Improvements in Applying Fur, Hair, Wool, or other Fibre or Feathers to Woven Fabrics or other Receiving Surfaces, and in the Machinery Employed for such Purposes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in Applying Fur, Hair, Wool, or other Fibre or
Feathers to Woven Fabrics or other Receiving Surfaces, and in
the Machinery Employed for such Purposes.
I, JOHN THEODORE TUSSAUD of Salisbury House 105 Marylebone Road London W.
Artist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in applying fur hair wool or other
fibro or feathers to woven fabrics or other receiving surfaces and in the machinery
employed for such purposes.
The fur having been removed from the skin is brought to the machine and laid in a
trough and is drawn forward along the trough by means of feed rollers to which an
intermittent movement is imparted.
The arrangement of the fur in the trough is such that the root end of the hair
travels foremost. Facing the end of this trough there is a rocking frame and on this
frame are reels between which a velveteen tape is distended over a supporting surface.
The frame advances towards the mouth of the trough and brings the tape beneath the
projecting end of the fur; a nipping blade then closes down upon the tape and the fur
and at the same time a comb descends through the fur at the mouth of the trough.
The rocking frame now recedes from the trough taking with it a tuft of the fur. A
guide wire is provided upon the rocking frame above the tape; it is raised up above
the surface of the tape to allow the fur to be laid upon the tape, and is then caused to
descend upon the fur. The guide wire serves to preserve the arrangement of the_fur
when the nipping blade rises. The nipper now opens and the tape being released is
wound forward a distance equal to the width of the mouth of the trough. The tapo
goes forward with the fur upon it and together they are wound upon a reel. The
rocking frame also carries a bobbin from which a thread is drawn and this thread is
laid down on the top of the fur and is wound up with it.
The movements above described are continually repeated. The feed rollers bring
the fur forward; the rocking frame advancing brings the velveteen tape beneath the
fur; the nipping blade closes upon the tape and the fur; the rocking frame 'recedes
from the feeding trough, whilst the comb keeps back the fur which is not held in the

page_text: .
nip, as the guide wire descends to its place; the nipper opens; the tape traverses
onwards with the fur upon it and together with the .retaining thread is wound upon
the receiving reel as previously stated. When this receiving reel is full it is taken
out from the machine and placed in another machine intended to arrange the fur in
regular layers upon a cemented fabric. The cemented fabric is applied as a covering i
to the surface of a drum and this drum is caused to revolve upon its axis. The reel
with the fur and the velveteen tape as it comes from the first machine is mounted
upon an axis carried by a saddle which is able to traverse slowly in a direction
parallel to the axis on the receiving drum. The tape is unwound from the reel and
the retaining thread is led off and wound up upon a bobbin to keep it out of the way
leaving the fur resting upon the velveteen tape and sufficiently held by adhesion to
the pile. The tape traverses on and passes over a small roller revolving in close
proximity to the drum covered with the receiving fabric. The fur is thereby laid on
to the fabric and is pressed upon its surface by the tape. Also a thread drawn from
a bobbin upon the saddle passes in a groove around the same roller. This thread
also passes onto and around the receiving drum, resting upon the root ends of the
hairs so the fur becomes held between the thread and the cemented surface of the
receiving fabric.
In this manner the hair is continuously applied to the receiving fabric and the
movement of the saddle causes it to be laid in a close spiral around the drum say one
thirty second of an inch or one sixteenth of an inch more or less according to the
fineness and thickness of the pile required.
Thus it will be seen that it is only the root ends of the fur which come into contact
with the cemented surface of the receiving fabric. Throughout the remainder of their
length the hairs of the fur as each layer is applied lie upon the fur deposited upon the
drum at the previous rotation. When the entire surface of the receiving fabric has
thus been covered with fur, the retaining thread may be unwound and the fabric
removed. By further operations the cement is hardened and if necessary the fur is
dyed and otherwise prepared for the market.
In a similar way combed silk or hair or other fibre can be applied to a receiving
surface to produce a long piled fabric-feathers also can in like manner be arranged
upon the surface of a fabric and attached to the same so as to form an uniform
covering.
The receiving fabric may be of various sorts-in place of a woven fabric, a felt may
be employed or in some casos a dressed skin may be used.
Dated this 8th day of November 1886.

page_text: Improvements in Applying Fur, Hair, Wool, or other Fibre or
Feathers to Woven Fabrics or other Receiving Surfaces, and in
the Machinery Employed for such Purposes.
I, JOHN THEODORE TUSSAUD of Salisbury House 105 Marylebone Road, London, W.,
Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has for its object improvements in applying fur, hair, wool or other
fibre or feathers to woven fabrics or other receiving surfaces and in the machinery
employed for such purposes.
The fur having been removed from the skin is brought to the machine and laid in a
trough and is drawn forward along the trough by ineans of feed rollers to which an
intermittent movement is imparted.
The arrangement of the fur in the trough is such that the root end of the hair
travels foremost. Facing the end of this trough there is a rocking frame and on this
frame are reels between which a velveteen tape is distended over a supporting surface.
The frame advances towards the mouth of the trough and brings the tape beneath the
projecting end of the fur; a nipping blade then closes down upon the tape and the fur
and at the same time a comb descends through the fur at the mouth of the trough.
The rocking frame now recedes from the trough taking with it a tuft of the fur. A
guide wire is provided upon the rocking frame above the tape; it is raised up above
the surface of the tape to allow the fur to be laid upon the tape, and is then caused to
descend upon the fur. The guide wire serves to preserve the arrangement of the fur
when the nipping blade rises. The nipper now opens and the tape being released is
wound forward a distance equal to the width of the mouth of the trough. The tape
goes forward with the fur upon it and together they are wound upon a reel.
rocking frame also carries a bobbin from which a thread is drawn and this thread is
laid down on the top of the fur and is wound up with it.
The
The movements above described are continually repeated. The feed rollers bring
the fur forward; the rocking frame advancing brings the velveteen tape beneath the
fur; the nipping blade closes upon the tape and the fur; the rocking frame recedes
from the feeding trough, whilst the comb keeps back the fur which is not held in the
nip. As the guide wire descends to its place, the nipper opens; the tape traverses
onwards with the fur upon it and together with the retaining thread is wound upon
the receiving reel as previously stated. When this receiving reel is full it is taken
out from the machine and placed in another machine intended to arrange the fur in
regular layers upon a cemented fabric. The cemented fabric is applied as a covering
to the surface of a drum and this druin is caused to revolve upon its axis. The reel
with the fur and the velveteen tape as it comes from the first machine is mounted upon
an axis carried by a saddle which is able to traverse slowly in a direction parallel to

page_text: the rear. gg¹ are two feed rollers extending across the trough; their surfaces are
roughened like files and the fur passes beneath them and is held between them and
the polished bottom of the feed trough. The cam f³ gives motion to theso feed rollers
intermittently and about at the time when the parts are in the position indicated in
Figure 1. The cam operates on a bowl carried by a lever to which the rod his
connected. The rod h gives motion to a lever and driving pawl and so drives a ratchet
wheel h¹. On the same axis with the ratchet wheel there is a wheel with bevelled
teeth gearing with a corresponding pinion and this by intermediate spur wheels
transmits motion to an axis on which are worms h² ² which drive worm wheels on the
axes of the feed rollers g'-g¹. By this feed gear the fur is advanced slowly and
intermittently and as tuft after tuft is removed still fur is presented with the roots
projecting just beyond the lip of the feed trough. is a bar sliding up and down a
short distance in stationary guides, it carries at its lower edge a comb, the pins or
teeth of which enter amongst the fur in front of the foremost feed roller. This comb
is down in the fur at the time when, (as hereinafter more fully described) the tuft of
fur is robbed from the trough; but it is raised out of the fur at the time when the
feed rollers revolve to drive the fur forward. The bar is loosely jointed at its upper
end to a rocking lever and a spring is provided at the joint to avoid the necessity for
accurately adjusting the stroke of the rocking lever.
The rocking lever is connected by a rod with a lever carrying a bowl which rests
constantly upon the periphery of the cam
Upon the rocking frame a slide k is mounted; it is supported by the spring k
which causes the conical bowl to bear constantly upon the face of the cam
is
a nipping blade which is carried by the slide k in guides in which it can rise and
fall but it is held down by the springs and these yield only when the lower edge
of the blade is firmly pressed upon a surface beneath. This surface is a plate or
table m fixed to the rocking frame b. When the frame advances the table passes
beneath the lip of the feed trough g. The frame has arms upon it which carry the
two stud axes and L3; on the first the drum n is mounted and from this is unwound
the velveteen tape upon which the tufts of fur are laid; the latter supports a roller o
having a roughened file like surface. The tapo drawn from the drum n passes over a
guide roller n to the table m and along this table to the roller o which being driven
with a step by step motion winds the tape forward; and finally with the fur upon it
the tape is wound up on the drum p. The drum p is carried by a pendulous arm p
to which a cord p² is attached; the cord passes over guide pulleys to a weight p which
hold the drum p up to the face of the roller o.
The roller o is driven by a leyer and driving pawl engaging with a ratchet and
the lever is actuated by a cord passing over pulleys to another lever and on this is a
bowl bearing on the periphery of the cam. A spring causes the return of the
driving pawl.
The pendulous arm p³ also carries the adjustable spring p' which pressing against
an intermediate or filling piece or pieces keeps the drum p in place and applies a
suitable friction. When the spring is slackened and the filling pieces removed the
drump when full can be taken out and another put in its place. In connection with
the drum n similar means of adjusting friction are provided so that the drum may not
unwind too freely. By the mechanism which I have described for each to and fro
movement of the rocking frame the velveteen tape is moved a step forward equal
about to the width of the feed trough so that cach tuft of fur may be deposited in a
fresh place. On the rocking frame also there is an arm 6 to which a wire is attached
by a spring which keeps it constantly tight, this arın also carries a guide eye for the
thread. The other end of the wire is attached to the end of the lever aring which
has its fulcrum at q¹. The arm 7 rests upon a roller at the extremity of another
arm fixed on an axis ; a stop limits the movement of the arm r.
On the same
axis is a short arm carrying a roller and this when the rocking frame advances
to the feed trough comes against the inclines fixed to the frame a. t is a bobbin from
which a thread is drawn, its tension can be adjusted. The action is then as follows:-
the frame b advances to the feed trough until the end of the trough projects over the

page_text: table m, the wire being then lifted out of the way. The nipping blade Z then descends
and nips the tuft projecting from the trough between its edge and the surface of the
velveteen tape lying on the table. The rocking frame then retires taking with it
the tuft which has been nipped but no more for the rest of the fur is kept back in
the feed trough by the comb on the bar i.
Afterwards the comb rises and the forward feed of the fur takes place. The tuft
taken away by the rocking frame now rests upon the velveteen tape with the roots of
the fur overhanging the edge of the tape. The fur clings to the surface of the tapo
and it is held also by the wire which descends upon it before the nipping blade rises
and releases it. The wire however does not impede the onward movement of the fur
when the tape travels on. As the tape with the fur upon it advances it meets the
thread from the bobbin which binds the fur down on to the tape and passes on with
it until the whole is wound together on to the drum p.
Figure 5 shows a feed trough without feed rollers but in place thereof an endless
tape passes over its surface; it surrounds the roller which is driven intermittently by a
cam on the main shaft and a train of gear as shown.
The tape passes around the edge of the trough and beneath it there is a moveable
lip u which is projected forward by a lever and spring v. The lever has an arm v
which is struck by the projection w on the rocking frame when this advances. This
lip thus serves to support the root ends of the fur whilst they are carried over the
velveteen tape and then is withdrawn to allow them to be nipped by the blade.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8 AA is the framing of the machine, it carries an axis B
on which are belt pulleys B' B¹. A pinion on the axis B drives a spur wheel
on the axis and the axis of the drum D is clutched fast with the axis C.
A ratchet and pawl are provided to prevent the drumm D being turned the wrong
way. The wheel is mounted on a stud axis and it goars with the wheel on
the axis C, it can however be slidden along the stud axis and drawn out of gear when
desired. A pinion fast with the wheel gears with a wheel on axis F on which a
screw thread is cut. When the wheel E is out of gear the axis F can bo turned by
hand by means of the hand wheel F¹ at its further end. The whool E also gears with
an intermediate wheel G and this drives a wheel on the axis H. I is a saddle capable
of sliding along guides A'A' on the frame A. On the saddle there is a nut l'engaging
with the screw thread on the axis F. The saddle carries a toothed wheel K gearing
with a corresponding wheel which slides, (with groove and feather) along the axis H.
The wheel K also gears with and drives a pinion L on the axis of which a bobbin M
is carried and rotated by friction.
The bobbin or drum N is the saine that received upon it the velveteen tape and fur
from the previous machine; this tape is now to be unwound.
The bobbin or drum N is carried by an arm O on the saddle and is pressed up to the
guide roller P by a rail Q₁ carried by an axis Q. Qis an arm on the axis which is
weighted and gives to the rail a suitable preponderance towards the roller P. The
velveteen tapo passos over other guide rollers P1 P2 P3 and P to the surface of the
drum D which is closed with a woven fabric which is prepared with oxidised oil or
other cement and is in a tacky condition. As the velveteen tape is unwound from N
the cotton which was wound with it is taken up upon the bobbin M and another cotton
drawn from a bobbin R may be passed down on to the fur to securely hold it.
Another cotton drawn from a bobbon S is also employed, in order to facilitate its
subsequent removal it is moistened by passing through a water trough at S¹, it runs
by the side of the velveteen tape in a groove in the guide pulley P so that when the
fur on the tape reaches the surface of the drum D this moistened thread bears on the
root ends of the hairs and nips them against the surface of the drum. Thus the fur
with the cottons is wound spirally around the drum D together with the cottons and
the root ends of the fur become attached to the tacky cement on the fabric with which
the drum is clothed. The velveteen tape passes from the drum D to a drum T and
between this and another drum T. Springs hold the drums T and T in contact.
These drums are both carried by the saddle and the drum T is driven by a pinion on
its axis gearing with the wheel which traverses with the saddle along the axis H.
5

page_text: When the bobbin or drum N is empty a pin on a lever U drops into a notch in the
are on the axis Q and then the other arm of the lever U operates by means of the
pusher V to disengage the spring handle W from a retaining notch. The handle W
when so liberated operates in the usual way to throw off the driving belt and
automatically stop the machine.
I will now describe somewhat more in detail the way in which I prefer to prepare
the fur and the receiving surface.
When the skin is of value and it is necessary to take from off of it the fur hair &c.
without injuring it I omploy for the most part for the purpose of soparating the fur
hair &c. from the natural skin the method described and contained in two former
Patents granted to Joseph Randall Tussaud and Francis Curtius Tussaud one dated the
26th of June 1861 No. 1634 and the other dated the 10th of June 1871 No. 1545.
I-cleanse the fur &c. if necessary from grease and dirt and then operate upon the
natural skin for the purpose of loosening the fur &c. by soaking the skins or painting
then on the flesh side with lime or a combination of lime and sulphide of sodium or
by any other suitable means as practised by tanners. When the fur &c. is sufficiently
loose I drain the skins from excessive moisture and nail or stretch them on a board or
other suitable surface fur &c. upwards and I apply to the fur &c. a warm solution of
sulphate of soda so, when cool or set to a sufficient degree of solidity to hold the
fur &c. or other covering in correct relative position while the natural support is
removed after which the fur &c. so held by the temporarily holding means is dried
and the roots cleansed or freed from dirt or epidermis.
In the Patent dated the 26th of June 1861 No. 1634 reference is made to a solution
of shellac as the temporary holding means to hold the fur &c. while the natural skin
is being removed and in the Patent dated the 10th of June 1871 No. 1545 to glue size
or gelatine also carbonate sulphate, sulphite, phosphate, and hypo-sulphate of soda as
a substitute for the glue size or gelatine.
I find that sulphate of soda used as described above is the most suitable substance to
employ as the temporary holding means.
I place the fur &c. held as described by the temporary holding means between two
frames made of wire netting or perforated metal so as to cover the fur &c. on both
sides, the mesh or holes being fine enough to prevent the fur &c. working through.
After placing the fur &c. in the frames I immerse it in a bath containing a warın
solution of sulphate of soda so as to melt the soda or temporary holding means
contained in the fur &c. Afterwards I pass the frames so containing the fur &c.
through warm water with a little soda until the fur &c. within the frames is well
cleansed from the temporary holding medium when after wrinsing it may be dried in
the frames or may be removed from them and placed on a large frame of wire netting
or any other suitable surface ready to be treated by the machine.
When the skin is of little or no value or not worth saving the fur &c. may be
separated from the skin by cutting it off by means of the ordinary fur cutting
machine as employed for the purpose of manufacturing felt.
The following is the manner in which the receiving cloth is prepared.
I first give the material upon which the fur &c. is to be attached a first coating of
boiled linseed oil of a sufficiently thick consistency so as not to sink through the
cloth which I then dry by submitting to a gentle heat in a stove or oven and when
this coating is dry I place or stretch it upon the roller or drum and while on the
the roller I spread or work a second coating and when this coating is set and while
still moist I spread or work a third coating or in like manner as many coatings as
may be necessary to hold the fur &c. when it is worked on to it by the machine.
If the linseed oil is too thick to be spread with convenience upon a cloth or receiving
surface 1 render it down or dilute with a small quantity of benzoline or other suitable
spirit so as to make it spread easily upon the cloth or other receiving surface.
After the fur &c. is so worked upon the rollers as above described the ground
cotton may be unwound from off the roots of the fur &c. and the piece of fur &c. so
manufactured may be taken from off the roller and nailed or placed upon a board and
stoved or placed in an oven and subjected to such a heat as usually employed by

page_text: japanners or for the purpose of enamelling hides or leather or in the manufacture of
American cloth.
When the holding medium is sufficiently dried the fur is ready for use.
It is obvious that I can operate with other fibres or even with feathers as well as with
fur; the same being arranged in the feed trough of the first machine in such manner
that the nipper gets hold of the fibre or feather by the end which is to be attached to
the receiving surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :—
1. The process substantially as described for applying fur to woven fabrics or other
receiving surfaces consisting in detaching tufts from the naturally arranged fur;
accumulating such tufts side by side upon a tape or carrying surface, and laying them
spirally around a roller clothed with the receiving fabric or surface so that the tufts
become attached to the said surface by cement as herein set forth.
2. The process substantially as described for applying fur hair wool or other fibre
or feathers to woven fabrics or other receiving surfaces consisting in accumulating the
same in tufts side by side upon a tape or carrying surface and laying them spirally
around a roller clothed with the receiving fabric or surface so that the tufts become
attached to the said surface as herein set forth.
3. The machine substantially as described by which the fur or material is withdrawn
in tufts from a holder; and the tufts accumulated side by side on a carrying tapo or
surface of velveteen or like material as herein set forth.
4. The machine substantially as described by which the tufts of fur or material arranged
side by side are lapped spirally around a drum clothed with a suitable receiving fabric
or matorial and attached thereto by cement as herein set forth.
5. My improvements substantially as described in applying fur hair wool or other
fibre or feathers to woven fabrics or other receiving surfaces and in the machinery
employed for such purposes.
Dated thin fish de..
At 1007