CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SIZEING, STIFFENING, AND FINISHING TEXTILE MATERIALS OR FABRICS."
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Greenwood, of Irwell Springs, near Bacup, in
the County of Lancaster, Turkey Red Dyer, and Robert Smith, of Bacup
aforesaid, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
SIZEING, STIFFENING, AND FINISHING TEXTILE MATERIALS OR FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Greenwood and
Robert Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 16th February 1854.
We, JOHN GREENWOOD, of Ir well Springs, near Bacup, in the County of
Lancaster, Turkey Red Dyer, and ROBERT SMITH, of Bacup aforesaid, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN SIZEING, STIFFENING, AND FINISHING TEXTILE MATERIALS OR
FABRICS" to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in the application, employment, or use of the
mucilaginous matter of linseed or lintseed, that is, the seed of the common flax,
in these processes.
It may be so used either for yarns, warps, or piece goods, and either alone
or mixed in any suitable or required proportions with any other sizeing or
stiffening matter as ordinarily employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Greenwood and Robert Smith in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
GREENWOOD, of Irwell Springs, near Bacup, in the County of Lancaster,
Turkey Red Dyer, and ROBERT SMITH, of Bacup, aforesaid, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John Greenwood and Robert Smith, Her especial licence that we, the said
John Greenwood and Robert Smith, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said John Greenwood and Robert Smith, our execu-
tors, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN SIZEING, STIFFENING, AND
FINISHING TEXTILE MATERIALS OR FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said John Greenwood and Robert Smith, by an instrument in
writing under our 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Greenwood and Robert Smith,
do hereby declare the nature of our 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)
Our Invention relates, first, to the use of linseed mucilage in sizeing, stiffen-
ing, and finishing textile materials or fabrics.
Secondly, to the use of linseed mucilage along with other substances which
are or may be used in sizeing, stiffening, or finishing textile materials cr
fabrics.
But in order that our Invention may be fully understood and carried into
practical effect, we will proceed to explain the means pursued by us.
The first part of our Invention, as before stated, relates to the use of linseed

page_text: mucilage for sizeing, &c., &c. We commence by taking one pound of
linseed or ground linseed cake and adding it to two gallons of water; we then
boil this mixture ten minutes and allow the undissolved matter to subside,
which takes about ten minutes; we then decant the clear mucilage and add to
the residuary matter six quarts more water, and boil ten minutes. Again we
allow it to subside ten minutes and decant the clear mucilage as before. We
again add for the third time six quarts of water and boil ten minutes as before,
and allow it to subside during the same time, and again decant as before.
These three decanted liquors we then add together and evaporate to two
gallons. This forms what we denominate "linseed mucilage." Firstly, the
"linseed mucilage," prepared as before described is then used in the ordinary
manner, which is well known for sizcing, stiffening, finishing, &c. Secondly,
the "linseed mucilage," prepared as before described, we also mix with the
substances which are or may be used for sizeing, stiffening, &c., such as flour,
starch, and other similar substances. We use one pound of mucilage to
twenty pounds of flour, starch, or any other sizeing substance which is or may
be employed.
Having thus particularly described the nature of our Invention and the
manner in which the same is performed, we would remark, that although we
have been particular in describing the exact process as practised by us, we do
not confine ourselves thereto so long as the peculiar character of our Invention
be retained; but-
First, we claim the application, employment, or use of the mucilaginous
matter of lintseed or linseed, that is, the seed of the common flax, or linseed
cake, commonly called oil cake, for sizeing, stiffening, or finishing textile
materials or fabrics.
Secondly, we claim the use of mucilaginous matter when mixed or used in
any suitable or required proportions along with other suitable substances
which are or may be used in sizeing, stiffening, or finishing textile materials or
fabrics.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Greenwood and Robert Smith, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, the Eleventh day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN GREENWOOD. (L.S.)
ROBERT SMITH..
(L.S.)