IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF LEATHER AND OTHER MATERIALS:
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF LEATHER AND
OTHER MATERIALS:"-A communication from abroad by Jean François
Piedallu, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Artillery Train, of 29, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 17th May 1867, and dated the 26th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents with his Petition, on the 26th
November 1866.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF LEATHER
AND OTHER MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to 'improvements in the manufacture and preser-
vation of leather, as also in improving its impermeability. For this purpose
I impregnate leather with certain compositions, herein-after mentioned,
whereby to render it impervious, and at the same time retain its suppleness
and strength; this same process is also applicable to fabrics, paper, or paste-
board with a like object.
The materials hitherto employed for impregnating leather while being
curried or to preserve it when in use usually consist of fat, suet, and oils;
glazed leathers in particular receive but a small amount of these matters, as
otherwise it would be difficult to obtain a highly polished surface.
C

page_text: The matters employed in ordinary in the manufacture and for the preser-
vation of leather enter the pores and become absorbed, but under the
influence of the weather, of water, or even of damp, they exude from the
surface, change their nature, and acidify on becoming exidized; the leather
then rapidly deteriorates, dries, cracks, loses its quality, and curls up under the 5
action of heat.
According to these improvements, I remedy these objections by the appli-
cation of compositions whereby to render impervious and improve glazed and
other leathers in a more permanent degree, which compositions remain per-
manently in the pores of the leather, or may fill them completely if the leather 1
is required to be perfectly impervious. The compositions employed consist of
fatty matters wholly or partially dissolved in any essence or carburet of
hydrogen (sulphuret of carbon; for example); the essence in solution or
otherwise serves as a vehicle for the adipose matters which are introduced into
the large or small inner or outer pores of the leather. On evaporating the
carburet of hydrogen or other solvent leaves the fatty matters adhering to the
fibres of the leather, and the fatty matters being further unsubject or nearly
so to the action of air, water, or damp, I am thus enabled to produce a durable
leather always remaining supple and impervious.
The Invention thus consists, first, in a method of treating leather forming
a manufacturing or currying process, as also in a mode of preserving it when
in use; this method consists in introducing neutral fatty matters in solution
into the pores of the leather, and so as to entirely fill them should the leather
be required to be completely impervious; secondly, in improved compositions
suitable for application in the manufacture and improvement of leather, as
also to render it impervious; thirdly, in applying this process for preserving
and rendering fabrics, paper, and pasteboard impervious.
The following is the first composition employed:-I make a paste of
Yellow or white wax
Mutton suet or oil of the same
Neatsfoot oil
2 parts.
1
"
1
"
Benzine, or tar schist, or petroleum oils
"
The composition of this paste may be slightly modified without changing
its principle; in preparing it I commence by melting the wax, and then add
the different oils mentioned above. In applying it to leather,. harness, boots,
or otherwise, I commence by drying the article to be treated at a temperature
of from about 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and when all moisture is expelled
I melt the composition and apply it with a brush or..by dipping the leather
into the solution; I then heat the leather in order to cause the composition

page_text: to penetrate the pores, and repeat the operation until the leather is completely
soaked. The leather thus treated after it is dried remains supple, and is not
liable to crack, is impervious to water, and is consequently protected from
injury by heat or damp. Leather prepared in the above manner has not a
greasy surface; this composition may also serve for rendering pasteboard,
paper, or close fabrics.impervious.
The following is a second composition I employ, slightly modified from the
one first described. Instead of white or yellow wax, I may, for the sake of
economy, employ Burgundy pitch, colophany, or other suitable resin; employ-
ing any suitable carburet of bydrogen or other solvent as a vehicle for applying
the said composition; thus I obtain excellent results with all kinds of leathers
by applying the following composition :-
Burgundy pitch, colophany, or resin
White or yellow wax
Mutton suet or beef fat
Neatsfoot or other non-siccative animal oil
1 part.
1
1
"
1.
"
6
"
"
Benzine, coal schist, or light petroleum oil
The method of preparing this composition is the same as the foregoing,
These matters possess the advantages under-mentioned; once they are intro-
duced into the pores of the leather, that is to say, of adhering to the
fibres, cannot be expelled by damp or lieat, and are not liable to become
decomposed.
The composition of the above solution may be variously modified, without
'altering its principle, as one or other of its constituents. may be increased' or
diminished in proportion, or even one or more of them dispensed with accord-
ingly as it is desired to obtain greater or less impermeability: or' suppleness.
The object of the hydrocarburet in the composition is to dissolve its component
parts, and so serve as a vehicle for their introduction into the pores of the
leather, while it is freed therefrom immediately afterwards by evaporation.
By means of the above composition the thickest leathers may be soaked.by
being immersed less than two minutes at a temperature of from 60 to:70
degrees. By increasing or diminishing the proportions of the solvent. the
introduction of the composition into the leather is more or less facilitated,
consequently the matters may be applied either cold or hot according to the
kind of leather, and the quantity to be introduced into the pores. Leather
may even be treated in this way at a temperature below zero by steeping. it
several times in the matters, and leaving a sufficient interval between each for
the evaporation of the hydrocarburet.
The method and compositions herein described for the manufacture and

page_text: improvement of leather apply equally to new, glazed, or old leathers, in
which latter case the leather is restored to its original supple condition and
strength.
"
:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
May 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her. most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter.during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OR PREPARATION OF LEATHER, AND OTHER MATERIALS," a communication
to me from abroad by Jean François Piedallu, Lieutenant-Colonel in the
Artillery Train, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention,, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture and preser-
vation of leather, as also in improving its impermeability. For this purpose
.I
impregnate leather with certain compositions herein-after mentioned whereby

page_text: it is rendered impervious and at the same time retains its suppleness and
strength; this same process is also applicable to fabrics, paper, or paste-
board with a like object.
The materials hitherto employed for impregnating leather while being
curried or to preserve it when in use usually consist of fat, suet, and oils.
Glazed leathers in particular receive but a small amount of these matters as
otherwise it would be difficult to obtain a highly polished surface.
The matters employed in ordinary for the manufacture and for the pre-
servation of leather enter the pores and become absorbed, but under the
influence of the weather or water, or even of damp, they exude from the sur-
face, change their nature, and acidify on becoming oxidized; the leather then
rapidly deteriorates, dries, cracks, loses its quality, and curls up under the
action of heat.
According to these improvements I remedy these objections by the appli-
cation of compositions whereby to render impervious and improve glazed and
other leathers in a more permanent degree, which compositions remain per-
manent in the pores of the leather or may fill them completely if the leather
is required to be perfectly impervious. The compositions employed consist of
fatty matters wholly or partially dissolved in any essence or carburet of
hydrogen, sulphuret of carbon for example; this essence in solution or other-
wise serves as a vehicle for the adipose matters which are introduced into the
large or small inner or outer pores of the leather. On evaporating the
carburet of bydrogen or other solvent leaves the fatty matters adhering to the
fibres of the leather, and the fatty matters being further unsubject or nearly
so to the action of air, water, damp, I am thus enabled to produce a durable
leather, always remaining supple and impervious.
The Invention thus consists, 1st, in a method of treating leather forming a
manufacturing or currying process, as also in a mode of preserving it when in
use; this method consists in introducing neutral fatty matters in solution into
the
pores of the leather so as to entirely fill them should the leather be required
to be completely impervious; 2ndly, in improved compositions suitable for
application in the manufacture and improvement of leather, as also to render
it impervious; 3rdly, in applying this process for preserving and rendering
fabrics, papers, and pasteboard impervious.
The following is the composition employed :-I make a paste of
Yellow or white wax -
2 parts.
Mutton suet or oil of the same
1 part.
Neatsfoot oil
1 part.
Ranzine or for schist or netroleum oils
1 mart

page_text: The compostion of this paste may be slightly modified without changing its
principle. In preparing it I commence by melting the wax and then add the
different oils mentioned above. In applying it to leather, harness, boots, or
otherwise, I commence by drying the article to be treated at a temperature of
from about eighty to ninety degrees Fahrenheit, and when all moisture is
expelled I melt the composition and apply it with a brush or by dipping the
leather into the solution; I then heat the leather in order to cause the com-
position to penetrate the pores, and repeat the operation until the leather is
completely soaked. The leather thus treated, after it is dried, remains supple
and is not liable to crack, is impervious to water, and is consequently pro-
tected from injury by heat or damp. Leather prepared in the above manner
has not a greasy surface.. This composition may also serve for rendering
pasteboard, paper, or close fabrics impervious.
The following is a second composition I employ, slightly modified from the
one first described. Instead of white or yellow wax, I may for the sake of
economy use Burgundy pitch, colophany, or other suitable resin, employing
any suitable carburet of hydrogen or other solvent as a vehicle for applying
the said composition. Thus I obtain excellent results with all kinds of
leathers by applying the following compositions:―
Burgundy pitch, colophany, or resin
White or yellow wax
Mutton suet. or beef fat.
Siccative animal oil -
Benzine, coal schist, or light petroleum oil
1 part.
I part.
-
2 parts:
1 part.
6 parts.
The method of preparing this composition is the same as the foregoing.
These matters possess the advantages under mentioned when introduced into
the pores of the leather, that is to say, they adhere to the fibres, cannot be
expelled by damp or, heat, and are not liable to become decomposed.
The composition of the above solution may be variously modified without
altering its principle, as one or other of its constituents may be increased or
diminished in proportion, or even one or more of them dispensed with according
as it is desired to obtain greater or less impermeability or suppleness. The
object of the hydrocarburet in the composition is to dissolve its component parts
and so serve as a vebicle for their introduction into the pores of the leather, while
it is freed therefrom immediately afterwards by evaporation. By means of the
above composition the thickest leathers may be saturated after being immersed
less than two minutes at a temperature of from sixty to seventy degrees. By
increasing or diminishing the proportions of the solvent the introduction of
the composition into the leather is more or less facilitated, consequently the

page_text: matters may be applied either cold or hot, according to the kind of leather and
the quantity to be introduced into its pores. Leathers may even be treated
in this way at a temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit by steeping then
several times in the matters and leaving a sufficient interval between each for
the evaporation of the bydrocarburet.
The method and compositions herein described for the manufacture and
improvement of leather apply equally to new, glazed, or old leather, in which
latter case the leather is restored to its original supple condition and strength.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the improved mode of manufacturing, preserving, and improving the
impermeability of leathers and skins by the aid of the compositions herein-
before referred to, or equivalents of a similar nature, whereby to introduce the
preservative matters into the pores of the leather.
Secondly, I claim the application of these improvements to the other
materials herein-before mentioned with a similar object.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)