IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HELMETS, HATS, CAPS, AND. SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND ARRANGEMENT, THEREOF EMPLOYED. IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Harcourt Brown at the-
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, ou the
15th December 1868.
I, JOHN HARCOURT BROWN, of Abbey Mills, Romsey, in the County of
Hants, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HELMETS, HATS, CAPS, AND.
SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND ARRANGEMENT, THEREOF EMPLOYED.
IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE," to be as follows:-
In carrying my said Invention into effect I use the cuttings, fleshings,
and shavings obtained during the manufacture of leather from the skins
of the calf, sheep, buck, doe, goat, and kid, though I do not confine
myself to the use of these particular cuttings, fleshings, and shavings,
but use also if desirable those derived from the ox, cow, buffalo, and
similar animals. These cuttings, fleshings, and shavings having been.
first thoroughly picked over to free them from dirt and other impurities,
and from any pieces of what is termed the grain side of the skin, are.
well washed in a weak solution of soda or other suitable lixivium, and
having been mixed together in proportions which are regulated as.
required and with reference to the desired application or used separately

page_text: are next reduced to a filementous fibrous pulp by suitable machinery
(that used for the production of paper pulp being preferred); warm
or cold water, according to the temperature of the weather, being used
therewith. When the pulp has been reduced to about the consistency
of that used in the manufacture of strong writing paper it is passed
through a machine called a "knotter" or through a sieve or other
suitable contrivance to free it from all knots and unreduced particles.
During the latter process I add to every 100 pounds of the materials.
above mentioned one and a half pounds of sulphuric acid diluted in
two gallons of water, and when well incorporated I add five pounds of
dry animal size reduced to a fluid in two gallons of warm water and
five pounds of alum dissolved in two gallons of water. When those
ingredients are well incorporated with the pulp the whole mass is then
-in-a-fit-condition-for-the-production of the required articles. I further
wish it to be understood that I sometimes-add-and-combine-other-
suitable fibrous materials where it is desirable that the articles should
not be entirely composed of leather, nor do I confine myself to the
exact quantities as the same may be varied as found necessary. I now
form hollow moulds or cases made of perforated metal or other suitable
material of the required size and form, and supplied with moveable
permeable woollen covers, or covers, formed of any other suitable
material, which are secured at the base of the hollow moulds or
cases by india-rubber bands or by other suitable means, the base
being imperforated. These hollow moulds or cases are fitted in the
interior with vacuum tubes connected with a pipe passing from the
interior through the base to the outside, and attached to a pipe con-
nected with a vaccuum pump or other suitable mechanism for exhausting
the air within the hollow moulds or cases, which being fitted with the
moveable permeable covers or felts are then submerged in the vats
containing the fluid fibrous pulp, and the air within the moulds or cases
being then partially exhausted the filementous fibrous pulp, which is
kept in motion by an agitator of any desired form, is deposited upon
and over the entire permeable surface, the quantity and thickness of
the fibrous pulp being regulated by the time the mould or case is.
submerged. As a rule I find that from one minute to one minute and a
half's immersion is sufficient to produce an ordinary helmet, hat, cap, or
cther similar article, but the time of immersion must be regulated
.according to the desired thickness and strength of the article required.
When the moulds or cases are submerged the brim portion must be

page_text: placed downwards, and be allowed to remain submerged for a longer
period than any other portion in order to increase the substance of
the brim, which should as a general rule be three times the thickness
of the body of the article, The metal moulds or cases are now removed
from the vats, and the permeable woollen covers or felts with the fibrous
materials adhering thereto are taken off the metal moulds or cases and
placed upon suitable blocks made of metal, wood, or other material,
for the purpose of giving the required shape and for drying by the
ordinary process. These blocks are made in sections similar to those
now employed in the manufacture of hats. The articles thus made
undergo the usual process for giving smoothness to the surfaces, and
are then removed, varnished, enamelled, or otherwise surfaced and
made waterproof, colored as desired, or covered with silk, beaver, cloth,
felt, or any other suitable materials, after which they are ready for use.