IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS, AND IN FASTENING BUTTONS TO GARMENTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Macmillan, of No. 17, Kings' Road,
Balls Pond Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Tailor and
Clothier, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS, AND IN
FASTENING BUTTONS TO GARMENTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Macmillan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th May 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MACMILLAN, of No. 17, Kings' Road, Balls Pond Road,
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Tailor and Clothier, do hereby declaro
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS, AND IN FASTENING
BUTTONS TO GARMENTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in buttons, and in fastening
buttons to garments. For these purposes in constructing buttons, whether of
metal or other materials, and whether covered or not, I form each button with
a stem or shank at the back, by preference of a cylindrical shape; at the back
end of the stem or shank is formed an enlargement of somewhat greater
diameter than the stem or shank, but still such as will pass through a com-
paratively small hole in the fabric to which the button is attached; and in
order to assist in retaining the stem or shank from being drawn back through
the hole when the button is in use, a disc of leather, vulcanized india-rubber,
or other suitable material is employed; through this disc a small hole is

page_text: made, the enlarged end of the stem or shank of the button is forced through
it, and the disc by its elasticity embraces the stem or shank. In some cases
the back end of the shank or stem of a button is, according to my Invention,
split or made double, or fork-like, so that after having been passed through a
hole in the material of which a garment is formed, the stem will readily be
fastened to a disc of metal or other suitable material in which a hole is
formed at or near the centre of the disc; the hole is formed with a bar
across it, and the fastening is effected by the split or open part of the stem
pasing on either side of the bar, and then being pressed or shut down
thereon, so as to embrace the cross bar. In place of the double or split stem
or shank being on the back of the button, it may be on the disc, and the
button is then formed with a bar across a hole or opening at the back.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Macmillan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MACMILLAN, of No. 17, Kings' Road, Balls Pond Road, Islington, in the
County of Middlesex, Tailor and Clothier, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
Ono thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alexander Macmillan, Iler special licence that I, the said Alexander
Macmillan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Alexander Macmillan, 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, uso, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BUTTONS, AND IN FASTENING BUTTONS TO GARMENTS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Macmillan, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Macmillan, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in buttons, and in fastening
buttons to garments. For these purposes in constructing buttons, whether of
metal or other materials, and whether covered or not, I form each button
with a stem or shank at the back, by preference of a cylindrical shape; at
the back end of the stem or shank is formed an enlargement of somewhat
greater diameter than the stem or shank, but still such as will pass through a
comparatively small hole in the fabric to which the button is attached; and
in order to assist in retaining the stem or shank from being drawn back
through the hole when the button is in use, a disc of leather, vulcanized india-
rubber, or other suitable material is employed; through this disc a small hole
is made, the enlarged end of the stem or shank of the button is forced through
it, and the disc by its elasticity embraces the stem or shank. In some cases
the back end of the shank or stem of a button is, according to my Invention,
split or made double, or fork-like, so that after having been passed through a
hole in the material of which a garment is formed, the stem will readily bo
fastened to a disc of metal or other suitable material in which a hole is formed
at or near the centre of the disc; the hole is formed with a bar across it, and
the fastening is effected by the split or open part of the stem passing on either
side of the bar, and then being pressed or shut down thereon, so as to embrace
the cross bar. In place of the double or split stem or shank being on the
back of the button, it may be on the disc, and the button is then formed with
a bar across a hole or opening at the back.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Macmillan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
ALEX. MCMILLAN. (L.s.)