IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING FLAX AND HEMP, WHEREBY THEY ARE. BROUGHT TO SUCH A STATE THAT THEY MAY BE CARDED, SPUN, AND WOVEN BY MACHINERY SUCH AS IS NOW EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON AND WOOL INTO YARN AND CLOTH.
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, of 16,.
Castle Street, Holborn, City, London, Patent Agent,, for the
Invention of AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING FLAX AND HEMP,
WHEREBY THEY ARE. BROUGHT TO SUCH A STATE THAT THEY MAY BE
CARDED, SPUN, AND WOVEN BY MACHINERY SUCH AS IS NOW EMPLOYED
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON AND WOOL INTO YARN AND CLOTH.".
A communication.
Sealed the 23rd November 1858, and dated the 23rd May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Edouard
Loradoux Bellford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,.
with his Petition, on the 23rd May 1858.
1, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX, BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street
Holborn, (City,) London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of.
the said Invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING FLAX AND
HEMP, WHEREBY THEY ARE BROUGHT TO SUCH A STATE THAT THEY MAY BE
CARDED, SPUN, AND WOVEN BY MACHINERY SUCH AS IS NOW EMPLOYED IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON AND WOOL INTO YARN AND CLOTH," to be as
follows:

page_text: This improved method of treating flax and hemp differs from that
known as "Claussen's process," which is so defective in its nature that
although the flax so prepared has been intended to be worked by the
machinery used for manufacturing cotton, yet it has been impossible to
do so by repeated trials; hence new machinery has been made to wark
the flax treated by that process. M. Claussen employs an alkali and
acid to generate carbonic acid gas in the fibres of the flax, and thus
split them. An alkalic renders flax pulpy, and destroys its fibre; hence it
is not in its nature adapted to preserve. its fine fibre, so as, to render it
susceptible of being worked successfully on the same machinery as is
now employed for working cotton and wool. This discovery or Inven-
tion cottonizes or splits the flax into fine fibres, and preserves them from
becoming pulpy, retains their strength, and renders them, the split flax,
perfectly susceptible of being worked with the greatest case on any
machinery now in use for manufacturing cotton or wool into yarn and
cloth.
This Invention consists,-1st. In the employment of a solution of
the sulphate of alumina, in which the flax is immersed, for splitting the
same into fine fibres, and preserving their strength and ductility, so
as to enable them to be carded, spun, and woven on the kinds of
machinery already mentioned. 2nd. In bleaching the said flax in the
aluminous solution, by the employment of the chloride of lime, or the
chloride of soda, or potash, in the aluminous solution.
Take unrotted flax, and cut it into such lengths, from one to any
number of inches desired, to have it of such a length of staple as may
be desired by the manufacturer for the certain kind of goods he intends
to use it in. It is cut in a machine similar to a straw cutter. This
cut flax is then subjected to the action of steam, in any proper steam-
tight vessel, for about eight or ten hours. It is then taken out and
dried. After this it is broken on a cotton lapping machine, when it is
fit for the splitting or cottonizing process. This process is conducted as
follows-Take a proper vessel, a wood or metal, and of such a size as
may be required for the amount of flax to be operated. In this make
up a solution of about one pound of alum, sulphate of alumina, for

page_text: every one hundred pounds of flax to be treated, in as much as water as
will saturate and cover up the said flax in the said vessel.. The flax
is allowed to remain in this solution from five to twenty minutes, during
which period the said solution so acts upon the flax as to open up or
split it into very fine fibres. While this solution so acts upon the flax
as to split it into very fine or cottony fibres, it also preserves its
strength and toughness, owing to its well-known nature of forming a
tanning or insoluble composition with vegetable and animal substances.
After this the split flax may be bleached in the ordinary way; but to
save time and labor, bleach the said flax in an aluminous solution.
There is no set time required for the flax to be split in the aluminous
solution; but whenever it is judged, by observation, that the said flax
is split, pour in the solution of the chloride of lime. For one hundred
pounds of flax, employ from five pounds and upwards of the chloride
of lime stirred up in water, and allowed to settle. Take the clear
liquor of this solution, and allow the flax to remain in it, this compound
liquor, for about from ten to twenty minutes, when the said flax is
found to be bleached into a beautiful white. After this the flax, is
taken out and washed thoroughly in clean water, and afterwards dried,
when it is fit to be worked upon any kind of cotton or woollen
machinery, and can be made into yarn and cloth. This has repeatedly
been done with the most gratifying results. The process is simple and
economical, and flax and hemp thus treated are fitted to work upon
cotton and woollen machinery, and can be made into yarn and cloth.
The flax thus treated is rendered thus fit for manufacturing into cloth
at a very small expense, and textile goods made from flax thus treated
will be produced as cheap as those made of cotton.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford in the Great
Seal Patent Office, on the 23rd November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street, Holborn,
(City,) London, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford,
Her special licence that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bellford, my executors, ad-
ministrators, 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 Chan-
nel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention, communicated to me by a
foreigner residing abroad, for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF TREATING FLAX
AND HEMP, WHEREBY THEY ARE BROUGHT TO SUCH A STATE THAT THEY MAY
BE CARDED, SPUN, AND WOVEN BY MACHINERY SUCH AS IS NOW EMPLOYED IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON AND WOOL INTO YARN AND CLOTH," the
upon
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, 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 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 Auguste Edouard Loradoux
Bellford, 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 (that is to say):
My improved method of treating flax and hemp differs from that

page_text: Known as "Claussen's process," which is so defective in its nature
that although the flax so prepared has been intended to be worked by
machinery employed in the manufacture of cotton, yet it has been
found impossible, after repeated trials, to so work it; hence it has been
necessary to construct new machinery to work the flax treated by that
process. Mr. Claussen employs an alkali and acid to generate car-
bonic acid gas in the fibres of the flax, and thus split them. An alkalic
renders flax pulpy, and destroy's its fibre; hence the nature of tlic
alkalic is not adapted to preserve the fine fibre of the flax, so as to
render it susceptible of being worked successfully on the same machinery
as is now employed in working cotton and wool. My discovery or in-
vention cottonizes or splits the flax into fine fibres, and preserves them
from becoming pulpy, retains their strength, and renders them (the split
flax) perfectly susceptible of being worked with the greatest case on
any machines now used for manufacturing cotton or wool into yarn or
cloth.
My Invention consists,-1. In the employment of a solution of the
sulphate of alumina, aluni, borax, common salt, Epsom salt, Glauber
salt, nitre, sal-ammonia, or an equivalent of any one of these, in which
the flax is immersed, in order to split the flax into fine fibres, whose
strength and ductility is so preserved as to enable them to be carded;
spun, and woven on these kinds of machinery already mentioned.
2ndly. In bleaching the said flax in the aluminous, borax, or other
solution, by the employment of the chloride of lime, or the chloride of
soda, or potash, in the said aluminous borax or other solution.
I take unrotted flax, and cut it into such lengths, from one to any
number of inches desired, to have it of such a length of staple as may
be required by the manufacturer for the particular kinds of goods he
intends to use it in. It is cut in a machine similar to a straw cutter.
This cut flax is then subjected to the action of steam, in any proper
steam-tight vessel, for about eight or ten hours. It is then taken out and
dried. After this it is broken on a cotton lapping machine, when it becomes
fit for the splitting or cottonizing process. This process is conducted
as follows:-I take a proper vessel, of wood or metal, and of such a size
as may be required for the amount of flax to be operated upon. In

page_text: this vessel I make up a solution of about one pound of alum or sul-
phate of alumina, or any of the other salts or substances named, such
as borax, &c., for every one hundred pounds of flax to be treated, in as
much water as will saturate and cover up the said flax in the said
vessel. The flax is allowed to remain in this solution from five to
twenty minutes, during which period the said solution so acts upon the
flax as to open up or split it into very fine fibres; and while the solu-
tion so acts upon the flax as to split it into very fine or cottony fibres,
it also preserves its strength and toughness. After this the split flax
may be bleached in the ordinary way; but to save time and labor, I
bleach the said flax in an aluminous, or borax, or salt and chlorine
solution. I do not confine myself to the set time which is stated to be
required for the flax to be split in the aluminous, borax, or salt
solution; but whenever it is judged, by observation, that the said flax
is split, I pour in a solution of the chloride of lime. For one hundred
pounds of flax, I employ from five pounds and upwards of the chloride
of line stirred up in water, and then allowed to settle. I then take
the clear liquor of this solution, and pour it into the vessel containing
the flax in the aluminous, borax, or salt solution, and allow the flax
to remain in it, this compound liquor, for about from ten to twenty
minutes, at the end of which time. the flax is found to be bleached
into a beautiful white. After this the flax is taken out and washed
thoroughly in clean water, and afterwards dried, when it is fit to be
worked upon any kind of cotton or woollen machinery for making yarn
or cloth. This has been repeatedly done with the most gratifying
results The process is simple and economical, and flax and hemp thus
treated arc fitted to be worked upon cotton or woollen machinery, and
can be made into yarn or cloth. The flax thus treated becomes, as
aforesaid fit for manufacturing into cloth at a very small expense, and
textile goods made from flax thus treated are produced as cheaply as
those made of cotton.
Having thus fully described the nature of my Invention, I claim
treating flax or hemp with an aluminous solution in the manner sub-
stantially as described, or treating flax or hemp in a solution of either
alunk borax, chloride of soda, sulphate of soda,. sulphate of magnesia,

page_text: nitrate of potassa, or sal-ammonia, or an equivalent of any one of
these, in the manner substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
I also claim the bleaching of the said flax in the aluminous solution
in the manner set forth, and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bell-
ford, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third
day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
A. E. LORADOUX BELLFORD. (L.S.)