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Patent Model of Machine for Felting and Hardening Hat Bodies

Date1870

MediumWood, metal and leather

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 9 1/2 × 10 1/2 × 9in. (24.1 × 26.7 × 22.9cm)

ClassificationsEquipment

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number1999.64.1

DescriptionThe wooden patent model illustrates certain improvement in machines for felting and hardening hat bodies, and other fabrics composed of fur or wool, or other fibrous material which will felt. Earl's inventions include: a corrugated rotary cylinder with flexible apron to carry the hat body around as the cylinder revolves between the corrugated cylinder and the flexible apron, in the form of cylindrical rolls. The second part of the invention consists in provide in fenders at each end of the rotary cylinder to prevent the same from coming in contact with the flexible apron, and the third part of the invention is the flexible apron which allows for the adjustment of pressure on the object being felted or hardened.

Label TextTwo brittle paper tags were tied to the end of the machine with off-white tapes: On one tag is handwritten in black ink "J. T. Ear[...] / Felting M[...] / Sep[...]" and is stamped in red ink "1870" and "Received". On the other tag (which is broken in 2 pieces) handwritten in black ink, "1887 / [...]ohn T. Earle / Mach. for Felting / and Harding Ha[...]".

Status

Not on view