A New or Improved Dubbing or Dressing for Leather.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1894-Accepted, 2nd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JULES ERNEST MARTIN BOURGEOIS,
38, Rue Louis Braille, Paris, France, Government Contractor.]
A New or Improved Dubbing or Dressing for Leather.
I, THOMAS WALTER LAWRENCE EMDEN, of 105 and 106, Strand, London,
Architect, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of dubbing or dressing
for leather and has for its object the employment therein of mineral oil as the chief
constituent of the composition.
The compositions hitherto in use for this purpose have consisted chiefly of animal
and vegetable fats and oils, fish oil, wax, resin, india rubber, and tar, used either
separately or in various combinations with each other, which preparations have
yielded very imperfect and unsatisfactory results.
Occasionally a very small percentage of mineral oil has been employed in the
manufacture of a few of such compositions, but only as a minor adjunct, owing
probably to the fact that its extreme fluidity and volatility prevent its thoroughly
permeating the substance and fibre of the leather, which otherwise it is well
calculated to nourish and preserve.
In order therefore to counteract such fluidity and volatility I use in combination
therewith monohydrated oxide of calcium, which serves to fix the mineral oil in the
leather, at the same time that it also ensures the uniform consistency and
homogeneity of the dubbing or composition in any temperature, and renders it
imputrescible. By this means I materially reduce the cost of manufacture and
obtain a new or improved dubbing or dressing that is particularly adapted for
use for the preservation of leather, as it is extremely nourishing, and renders the
leather both supple and durable, and likewise waterproof.
One formula for the manufacture of such improved dubbing or dressing is as
follows:-
Mineral oil
Vegetable oil
Fish oil
-
about 60 parts
"
20 parts
"
10 parts
Water
"
12 parts
Monohydrated oxide of calcium
""
3 parts.
To manufacture the composition proceed as follows:
First place the water and lime well diluted in a boiler or other suitable vessel of
a containing capacity at least one half greater than the quantity of the composition
to be made, in order to prevent the overflow of the ingredients when in a state of
ebullition. Then add the vegetable oil and a corresponding portion of the mineral
oil, (i.e. 20 parts,) after which gradually heat the mixture to 85° or 90° centigrade,
taking care to continually stir the same until saponification takes place and it
becomes an intimately mixed pasty mass. This will be in about 5 hours. Then
add the remainder of the mineral oil, and also the fish oil, and allow the mixture to
cool. The composition is then ready for use and may be packed in pots, casks,
boxes or other suitable receptacles.
The dubbing or dressing thus manufactured is an unctious and perfectly
homogeneous composition that can be readily applied by means of a brush or cloth
or by the hand to the surface of boots, shoes, harness, straps, leather and leather

page_text: .
goods of every description. It possesses the unique merit of combining in itself
the following essential advantages, which have never previously been found united
in a single composition, (that is to say);-It is perfectly harmless. It quickly
penetrates the leather, wherein it becomes fixed and which it softens and renders
impermeable to wet or damp. It does not prevent the article being polished after
its application thereto. It does not soil or stain the clothes. When applied to
harness it does not make the back of the horse greasy, while it protects the
harness from the injurious effects of the animal's perspiration. It retains its
consistency in every temperature, is very portable and keeps in good condition
indefinitely.
°
With respect to the mineral oil to be used, boghead oil will be found the most
advantageous as regards economy, but the best results are obtained with American
or Russian mineral oils. The composition varies in colour and consistency
according to the density, colour and quality of the mineral oil employed, and if
the latter be of great density a somewhat larger percentage thereof may be used.
The maximum percentage of mineral oil which can be used in the manufacture
of the composition is 80 per cent.
As regards the vegetable oil to be used this may either be colza oil, cotton
oil, maize oil, olive oil or any other vegetable oil that liquefies at a moderate
temperature. I have found in practice however that colza oil produces more
perfect saponification and a better composition than any other vegetable oil. If the
percentage of the vegetable oil is increased the composition is rendered richer and
more oily; if decreased the composition becomes poorer, and is more difficult to
saponify. If desired the fish oil may be dispensed with and either mineral oil or
tallow substituted therefor.
As already stated a portion only of the mineral oil is added at first, thus allowing
the vegetable oil to act as an intermediary between the mineral oil and the lime,
the mineral oil being in itself incapable of saponification while the percentage of
lime employed is only sufficient to saponify about 20 parts of mineral oil and
20 parts of vegetable oil.
I wish particularly to point out that the essential feature of my invention
consists in the employment in the manufacture of dubbing or dressing for leather
of large percentages of mineral oil varying from about 60 per cent. up to 80 per cent.,
in combination with about 3 per cent. of monohydrated oxide of calcium.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
As a new article of manufacture a dubbing or dressing for leather containing
from 60 to 80 per cent. of mineral oil in combination with about 3 per cent. of
monohydrated oxide of calcium all substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 1st day of May 1894.
THOMAS WALTER LAWRENCE EMDEN.
Elt & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for Applicant.