IMPROVEMENTS IN TEXTILE FABRICS FOR WATERPROOF PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jonathan Knowles and Henry James Cooke, of Bradford,
in the County of York, Merchants, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TEXTILE FABRICS FOR WATERPROOF PURPOSES."
Sealed the 25th June 1878, and dated the 1st January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jonathan Knowles and
Henry James Cooke at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st
January 1878.
JONATHAN KNOWLES and HENRY JAMES COOKE, of Bradford, in the County
of York, Merchants. IMPROVEMENTS IN TEXTILE FABRICS FOR WATERProof
PURPOSES."
"
The object of this Invention is to produce a fabric of various colors and shades,
possessing elasticity, lightness, and softness to the hand, and at the same time
thoroughly waterproof.
We accomplish the above object by the combination of a known substance called
rubber or caoutchouc, with a cloth composed of cotton and English or foreign wools,
say, of from fifty-eight inches to sixty inches in width, finished, and of from fifty to
fifty-four yards in length, and of this length and breadth, not weighing more than
fifteen pounds.
The fabric is made in various widths, but in all cases consists of not less than
nineteen and a half threads of warp per quarter inch grey, and twenty-seven and
twenty-eight picks weft to the quarter inch.
We do not claim to be the inventors of such a make of cloth, but the result of
the combination of the waterproofing and the cloth of such elasticity, lightness,
softness, and durability, is novel and useful.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jonathan Knowles and Henry James Cooke in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th June 1878.
JONATHAN KNOWLES and HENRY JAMES COOKE, of Bradford, in the County
of York, Merchants. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FABRICS FOR WATERPROOF PURPOSES."
The object of this Invention is to produce a fabric of various colors and shades,
possessing flexibility, lightness, and softness to the touch, and at the same time
being thoroughly waterproof.
We accomplish the above object by the combination (in the ordinary manner) of
an extra thin film of rubber or caoutchouc with a cloth (known in the stuff trade
by the name of "Canton cloth "), composed of cotton and English or foreign wools.
This cloth when made up in the piece from 58 inches to 60 inches in width, and
from 50 to 54 yards in length, does not weigh more than 15 lbs.
The fabric is made in various widths, but usually consists of 191 threads of warp
per quarter inch grey, and 27 and 28 picks weft to the quarter inch.
Having now described our said Invention, we have to state that we do not claim
to be the inventors of such a make of cloth, but what we believe to be novel and
claim as our invention is, the combination in the ordinary manner of an extra thin
film of rubber or caoutchouc with the cloth known in the stuff trade by the name
of Canton cloth, thus producing a light waterproof material capable of being
reversed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry James Cooke, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Jonathan Knowles, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed in
the presence of
JOHN WAUGH,
Engineer Patent Agent,
Bradford,
York.
HENRY JAMES COOK. (L.S.)