IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TANNING OF HIDES AND SKINS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Lomas Loversidge, of Bury Bank Cottages,
Greenfield, Saddleworth, in the County of York, Tanner, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TANNING OF HIDES AND SKINS, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 16th July 1867, and dated the 21st January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Lomas Loversidge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st January 1867.
I, GEORGE LOMAS LOVERSIDGE, of Bury Bank Cottages, Greenfield, Saddle-
worth, in the County of York, Tanner, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TANNING OF HIDES AND SKINS, AND
IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method of tanning by the employ-
ment of valonia and oak bark or other tanning materials in conjunction with
a solution of caustic soda, or of carbonate of soda, or mixtures of the same, or
with a solution of ammonical crystals, or with mixtures of any of the before-
mentioned solutions, whereby a considerable diminution of time required for
the process of tanning is effected, and a leather or tanned hide or skin of
superior quality is obtained; also an arrangement of apparatus for facilitating
the handling or moving the hides or skins whilst in the baths.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer that the hides or skins should have.
undergone the ordinary preliminary treatment of liming, fleshing, and un-

page_text: hairing, and when sufficiently well prepared I submit them firstly to the
action of a bath (No. 1), composed of a solution or extract of valonia,
catechu, or other equivalent tanning material marking about one degree
on the Twaddell's hydrometer, and caustic soda, or a mixture of one part by
weight of ammoniacal crystals, and 2 parts by weight of caustic soda or
carbonate of soda; these are to be dissolved separately in warm water, and
then mixed together and added to the bath so as to raise the same one
degree on the hydrometer, the bath now marking two degrees on Twaddell's
hydrometer. The bides or skins are handled about 3 times a day for about
3 days, when they are removed to a second bath (No. 2), which is composed
of a solution or extract of valonia or other tanning materials marking about
3 degrees on the hydrometer, and of caustic soda, carbonate of soda, or the
mixture before mentioned, so as to make the bath one degree higher on the
hydrometer, tho bath now marking four degrees. The hides or skins are to be
allowed to remain in this bath for about four days, they being handled about
twice per diem. After the expiration of the fourth day the hides or skins
are placed in a bath (No. 3), consisting of a solution or extract of valonia
marking 7 degrees on the hydrometer, and of caustic soda, carbonate of soda,
or the before-mentioned mixture so as to raise the bath from 1 to 1 degrees
on the hydrometer, the bath now marking from 8 to 8 degrees, and after the
hides or skins have been immersed I keep up the original strength of the
bath by the addition of valonia and caustic soda, carbonate of soda, or the
mixture before described of ammoniacal crystals and caustic soda as required.
In this bath the bides or skins are allowed to remain for about 7 days; in some
cases where very thick hides are operated upon they may at this stage of the
process be with advantage transferred to another bath (No. 4), consisting of
a solution or extract of valonia or other tanning materials marking nine
degrees on the hydrometer, and of caustic soda, carbonate of soda, or the
mixture before described so as to raise the bath one degree on the bydrometer,
the bath now marking 10 degrees. In this bath the thick hides may be
allowed to remain for about nine days, and should be handled three times
during that period, more or less time being required according to the nature
and thickness of the hides operated upon, as may be ascertained by cutting
and examining the hides, as is well known by persons familiar with the
tanning process. In the case of hides of ordinary thickness they will not
need to be subjected to the action of the bath, where, as I have stated, thick
hides may be treated and allowed to remain nine days, more or less, but they
should be fransferred from the bath, where, as I have above stated, they
should be treated and allowed to remain seven days, to the bath I may term the

page_text: final bath, which is composed of a solution or extract of valonia or other
tanning materials marking nine degrees on the hydrometer, and to which are
added caustic soda, carbonate of soda, or the mixture before described, so as
to raise the bath one half degree on the hydrometer, the bath now marking
9 degrees. Between each hide or skin as they are placed in the bath about
6 lbs. of oak bark or valonia are scattered or strewn, and they are allowed to
remain therein for about fourteen days, when they are removed and finished in
the ordinary manner. The very thick hides should also be treated in the bath I
have termed the final bath for a period of 14 days, moro or less. I also
hasten the process of tanning, and very considerably lessen the labor of
handling the hides in the bath by fixing over the bath a roller or winch, to
which a slow motion is given by a steam engine or other motive power. The
hides are laced or fastened together end to end with a rib of wood at the end
of each hide to keep the same straight in the bath, and the ends all fastened
together, so as to make an endless web of the bides. The roller or the winch
is to be made to revolve, so as to move the hides at the rate of three to five
hides every minute, and when I use this process of moving the hides and
agitating the liquors a very much stronger bath than I have before mentioned
may be used, beginning at the first, No. 1 bath at 2 degrees of the hydrometer,
the hides being regularly moved in the daytime and remaining in the bath 2
days. They are then to be put in the bath No. 3, marking 7 degrees of the
tanning liquors and one degree and a half of the alkali mixture, and to remain
in the bath from 3 to 5 days, as found necessary, being moved round as before,
after which they are placed in the finishing bath, as before described, with
oak bark or valonia scattered or strewn between.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Lomas Loversidge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
LOMAS LOVERSIDGE, of Burn Bank. Cottages, Greenfield, Saddleworth, in the
County of York, Tanner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Lomas Loversidge, Her special license that I, the said George

page_text: Lomas Loversidge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Lomas Loversidge, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at auy 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 THE TANNING OF HIDES AND SKINS, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said George Lomas Loversidge, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 George Lomas Loversidge, 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 statement, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to an improved method of tanning by the
employment of valonia and oak bark or other tanning materials in conjunc-
tion with a solution of caustic soda, or of carbonate of soda, or mixtures of the
same, or with a solution of ammonia, or of carbonate of ammonia, or mixtures
of the same, or with mixtures of any of the before-mentioned solutions,
whereby a considerable diminution of time required for the process of tanning
is effected, and a leather of tanned hide or skin of superior quality is obtained;
also an arrangement of apparatus for facilitating the handling or moving the
hides or skins whilst in the bath.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer that the hides or skins should have
undergone the ordinary preliminary treatment of liming, fleshing, and un-
hairing, and when sufficiently well prepared I submit them, firstly, to the
action of a bath (No. 1) composed of a solution or extract of valonia,
catechu, or other equivalent tanning material, marking about one degree on
T'waddell's hydrometer, and I add carbonate of soda in such quantity as that
the bath shall be raised one degree on the hydrometer, the bath now marking
two degrees on Twaddell's hydrometer. The hides or skins are handled
about three times a day for about three days, when they are removed to a
second bath (No. 2) which is composed of a solution or extract of valonia or
other tanning materials, marking about three degrees on the hydrometer, and
of caustic soda, carbonate of soda, or the mixture before mentioned, so as to

page_text: After the expira-
make the bath one degree higher on the hydrometer, the bath now marking
four degrees; the hides or skins are to be allowed to remain in this bath for
about four days, they being handled about twice per diem.
tion of the fourth day the bides or skins are placed in a bath (No. 3) con-
sisting of a solution or extract of valonia marking seven degrees on the
hydrometer, and of carbonate of soda or other mixture before mentioned,
which has been added in such quantity as to raise the bath one to one and a
half degrees on the hydrometer, the bath now marking from eight to eight
and a half degrees, and after the hides or skins have been immersed I keep
up the original strength of the bath by the addition of valonia and of car-
bonate of soda, as required. In this bath the hides or skins are allowed to
remain for about seven days. In some cases when very thick bides are
operated upon they may at this stage of the process be with advantage trans-
ferred to another bath (No. 4) consisting of a solution or extract of valonia
or other tanning materials marking nine degrees on the hydrometer, and of
carbonate of soda, which has been added in such quantity so as to raise the
bath one degree on the hydrometer, the bath now marking ten degrees. In
this bath the thick hides may be allowed to remain for about nine days, and
should be handled three times during that period, more or less, time being
required according to the nature and thickness of the hides operated upon, as
may be ascertained by cutting and examining the hides, as is well known by
persons familiar with the tanning process. In the case of hides of ordinary
thickness they will not need to be subjected to the action of the bath, where,
as I have stated, thick hides may be treated, and allowed to remain nine days,
more or less, but they should be transferred from the bath where, as I have
above stated, they should be treated, and allowed to remain seven days to the
bath, I may term the final bath, which is composed of a solution or extract of
valonia or other tanning materials marking nine degrees on the hydrometer,
and to which is added carbonate of soda in such quantity so as to raise the
bath one-half degree on the bydrometer, the bath now marking nine and a
half degrees. Between each hide or skin, as they are placed in the bath,
about six pounds of oak bark or valonia, or both, are scattered or strewn, and
they are allowed to remain therein for about fourteen days, when they are
removed and finished in the ordinary manner. The very thick hides should
also be treated in the bath I have termed the final bath for about fourteen
days, more or less.
I also basten the process of tanning, and very considerably lessen the labor
of handling the Lides in the bath, by fixing over the bath a roller or winch
to which a slow motion is given by a steam engine or other motive power.

page_text: The hides are laced or fastened together end to end with laces or cord so
as to make an endless web of the hides; motion is then given to the roller
so as to move the hides at the rate of three to five hides every minute,
and when I use this process of moving the hides and agitating the liquors
a very much stronger bath than I have before mentioned may be used,
beginning at the first (No. 1) bath at two degrees of the hydrometer, the bides
being regularly moved in the daytime and remaining in the bath two days.
They are then to be put in the bath No. 3 marking seven degrees of the
tanning liquors and one degree and a half of the alkali mixture, and
to remain in the bath from three to five days, as found necessary, being
moved round as before, after which they are placed in the finishing bath
as before described with oak bark or valonia scattered or strewn between.
I have throughout this Specification given as an example the proportions in
which carbonate of soda may advantageously be employed in the several baths,
and when the other alkalies or alkaline carbonates are employed, such, for
example, as ammonia or carbonate of ammonia or caustic soda, these I prefer to
employ in proportions equivalent to those given for carbonate of soda, and not
to employ solutions of the same marking the degrees given for the employment
of carbonate of soda, as the density of the solutions will vary with the different
alkalies employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the berein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the system or mode of treating hides and skins with a view to tanning
the same, substantially as herein-before described.
Second, the peculiar mode of and apparatus for facilitating the handling or
moving of hides or skins whilst in the baths or tanning liquors, substantially as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Lomas Loversidge, have to this my
Specification hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
GEORGE LOMAS LOVERSIDGE. (L.S.)