on the cross, and allow it to overlap when put on the hat
body, so that by means of adhesive cement applied under, on, or to the
overlapping or underlying portion, the same can be secured around the
hat with the required degree of firmness. By this means the band can
be readily placed on the hat body without injuring the nap, and so avoid
the stretching and inconvenience always found with those ordinarily
employed. Where preferred a twilled or embossed or other desired
surface may be produced by passing the fabric or paper between plain or
engraved rollers.
When woven fabrics are employed it is desirable that they should have
been singed or fired before dyed, finished, or prepared for the purpose
herein-before described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to or may be performed or brought into practical
use I desire to state that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein-before described, as the same may be varied without departing
from the nature of my said Invention, nor do I claim flocking fabrics or
papers, as this has been done before, nor the use of any particular fabric
or paper or material or materials to be used as flocking, or any particular
apparatus for making the same, but what I do claim as new and as my
Invention, and desire to have protected by these herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,—
'

page_text: First. The manner of preparing or making the fabric or paper and
flocking material or materials by causing the same, together with the
adhesive cement, to be dyed, stained, coloured, or permeated by or with
the colour, to be used subtially as and for the purpose or purposes
herein-before described and specified.
Second. The making and manner of attaching mourning hat bands of
such flock fabric or paper as herein-before described and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Handforde Drinkwater have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this 4th day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
above-named John Handforde
Drinkwater, in the presence of
CHAS. ADAMS,
15, Cursitor Street,
Chancery Lane,
J. H. DRINKWATER. (L.S.)
E.C.