AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF LEATHER
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,.
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF LEATHER."—A
communication from abroad by Samuel La Forge, of Cleveland, State
of Ohio, and Joseph Merwin, John Evans Bray, and Asa Goodell Trask;
all of the City of New York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 11th December 1860, and dated the 14th July 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th July 1860.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF
LEATHER," to be as follows:-
This Invention of an improved manufacture of waterproof leather consists-
in producing from the skins of various animals, which are now used for
making "upper leather," in combination with a solution or compound of india-
rubber or gutta percha charged with sulphur, an article of manufacture, which
may with propriety be called "india-rubber leather."
In carrying out the Invention the skin of an animal from which " upper
leather" is usually made, must be taken after it has gone through the tanning

page_text: process; but previous to its being put through the dressing process, and after
having exposed it to a sufficient degree of heat to drive off its fluid particles,
it must be coated with a solution or compound of india-rubber or gutta percha
charged with sulphur; the skin must then be subjected to the usual vul-
canizing process, and the product will be a pliable, soft, and perfectly water-
impervious article, glossy, and in every respect equal to japanned leather
without its liability to crack. This article may be used in the manufacture of
boots, shoes, and all other articles of form or shape; as also in the making of
every kind of article usually made of leather or of india-rubber, or of india-
rubber or gutta percha fabrics.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th January 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said
William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Edward Newton, 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
fawfully 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 MANUFACTURE OF WATERPROOF LEATHER," being a
communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Edward Newton, 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 William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say):-
This Invention of an improved manufacture of waterproof leather consists
in producing from the skins of various animals, which are now used for
making "upper leather," in combination with a solution or compound of india-
rubber or gutta percha charged with sulphur, an article of manufacture, which
may with propriety be called "india-rubber leather."
In carrying out the Invention the skin of an animal, from which " upper
leather" is usually made must be taken after it has gone through the tanning
process; but previous to its being put through the dressing process, and after
having exposed it to a sufficient degree of heat to drive off its fluid particles,
it must be coated with a solution or compound of india-rubber or gutta percha
charged with sulphur. The skin must then be subjected to the usual vul-
canizing process, and the product will be a pliable, soft, and perfectly water-
impervious article, glossy, and in every respect equal to japanned leather,
without its liability to crack. This material may be used in the manufacture
of boots, shoes, and all other articles of form or shape; as also in the making
of every kind of article usually made of leather or of india-rubber, or of india-
rubber or gutta percha fabrics.
Having now described this Invention of "An Improved Manufacture of
Waterproof Leather," and having explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent, as afore-
said, the mode herein set forth of preparing leather or skins.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.B.)