IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF INDIA-RUBBER WATERPROOF FABRICS APPLICABLE SPONGE BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Nisbet, of Newgate Street, in the City
of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH
THE MANUFACTURE OF INDIA-RUBBER WATERPROOF FABRICS APPLICABLE
SPONGE BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
TO
Sealed the 9th December 1873, and dated the 14th June 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Nisbet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th June 1873.
I, WILLIAM NISBET, of Newgate Street, in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF INDIA-RUBBER WATERPROOF FABRICS
APPLICABLE TO SPONGE BAGS AND OTHER ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
Heretofore it has been considered necessary when treating fabrics that
have been waterproofed by means of india-rubber, and to which it has
been desired to apply patterns or designs on the external surfaces, to
have such patterns applied thereto before the materials have been water-
proofed; the result is that the patterns or designs so applied have been

page_text: very limited, because the process of waterproofing materially injures the
pattern or design applied as aforesaid, whereas by my Invention the
patterns, pictures, or designs may be varied and numberless.
My Invention primarily consists in the application to india-rubber
waterproof fabrics of designs or pictures after the fabric is waterproofed
and surface cured or steam cured. By this means the pattern, design,
or picture so applied is not in any way injured, and I am able to produce
a waterproof bag, for example, having on one or both sides thereof such
a design or picture or designs or pictures as may be desired.
In carrying my Invention into effect supposing I wish to make a
sponge bag I take a piece of india-rubber waterproof fabric of such
size as may be required to make the bag, and I print thereon a design or
picture. I then fold the corners, unite them, and finish the bag by any
known means, or I print the picture or design on a piece of fabric, unite
it to the india-rubber waterproof fabric, and finish as before.
In and by the means ordinarily employed for the manufacture of
waterproof materials for the purposes before described it has been
necessary and customary to print the whole surface of the fabric to be
india-rubber waterproofed with the pattern, whereas by my Invention I
am able to cut up the material after it is waterproofed to the required
size, and then to print the required patterns or designs thereon, by which
means I am enabled to produce articles having on their surface or
surfaces a pattern, design, or picture which is not defaced or injured by
the process of waterproofing, as would be the case if made as heretofore,
while at the same time I very materially economize the material.
The Invention is particularly applicable to the manufacture of water-
proof sponge bags, but it is also applicable to the manufacture of nursing
aprons, bibs, dressing cases, tobacco bags, and other useful domestic or
fancy articles, also to the manufacture of books for children and others,
to maps or other articles, which are at one and the same time waterproof
and practically indestructible.
The patterns, designs, or pictures may be printed in colours or other.
wise as fancy or taste may dictate.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Nisbet in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th December 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
NISBET, of Newgate Street, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Nisbet, Her special licence
that I, the said William Nisbet, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Nisbet, 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 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
OR CONNECTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF INDIA-RUBBER WATERPROOF FABRICS
APPLICABLE TO SPONGE BAGS AND OTHER ÅRTICLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Nisbet, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and scals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Nisbet, 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 :-
Heretofore it has been considered necessary when treating fabrics that
are intended to be waterproofed by means of india-rubber, and to which
it is desired to apply patterns or designs on the external surfaces, to have
such patterns applied thereto before the materials have been water-
proofed; the result is that the patterns or designs so applied have been

page_text: very limited, whereas by my Invention the patterns, pictures, or designs
may be varied and numberless.
My Invention primarily consists in the application to india-rubber
waterproof fabrics of designs or pictures after the fabric is waterproofed
and surface cured or steam cured. By this means I am able to produce
a waterproof bag having on one or both sides thereof such a design or
picture or designs or pictures as may be desired.
In carrying my Invention into effect supposing I wish to make a
sponge bag for example, I take a piece of india-rubber waterproof fabric
of such size as may be required to make the bag, and I print thereon a
design or picture. I then fold the corners, unite them, and finish the
bag by any known means, or I print the picture or design on a piece of
fabric, unite it to the india-rubber waterproof fabric, and finish as before.
To treat steam-cured manufactured waterproof piece goods according
to my Invention I take a roll of steam-cured waterproof material, and
I print the pattern or design thereon by wood blocks, or by any other
suitable means, and it is then ready to be cut up into garments or other-
wise, as required.
In and by the means ordinarily employed for the manufacture of
waterproof materials for the purposes before described it has been
necessary and customary to print the whole surface of the fabric to be
india-rubber waterproofed with the pattern, whereas by my Invention I
am able, if desired, to cut up the material after it is waterproofed to the
required size, and then to print the required patterns or designs thereon,
by which means I am enabled to produce articles having on their surface
or surfaces a pattern, design, or picture, while at the same time I very
materially economize the material.
The Invention is particularly applicable to the manufacture of water-
proof sponge bags, but it is also applicable to the manufacture of bathing
caps, nursing aprons, bibs, dressing cases, tobacco bags, and other useful
domestic or fancy articles, also to the manufacture of books for children
and others, to maps or other articles, which are at one and the same
time waterproof and practically indestructible.
The patterns, designs, or pictures may be printed in colours or other-
wise, as fancy or taste may dictate.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, I claim
as my "Improvements in or Connected with the Manufacture of India-

page_text: rubber Waterproof Fabrics applicable to Sponge Bags and other Articles "
the application of designs, patterns, and letter-press and other printing
to fabrics for the production or manufacture of waterproof articles,
garments, sponge bags, bathing caps, nursery aprons, bibs, dressing
cases, tobacco bags, and other useful domestic or fancy articles, also to
children's books, maps, and other articles exposed to wet or to great wear,
all substantially as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Nisbet, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.