AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND SOLUTION FOR TANNING HIDES OR SKINS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND SOLUTION FOR TANNING HIDES OR SKINS." A
communication from abroad by Simon Ullmo, of Lyons, France, Tanner.
Sealed the 12th December 1879, and dated the 7th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND SOLUTION FOR
TANNING HIDES OR SKINS." [A communication from abroad by Simon Ullino,
of Lyons, France, Tanner.]
In carrying the said Invention into practice the hides or skins are soaked in the
ordinary manner, and are then thrown into a fulling mill or apparatus, which is to
be hermetically closed, and which contains sufficient water to allow the skins to be
entirely steeped therein. Before placing the skins in this water I dissolve therein
for every one hundred kilogrammes of the skins as they come from the prior
soaking treatment the following substances in the proportions named, that is to
say-Divi-divi, 30%; oak tree roots, 30°; alum, 30%; sour barley meal, 15%;
sulphate of copper, 1%
The skins or hides are turned over in the fulling apparatus for twenty four
hours at such a speed as will not allow the temperature to reach a degree at which
the skin or hide would be injured.
When the skins are taken from the fulling apparatus, they, together with the
liquor, are thrown into an ordinary vat, in which they remain from fifteen to
twenty days, being lifted every day; after this they are laid in bark in an ordinary
pit for from fifteen to thirty days, the time varying according to the strength of the
skins.
The sour barley meal may be dispensed with, but should this be done the
quantity of sulphate of copper must be increased from 4 to 9%, the quantity
varying according to the nature of the skins. In this case the fulling apparatus
may be replaced by ordinary beating vats, which are lifted three times a day for
two or three days, and once a day for from fifteen to eighteen days afterwards.

page_text: Then the skins or hides are laid with bark in a pit, where they remain for from
fifteen to thirty days, the time varying according to their strength.
The result of employing either of the solutions above named is that the time
occupied in tanning is considerably shortened. For example, calve's skins, which
with ordinary methods require from five to eight months for tanning, are, by
means of this Invention, tanned in from three to six weeks, the time varying
according to the strength of the skins. The skins or hides of cows and bullocks
may by means of this Invention be tanned in from one to three months, the time
varying according to their strength; whereas, according to methods heretofore
employed, these skins would require from eight to eighteen months for tanning.
The said Invention is applicable to all kinds of skins, that is to say, skins of
sheep, goats, calves, horses, cows, bullocks, and others.
In some cases I may substitute cashoo or other analagous tanning substances
either in their natural state or as extracts for divi-divi. I may also substitute for
the oak tree roots the bark of green or white oak, or other analogous tanning
substances, either in their natural state or as extracts; these substances being
employed in quantities proportionate to their yield of tannin compared with the
yield of the oak tree roots and the divi-divi. I retain the quantity of alum, sulphate
of copper, and sour barley meal.
I may in some cases substituto sulphate of alumina for alum, and sulphate of
zinc, sulphate of ammonia, and other analogous sulphates for sulphate of copper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
April 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND SOLUTION FOR
TANNING HIDES OR SKINS." A cominunication from abroad by Simon Ullmo, of
Lyons, France, Tanner.
This Invention relates to the tanning of hides or skins.
In carrying the said Invention into practice the hides or skins are soaked in
the ordinary manner, and are then thrown into a fulling mill or apparatus, which
is to be hermetically closed, and which contains sufficient water to allow the skins
to be thoroughly steeped therein. Before placing the skins in this water I dissolve
therein for every one hundred kilogrammes of the skins as they come from the
prior soaking treatment the following substances in the proportions named, that is
to say-Divi-divi, 30 kilogranines; oak tree roots, 30 kilogramines; alum,
30 kilogrammes; sour barley meal, 15 kilogrammes; sulphate of copper, 1
kilogramine.
The skins or hides are turned over in the fulling apparatus for twenty four
hours at such a speed as will not allow tho temperature to reach a degree that
would be injurious to the skins or hides.
When the skins are taken from the fulling apparatus they, together with the
liquor, are thrown into an ordinary vat, in which they remain from fifteen to
twenty days, being lifted or moved every day. After this treatment they are laid
with tan in an ordinary pit, and left therein for from fifteen to thirty days, the
time varying according to the thickness of the skins which are thus tanned.
The sour barley meal may be dispensed with, but should this be done the
quantity of sulphate of copper must be increased to the extent of from 4 to 9
kilogrammes, the quantity varying according to the nature of the skins. In this
case the fulling apparatus may be replaced by the ordinary vats, the lifting or
moving being attended to three times a day for two or three days, and once a day
for from fifteen to eighteen days afterwards. Then the skins or hides are laid
with tan in a pit, where they remain for from fifteen to thirty days, the time
varying according to their thickness, the tanning of the said skins or hides being
thus effected.
The result of employing either of the solutions above named is that the time
occupied in tanning is considerably shortened. For example, calve's skins, which
with ordinary methods require from five to eight months for tanning, are by means
of this Invention tanned in from three to six weeks, the time varying according to
the thickness of the skins. The skins or hides of cows and bullocks may by
means of this Invention be tanned in from one to three months, the time varying
according to their thickness, whereas according to methods heretofore employed
these skins or hides would require from eight to eighteen months for tanning.
The said Invention is applicable to all kinds of skins, that is to say, skins of
sheep, goats, calves, horses, cows, bullocks, and other animals.
In some cases I may use cashoo or other analogous tanning substances either in
their natural state or as extracts as substitutes for the divi-divi. I may also
substitute for the oak tree roots the bark of green or white oak, or other analogous
tanning substances, either in their natural state or as extracts, these substances
being employed in quantities proportionate to their yield of tannin compared with
the yield of the oak tree roots and the divi-divi. I retain, however, the quantity
of alum, sulphate of copper, and sour barley meal.
I may in some cases substitute sulphate of alumina for alum, and sulphate of
zinc, sulphate of ammonia, and other analogous sulphates, for sulphate of copper.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
In the tanning of hides or skins the simultaneous employment of the materials
herein set forth, or their equivalents, as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
RARE
TATE
T
ROB
WOD LAND
(1.5.)