IMPROVED KNICKERBOCKERS OR LEGGINGS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jabez Stanley, of Nottingham Street, Sheffield, Iron-
founder, for the Invention of "IMPROVED KNICKERBOCKERS OR LEGGINGS."
Sealed the 20th March 1866, and dated the 30th October 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jabez Stanley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1865.
I, JABEZ STANLEY, of Nottingham Street, Sheffield, Ironfounder, do hereby,
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED KNICKERBOCKERS OR
LEGGINGS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in making these articles of steel or other metal,
which is rolled in thin sheets, and the legging or knickerbocker is then
stamped or cut out to the required form and size, and afterwards bound
round the top and bottom with leather or other suitable binding sewn on or
attached to the metal by means of composition. Near the top and at the
bottom of the leggings slots are formed; the top one passes over a turnpin,
and the latter being quite open and wider at the bottom is passed over and
pushed quite home on a slot stud which holds it tight, the turnpin is then
passed through the upper slot and turned round, thus perfectly securing the
legging.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jabez Stanley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JABEZ
STANLEY, of Nottingham Street, Sheffield, Ironfounder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Jabez Stanley, Her special licence that I, the said Jabez Stanley,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jabez
Stanley, 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 "IMPROVED KNICKERBOCKERS
OR LEGGINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jabez
Stanley, 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 Jabez Stanley, do hereby declare
the nature of 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:-
My Invention consists in making these articles of steel or other metal
rolled into thin sheets, out of which they are then stamped or cut to the
required form and size, the plates are next passed through rolls to give them
the required curvature; small studs or buttons are then fixed to one of the
side edges, and a slot and perforation are formed in the other to correspond
therewith, the said studs or buttons being made to turn or not as required.
The slot enables the two edges to be fastened together at the bottom by
merely passing it (the slot) under the head of the lower button or stud, when
the upper button being passed through the perforation the natural spring or
elasticity of the metal holds the two edges securely together, and admits of
their being instantly fastened or unfastened. In some cases the studs may be

page_text: fixed. Another fastener is formed by simply turning up the edge of the metal
at the sides, turning one edge inwards and the other outwards, this dispenses
with the eye and stud fastenings, and enables the legging to be secured by
merely passing the edges one over the other, the natural spring of the metal
will then cause the tongue formed by turning the edge of the outer flap
inward to pass under the tongue formed by turning the edge of the under flap
outwards, and so effect the fastening required. The top and bottom edges
are bound with leather or other suitable binding sewn or attached to the
metal by means of marine glue, waterproof cement, or other suitable
composition; when the bindings are thus attached the edges may be first
stitched. In order to prevent the metal cutting through the binding at the
bottom I turn the edge of the metal up, and form a flange or tongue, and
leave it open, or close it round a wire before putting on the binding. The
top edge may be turned down and embossed to represent the binding if
preferred, and when the bottom edge is turned up or curled the binding
may be either added or dispensed with. When bindings are sewn on the
edges of the metal they are perforated by a perforating machine, the punches
of which are set to the gauges of the stitch, the stitching being afterwards
done by a sewing machine, or by hand. The two sides of the metal are
japanned in imitation of leather, or otherwise in various colours. For ladies'
wear the metal may be lined with any suitable fabric.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jabez Stanley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JABEZ STANLEY. (L.S.)