Evening journal., 1916-06-22
HOWARD |. PYLE PERFECTS
APPARATUS TO DRY LEATHER;
CITY MAY GET Big INDUSTRY

Howard L. Pyle of No 904 Jackson /
street. has invented a machine that 1t |
is expected will prove of vast value |
in the patent and enameled leather |
and other line of industry by re-
ducing the time required to dry the
coatings of leather and other treated
textures.
This device. built through the CO.
operation of Mr. Pyle and Frank f.
Slocomb, and with the collaboration
of some men OF high standing in the
scientific world. puts into effect a new
theory of electrons as the smallest
division of matter, and their applica-
tion to industry. The electron theory
upsets the so-called atomic theory
BY the new process, the coating OF
patent or enameled leather generally
requiring two days at least to dry
is dried and hardened in about five
hours. The machine, in everyday IAN
guage, extracts moisture and humidity
from air. which then is treated cleo
trically before ii becomes marvel
Gus drying and oxidizing agent.
Already plans are under considera-
| ton for the establishment of large
( leather Industry in Wilmington, and
/ the building of the apparatus perfect
ed by Mr.. Pyle to treat the leather.
| The apparatus is to be made by the
| OXydizing Process Company.
DR.. H. c. Richards. dean, and Pro
/ fessor Z. A. Eckhardt, of the Randale
Morgan School of Physics Of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania. came to Will
mington yesterday expressly to see in
operation the apparatus of the OXydiz
ing Process Company at the shop OF
the f. r. Slocomb & Co. They were
entertained by II. L. Pyle, the com
pany's representative.
These men rank high in their pro
fession and expressed themselves as
greatly pleased with the apparatus
and system.
The day was heavy atmosphercally
and it rained. but this amply demon
strated the capabilities of the appar
atus for by the hygrometer the mois
ture point was brought down to II
per cent.
The conquest of popular science ha
made rapid strides in wrestling tn
secrets from natures storehouse, 81
, jealously guarded Sages have com
and gone. men have burned the can
die at both ends, millions Of dollar
. have been spent to acquire the leas
favor from Dame Nature.
D BY the aid of modern apparatus th
smallest divisions Of its forces hav
70 been isolated and put to work in th
. manufacturing industry. The nam
OF this radical little chap is calle
the "Electrons." and although so pow
= erful in the universal scheme {
things. is so absolutely small as
be invisible to the most poweril
+. microscope.
: All this has to do with these force
that have been embraced in apparatl
that has lately been perfected in Wi
20 mington and inspected by newspap'
reporters during the present wee
at the machine shop OF F. F. Slocon
& Company.
The apparatus in question was orr
inallv designed to oxydize enamell
leather. and its evolution through
N various complex stages with its Il
expected difficulties. go to make
story as interesting, as 1t h
proved. as one might say uncanny.
Some twenty-seven months since c
4 quest was started by Howard L. Py
~ at the suggestion of Frank f. 81
comb. the thought was that heav
chilled air would harden the surfa
Of enamelled leather. Expensive o
paratus was built, and extensive tr'i
we're carried on. during all of whi
much was encountered that to say {
least was puzzling in the extren
During all this research which W
e carried on with the most infinite
- tience. Mr.. Pyle was accorded
kindliest CO. operation on the part
gle Professor Richards and Profess
lie Eckhardt. Of the Randall More
ms School of Physics Of The L
ia versity Of Pennsylvania. and assoc
six ted also with him. Frederick NJ 81
ar