A NEW METALLIC CLIP OR FASTENING FOR SECURING THE STRINGS OF LADIES' HATS or Bonners and OTHER ARTICLES OF DRESS.”
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Antonio McCalla, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Die Sinker and Engraver, for the Invention
of "A NEW METALLIC CLIP OR FASTENING FOR SECURING THE STRINGS OF
LADIES' HATS or Bonners and OTHER ARTICLES OF DRESS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Antonio
McCalla at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th October 1871.
I, CHARLES ANTONIO MCCALLA, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Die Sinker and Engraver, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "A NEW METALLIC CLIP OR FASTENING FOR SECURING
THE STRINGS OF LADIES' HATS OR BONNETS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF DRESS," to be
as follows (that is to say) :-
My Invention has for its object the providing of means for holding
and retaining certain parts of dress, more particularly applicable to ends
or parts where they meet or cross cach other, such as ladies' bonnet
strings, gentlemen's scarfs, sleeves of children's dress, and other like

page_text: purposes, and consists of a front ornament of a required size, according
to the purpose for which it is intended to be used, behind which a
metal or elastic strap is applied that compresses itself against the back
of the front ornament, so as to form a sufficient amount of pressure to
hold in position the ribbon, scarf, or other fabric placed between them.
In some instances the back part is so fashioned as to form a loop or
eye for receiving a pendant ornament, such as a locket or like pendant
article of jewellery, and the compressing force of the back and front may
be effected by the use of elastic braid or a helical spring in connection
with such back strap or its equivalent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Antonio McCalla in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th April 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
ANTONIO MCCALLA, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Die :
Sinker and Engraver, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give :
and grant unto me, the said Charles Antonio McCalla, Her special license
that I, the said Charles Antonio McCalla, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Antonio McCalla, my
executors, administrators, or 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 "A
NEW METALLIC CLIP OR FASTENING FOR SECURING THE STRINGS OF LADIES' HATS
OR BONNETS AND OTHER ARTICLES OF DRESS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Antonio McCalla, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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

page_text: Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Antonio McCalla, 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):—
My Invention has for its object the providing of means for holding and
retaining certain parts of dress, more particularly applicable to ends or
parts where they meet or cross each other, such as ladies' bonnet strings,
gentlemen's scarfs, sleeves of children's dress and other like desired
retention of parts of dress, and consists of a front ornament of a required
size and design, according to the purpose for which it is intended to be
used, behind which a metal or elastic strap is applied that compresses
itself against the back of the front ornament or otherwise, so as to form
a sufficient amount of pressure to hold in position the ribbon, scarf, or
other fabric placed between them:
In some instances the back part is so fashioned as to form a loop or
eye for receiving a pendant ornament, such as a locket or like pendant
article of jewellery, and which said pendant ornament may be made the
means for freeing or liberating the retention and the compressing force
of the back and front may be effected by the use of elastic braid, or a
helical spring in connection with such back strap or other equivalent,
so as to preserve a contracting force for retaining the principle of
retention.
But with a view of affording correct information as to the construction
and application of my Invention, I will proceed to describe the Drawings
hereunto annexed, reference being had to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say :—
-
.;
Figures 1 and 2 represent a back and edge view of one mode of
constructing my improved metallic clip. A, A, is the front plate, which
may be ornamented in any desired style, such as by engraving, chasing,
enamelling, or otherwise; B is the back bar, which for the purpose of
affording additional strength is raised into a fluted form centrally through
its length, and which bar is represented detached at Fig. 3, showing
the two ears for receiving the pierce holes for the axis, as shown in
Figure 2, marked C, and D is a plate, also represented detached, in the flat
at Fig. 4, with corresponding cars for sustaining the axis before referred

page_text: to; the plate D is intended to be soldered or otherwise united to the front
ornamental part A. The closing force necessary for holding the parts A
and B together, as here shown, is effected by a coiled spring shown
in dotted lines between the cars a, a, to expand the lower parts A and B,
the, terminal parts c and d are compressed, which being above the axis
will readily yield to the pressuro, a necessary operation when passing the
open parts down, so as to encompass or grip the ribbon ends, bows, or
bands desired to be held. Instead of obtaining the contracting force by
the coiled spring between the ears as referred to at Figure 1, the part d
may be wholly made of steel, and sufficiently reduced and clongated 1
beyond the cars as to form a spring exerting its force against a projection
formed at the top end of the back lever B, as exhibited in a side view
at Fig. 5; this arrangement will be understood by any practical
mechanic used to such work; or the plate D may terminate at the cars
of the metal and a small steel spring applied between the top part d 1
and the front A. In this example additional security will be afforded by
the action of the spring in the back lever, and more force will be
required to compress the parts c and d together for expanding the
lower ends.
Fig. 6 is a front view of another example of my improved clips,
in which case the front and back are retained by a direct-acting spring
bolt, as illustrated in the back view, Fig. 7, and side view, Fig. 8; in
Figure 7 the back or engaging plate is removed for the purpose of showing
the bolt e, e, stop guidef, f, and the pendant ornament attached to the
bolt marked F, by which the bolt is pulled down, until it comes in contact
with the corresponding part of the guide, as seen at g, Figure 8, which
just permits the bolt sufficient deflection to free the top end of the back
plate E, as represented at Figure 8, which back plate works on the axis h,
and is held at the top by the end of the bolt passing through the locking
hole, thereby firmly retaining the back plate E and front plate G in
position, until relieved for use by the pulling down of the bolt by the
pendant ornament and which bolt is represented in a detached side and
front view at Fig. 9; the correcting force for holding or retaining the
bolt in position is effected by a small helical spring surrounding that part
of the shank of the bolt between the shoulders of the bolt i, i, and the
lower angle of the bolt guide f.
In some cases with varied tastes or the delicacies of the fabrics to be
11
1
11
•

page_text: may be so obtained I have constructed a clip, in which an elastic band is
used for engaging the fabric, and with which arrangement a front such as at
Figure 1 may be used, but for the sake of diversifying I have given the
form as at Fig. 10, the reverse or back view being represented at
Fig. 11, and edge view at Fig. 12. In this case a small pierced or metal
plate marked & engages with a loop m, which is secured to the front
plate H. J is a piece of clastic web united to the loop k and lower
strap n, terminating with the pendant ornament o. In the lower
strap n a slot or oval hole is formed, which passes over a bent pin,
marked p, Figure 12, which pin is by preference slightly notched to
form a detent, the contracting force of the elastic web always keeping it
in position; and this same application of elastic web I have exhibited in
a modified form at Fig. 13, which is a front view, the broad central
portion of which may be removed for the purpose of receiving the means
for holding a small photograph, portrait, or other pictorial embellish-
ment. Fig. 14 is a back view of the same, showing a slot for the
attachment of the elastic web, and a projecting stud, marked q, for the
detent, which may be said to be completed by attaching the web shown
detached at. Fig. 15 to Figure 14, by passing it through the slot therein
shown, when by means of the pendant ornament L the plate M may be
pulled down until the pierced out hole passes over the stud q, retaining it
in position as exhibited in the side view, Fig. 16, and when desired I may
connect the top end of the web, as at Figure 15 to the plate, Figure 14,
by forming a short piece of open jointed tube, and soldering or fastening
it to the back of the front plate, and inserting the end of the elastic web
in the open joint and closing the tube upon it, thereby forming a neat and
durable connection, the same means provided by this arrangement for a
circular photographic, pictorial, or other suitable ornament in front,
admits also of a circular tuft or button covered with any suitable soft
material being applied at the back of such circular opening, that a soft.
pulpy pressure may be afforded to the delicate fabric so engaged, and the
application of such tuft I have exhibited in this Figure marked P, but
which may be omitted altogether if so desired.
Fig. 17 represents a back view of a clip in which the elastic force is
› derived by the application of a simple india-rubber ring, maked u, u,
attached to the front plate marked R, by a small bit of ribbon or other
material passing around the ring, and through a slot through the top
curved part of the front plate, and which ring may be engaged by a

page_text: metal clip as at r, connected to a small chain and pendant ornament,
marked s, the pulling down of which will bring the clip beneath the
hook t, t, when it will be retained in use, as shown in the sido view,
Fig. 18, the fabric being confined between the front plate R and india-
rubber ring.
In some instances the back bar may extend beyond the detent or
snap fastening, and be fashioned into a hook' lying between the front
ornament and the back bar, to which hook any pendant locket or
ornament may be attached as represented in front and side views
at Fig. 19.
Having thus given a description of my Invention and shown some
diversification in realizing the same object, I wish it understood
that the same may be further greatly diversified as to style
of ornamentation, general. design, and equivalent details, without
affecting the object and purposo of my Invention, which is to provide
simple, elegant, and effective means of applying ornamental clips for
engaging the strings or bows of ladies' bonnets, gentlemen's scarfs, and
other suitable parts of adult and juvenile dress.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Antonio McCalla, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in 2
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
CHARLES ANTONIO MºCALLA. (L.S.)
Witness,
WILLIAM LOAch,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
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