IMPROVEMENTS IN RENDERING FABRICS AND LEATHER WATERPROOF
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
NICHOLAS RAPER, of Bridge Street, Blackfriars, in the City of London,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twentieth day of July, in the third year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Nicholas Raper, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Thomas Nicholas Raper, my exors, admors, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Nicholas Raper, my exors, adiñors, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RENDERING
FABRICS AND LEATHER WATERPROOF;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
proviso, that I, the said Thomas Nicholas Raper, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery, within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas. Nicholas Raper, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly

page_text: described and ascertamed in and by the wing statemen
to say):-
My improvements in rendering fabrics and leather waterproof, without
obstructing air or perspiration or imparting any unpleasant odour, consists of
a mode of waterproofing fabrics and leather as hereafter described.
First, I prepare, in the following proportions, a fluid of one ounce of good
gelatine to one quart of hot water and a drachm and and half of carbonate of
ammonia or half a drachm of pure liquid ammonia.
Secondly, I prepare a concentrated solution of sulphate of soda, or of sulphate
of potash, or of sulphate of ammonia, or of phosphate of soda.
Thirdly, I prepare a concentrated solution of acetate of lead.
Fourthly, I prepare the following liquor for a bath :-I triturate four pounds
of fullers' earth with half a pound of camphor in powder, and gradually stir
these into forty gallons of pure or distilled water, and before the precipitation
of the fine particles I draw off the liquor into a suitable vessel. The fabric
to be waterproof I immerse in the first fluid composition and dry it, and then
I again immerse it in the second fluid or solution, and after a suitable time
I remove it into the third fluid or solution, and from thence into the fourth
composition or bath, where I recommend it to be kept immersed for some time
and then properly washed, and then dryed, and afterwards dressed and pressed,
as cloth dressers finish their cloths or fabrics.
From the foregoing description, aided by a little practice, the workman will
readily be able to perform this Invention, notwithstanding the varying nature
of the different fabrics he has to operate on. And I would remark, that
although I have been particular in thus describing the quantities of the
various materials used, I do not confine myself thereto, nor to the salts above
mentioned, tho' I believe them to be the best for the purpose. And I
would also remark, that although I recommend the using of the four liquors,
it should be understood that the first and the fourth may be dispensed with,
and yet produce a beneficial result in waterproofing fabrics and leather, I do
not, therefore, confine my Patent to the using all the four liquors, though I
prefer to do so, the object of the Invention being to produce an insoluble
compound in the fabrics or leather operated on by the employment of suitable
salts.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Nicholas Raper have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of
THOMAS (L.S.) RAPER.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of January, in
the year of our Lord 1840, the aforesaid Thomas Nicholas Raper came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty.