AN IMPROVED MIXTURE OR COMPOSITION FOR BLEACHING VEGETABLE FIBRES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Graham, of Banford, Gilford, County Down,
Ireland, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MIXTURE OR COMPOSITION FOR
BLEACHING VEGETABLE FIBRES."
Sealed the 15th October 1867, and dated the 11th June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Graham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th June 1867.
I, JAMES GRAHAM, of Banford, Gilford, County Down, Ireland, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MIXTURE OR COM-
POSITION FOR BLEACHING VEGETABLE FIBRES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in dispensing with the use of soda ash as commonly
practised in bleaching vegetable fibres, and in substituting in lieu thereof the
following ingredients, matters, or substances. For example, for 100 pieces
of linens 1510 pounds weight, I take 25 pounds by weight of lime, and make
it into a putty, and reduce the consistence by mixing sufficient water therewith.
to cover the goods to be bleached, placing them in a suitable vessel for that
purpose; I then proceed to boil for about 12 hours, and wash them; I then take
from 12 to 14 pounds more lime made into a putty and from 18 to 20 pounds

page_text: of common salt, which I mix with as much hot water as will dissolve it;
I then add thereto about 2 quarts of treacle, and from 4 to 5 pounds of soft soap;
the whole of the above ingredients when thoroughly mixed together are
placed in a vessel and boiled; I then pack in the goods (previously boiled),
using as much water as will cover them, and boil for 8 or 10 hours in a
covered vessel, and if necessary give another boil of the same strength,
When the goods are dipped or "liquored" I scald with the same liquid or
composition above described, but mix a quantity of it in the same proportions
in a separate vessel, and after it is boiled leave it to settle until all the sediment
is thrown down; then proceed to scald the goods with one-half of the quantity
used to boil with, and continue until the goods are white.
And I would here remark that the principal feature of novelty in this
Invention consists in mixing lime with salt in lieu of soda ash as commonly
practised for bleaching vegetable fibres. If the goods are required to be
printed I leave out the soft soap in the bleaching composition.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Graham in tlie Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
GRAHAM, of Banford, Gilford, County Down, Ireland, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of June, 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 James Graham, Her special licence that I, the said James Graham
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
James Graham, 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 "AN IMPROVED MIXTURE
OR COMPOSITION FOR BLEACHING VEGETABLE FIBRES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Graham, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,

page_text: 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 James Graham, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-
i
This Invention consists in dispensing with the use of soda ash as commonly
practised in bleaching vegetable fibres, and in substituting in lieu thereof the
following ingredients, matters, or substances. For example, for 100 pieces of
linens 1510 pounds weight, I take 25 pounds by weight of lime, and make it
into a putty, and reduce the consistence by mixing sufficient water therewith
to cover the goods to be bleached, placing them in a suitable vessel for that
purpose; I then proceed to boil for about 12 hours, and wash them I then
take from 12 to 14 pounds more lime made into a putty, and from 18 to 20
pounds of common salt, which I mix with as much hot water as will dissolve
it; I then add thereto about 2 quarts of treacle, and from 4 to 5 pounds of
soft soap; the whole of the above ingredients when thoroughly mixed together
are placed in a vessel and boiled; I then pack in the goods (previously boiled),
using as much water as will cover them, and boil for 8 or 10 hours in a covered
vessel, and if necessary give another boil of the same strength. When the goods
are dipped or "liquored" I scald with the same liquid or composition above
described, but mix a quantity of it in the same proportions in a separate vessel,
aud after it is boiled leave it to settle until all the sediment is thrown down,
then proceed to scald the goods with one-half of the quantity used to boil with,
and continue until the goods are white, using the liquor or dip in the
process.
And I would here remark that the principal feature of novelty in this.
Invention consists in mixing lime with salt in lieu of soda ash as commonly
practised for bleaching vegetable fibres. If the goods are required to be.
printed I leave out the soft soap in the bleaching composition.
And in order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, as follows:-

page_text: medium color, and 100 pounds for dark goods; mix the lime with water to the
consistence of putty, and reduce it similar to whitewash, winch the goods
through this mixture cold, and pack them into the pot; then add thereto as
much
water as will cover the goods; boil for about 12 hours in a close
pot, wash, turn hank, and wash again; or if you choose add 28 pounds by
weight of the salt of commerce with the lime, but if you use salt a smaller
quantity of lime will do according to the judgment of the bleacher; as a
general rule I have found from 25 pounds to 2 hundredweight answer well
for every 2250 pounds weight of the goods to be bleached.
Example 2nd. Take 25 pounds by weight of lime, make it into a putty,
reduced similar to whitewash, and strain it; then fill up the pot containing the
goods to be bleached with as much water as will cover them; then dissolve
about six pounds by weight of soft soap in the water, add thereto about 25 pounds
of common salt, dissolved and mixed with about 2 quarts of treacle, then add
the lime thereto, and bring all to the boil for 8 or 10 hours in a covered pot, and
wash twice after the boil; you may then place the goods on the grass in winter
time or dark weather, but on no account in hot or summer weather unless
you first seald the goods with a solution of about 42 pounds weight of soda
ash before sending them into the field.
Example 3rd. Boil with half the quantity of the last-mentioned mixture
and wash well; the goods should then be ready for the dip, or instead of this
the goods may be scalded with about 28 pounds of the soda ash; use alkaline
liquor for the first dip, and lime liquor for the second dip, and treat the goods
in the ordinary way of bleaching, but in the after work scald slightly either
with a mixture of lime and salt made in the same proportion as for the second
boil, but left to settle so that all the sediment may be removed and the clear
liquor be used, or use a small quantity of soda crystals, say about 30 pounds,
in lieu of soda ash. If the goods are intended for printing leave out the
black soap and use a little more treacle.
By the use of the foregoing mixtures or compositions all classes of linen
goods can be bleached without using soda ash for that purpose, the lime and
salt acting powerfully on heavy goods or sheetings. The foregoing mixtures
are also well adapted for bleaching damasks, diapers, and all kinds of linens,
unions, and cotton goods.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention for "An Improved Mixture or Composition for Bleaching Vegetable
Fibres," together with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I hereby declare

page_text: my Invention to consist in and I claim as follows:-I claim mixing salt
treacle, and lime with black soap so as to form a mixture or composition
suitable for bleaching vegetable fibres as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Graham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Present,
WILLIAM M. CAULEY,
Manager,
Banford Green,
Gilford,
Dec. 6th, 1867.
JAMES GRAHAM. (L.S.)
Banford, Gilford,
Co. Down,
Dec. 6th, 1867.