IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Massey, of the City of Manchester,' in the
County of Lancaster, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING."
Sealed the 9th December 1856, and dated the 18th June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Massey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th June 1856.
I, WILLIAM MASSEY, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates entirely to a means of preventing the shuttle flying off
the raceboard during the process of weaving, by which so many accidents take
place, especially in depriving the operators of their eye sight, and which I
accomplish by merely fixing an elastic band the whole length of the stay, in
such a position that, if the shuttle has the least tendency to fly off, it will come
in contact with the said elastic band, which will keep it its direct course. I am
aware there have been several methods tried to effect this desirable object, as
a number of hooks, or a long piece of wire fixed to the stay, but they have all
failed to accomplish it; and I find from experiments that the elastic band wil
answer effectually, and remove every difficulty.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Massey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MASSEY, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manager,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date-the-Thirteenth-day-of June, in- the. -year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and-successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Massey, Her special licence that I, the said William Massey, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Massey, 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 LOOMS FOR
WEAVING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Massey, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Massey, 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):
The nature of my Invention relates to an improved means, method, or appa-
ratus, to prevent the shuttle flying off the raceboard during the process of
weaving, thus preventing serious accidents to the operatives, and consists of
fixing an elastic band or strap the whole length of the slay, in such a position
that if the shuttle has the least tendency to fly off or diverge from its direct
course, it will immediately come in contact with the said elastic band or strap,
which will keep it in its proper position. I am aware there have been several
methods adopted to effect this desirable object, as a number of hooks fixed
loosely on a horizontal bar, or a horizontal bar or wire alone, which plans, by
their rigidity, wear and injure the shuttles as well as causing frequent breakage.
I now find by experience that a guard or strap across the slay, made of any

page_text: elastic material, as caoutchouc, or a composition of caoutchouc and some
fibrous material, will effectually answer the purpose.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be distinctly understood that
I claim as my Invention, and which to the best of my knowledge and belief
has not been hitherto used within this realm, the use and application of a
guard, in the shape of a strap fixed to the slay of looms, made of any elastic
substance in contradistinction to any rigid material, as hitherto adopted.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Massey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named William Massey, in the presence of
WILLIAM MASSEY. (L.S.)
E. J. HUGHES, Patent Agent,
Manchester.