IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS AND CAPS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Frederick Frentel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd February 1869.
I, HENRY FREDERICK FRENTEL, of Kingsland Road, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS AND CAPS AND OTHER COVERINGS
FOR THE HEAD," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture
of hats and caps and other coverings for the head, the object being to
provide a light article capable of yielding to pressure without sustaining
injury from fracture, and to manufacture a very cheap hat or cap more
especially suitable for the summer season.
I propose, instead of applying a lining or body of cork, gossamer, hair,
or other usual fabric, to employ a body or lining of paper, which is to
be caused to adhere to the outer fabric or covering by means of a
solution of caoutchouc, gutta percha, shellac, or other suitable adhesive
solution, or any combination of the same (by preference a waterproof
adhesive solution), capable of drying rapidly and forming an elastic or

page_text: yielding surface uniting the paper with the external fabric or covering,
whether such fabric be waterproof or not. I am aware that paper has
been before used merely as a lining for hats or caps or other coverings
for the head, but by my Invention the paper forms the actual body of
the article, and is protected and strengthened by the solution, so as to
form a combined fabric in union with the external fabric or cover.
The Invention is applicable to silk or beaver hats, to felt, cloth, or
other descriptions of covers, and in all cases the paper forms the lining
and body combined of the interior of the article and of the rim or border,
the external cover being merely turned under and sewn or stitched
around the rim. The paper may he glazed or enamelled and stamped
or embossed with an ornamental pattern, and no other lining is required
but the paper body.
I also propose to apply in a similar manner calico or linen, or either
of them, in combination with paper, such, for example, as the united
fabrics used in bookbinding, and I propose to apply such combined
fabric of calico or linen and paper united by adhesive solutions as a
lining and body to the hat, cap, or other covering in such manner that
the calico, linen, or combination of either of them with paper shall be
caused to adhere to the external fabric of the article by the adhesive
solution, as herein-before referred to in regard to paper alone, so as to
form with the external covering a combined fabric; and when the com-
bined fabric for the body is used the linen or calico may be the surface
presented by the body, or the paper surface may be exposed, and in
either case the combined body fabric may be stamped or embossed so as
to shew a pattern in imitation of straw plait or other ornamental design,
according to the color or pattern of the combined body fabric, as would
be the case in the use of paper alone.
For cricketers, tourists, railway travellers, and others requiring a light
cap or hat this Invention will be found most useful, but it is equally
applicable to all other descriptions of hats, caps, or bonnetts of whatever
external material they may be manufactured.