IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF SHAWLS MADE ON LACE MACHINES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ebenezer Dobson and Frederic Dobson,
both of the Meadow Mill, in the Town and County of the Town
of Nottingham, Lace Dressers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ebenezer
Dobson and Frederic Dobson at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th November 1869.
We, WILLLAM EBENEZER DOBSON and FREDERIC DOBSON, both of tho
Meadow Mill, in the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Lace Dressers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF SHAWLS MADE ON LACE
MACHINES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to produce on "levers" or other lace
machines designs or patterns in what are known as "Spanish shawls,"
and imitations of shawls made on pusher machines. We make the
middle pattern of the shawl smaller than the border pattern; for
example, we "set out" the bars of the machine for a four and half

page_text: inches middle, and from this "set out" we make no change of "dead
stops" or threads, and can produce a border of nine or ten inches in
width or in like proportion according to the arrangement of the design
or pattern with the use of extra cards only. In making the top and
bottom borders they are connected with the middle of the design or
pattern on the machine, and we make the two side horders like we make
the top and bottom borders. After the lace "piece" has been taken off
the machine the side borders are cut out and applied to their respective
places on the shawl. The corners of the shawl are made in-halves or
sections in a diagonal form with the same set out and without the
change of "dead stops or threads as are those of the middle of the
shawl, and the borders with a change of cards only. We are thus
enabled to produce three shawls on a lace machine of eighteen quartera
in width, or two shawls on a machine twelve quarters in width. Wo
propose, for example, to make three shawls seventy-two inches wide
on a machine one hundred and sixty-two inches in width, or eighteen
quarters wide.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Ebenezer Dobson and Frederic Dobson
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
EBENEZER DOBSON and FREDERIO DOBSON, bath of the Meadow Mill,
in the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Lace Dressers,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, hearing date the Twelfth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said William Ebenezer Dobson and
Frederic Dobson, Her special licence that we, the said William Ebenezer
Dobson and Frederic Dobson, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said William Ebenezer Dobson and Frederic
Dobson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
luring the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF SHAWLS MADE ON LACE
MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
William Ebenezer Dobson and Frederic Dobson, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or onc
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 we, the said William Ebenezer Dobson and
Frederic Dobson, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the samo is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that
is to say
The object of this Invention is to produce on "levers" or other lace
machines more extensive and elaborate designs or patterns in what aro
known as "Spanish shawls " at less cost, with loss expensive machinery,
and with the employment of fewer bars than have heretofore been
employed, except when very costly machinery has been used, which
requires large and cumbrous jacquards with an increased number of
bars, and which produce only expensive and high priced "Spanish
shawls,"
We also produce imitations of Spanish shawls on pusher machines.
In proceeding to carry out our Invention we make the middle pattern
of the shawl smaller than the border pattern; for example, we "set
out" the bars of the machine for a four and half inches middle, and
from this set out" we make no change of "dead stops" or threads, and
can produce a border of nine or ten inches in width or in like proportion
according to the arrangement of the design or pattern with the use of
extra cards only. In making the top and bottom borders these borders
are connected with the middle of the design or pattern on the machine,
and we mako the two side borders in like manner as we make the top
and bottom borders. It should, however, be clearly understood that
these borders are made by preference horizontally, so that we obtain any
width of border required. After the lace "piece" has been taken off
the machine the side borders are cut out and applied to their respective
places on the shawl. The corners of the shawl are made in halves or

page_text: sections in a diagonal form with the same "set out". and without the
change of "dead stops" or threads, as are those of the middle of the
shawl, and the borders thereof with a change of cards only.
By our arrangements we are enabled to manufacture or produce three
shawls on a lace machine of eighteen quarters in width; or two shawls
on a lace machine twelve quarters in width. We propose, for example,
to make three shawls seventy-two inches wide on a machine one hundred
and sixty-two inches in width, or eighteen quarters wide. We propose
to make the corners of the shawls on the machine in manner most
suitable and convenient according to the design or pattern, and in
manner most profitable for carrying out the Invention. We may make
the corners in halves in a triangular form with the same "sct out"
and without the change of "dead stops" or threads by a change of cards
only, and we may make the middle and borders of shawls on one lace
machine and the corners thereof on another lace machine to complete
the pattern or design intended to be made.
The Invention is intended specially to apply to the manufacture or
production of "Spanish shawls" and in imitation also of those shawls
made on "pusher" machines, but not to the manufacture of horizontal
"breadths, falls, or flounces."
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same may be performed, we declare that we claim, the
manufacture or production of shawls made on lace machines, in manner
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Ebenezer Dobson and
Frederic Dobson, have hereunto sot our hands and scals, this
Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand cight
hundred and seventy.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
WILLIAM E.. DOBSON. (L.S.)
FREDERIC DOBSON.
(L.S.)