AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FACILITATING MEASUREMENT FÓR TAILORING, DRESS-MAKING OR SIMILAR PURPOSES communicated him
Year: 1883

page_text: if
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
and Co. Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FACILITATING MEASUREMENT
FÓR TAILORING, DRESS-MAKING OR SIMILAR PURPOSES communicated to him
from abroad by Jean Monjou, of Paris, France
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th May 1883.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR
FACILITATING MEASUREMENT FOR TAILORING DRESS-MAKING OR SIMILAR PURPOSES
[A communication to him from abroad by Jean Monjou, of Paris, France.]
"
This invention relates to a device designed to act as a guide in taking measure-
ments for dresses or garments or for patterns for the same. By employing this
device any person, even those who do not know anything about sewing or dress
making, will be able to take measurements with precision and exactly where they
should be taken so that the dress cut and made according to the said measurements
will closely fit the person for whom it is intended.
The said invention consists essentially in making a jacket or bodice formed of
elastic bands so as to yield equally in all directions and so as to adapt itself
perfectly to the figure of the person who is being measured, this bodice must be
made in all cases smaller than the person for whom it is intended, as will be
easily understood. The parts which are to be measured are shown in my device
by various elastic bands.
In order that the said invention may be properly understood, I have shewn a
specimen thereof in the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 shews the jacket or bodice supposed to be applied on a bust.
Figure 2 shews the different parts of a pattern with the lines which are to be
followed in the measurements these parts being cut according to my process and
used in connection with my device. The five horizontal bands shewn in shaded
lines are arranged so as to apply exactly to the various points which indicate the
heights at which it is necessary to measure the various widths required. For

page_text: example starting at the top the shaded band A serves to measure the size of the
neck; the shaded band B serves to measure the width of the back between the
sleeves and in front the breadth of the chest. The band C serves to measure the
total size round the bust, being taken under the arms and round the most prominent
part of the chest. The band D serves to measure round the waist. The band E
gives the total width between the hips. These different measurements are shown in
dotted lines on the different parts of the pattern which are shewn in Figure 2 of
the drawing. The bands shown in thick black lines a b c and so on indicate
the seams and assist in finding the other measurements required for heights, such
as the height from the arm pit, the waist, shoulders, neck and other parts. This
device instead of being made of elastic bands joined as above described with
reference to the accompanying drawing might be made of any fabric equally
elastic and upon which lines might be drawn or other indications made corresponding
to the various bands as above described and which would answer the same
purpose.
Although the device as above described and shewn in the accompanying drawing
is supposed to apply to the measurement of ladies' dresses it is evident that the
said invention might be equally applied to gentlemen's garments and be used by
tailors as well as by dressmakers

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd November 1883.
.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MEANS
FOR FACILITATING MEASUREMENT FOR TAILORING, DRESS-MAKING OR SIMILAR
PURPOSES." A communication to me from abroad by Jean Monjou, of Paris,
France,
This invention relates to a device designed to act as a guide in taking measure-
ments for dresses or garments or for patterns for the same.
By employing this device any person, even those who are unacquainted with
sewing or dress-making, will be able to take measurements with precision and
exactly where they should be taken, so that the dress cut and made according to
the said measurements will closely fit the person for whom it is intended.
The said invention consists essentially in a jacket or bodice formed of elastic
bands so as to yield equally in all directions and adapt itself perfectly to the figure
of the person who is to be measured, this jacket or bodice must be made in all
cases smaller than the figure of the person for whom it is intended, as will be
readily understood.
The parts which are to be measured are indicated in the said device by colored
elastic bands.
In order that the said invention may be properly understood, I have shewn a
specimen thereof in the accompanying drawing, in which.
Figure 1 shews the jacket or bodice as it would appear when applied to a person's
bust.
Figure 2 shows the different parts of a pattern with the lines which are to be
followed in the measurements, which pattern is to be used in connection with the
said jacket or bodice.
The five horizontal bands A, B, C, D, E are made of one color and are arranged so
as to apply exactly to the various points in the height of the figure at which it
is necessary to measure the various widths required. For example starting at the
top, the shaded band A serves as a guide to measure the size of the neck; the
shaded band B to measure the width of the back between the sleeves, and in front
the breadth of the chest; the band C to measure the circumference of the bust
under the arms and around the most prominent part of the chest; the band D to
measure the circumference of the waist; and the band E to measure the
dimensions around the hips. These different measurements are shewn in zig-zag
lines on the different parts of the patterns represented in Figure 2 of the drawing.
The bands shewn in thick black lines a are all made of another color and
indicate the seams and serve as guides for the other measurements required, such
as the arm pits, the height of the waist, shoulders, neck and other parts.
This device, instead of being made of elastic bands joined as above described
with reference to the accompanying drawing, may be made of any fabric sufficiently
elastic and upon which lines may be drawn or other indications made corresponding
to the various bands above described and which would answer the same purpose.
Although the device above described and shewn in the accompanying drawing
is intended for the measurement of ladies' jackets and the like, it is evident that
the said invention may be also applied to the measurement of gentlemen's garments
and be used by tailors as well as by dress-makers
The said invention comprises, therefore, besides the jacket or bodice shewn in
Figure 1, the method of taking measurements by means of the said jacket or bodice

page_text: and indicating these measurements upon the various patterns manufactured for
purpose and the arrangement of which is shewn in Figure 2.
that
By using, in combination with this jacket or bodice, the above mentioned
patterns, any person unacquainted with the art of cutting garments is rendered
capable of so doing and thus acquires a talent which was heretofore only obtained
after serving a special apprenticeship and subsequently acquiring practical
experience.
The patterns are manufactured before hand to suit different figures, the
circumference of the body, measured at A¹ on the bodice and on the zig-zag lines
shewn on the said patterns, being taken as the basis. The measurements taken
from the coloured bands of the bodice are applied to the corresponding zig-zag
lines on the pattern, which is chosen to suit the person to be measured, and it is
obvious that by means of slight corrections, often needless, in the cutting of the
said patterns, a perfect shape of the garment will be obtained.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim.
A jacket or bodice formed of elastic bands or similar material so as to adapt
itself exactly to the body of the person to be measured and having colored bands
to indicate where the measurements are to be taken, which jacket or bodice is
designed to be used in connection with patterns having corresponding lines to
serve as guides in applying the said measurements, substantially as described and
for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Third day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.