CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURE OF SOAP
Year: 1844

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WATTERSON, of the firm of Maguire, Watterson, and Company, of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Soap Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of May, in the seventh year of Her reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles
Watterson, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Charles Watterson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said Charles Watterson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MANUFACTURE OF SOAP;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a provisó
that I, the said Charles Watterson, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully aud at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Watterson, dó hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,

page_text: and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following explanation thereof (that
is to say):-
My improvements in the manufacture of soap consist chiefly in the peculiar
method or process of mixing or combining the oil or fatty matters employed
with caustic soda, and in subsequently adding water for the purpose of con-
verting such mixture or produce into soap. My improvements in the manu-
facture of soap render that article of a purer and more efficient nature, and
also effect a considerable economy of time in the operation, as by such process
the soap is sufficiently hard for sale or use in the course of a few hours,
instead of being several days under the process of manufacture, as usual. The
ingredients used are nearly the same as in common use; namely:-1, all
animal and vegetable oils, either mixed or separately; 2, liquid caustic soda
of the strength of twenty-two per cent.; 3, water as free from earthy salts or
metallic oxydes as can be obtained. My improved process of manufacture is
as follows: To make, say, half a ton of soap, I put in a pan, seven feet in
diameter and about two feet deep, seven hundred and eighty-four pounds, say,
of raw palm oil. As soon as the same has become fluid, add gradually four
hundred and seven pounds, more or less (according to the quality of soap
required) of liquid caustic soda of the strength above specified, taking care.to
mix the ingredients thoroughly by an instrument adapted to the purpose.
The heat must then be increased, and the mixture constantly moved about to
prevent it from caking on the bottom of the pan. After continuing the
operation, and at the end of between three and four hours, the mixture assumes
a whitish appearance, and by continuing the heat the whole of the aqueous
part is entirely evaporated, and the mass reduced to a perfectly dry state.
The heat is now increased, and in a short time the mass becomes again of a
liquid form, and changes to a brownish colour, which indicates that the com-
bination of the oil with the alkali is effected. The fire is then speedily with-
drawn, and the stirring is continued so long as any fear of scorching is
apprehended. When this is over, the pan may be locked up for the purpose
of cooling, or for the night, by the Excise officer, which concludes the first part
(or day's operation).
The second part of the operation consists in breaking up or grinding the
product, now in a solid form, into a state of powder. To this add forty-five
gallons of pure water (or slightly more or less), and thoroughly agitate the
mixture for about half an hour. Then the heat is applied, and the contents of
the pan raised to the boiling point, and kept so for about three hours, during
all of which time the stirring and agitation must be continued. So soon as

page_text: the evaporation has been carried to the desired extent, and the soap appears
of a proper consistency, it is allowed to cool gradually. The whole contents of
the pan (no leys or waste accruing from the operation), while yet in a liquid
state, is now put into the ordinary frames and left to cool. The day following
the contents of the frame will be found hard enough for cutting in the usual
way, and as soon as cut up the soap is in a fit state for sale and use.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Watterson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
CHARLES (L.S.) WATTERSON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Seventh day of November,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Charles Watterson came before
our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the Eighth day of November, in the year above written.