AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BASKETS AND BASKET WORK"
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Barcroft, of Hanley, in the County of
Stafford, Basket Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BASKETS AND BASKET WORK"
MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BASKETS AND BASKET WORK
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Barcroft at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
December 1855.
I, JOHN BARCROFT, of Hanley, in the County of Stafford, Basket Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BASKETS AND BASKET WORK" to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists of preparing materials to be used in the manufacture
of baskets and basket work. For this purpose, shavings of willow or other
wood or cane are lapped or wound round a flexible core of cotton, flax, or
other material, so as to cover. the same, and the compound is then used in
making baskets and basket work.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Barcroft in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BARCROFT, of Hanley, in the County of Stafford, Basket Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Barcroft, Her special licence that I, the said John Barcroft, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Barcroft,
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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MATERIALS
TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BASKETS AND BASKET WORK," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Barcroft, 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 John Barcroft, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention consists of preparing materials to be used in the 'manufacture
of baskets and basket work. For this purpose, shavings of willow or other
wood or cane are lapped or wound round a 'flexible core of cotton, flax,
or other material so as to cover the same, and the compound is then 'used in
making baskets and basket work.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
The cord or core which is to be covered with shavings of willow or other
wood or cane, is at one end attached with one end of the shaving in a damp

page_text: state to a hook, which receives rotatory motion by a crank handle or other-
wise. The other end of the cord or core is attached to another hook (at a
distance according to the length of the cord or core), which is free to turn on
its axis, by which the twist will be prevented remaining in the cord or core.
A girl or boy holds the shaving in the hand, and whilst walking backwards
allows the shaving to be wound evenly and correctly on to the surface of the
cord or core. The covered core or cords thus produced are then used in making
up basket work in the ordinary manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Barcroft, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
CLEMENT ROBBY,
of Hanley, Accountant.
JOHN BARCROFT. (L.S.)