Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-08-26
The Treatment of Hair or Eur.

heIeienc6 mas already been made to
a method of utilizing feathers of barn
yard poultry, wild fowl, ETC., in the
preparation of loose fibre to be
worked up into felt cloth, blankets etc.
The following describes q somewhat
cognate industry having reference to
new mode of treating fur. This
forms the subject of a communication
by Mr.. Joseph Tussaud, who is at
present one Of the proprietors of the
| celebrated wa1-works establishment
III Baker street, London, founded by
Madam Tussaud. The attention of
Mr.. Tussaud was first called to the
subject by his desire to transfer the
hairs of fur-bearing or other animals
to wax figures without including the
skin in which they were inserted.
After numerous experiments he sue
ceeded in accomplishing this and de-
veloping, as already remarked, new
industry. The great object which
Mr.. Tussaud aimed to secure was the
removal of hair or fur from the skin,
and then attaching this to an artificial
skin, obtaining thus a more perfect
degree of preservation for any purpose
whatever, while retaining the hairs in
their original and natural relationship.
For this purpose the piece of fur to be
treated may be soaked in lime water
or other suitable liquid, as practiced
by tanners, for the purpose of losen-
ing the adhesion of the hair. It is
then to be washed in water, to free it
from the superintendent lime or other
substance, and hung up for time to
Of
then laid on board, with the hair
side up, and solution Of glue applied
by means Of a brush or otherwise,
taking care not to disturb the natural
position and relation of the hair. The
size or glue is then allowed to harden,
when it Will hold the fibres very firmly.
The natural skin may then be pulled
entirely off from the hairs, leaving
their ends exposed, which may then
be washed by some substance to free
them entirely from adherent fat, bulls,
ETC., and properl y poisoned. An artif-
clal skin is next to be affixed by ap-
plying India rubber, gutta percha,
bClled drying oils, or other waterproof
substances, over the roots Of the hairs
and allowed to dry, SO as to form
continuous membrane; after which
all that is necessary is again to soak
the skins in warm water for a time to
Dissolve out all the glue, and the new
fabric is produced in all it's COMPLETED
condition. To render the rubber or
gutta percha more lasting it may be
combined with sulphur, SO as to vul-
canlze it, for which purpose a solution
OF cholorlde or hypocoloride Of sui hur
III b1sulphuret Of carbon may be en-
ployed. In using bisulphuret of
carbon, forty parts of the same are to
be added to one part of choloride or
hypocholoride Of su1pher, prepared
neutral as possible, and the solution
is then allowed to remain in contact
with the artificial skin of rubber or
gutta percha longer Or a shorter time,
a minute being sufficient for a thin
sheet. Ih1s operation must be COM
pleted, OF course, before immersing
IN warm water to remove the glue
which produces the adhesion of the
hairs. One great advantage of this
process consists in the fact that fabrics
thus prepared are moth-proof, and it
is suggested that for many purposes,
such as the construction of rugs, mats,
ETC., they must be superior to the
natural skin. In the case of heavy
skins, the artificial preparation is
much lighter, more pliable. and
better in every respect. Several of
these artificial skins may be combined
so as to form one, or they may be
modified in any manner desirable.
When properly made, the preparation
is entirely free from any smell. and es-
pecially the animal odor, which is so
offensive to many furs.-Nea0 York
Tribune.