IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLLEGE Caps
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Lewis, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Clothier and Hatter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF COLLEGE Caps."
Sealed the 20th October 1864, and dated the 23rd April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Lewis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd April
1864.
I, DAVID LEWIS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Clothier and
Hatter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLLEGE CAPS," to be as follows:-
Hitherto, the internal parts of the square crowns of college caps have been
made of wood and other hard substances and materials, they have consequently,
from their weight and stiffness, been very heavy and uncomfortable to wear.
.
My Invention consists in making or manufacturing the said internal or
square-forming crown or body of the said college caps of a material prepared
so that it shall be at once light, durable, flexible to some extent, and agreeable
to the head. I take a number of thicknesses of calico or other woven fabric,
and secure them together with shell-lac dissolved in alcohol or other hydro-
carbon fluid. Out of sheets of calico fastened together in this way I cut the
body of the crown, and afterwards cover it with cloth in the usual way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
LEWIS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Clothier and Hatter, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said David Lewis, Her special licence that I, the said David
Lewis, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said David Lewis, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLLEGE CAPS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said David Lewis, 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.
of
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Lewis, do hereby declare the nature
my 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):
Hitherto, the internal parts of the square crowns of college caps have been
made of wood and other hard substances and materials, they have consequently,
from their weight and stiffness, been very heavy and uncomfortable to wear.
My Invention consists in making or manufacturing the said internal or
square-forming crowns or bodies of the said college caps of a material prepared
so that it shall be at once light, durable, flexible to some extent, and agreeable
to the head. I take a number of thicknesses of calico or other woven fabric,
and secure them together with shell-lac dissolved in alcohol or other hydro-
carbon fluid. Out of sheets of calico fastened together in this way, I cut the
body of the crown, and afterwards cover it with cloth in the usual way.

page_text: In practice I dip the necessary number of sheets or thicknesses of calico or
other woven fabric, three or four will usually be found sufficient, in a bath of
shell-lac, dissolved as above mentioned, the one after the other, or all at once.
I then stretch the several sheets on a "hatter's frame" close together, so that
when the shell-lac "setts" the several sheets employed will be closely united
together into one strong board. The sheets are now ironed, after which they
can be cut into the necessary sizes for crowns. To prevent "fraying" of the
corners and edges, thin sheets of calico, india-rubber, or other suitable material,
may be gummed or otherwise attached thereon or thereover. The shell-lac
might be applied to the sheets by a brush or otherwise; I however prefer the
mode above described.
Paste, Bristol, and mill board, and substances like thereto, and other
materials and substances might be variously used in conjunction with, or as
part of the bodies of the crowns, but crowns made of woven fabrics and shell-
lac in the manner above mentioned, are the most comfortable and durable.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, I
would have it understood that what I claim is, manufacturing or making the
bodies of the crowns of college caps wholly or partially of calico or other woven
fabric or fabrics, stiffened or united by shell-lac. Practical means of carrying
the same into effect having been described herein.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Lewis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
In the presence of
JOHN THOMSON KING,
Patent Agent,
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
DAVID LEWIS. (L.S.)