IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Young, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Felt Manufacturer, and William James Richardson Fox, of Batley, in the County
of York, Felt Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS."
Sealed the 9th November 1877, and dated the 12th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Young and William
James Richardson Fox at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
12th May 1877.
ARTHUR YOUNG, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Felt Manufacturer,
and WILLIAM JAMES RICHARDSON Fox, of Batley, in the County of York, Felt
Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS."
$6
The object of this Invention is to produce on felted fabrics, patterns in the form of
stripes or ornamental designs in different colours, and which fabrics may be used for
skirts, costumes, rugs, and other purposes.
"
In carrying out our Invention we form the bat and felt it in the usual manner,
but before hardening and finishing it, we lay on strips or slivers of wool or other
fibrous yarn of various colours, and arranged at short distances apart according to
taste, and by the usual process of hardening or by means of rollers or analogous
devices we cause these yarns, strips, or slivers, to adhere to the surface of and combine
with the felt, so as to form the pattern.
The strips or slivers of coloured yarn are carefully guided into the bat by means
of guides, rollers, or analogous devices, so as to preserve uniformity in the patterns.
We would observe that the coloured strips or slivers may be applied to the felt
either at the bat, frame, or at the hardener.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Young and William James Richardson Fox in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 12th November 1877.
ARTHUR YOUNG, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Felt Manufacturer,
and WILLIAM JAMES RICHARDSON Fox, of Batley, in the County of York, Felt
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FELTED FABRICS."
The object of this Invention is to produce felted fabrics with patterns in the form
of stripes, diapers, and continuous ornamental designs in tints or colours varying
from the ground color, such fabrics being suitable for skirts, costumes, rugs, curtains,
table cloths, and other articles, usually composed in whole or in part of wool. This
object we attain by applying the ornamentation of whatever design to the face of
the unfinished fabric, and uniting such ornamentation to the fabric by what is known
as the felting operation.
In carrying out our Invention we form the bat and felt it in the usual manner,
but before hardening the bat we apply the desired pattern or device thereto. Thus
if, for example, it is required to produce a striped pattern in colours or in shades
varying from the tint of the ground colour, we lay upon the face of the bat slivers
or ropings of wool, or loosely spun yarn that will admit of being felted into the bat,
arranging them both in respect of their colour and position to correspond with the
stripes in the pattern intended to be reproduced, and we then by the usual process
of hardening with the aid of rollers or analogous devices cause these yarns or slivers
to adhere to the surface of and combine with the felt so as form an integral part of
the fabric.
In the accompanying Drawing the above described mode of producing ornamental
fabrics is illustrated at Figures 1 and 2, Fig. 1 showing a portion of a bat of coloured
wool partially ornamented by overlaying it with two slivers of somewhat darker
colour, the act of felting in which will produce what may be termed shaded stripes
as indicated at a, a.
The ornamentation of this fabric may be carried further by making the shaded
stripes as a base for further ornamentation; this is illustrated at Fig. 2, where b, b,
and c are well defined stripes of colour applied over and adjacent to the sliver, or
in place of this sliver, lines of colour may be applied as shown in the same Figure
at d, e, f, g, h, i, k, variations in the colour and position of these stripes being made
to suit the pattern required to be reproduced.
The strips or slivers of coloured yarn are carefully guided on to the bat by means
of guides, rollers, or analogous devices, which will gauge their relative positions, and
thus preserve uniformity in the pattern.
When it is desired to produce diaper patterns or continuous patterns of flowers
and foliage, for example, we stamp or otherwise cut out the same from sheet sliver,
and apply this ornamentation to the semi-hardened bat. A device may thus be
formed either in mono-chrome or in two or more colours, and if a sharp outline is
required, this may be produced by the introduction of loose yarns (such as those
above mentioned) into the pattern.
Fig. 3 illustrates the application of a pattern consisting of a simple leaf cut or
stamped out from sheet sliver, and it will be obvious that portions of a pattern thus
produced may be brought together and composed into elaborate and, if desired, ever
varying patterns.
We would observe that the yarns, slivers, or ornamental devices, may be applied
to the bat either at the bat frame or at the hardener.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in the
Manufacture of Felted Fabrics," and explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, we wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters

page_text: Patent we claim, manufacturing felted fabrics with ornamental designs or patterns
thereon in the manner above described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Arthur Young and William James Richardson
Fox, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Tenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM JAMES RICHARDSON FOX. (L.S.)