IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING OR COLORING THE HIDES AND SKINS OF ANIMALS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaie Lippmann, of No. 4, Rue Geoffroy Saint Hilaire,"
Paris, in the Empire. of France, Tanner, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaie Lippmann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th
June 1855.
I, ISAIE LIPPMANN, of No. 4, Rue Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Tanner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING OR COLORING THE HIDES AND SKINS OF ANIMALS"
to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in dyeing or coloring the hides or skins of
animals relates, in the first place, to submitting the hides or skins to the process
of dyeing before they are tanned. 'According to the plans now in use the
skins or hides are usually tanned first, and then dyed or colored afterwards.
By reversing these processes, however, I have discovered that considerable
advantages are obtained. I find that by dyeing the skins, before tanning them
I can employ dyeing processes and materials which are cheaper and better than
those usually adopted, and the color is more permanent than when the skins
are subjected to the ordinary process, and will even resist the action of acids

page_text: There is also considerable economy in the labor incidental to the process,
and the skins or hides when prepared according to the improved plan are more
supple and softer than when the ordinary process is employed.
The second improvement relates to a mode of dyeing the skins or hides so as
to present a variegated or marbled appearance. This is effected by simply
crumpling the skins up, and tightly securing them in this state while they
are submitted to the action of the coloring matter in the dyeing vat. The
result will be, that the coloring matter will only penetrate and act on
certain parts of the skins, leaving certain other parts unaffected, and upon
unfolding the skin it will present a mottled appearance.
This operation
may be repeated two, three, or more times in different colored dyes, the skins
being of course unfolded and crumpled up again previous to every operation, so
that fresh surfaces may be presented. This mode of mottling or ornamenting
skins may be employed either before or after the skins or hides have been
tanned.
The third head of the Invention relates to a method of dyeing or coloring
skins or hides in such a manner that a metallic lustre may be given thereto.
For this purpose I submit the skins to the action of certain dyeing materials
which have the property of communicating this appearance thereto. I find
that extracts of dye woods when acted upon by certain chemical substances
or re-agents will communicate to the surface of the skins a shining metallic
appearance. The dye wood which I have found most suitable for this
purpose
is logwood (known in France as bois de campèche), but other varieties of dye
woods may be employed under certain circumstances. When the skins have
been submitted for a suitable length of time to the operation of the dye, they
are afterwards subjected to the action of chemical salts (by préference alkaline
salts), which will cause the metallic appearance to come out on the surface of
the skin or hide.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaie Lippmann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th 30
December 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAIE
LIPPMANN, of No. 4, Rue Geoffroy Saint Hilaire, Paris, in the Empire of
France, Tanner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 35
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One,

page_text: thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Isaie Lippmann, Her special license that I, the said Isaie Lippmann,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Isaie
Lippmann, 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 DYEING
OR COLORING THE HIDES AND SKINS OF ANIMALS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Isaie Lippmann, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, 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 Isaie Lippmann, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment (that is to say):-
:-
. This Invention of "improvements in dyeing or coloring the hides or skins of
animals" consists, in the first place, in submitting the bides or skins to tho
process of dyeing before they are tanned. According to the plans now in
use the skins or hides are usually tanned first, and then dyed or colored
afterwards. By reversing these processes, however, I. have discovered that
considerable advantages are obtained. I find that by dyeing the skins before
tanning them I can employ dyeing processes and materials which are cheaper
and better than those usually adopted, and the color is more permanent than
when the skins are subjected to the ordinary process, and will even resist
the action of acids. There is also considerable economy in the labour
incidental to the process, and the skins or hides when prepared according to
the improved plan are more supple and softer than when the ordinary process
is employed.
The second improvement relates to a mode of dyeing the skins or hides
so as to present a variegated or marbled appearance. This is effected by
simply crumpling the skins up, and tightly securing them in this state while
they are submitted to the action of the coloring matter in the dyeing vat.
The result will be, that the coloring matter will only penetrate and act
on certain parts of the skins, leaving certain other parts unaffected,
and upon unfolding the skin it will present a mottled appearance. This

page_text: operation may be repeated two, three, or more times in different colored dyes;
the skins being of course unfolded and crumpled up again previous to every
operation, so that fresh surfaces may be presented. This mode of mottling or
ornamenting skins may be employed either before or after the skins or hides
have been tanned.
The third head of the Invention relates to a method of dyeing or coloring
skins or hides in such a manner that a metallic lustre may be given thereto.
For this purpose I submit the skins to the action of certain dyeing materials
which have the property of communicating this appearance thereto. I find
that extracts of dye woods when acted upon by certain chemical substances or
re-agents will communicate to the surface of the skins a shining metallic ap-
pearance. The dye wood which I have found most suitable for this purpose is
logwood (known in France as bois de campèche), but other varieties of dye
woods may be employed under certain circumstances. When the skins have
been submitted for a suitable length of time to the operation of the dye, they are
afterwards subjected to the action of chemical salts (by preference alkaline
salts), which will cause the metallic appearance to come out on the surface of
the skin or hide...
Having now described my "Improvements in Dyeing or Coloring the Hides
and Skins of Animals," and the means of carrying the same into effect, I claim,
in'conclusion,
. First, submitting hides or skins to the process of dyeing before being tanned..
Secoud, the method herein described, or any mere modification thereof, of
imparting to skins or hides a mottled appearance.
Third, the method herein described, or any mere modification thereof, of
imparting to the surface of hides and skins a metallic lustre.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaie Lippmann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the First day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five..
I LIDDMA NIÑ
T TIDDMANN
(2.c.)