The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-03-14
Artificial, or Shoddy Leather.


''Some things can be done as well as
Others" So said Sam Patch. Among
other things it has come 10 pass that
shoddy leather can be made, well - 9TH
Or kinds Of shoddies. The Shoe and
Leather Reporter publishes the follow
ing article, translated from = German
paper. detailing tho process by which
leather outings and bits Of leather. are
manufactured into leather for straps and
other uses: s-
1.-THE parings and clippings Of untan-
ned hides, especially Of those that come
from beyond the Atlantic, are cut into
small strips by means Of machine con-
structed for that purpose. The sl,reds
when cut are soaked in water impregna-
ted with strong muriatic acid, In the
proportion of one part of the acid to one
thousand parts ofwatcr. The tempera-
ture of the solution may vary between
Is and 26 degrees. The time that it must
remain soaking depends on the thick
ness of the leather aud the temperature
Of the solution; two days are sufficient
II both the above are favorable, other
wise It requires four days. The strips,
when Thoroughly soaked, are washed in
several waters, and then spread out on
hurdles In the open air to drain Off the
water, and become somewhat dry. In
that half-dried condition the minced
leather Is subjected to a double motion
Of two cylinders, the one with = tap the
other being rallied. The effect of the mo-
ton upon the leather is to reduce it to a
uniform stiff lump. This shapeless ma
terial Is then Deposited In = vessel or
some convenient place, the temperature
ofwhich ranges between Is and "a de-
grecs, where it is left for two days, only
being stirred or turned over from time
to time with a shovel, till it becomes
glutinous and soft to the touch. A mix
ture Is then made composed of 95 parts
Of thick vegetable mucilage, obtained
by making decoction of wild lichcns,
rate. Or, the; the mixture ;a I'm may consist of
80 parks of tho leather material, 5 parts
Of the above mucilage, and 5 parts Of Ell
ther hemp or some other downy thread.
Out of the above composition straps
can be made of any length or breadth
that may be desirable, by letting them
pass through wooden or iron cylinders.
The straps are first put upon lathes
while In moist condition; they are
then plastered on both sides, first with
fish oil, and then with the following
vegetable composition: One part of wild
lichens boiled in twenty parts Of water,
the decoction to be filtered and left to
eyaporate till 1t is reduced to thick
mucilagc. To one part of this mucilagc,
add parts OF train oil, parts palm oil,
and parts Of cocoanut oil. The differ
ent oils are mixed by being melted over
q slow fire, and while yet hot, the whole
is poured into the mucilage and mixed
up Herewith. The leather strips after
being plastercd over with the above COM
position, are left In place Of about Is
degrees temperature for some two or
three weeks, till they have absorbed the
moisture Of the composition. Should
there be aRy grease remajning, II q re-
moved with paint brush dipped In 70
de- water, and preased over the surface Of
the leather. The leather IL now again
made 70 pos thro' two iron cylinders,
s. whtoh 1t = preassd and glossed. This
AffiAcial Leather u rendsf1ng good SER
viee = variouA tpdpstsies. sipcs II mag
With s1Ssty b 1G44 ~ mAcAtnk d110,
trimming furniture, stc. '9 -