LMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LADIES' CORSETS OR STAYS."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thornton Reddell, of Australian Avenue, Jewin
Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "LMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF LADIES' CORSETS OR STAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thornton Reddell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1879.
WILLIAM THORNTON REDDELL, of Australian Avenue, Jewin Street, in the City
of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LADIES' CORSETS OR
STAYS."
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of ladies'
corsets or stays, and whereby more perfect fitting of the same is attained than by
the methods of manufacture previously adopted.
The main body of the corset or stays is formed in the usual manner, and to open
and fasten both at the front and back thereof. Two openings or enlargements are
formed at the lower portion of the corset or stays to allow of the same spreading
over the hips, as is usually practised and is well understood. In front of cach of
the openings or enlargements is or are fixed one or more metallic loops of an oblong
or other suitable shape, the same having respectively a tubular metallic roller
mounted on one of the bars of which they are formed, and on which the roller is
free to rotate. Through the said loops are passed respectively the ends of two
bands, which are fastened to the body of the corset or stays behind the openings or
enlargements. The bands are respectively of a curved shape, the free end of one
having a buckle attached thereto, and the free end of the other being formed so as
to constitute a tongue; the corset or stays having been put on by the person by
whom they are to be worn are fastened, and the bands are respectively turned
back, and the tongue at the end of one of the same passed through the buckle
attached to the other band. The ends of the bands are then caused to act on the
before mentioned loops by being drawn together or separated until the lower por-
tion of the corset or stays is sufficiently compressed, thereby allowing the lower
31

page_text: part of the front of the latter to be perfectly fitted to the body. The free motion of
the bands is facilitated by reason of the ends thereof passing over the tubular
rollers, as before mentioned, whilst the proper fitting of the corset or stays is aided
by the upward curvature of the said bands.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Thornton Reddell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
November 1879.
WILLIAM THORNTON REDDELL, of Australian Avenue, Jewin Street, in the City
of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LADIES' CORSETS OR
STAYS."
My said Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of ladies
corsets or stays, and whereby more perfect fitting of the same, together with
increased support for the back of the wearer is attained than by the methods of
manufacture previously adopted.
The main body of the corset or stays is formed in the usual manner, and to open
and fasten both at the front and back thereof. Two openings or enlargements are
formed at the lower portion of the corset or stays, one at each side to allow of the
same spreading over the hips, as is usually practised and is well understood. In
front of each of the openings or enlargements is or are fixed one or more metallic
loops of an oblong or other suitable shape, the same having respectively a tubular
metallic roller mounted on one of the bars of which they are formed, and on which
the roller is free to rotate. Through the said loops are passed respectively the ends
of two bands, which are fastened to the body of the corset or stays behind the
openings or enlargements. The bands are respectively of a curved shape, the free
end of one having a buckle or other suitable fastening attached thereto, and the
free end of the other being formed so as to constitute a tongue.
I will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings, from which the
nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood. The same letters of
reference indicate like parts in both Figures.
Figure 1 is a side view of a corset with the bands unfastened, and Figure 2 is a
similar view showing the bands brought together in position for adjusting the
corset. A is the body of the corset; B is one of the openings or enlargements;
Care the metallic loops; D, the bands; and d, the secured end or ends of the
latter.
The corset having been put on the body is fastened in the usual manner, and the
bands D are then respectively turned back, and the tongue at the end of one of the
same is passed through the buckle attached to the free end of the other band, as
shown in Figure 2. The ends of the bands are then caused, by being drawn
together or loosened, to act on the loops C, and thereby on that portion of the
corset to which they are connected, until the lower portion of the corset is suffi-
ciently compressed, thus allowing the lower part of the front of the latter to be
perfectly fitted to the body in such a manner as to give increased support to the

page_text: back of the wearer. The free motion of the bands is facilitated by reason of the
ends thereof passing over the tubular rollers on the loops C, as hereinbefore men-
tioned, whilst the proper fitting of the corset is aided by the upward curvature of
the said bands.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider novel and original and therefore claim as constituting the Invention
secured to me by the said herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The manufacture of corsets or stays, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thornton Reddell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM THORNTON REDDELL. (L.S.)
WILLIAM THORNTON REDDELL. (L.S.)