IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BONNET FRONTS AND RUCHES
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Martin, of No. 4, Buckingham Street,
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BONNET
FRONTS AND RUCHES."
Sealed the 7th October 1859, and dated the 9th April 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Martin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the
9th April 1859.
I, JOHN MARTIN, of No. 4, Buckingham Street, Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BONNET
FRONTS & RUCHES" to be as follows:-
The improvements consist in the application of a band of cotton on linen
tape or muslin, or other cotton or linen woven fabrics to the back part of the
bonnet front, ruche, or other similar article, in order to obtain a cheap smooth
surface to that part of the bonnet front, ruche, or other similar article which
comes most in contact with the hair of the wearer. Also in the insertion of a
wire or a strip of pasteboard or of some other substance within such band or
within a band of ribbon for the purpose of obtaining the necessary stiffness;
the stiffness may also be obtained by using a suitable sizeing, gum, or starch.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
'
by the said John Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th October 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MARTIN, of No. 4, Buckingham Street, Islington, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Martin, Her special licence that I, the said John
Martin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Martin, 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 THE
MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BONNET FRONTS AND RUCHES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Martin, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under 'my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 John Martin, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
The improvements consist in the application of a band of cotton or linen
tape or muslin, or other cotton or linen woven fabrics of a comparatively close
texture in place of lace or net or other open character of fabric hitherto used
for such purpose, to the back part or folded edge of bonnet fronts and ruches
so that that part which comes most in contact with the hair of wearer may
have a smooth character, and be more agreeable to the touch.
. Also the improvements relate to obtaining stiffness to the back edge of
machine-made bonnet fronts and ruches by the introduction of a strip of paste-
board or of some suitable stiffening substance excepting wire within the
band," by which bonnet fronts and ruches thus formed will be found in wear
6.

page_text: to keep better in form or shape, and be more agreeable to the wearer. The
desired amount of stiffness may also be obtained by using a suitable sizing
gum or starch. The sizing which I have found to answer well consists of
starch dissolved in cold water, and kept agitated so as to prevent precipitation
during use.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the means I
adopt in carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is the improvements in the manufacture of bonnet fronts and ruches by
the use of materials of the character referred to.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Martin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
5
JOHN MARTIN. (L.S.)
Witness,
B. J. B. MILLS,
Clerk to William Brookes, Patent Agent,
78, Chancery Lane, London.