IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TERRY CLOTH OR OTHER WOVEN FABRICS HAVING LOOPED SURFACES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Christy, of Fairfield, in the County
of Lancaster, Manufacturer, and John Knowles, of the same
place, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF TERRY CLOTH OR OTHER WOVEN FABRICS HAVING
LOOPED SURFACES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 25th January 1854, and dated the 8th August 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Christy
and John Knowles at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 8th August 1858.
We, RICHARD CHRISTY, of Fairfield, in the County of Lancaster, Pr
Sp
Manufacturer, and JOHN KNOWLES, of the same place, Manager, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TERRY CLOTH OR OTHER WOVEN FABRICS
HAVING LOOPED SURFACES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CON-
NECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
Our improvements relate only to the manufacture of such terry or
cloths or fabrics as have a terry or looped surface upon both sides of the
cloth. We employ a double set of terry warp threads, one set to form
the loops on the upper surface of the cloth, and the other set to form
the loops upon the under surface of the same.
We employ two parallel bars (one above and one below the terry

page_text: warp threads) acting in a similar manner to the jaws of a vice. These
bars are capable of performing two movements, closing and opening
vertically so as to nip or release the terry warp threads, and also
moving backwards and forwards in an horizontal direction.
When it is desired to form the terry or loops the bars close and hold
the terry warp threads firmly; the bars then advance, forcing the
threads upwards or downwards in the form of a loop, and hold them
in that position until the shuttle has put in the requisite binding
threads.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Christy and John Knowles in the Great
Seal Patent Office, on the 8th February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
RICHARD, CHRISTY, of Fairfield, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturer, and JOHN KNOWLES, of the same place, Manager, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Hler heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Richard Christy and John Knowles,
Her especial license that we, the said Richard Christy and John
Knowles, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Richard Christy and John Knowles, our 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF TERRY CLOTH OR OTHER WOVEN FABRICS HAVING
LOOPED SURFACES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said

page_text: Richard Christy and John Knowles, or one of us, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one
of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the sanie 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 Richard Christy, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:
Our improvements relate solely to the manufacture of such terry
cloths or looped fabrics as have a terry or looped surface upon both
sides of the cloth; that is, having the front and back surfaces exactly
similar. And in order to be enabled to produce such manufacture we
have simply to provide or employ a double set of terry warp threads
(in combination with our improved apparatus), one set of such warp
threads being required to form or constitute the terry or loops upon
the one or upper side or surface of the cloth or fabric, and the other
set of such warp threads being required to form or constitute the terry
or loops upon the other or under side or surface of the said cloth or
fabric. Our improvements in such manufacture are effected by the
application of the machinery or apparatus connected therewith as
follows: Our improvements consist in the application and use of a
simple clamping, holding, or retaining apparatus attached to and suitably
actuated by the loon, or any convenient part thereof, for the purpose
of drawing up the terry warp threads to forin the loops or terry as the
ordinary weaving processes proceed, and holding or retaining such
loops or terry firmly whilst the necessary binding threads are intro-
duced and the loops or terry secured. This apparatus consists simply
of two parallel bars (one being above and one below the terry warp
threads), and acting exactly in a similar manner to the jaws of a vice.
These bars are capable of performing two movements, first, closing and
opening vertically so as to nip, hold, or retain, and, when necessary, to
release the terry warp, threads, as required; and also, secondly, moving
backwards and forwards in an horizontal direction, when requisite, in

page_text: order to complete the terry or loops, and obtain a fresh hold upon
another and succeeding portion of the terry warp threads. The
following example of the operation of the above-described apparatus
when taken in connection with the ordinary process of weaving will
suffice to illustrate the practical details of our Invention, and the
simplicity, we consider, renders any further explanation unnecessary,
as it cannot fail to be easily comprehended by the practical weaver:
When it is desired to form the terry or loops the two parallel bars
advance the length of the intended loop, then close and nip, hold or
retain, the terry warp threads firmly whilst receding towards the cloth,
and thus force the terry warp threads to bend upwards or downwards in
the form of a loop, and hold or retain them in that position whilst the
"slay" beats up and the shuttle puts in the requisite binding "picks"
or threads, and thus secure the loops so formed, and complete such
portion of the terry or looped cloth; the bars then are caused to open,
and are ready to repeat the process above described.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention,
together with the method of carrying the same into practical effect, we
would remark, in conclusion, that we claim as of our Invention the
manufacture of terry cloth or other woven fabrics having looped sur-
faces, whereby a terry or looped surface is wrought or produced on
both sides or surfaces of the fabric; that is, having the front or upper
side and back or under side of the cloth precisely similar in appearance
and effect by means of the novel and improved machinery or apparatus
for effecting such purposes, whether constructed, used, or employed
exactly as heroin described and set forth, or by any slight modification
or variation of the same whereby the desired effect is obtained without
departing from the peculiar features of the Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Christy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Seventh day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
RICHARD CHRISTY. (L.S.)