IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF LEATHER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF LEATHER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL
ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Isaiah Smith Hyatt, of No. 1,
Rue Laffitte, Paris.
Sealed the 20th April 1880, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
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Sealed the 20th April 1880, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 14th October 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Morgan-Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th October 1879.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF LEATHER FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Isaiah
Smith Hyatt, of No. 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
The Invention relates to the production of various articles by solidifying leather
in pieces or pulverized by means of heated dies. The distinctive novelty consists
in subjecting the leather or leather powder to pressure in moulds at a definite degree
of heat for a definite period of time. Articles have heretofore been formed by
pressing leather pulp or leather in moulds, but in no instance has a particular
degree of heat been applied for a particular period to produce an article having the
distinctive and original characteristics of those which may be produced by the
means bereinafter set forth.
In practice leather of any kind may be used, but it is intended to utilize leather
skivings and waste leather of every description rather than employ that which has
a recognised commercial value.
Having cleaned the skivings or leather in any convenient manner, the same are
by preference immersed in a bath of water heated to a temperature of about one
hundred and fifty (150) degrees Fahrenheit, and allowed to remain, under ordinary
conditions, for the period of about one hour; the object of this bath or soaking is
to remove the oleaginous matter from the leather and prepare it for further treat-
ment. While the material is in the bath the water penetrates the leather, expelling

page_text: the oily matter, which rises to the surface of the water and may be removed at
pleasure. When the bath is used, after the loather is taken out it is thoroughly
dried in any suitable manner, preferably in a tumbling barrel, at a temperature of
about one hundred and thirty (130) degrees Fahrenheit, when it is ready to be
ground. The bath or soaking is not however an essential step, and may be dispensed 5
with if preferred. The result is much more satisfactory when the oleaginous matter
is removed, and I recommend that the bath or soaking be invariably made use of.
Nevertheless, in many instances, a good result will be effected without employing
it. Other ways of accomplishing a removal will suggest themselves to the skilled
operator. Whatever serves to expel the oil or grease from the leather will effectuate 1
the object of the bath.
The grinding of the leather is effected by means of any suitable mill, in which the
material is reduced to the requisite degree of fineness, according to the character of
the article to be produced.
If the article is one requiring elegance of polish and finish the material should be 1
ground very fine; if durability is the chief desideratum the material may be left in
a somewhat coarser state. The reduction of the material in the mill however is a
matter of judgment, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to
which the Invention relates without further explanation.
The material, having been ground, is ready for the moulds.
The foregoing preliminary steps will be carried out without difficulty; but those
hereinafter described require great care on the part of the operator, and should not
be hastily or indiscreetly attempted.
2
In the description given of the heat and pressure and length of time they are to
be applied I contemplate their employment in the treatment or fabrication of an 2
article of a mean thickness of about half an inch. Of course articles of greater or
less thickness may be produced by the means I indicate, as hereinaftor set forth, but
the particular degrees of heat, and pressure, and length of time the article is to
remain in the dies and under pressure have relation only to an article which is, when
finished, about half an inch in thickness or diameter. The description, as I present 3
it, therefore is to be regarded as an illustration or rule from which those skilled in
the art may, by comparison and reflection, successfully treat articles of different
thicknesses, and not at affording a guide for the indiscriminate production of articles
of various thicknesses and diameters.
The moulds are of any construction which will permit of their being suitably
heated and their contents subjected to great pressure, as hereinafter set forth.
In order to preserve a uniformity of temperature they are by preference placed
between steam tables, or otherwise arranged so as to preclude their cooling during
the application of the pressure.
It is preferred to heat the moulds to from about two hundred and forty (240) to
two hundred and fifty (250) degrees Fahrenheit, and to employ when they are so
heated a pressure of not less than, say, about five thousand pounds (5,000) to the
square inch.
The temperature and pressure however are somewhat dependent upon each
other.
square
The degree of pressure I have specified, five thousand (5,000) pounds to the
inch, will as a general rule produce a satisfactory result when the moulds are heated
to a temperature above two hundred (200) degrees Fahrenheit; and if the tempera-
ture of the moulds be raised to, say, two hundred and forty or two hundred and
fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or somewhat higher, a fair result may by effected by a
pressure considerably lower than five thousand pounds to the square inch, although
not as good a result as when a pressure of about five thousand pounds, or a greater
pressure, is made use of. I do not therefore limit myself to any specific degree of
heat, as it is not possible to exactly define the limits within which the improved
result may be effected. The moulds having been made ready, as herein before
recited, the material, prepared as above set forth, is inserted and the pressure
applied, the temperature being preserved and the pressure sustained uninterruptedly

page_text: for a fixed period. It is of capital importance that the material be permitted to
remain in the moulds for a definite time, approximately neither more nor less. If
it remains for too short an interval it will not be successfully solidified, and if it
remains two long it will be burnt and thus rendered valueless. When the tempera-
ture of the dies is about two hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, and the pressure
about five thousand pounds to the square inch, the material will be permitted to
remain in the moulds for about ten minutes. If the heat and pressure are both or
either greater this period may be somewhat varied. I do not therefore limit myself
to a continuance of the pressure for any exact and specific length of time, as it will
necessarily vary more or less according to the temperature of the dies, the pressure,
and other circumstances.
After remaining in the mould for the period specified the article will be removed,
when it will be found to bear a striking resemblance to ebony, to have a very hard
and highly polished surface, and be in a finished condition.
In describing the temperature of the moulds and the pressure and length of time
the material remains in the moulds, as hereinbefore mentioned, I have presented a
detailed statement having relation to the treatment of an article half an inch in
thickness. Where it is desired to produce an article of a thickness or diameter
greater or less than half an inch the heat, pressure, and length of time the material
is permitted to remain in the moulds will be varied according to the requirements
of the case.
It is manifestly impossible to lay down an exact formula for each and
every thickness or diameter.
The illustration and description hereinbefore presented will however afford such
a guide that there will be little difficulty in understanding and successfully
practicing the Invention in all cases.
Among other articles, heels of boots and shoes may also be manufactured from pul-
verised leather by means of heated dies, the leather powder being subjected to the
action of the dies sufficiently long to form a complete heel of solidified leather, or, which
is the preferred method, by subjecting the powder to the action of the dies for such a
length of time as will solidify the outer parts of the heel while its interior portion
is coagulated without destroying its relative elasticity. By this means I produce a
heel which has nearly all the qualities and characteristics of those made in the usual
way of layers of ordinary leather. Of course heels of greater or less thickness may
be produced by the means I indicate, but I contemplate, in the description I give of
the heat and pressure and length of time they are to be applied, the treatment or
fabrication of a heel of a thickness of an inch. The description as I present it therefore,
as in the case of an article of the thickness of a knife handle, herein before described,
is to be regarded as an illustration or rule from which those skilled in the art may,
by comparison and reflection, successfully treat heels of different thicknesses, and
not as affording a guide for the indiscriminate production of heels of various thick-
nesses. I prefer to heat the moulds or dies to a temperature of about two hundred
and fifty (250) degrees Fahrenheit, and to employ when they are so heated a
pressure of not less than, say, about five thousand pounds (5,000) to the square
inch. The temperature and pressure however are somewhat dependent upon each
other. The degree of pressure I have specified, five thousand (5,000) pounds to the
square inch, will as a general rule produce a satisfactory result when the moulds
are heated to a temperature above two hundred (200) degrees Fahrenheit; and if
the temperature of the mould be raised to, say, two hundred and forty or two
hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or somewhat higher, a fair result may be
effected by a pressure considerably lower than five thousand pounds to the square
inch, although not so good a result as when a pressure of about five thousand pounds,
or a greater pressure, is made use of. I do not therefore limit myself to any specific
degree of pressure or any specific degree of heat, as it is not possible to exactly define
the limits within which the improved result may be effected.
The moulds having been made ready as herein before recited the material, pre-
pared as above set forth, is inserted and the pressure applied, the temperature being

page_text: preserved and the pressure sustained uninterruptedly for a fixed period. It is of
capital importance that the material be permitted to remain in the moulds for a
definite time, approximately neither more nor less. If it remains for too short an
interval it will not be successfully solidified, and if it remains too long it will be
burnt and thus rendered valueless. When the temperature of the dies is about two
hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, and the pressure about five thousand pounds
to the square inch, the material will be permitted to remain in the moulds for about
ten minutes. If the heat and pressure are both or either greater this period may
be somewhat varied. I do not therefore limit myself to a continuance of the
pressure for any exact and specific length of time, as it will necessarily vary more
or less according to the temperature of the dies, the pressure, and other circum-
stances. In describing the temperature of the moulds and the pressure and length
of time the material remains in the moulds, as herein before mentioned, I have pre-
sented a detailed statement of an article an inch in thickness. Where it is desired
to produce an article of a thickness or diameter greater or less than an inch the
heat, pressure, and length of time the material is permitted to remain in the moulds
will be varied according to the requirements of the case. It is manifestly impossible
to lay down an exact formula for each and every thickness and diameter. The
illustration and description hereinbefore presented will however afford such a guide
that there will be little difficulty in understanding and practicing the Invention in
all cases.
do not
By the means hereinbefore specifically set forth I am enabled to produce a heel
the outer parts of which are firmly solidified, while its middle interior portion is
only partially solidified or coagulated. While I prefer to practice the process in
the manner herein before recited, and distinctly claim it as the Invention,
limit myself to any particular method. It may be preferred by some to cause the
complete solidification of the heel, which will be accomplished, where the heel is
about an inch thick, by permitting it to remain in the dies for a few moments
longer than ten minutes.
The matrices will be of any configuration, the process being generally applicable
to the production of small articles, such as are moulded, cast, or otherwise formed in
moulds or dies, or by analogous means, out of any known substance or material.
In using the terms "leather" and "pulverized leather" I do not intend that they
shall be understood to bear a narrow or exact technical meaning. While I prefer to
use as pure a pulverized leather as possible, the particles of leather may be combined
with other materials, if preferred, without necessarily affecting the result. Thus
mineral or vegetable fibres, emery, and other materials which are inert under heat
may be used in combination with the pulverised leather.
And when such materials are employed the temperature of the moulds will be
raised to a degree which will cause the particles of leather to assume a liquescent
state. This will occur under ordinary conditions where the temperature is raised
to about from, say, two hundred and ninety to three hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
By the term "liquescent," as herein employed, I mean a state in which the
particles of leather, while not strictly in what is commonly known as a fluid con-
dition, are effected to such an extent that they are of about the consistency, for
example, of tar. Except that the temperature of the moulds is raised to a higher
degree, the process is the same where the inert material is combined with the
leather as where it is not.
What I claim as the Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First. The process herein described of forming articles of pulverised leather,
which consists in pressing the powder for a definite period in moulds heated to a
definite temperature, substantially as set forth.
Second. A process of forming articles from pulverized leather, in which the
material is retained under pressure in a heated mould for a definite period.
Third. A process of producing pulverised leather in which the oleaginous matter
is removed and the leather then dessicated and ground.

page_text: Fourth. A process of forming articles from leather in any form, in which the
oleaginous matter is removed from the leather, the leather then dessicated and
ground, and the powder thus formed subjected to the action of the heated moulds.
Fifth. A process of forming articles from pulverised leather combined with any
material that is inert under heat, in which the particles of leather are reduced to a
liquescent state, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. An article forined of pulverized leather solidified by pressure for a definite
period in heated dies.
Seventh. An article formed of pulverized leather which has been rendered
liquescent and united with any material which is inert under heat.
Eighth. A process in which pulverised leather and a material which is inert
under heat are subjected to pressure in moulds heated to a temperature which causes
the particles of leather to become liquescent, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. An article formed of pulverized leather alone or mixed with an appropriate
matter, and of which the external parts are completely solidified, whilst its interior
is elastic or coagulated, which results are obtained by leaving this article in the
heated moulds during a relatively short space of time, and under a relatively slight
pressure as regards the thickness of the said article, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set any
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)