An Improved Composition to be used chiefly as a Substitute for Wood, Paper, Papier Mache, Porcelain, Ivory, Leather, and the like in various Manufactures.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Composition to be used chiefly as a Substitute for Wood,
Paper, Papier Mache, Porcelain, Ivory, Leather, and the like in
various Manufactures.
We, ANDREW MCQUADE, of Saint Anne's Road East, Saint Anne's-on-the-Sea,
Gentleman, and RICHARD SMETHURST SMETHURST, of 96, New Lane, Patricroft,
Artist in Stained Glass, both in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to an improved process of treating waste or scrap leather,
paper or wood pulp, sawdust, and other like materials for the production of a
composition in imitation of various other substances to be used chiefly as a sub-
stitute for wood, paper, porcelain, leather, and the like, and applied to the
manufacture of various useful articles for which such substances are commonly
employed.
The said composition can be made and used for all articles in builder's furniture
such as door knobs, finger plates, fancy mouldings, drawer handles, lock furni-
ture, stair treads, carved panels, electric pushes and frames, bell-levers, electric
insulators, also for picture and looking-glass frames, brush backs, or other articles
usually made of wood, metal, ivory, bone, porcelain and the like, and as a sub-
stitute for leather or papier maché for book backs, trays, and other like purposes
too numerous to mention.
According to our said invention waste or scrap leather is to be ground or
granulated to the required fineness and then mixed to the consistency of thick
paste with a solution of glue or gelatine dissolved in hot water, to which any
suitable coloring matter may be added, if required, according to the use to which
the composition is intended to be applied. To this is added a solution of formic
or
other suitable acid preparation
aldehyde
compound of aldehyde
with
without
or
to render the
any easily
miscible oils or fats, which are capable of being readily absorbed by the material
such as castor oil, linseed oil (raw or boiled), varnish or gums can be used as
required to render the same non-absorbent, and to give pliability and toughness
thereto.
or
same
insoluble, together
We wish it to be understood that the exact ingredients employed and the pro-
portions in which they are to be mixed together, will depend in a very great
measure upon the particular use to which the composition is to be applied, but
the following is given as an example, that is to say:
To about each pound of ground or granulated leather we add (say) one and a half
ounces of gelatine or two ounces of glue dissolved in a sufficient quantity of hot
water to bring it to the required consistency, to which we add about a table spoon-
ful of a ten per cent. solution of formic aldehyde to render it insoluble, and about
a tea spoonful of castor oil, and also a tea-spoonful of glycerine if required to be
very pliable; the whole being well mixed and masticated by any well-known

page_text: This mixture is then dried and passed through rollers and pressed either by
hydraulic, steam or other power to reduce it to the form of sheets of the required
thickness so that it may be used as a substitute for leather or other material for
a variety of purposes. If the said composition is required to have a polished
surface we coat it with a solution of gelatine or glue and formic aldehyde diluted
to the required consistency as before, with or without any easily miscible oils
or fats and a small percentage of glycerine.
It is then allowed to dry, or it can be dried in vacuo, and rolled as above
mentioned.
For making the said composition very thin, and so as to resemble calf skin,
morocco leather, patent leather, or other fine leathers, we may employ a backing
of thin calico or linen or other suitable material, and spread upon one or both sides
thereof alternate layers of the said composition and a weak solution of gelatine
and formic aldehyde. It may then be finished and pressed through rollers as
above set forth, and we may also pass the said sheets of composition through
enibossing rollers to impart to it any graining or ornamental or other pattern, as
may be desired. Suitable coloring matter, as above mentioned, may also be
added to the said composition to give it any colour that may be required.
This composition may be used for any purpose to which leather may be ordinarily
applied, and also as a substitute for oil cloths, linoleum, lincrusta Walton,
anaglypta, leather board, and other similar substances.
For solid or other articles of a less costly nature the same treatment may be
applied to sawdust, paper or wood pulp, and other such materials either as a
substitute for the ground leather or in combination therewith, and the composition,
instead of being rolled out into sheets, may be placed in moulds and pressed by
hydraulic, steam, or other power into the form required and then allowed to dry,
and it may also if required be coated with the polishing solution above described.
We would also observe that in some cases instead of adding the aldehyde to the
composition it may be omitted and the articles when formed therefrom may be
dipped in or coated with or submitted to the fumes of the solution afterwards to
render the same non-absorbent or insoluble.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. An improved composition formed of waste or scrap leather, paper or wood
pulp, sawdust and the like (either alone or in combination) ground or granulated
and mixed together to the consistency of a thick paste with a solution of glue
or gelatine in hot water, with the addition of formic aldehyde, or other suitable
acid preparation of aldehyde, together with or without any easily miscible oils or
fats, either with or without glycerine or its equivalent, to render the same non-
absorbent and to give pliability and toughness thereto.
2. The use of the said composition as a substitute for paper, papier mache,
leather, porcelain, stone, ivory, wood metal, and the like material either rolled
or pressed into sheets, between plain or engraved rollers, or pressed into moulds
either by hydraulic, steam, or other power to reduce it to the form required accord-
ing to the various uses or ornamental or other purposes for which it may be
employed.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.