IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bowler, of 4, Seymour Place, Stapleton
Road, Bristol, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD."
Sealed the 19th March 1858, and dated the 28th September 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bowler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
September 1857.
I, WILLIAM BOWLER, of 4, Seymour Place, Stapleton Road, Bristol, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of hats.
and other coverings for the head. Heretofore, hats and other coverings for
the head have been usually constructed in such a way that the body to which
the crown or upper covering is attached should at its lower part fit the head
of the wearer. Now, according to my Invention the body is made of a
larger size than is necessary for this purpose, and so as to contain within
a ring or band of suitable size to fit the head of the wearer, which ring or
band is attached to the body by a connecting piece of an annular form, and
this connecting piece may be continued so as to project beyond the body and
form a brim to the hat or other covering for the head.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Bowler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th March 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BOWLER, of 4, Seymour Place, Stapleton Road, Bristol, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Bowler, Her special licence that I, the said William
Bowler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Bowler, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HATS AND OTHER COVERINGS FOR THE HEAD,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Bowler, 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 per-
formed, 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 William Bowler, 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:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of hats
and other coverings for the head. Heretofore, hats and other coverings for
the head have been usually constructed in such a way that the body to which
the crown or upper covering is attached should at its lower part fit the head
of the wearer. Now, according to my Invention the body is made of a
larger size than is necessary for this purpose, and so as to contain within it
a ring or band of suitable size to fit the head of the wearer, which ring or
band is attached to the body by a connecting piece of an annular form, and
this connecting piece may be continued so as to project beyond the body and
form a brim to the hat or other covering for the head.

page_text: Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
Whatever be the exterior form of the body of a hat or other covering for
the head, when made according to my Invention, a ring or band is used to fit
the head, such ring or band being by preference from one to two inches deep.
The lower edge of this band is fixed to or forms part with an annular or
horizontal ring, the opening through which corresponds in diameter with the
diameter of the band which fits on the head. The body of a hat or other
covering for the head, whatever be its form, is of larger diameter than the
band which fits on to the head, and the lower edge of the body is fixed to
the annular or horizontal ring at a distance from the band, by which the body
of the hat or covering for the head will, in place of being in contact with the
head, be at a distance therefrom. The horizontal ring may project beyond
the body to any extent desired, and so as to form a brim or projection all
round or only partly round the body of the hat, as may be desired. By these
means hats and other coverings for the head may be made more suitable for
hot climates than those heretofore used.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bowler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JOHN WIGLEY,
N 1, Melbourn Terrece,
Clarence New Town,
Bristol.
WILLIAM BOWLER. (L.S.)