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During the reign of Queen Anne (1702-1714) a 'specification' was required to obtain a patent, or as the regulations of the time described it: 'the patentee must by an instrument in writing describe and ascertain the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.' Prospective patentees had to present their specification to seven different offices and to pay fees at each of the seven stages. Those on lower incomes could often not afford to take out patents. The most celebrated case in the history of textile manufacturing was that of Samuel Crompton who could not afford to patent his cotton spinning mule in 1777 (click here). Eventually, after much harassment and heartache, he decided to release his invention on the promise that the mill owners would pay a handsome subscription to him for the use of his machine. Once they had got their hands on the spinning mule it was a different story. The cotton manufacturers grew very wealthy and Samuel Crompton died embittered and in great poverty. An almost equally celebrated case was that of Richard Arkwright (click here). He lost his 'comprehensive' patent for his spinning machines (his water powered spinning machine - the water frame; and his carding engines etc) in 1775 because he did not provide adequate specifications. This really opened up cotton manufacturing and others began to build their own cotton mills. Unlike Crompton, however, Arkwright had become a rich man and when he died in 1792 he was the modern day equivalent of a multi-millionaire. By the time of the Great Exhibition in 1851 there demands for an overhaul of the patents system because it was becoming too cumbersome. That did not deter William Perkin from patenting his accidental discovery of 'aniline purple', the world's first artificial colour. It was hailed as a great invention and half a century later he undertook a commemorative lecture tour of America. His notebook of his discovery (click here) is written in a clear hand and is not too difficult to follow. The huge number of technological changes which occurred during the Industrial Revolution resulted in thousands of patents being issued and, eventually, reform of the patents system. The detailed specifications can make fascinating reading; although the patents for synthetic (man-made) fabrics and subsequent improvements require a good knowledge of chemistry. Branding is sometimes dismissed as a mark of ownership put on cattle or sheep but it is much more sophisticated than that. Branding follows on from patenting a creation in that it helps to promote goods and identify them with a particular style, quality or person etc. A brand can be physical (a certain type of bottle became associated with Coca Cola) or visual (designer labels such as Nike and Levis) or appeal to taste (Cadbury's drinking chocolate is richer than cheaper supermarket brands), as long as it has the right association for the product. Asa Lees and Howard & Bullough, two of the biggest textile machinery manufacturers in the north-west during the 19th century, became renowned for good quality durable products and stamped their names firmly on all their machinery. Kelloggs became synonymous with cornflakes and Heinz became synonymous with baked beans and tomato ketchup in the same way that Christies became synonymous with terry towelling and Mackintosh with the waterproof garment he developed. GG View the Patents & branding collection to find out more > |
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