IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING FLAX AND HEMP
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul Garavaglia de Soresina, of Bedford Row, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING
FLAX AND HEMP."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Garavaglia de Soresina
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd August 1854.
I, PAUL GARAVAGLIA DE SORESINA, of Bedford Row, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN TREATING FLAX AND HEMP" to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the subjecting hemp and flax to a succession
of processes, hereafter mentioned, part of which are old. For this purpose the
flax or hemp, after the seed and roots have been removed, is sorted and scutched,
and it is desirable that the ends should then be somewhat opened by heckling.
Quantities or bundles are to be slightly twisted, and then placed on the per-
forated bottom of a strong vat or vessel, and successive layers of such twisted
bundles or quantities are to be placed one over the other. The vat or vessel is
then to be closed. The flax or hemp is next to be subjected to the percolation
of water through it under considerable pressure (34 feet column) till it flows off
from the vessel clear. The flax or hemp is then subjected to pressure (by
preference hydraulic pressure), to separate the water. The flax or hemp is then
to be dried by the heat of the sun, or in a warmed room or chamber... When

page_text: dry, the flax or hemp is to be subjected to the action of a grooved roller moved
over it when on a grooved table. The flax or hemp is then to be again twisted
in quantities, but in the opposite direction, and placed again in a vat or vessel,
and subjected to the percolation of cold water under pressure until the water
flows off clear. The flax or hemp is to be pressed and dried as before. The
flax or hemp is then again to be twisted in the same direction as at first, and
placed in a strong vat or vessel with a false perforated bottom, and subjected
to the action of steam and to hot water till the water comes off clear. The flax
or hemp is to be pressed and dried, and the fibres laid straight, when the samo
will be complete for the market, or to be further manipulated, as heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Paul Garavaglia de Soresina in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd December 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PAUL
GARAVAGLIA DE SORESINA, of Bedford Row, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Paul Garavaglia de Soresina, Her special license that J, the said
Paul Garavaglia de Soresina, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Paul Garavaglia de Soresina, 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 Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING FLAX AND HEMP," upon
the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Paul Garavaglia de Soresina,
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 Paul Garavaglia de Soresina, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by tho.
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in the subjecting of hemp and flax to a succession of
processes, herein-after described, part of which are old. For this purpose I
operate as follows:-
The flax or hemp, after the sced and roots have been removed, is sorted and
serutched, and the ends somewhat opened by heckling. Quantities or bundles
are to be slightly twisted, and then placed on the false perforated bottom of a
strong vat or vessel, and successive layers of such twisted bundles or quantities
are to be placed one over the other. The vat or vessel is then to be closed.
The flax or hemp is next to be subjected to the percolation of water through it
till it flows from the vessel clear. The water used in this process is to bo per-
fectly clean, and to enter under the pressure of a column of thirty-two feet
in height. The flax or hemp is then subjected to pressure (by preferenco
hydraulic pressure), to separate the water. The flax or hemp is then to be
dried by the heat of the sun, or in a warmed room or chamber.
When dry, the flax or hemp is to be subjected to the action of a grooved
roller moved over it when on a grooved table. The flax or hemp is then to be
again twisted in quantities, but in the opposite direction, and placed again in a
vat or vessel, and subjected to the percolation of cold water under pressure, as
before, until the water flows off clear. The flax or hemp is to be pressed and
dried as before. The flax or hemp is then again to be twisted in the same
direction as at first, and placed in a strong vat or vessel with a falso perforated
bottom, and subjected to the action of steam of an increased pressure and to
hot water, until the water comes off clear. This operation should take about
six hours. The flax or hemp is to be pressed and dried, and the fibres laid
straight, when the same will be complete for the market, or to be further
manipulated, as heretofore.
The vats to be used in this system are cylindrical hooped vats; and the false
perforated bottom, placed on supports at a convenient distance from the bottom,
is moveable, and may be taken out by a rod or handle attached to its centre.
In the cover of the vat are inserted two pipes, one for hot and cold water,
the other for the steam; the cover is secured to the vat by means of cross bars.
And having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein laid down, so long as the peculiar
features of the Invention be retained; but what I claim is,-
First, the subjecting of the flax and hemp to the percolation of cold water
under pressure, in the manner herein-before described.

page_text: Secondly, the subjecting of the fax and hemp to the succession
herein-before described.
processes
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Garavaglia de Soresina, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
PAUL GARAVAGLIA DE SORESINA. (L.S.)