AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIRTS AND SHIRT FRONTS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tillie, of the City of Londonderry, in the.
County of Londonderry, Ireland, Shirt Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIRTS AND SHIRT FRONTS."
Sealed the 8th July 1859, and dated the 11th January 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tillie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
January 1859.
I, WILLIAM TILLIE, of the City of Londonderry, in the County of London-
derry, Ireland, Shirt Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIRTS AND SHIRT
FRONTS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a method of making the fronts of shirts in such
manner that a less quantity of material is used than in those made in the
ordinary way. I make the plaits of the breast without inserting any new cloth
into the body, excepting a piece of thin calico or other material applied as a
lining to the breast of the shirt. The centre plait or fold is formed by stitching
the material, of which the shirt and front are made, to the lining through four
plys or thicknesses of the cloth at each side. The plaits immediately on each
side of the centre plait or fold are formed by making small folds or tucks
lying either backward or forward, and run or stitched to the lining of the

page_text: breast at top and bottom, or from end to end. The farthest back plait at the
side is made by stitching the edge of the cloth, which lines the breast, with a
row of machine or hand stitching.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Tillie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
July 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TILLIE, of the City of Londonderry, in the County of Londonderry, Ireland,
Shirt Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Tillie, Her special licence, that I, the said William Tillie,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Tillie, 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
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHIRTS AND SHIRT FRONTS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Tillie, 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 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 William Tillie, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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:-
My Invention consists in a method of making the fronts of shirts in such
manner, that a less quantity of material is used than in those made in the
ordinary way. I make the plaits of the front without inserting any new cloth
into the body, excepting a piece of thin calico or other material applied as a

page_text: lining to the back of the front or breast of the shirt. The centre plait or fold
is formed by stitching the material of which the shirt and front are made to the
lining at each side of the breast.
The centre plait is formed by laying a small tuck back to the left side, and
fixing it with a row of stitching. The plaits immediately on each side of the
centre plait or fold are formed by making small folds or tucks, lying either
backward or forward, and run or stitched to the lining of the breast, at top and
bottom, or from end to end. The farthest back plait at the side is made by
joining the edge of the cloth which lines the breast to the body of the shirt
with a row of machine or hand stitching.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the manufacture
of shirts and shirt fronts in manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tillie, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty nine
JOHN RAINGER, witness.
DENIS MCGRATH, witness.
W. TILLIE. (L.S.)