476 
usual mode. Whether the condensation 
be in a vessel of the kind or shape above- 
mentioned, or by passing along in pipes 
or tubes, in trunks filled with cold sea-_ 
water, or in part under the surface of the 
sea, he considers it as his improvement 
or Invention. 
= 
MR. ROBERT BOWMAN’s (LEITH), for 
the Meuns of making Hats, Caps, and 
Bonnets, for Men and Women, of 
Whalebone; Harps, for harping or 
cleansing Corn or Gruin ; and ulso the 
bottoms of Sieves and Riddles ; and 
Girths for Horses ; and also Cloth for 
Webbing, fit for making into Hats, 
Caps, &c. and for the Backs and Seats 
of Chairs, Sofas, Gigs, and other similar 
Carriages and Things; and for the 
Bottoms of Beds; and also Whalebone 
Reeds for Weavers, &c. 
The process of making hats, caps, and 
bonnets of whalebone, for men and wo- 
men, consists of making the whalebone 
soft and flexible, by means of heat, which 
may be produced either by steam, furnace, 
immersion in boiling water, or in any way 
the workman may find most convenient. 
And whilst the whalebone is in that 
state, it is to be cut into such breadths as 
may be necessary and proper for the 
purposes for which itis to be used. In 
making hats for military men, or other 
persons, the breadth of the whalebone 
should be such, that one breadth may 
answer for the sides, one for the crown, 
and one or more pieces for the brim. 
These, after being rasped, filed, and 
scraped, are brought into the form re- 
quired, while the whalebone is in a soft 
and flexible state, by working them ona 
block of the exact shape or form wanted; 
but either the block or the whalebone 
must be warm before it be attempted to 
put the hat or other thing into the form 
wanted. When the whalebone becomes 
cold, it will retain the shape it received 
from the block; which last may either 
consist of wood, metal, or any other pro- 
per material. ‘The joinings of the pieces 
of whalebone are to be fastened either. 
by sewing, or by applying an adhesive 
gum, orcement, or by soldering with parts 
of itself, as is done in manufacturing ar- 
ticles of tortoiseshell. “The adhesive gum 
or gluten is made by immersing picked 
isinglass in strong ardent spirits, and 
applying heat until it is dissolved, and 
rendered into a proper consistency fit 
for use, when it is afterwards applied to 
the joinings while warm ; end which gun’ 
* 
New Patents laiely enrolled. 
pulp. 
[Dec. 1; 
or gluten, when in a-cold state, is not 
soluble in cold water. The soldering the 
joints of whalebone, like the joinings of 
tortoiseshell, is performed by having the, 
edges fresh rasped, and placing between 
the joints part of these raspings, and 
afterwards applying a hot iron to both 
the inside and outside of the joints; but 
the heat of the iron must be such as wili 
cause the raspings to run, or melt into a 
Ings must be pressed together, and kept 
in that position till the whole is com- 
pletely cold. . The work may, after this, 
be polished and finished off with sand- 
paper, powdered charcoal, burnt cork, 
&c. by means of a woollen or flannel 
cloth, and varnished with copal, or any 
other elastic varnish, fine or coarse, as _ 
the quality of the article may require. 
Hats for military men, or other persons, 
manufactured as above, will prove to be 
very light and durable; and, besides, © 
will be found to be incapable of being 
penetrated by the cut of a sword, or 
other weapon. ‘They will also be imper- 
vious to water, be thereby comfortable to 
the soldier, and will free him from much 
When that takes place, the join- — 
labour and attention, he was formerly 
obliged to bestow, 
made of such a quality, as to suit persons 
in the highest rank of life. The process 
of manufacturing hats, caps, and bonnets, 
similar to those made of straw and of 
chip, commonly called Leghorn hats, &c. 
consists in separating the whalebone, 
while in its soft and flexible state, pro-_ 
duced by heat as. before described, inte 
such breadths as may be wished to have 
the plaiting in fineness. The splits are 
varied accordingly, as may be judged 
The hats may be _ 
necessary to suit a fine or coarse plaiting | 
or webbing; previous to which, the splits 
are to be reduced to a certain thinness 
and breadth, either by means of a knife 
by the hand, or by the aid of machinery, . 
as may be deemed most prudent and 
convenient. They are then tobe plaited, 
which plaiting is to be stitched or sewed 
up into the form of hats, caps, or bonnets, 
for men or women; to accomplish this, 
the same process is to be pursued asis 
usual in the manufacturing straw, . chip, 
or Leshorn hats, caps, bonnets, &c. by 
sewing, or otherwise forming it; after~ 
which they may be dyed, stained, or var- 
nished, so as to make them water-proof. 
They also may be lined with silk, leather, - 
or other material, as: fancy may direct. 
From these examples; the, other parts ef 
Mr. Bowman’s invention may be easily 
understood. eS : . 
eva ' 
