THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE OR OTHER FABRICS OR MATERIALS COATED OR COVERED WITH XYLONITE, PYROXYLINE OR SIMILAR SUBSTANCES; WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES VARIOUS ARTICLES MADE WITH THE SAID MATERIALS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1883

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake; of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings London for an Invention
of "THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE OR OTHER FABRICS OR MATERIALS
COATED OR COVERED WITH XYLONITE, PYROXYLINE OR SIMILAR SUBSTANCES;
WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES VARIOUS ARTICLES MADE WITH THE SAID
MATERIALS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN SUCH MANUFACTURE" cominunicated
to him from abroad by Jarvis Bonesteel Edson, of Adams, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Manufacturer
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE OR OTHER
FABRICS OR MATERIALS COATED OR COVERED WITH XYLONITE, PYROXYLINE OR
SIMILAR SUBSTANCES WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES VARIOUS ARTICLES MADE
WITH THE SAID MATERIALS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN SUCH MANUFACTURE 33
[A communication to him from abroad by Jarvis Bonesteel Edson, of Adams,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer]
--
This invention relates to the manufacture of improved materials which consist
of a suitable base such as cloth or other textile fabric wood, or paper, coated with,
xylonite, pyroxyline or its equivalent.
The said invention comprises the various methods or processes as hereinafter
described and apparatus for use in connection therewith.
It also comprises various articles made from the said materials.
According to the said invention the xylonite or similar substance is formed into
a very thin sheet by the operation of cutting, as in the process of making veneer.
The said thin sheet and the material to be coated are then simultaneously passed.
through a pair of pressure rollers or similar gradually approaching surfaces, one
surface of the said thin sheet being treated with a solvent thereof immediately
previous to being passed between the gradually approaching surfaces so as to cause.
the said thin sheet to stick or adhere to the surface to be coated, while under
LD.
077
;

page_text: pressure, as will hereinafter appear. Or in other words after the sheet of xylonite
is formed say from two to five one thousandths of an inch in thickness (either
continuously as a roll or in sheets as they may be sliced from a body or mass of
the same, as in the process of planing,) one. end of the sheet is introduced between
a pair of pressure rollers or similar advancing surfaces simultaneously with the
piece of fabric, such as cloth or other textile material or leather, or thin sheets of
wood, or any substance that it is desirable to have coated, and which exists in sheets.
Immediately before starting the rolls a sufficient quantity of a solvent as collodion
is introduced either by a brush or any suitable applying device, or a roll or a tube
with jets between the two surfaces, so that as the rolls begin to revolve or the
pressure advances the said solvent will be compressed between the two surfaces of
material. The surplus of the fluid or solvent is forced back or prevented from
passing through on account of the close contact between the rolls, or the pressure
upon the substances so combined. The result of this action is that the solvent
applied upon the surface of the xylonite or similar substance slightly dissolves the
thin sheet without injuring the opposite surface, and allows the surface of the thin
sheet to be forced into the interstices or between the fibres of the fabric upon
which it is held or pressed by the action of the rolls or their equivalents, a perfect
union between the two surfaces is thus caused.
By making the sheet of xylonite exceedingly thin, say two to four one thousandths
of an inch and laying it upon figured fabrics, such as linen stuffs, woven with
figures the said fabrics may be coated without destroying the effect of the figures,
and at the same time form a surface which is absolutely impervious to water, I
thereby produce a water proof fabric which may be used for wearing apparel or
for table covers or cuffs and collars and other purposes which articles may be
washed with soap and water when desired. It is preferable that one of the rolls
or pressing surfaces should be made of india rubber so as to have a slightly
yielding action in order not to destroy the figures upon the woven fabric.
It is evident that both sides of the material may be covered, or that both sides
may be finished as desired for any purpose whatever, either simultaneously or at
separate operations, and from such sheets any articles may be cut by dies or other
convenient means.
When collars or cuffs are to be made from the improved material I first form a
suitable base to give the requisite body and strength. I next apply to one or both
sides of the base a thin sheet of the xylonite or its equivalent and thus punch,
crease, indent and fold the desired article from the same.
Owing to the fact that a collar or cuff to retain its strength must posses a certain
thickness as well as stiffness and in order to use the thinnest sheet of the xylonite
possible on account of its costiliness consistent with a proper surface, I manufacture
what I term a "base" by first making a strong quality of white and suitably thick
paper in long lengths, after which I attach with a paste to one or both of its sides,
a suitable quality of muslin and then dry and calendar the said base, so as to
produce a smooth; strong and stiff fabric, taking special care to remove by scraping
and brushing such of the combining paste as has worked through to the outer
surface of the muslin,
It is not absolutely necessary that the paper shall be made first as a separate
operation. As I have obtained good results by passing the muslin through a paper
pulping machine, depositing the pulp thereon and making the paper directly upon
and in combination with the muslin fabric. While however I prefer the former
process of making the base that is, making the paper first as a separate step I may
substitute therefor a strong paper having united with it during its nearly
completed state an additional long fibre which shall differ in length from that of
which the bulk of the paper has been made I thereby produce a base of sufficiently
strong texture and thickness as to entirely avoid the necessity of using any muslin
at all.
Having thus constructed a paper base I take the said base and a roll of sheet
xylonite or similar pyroxyline compound in sheet form cut say four one thousandths

page_text: of an inch thick and pass both through mechanism such as I have above described for
slightly dissolving the surface of the xylonite and uniting it to the base by pressure
which pressure so imbeds the xylonite into the interstices of the muslin assuming
the base to be muslin, as to produce a surface quite equal in appearance to that of
the muslin. The xylonite and base when so treated and dried forms a fabric say
about seventeen one thousandths of an inch thick possessing superiority over
similar fabric heretofore produced as to stiffness, durability, strength and muslin
like surface, and supplying a fabric which admits of being worked up into various
collars and cuffs by the machinery now employed on paper goods without any
modification or special requirements for heating or moulding the same whatever.
The said collars and cuffs cannot be softened or caused to melt by the moisture or
perspiration of the body even in the hottest weather and when slightly soiled on
their xylonite surface can be easily sponged with soap and water so as to prevent
the same appearance as a new article.
"
When, as in some forms of goods it is desirable to cover both surfaces of the
'base" with the xylonite ot its equivalent I either make the " base" with the
muslin applied to both sides of the paper or to one side only, the difference being,
that when both sides of the "base" have xylonite surfaces while the base itself
has only one surface of muslin, there will result a fabric in which the muslin like
surface of the xylonite only obtains on one side, so that as in a standing collar, for
instance, one side only will appear like muslin, while the remaining side which
would be next to the wearer will be smooth. When however it is desirable to use
a "base" having one muslin and one paper side and to cover both sides of the base
with the xylonite and still show a muslin surface on both sides; then by passing
the muslin fabric through an engraved roll or against a roll covered with muslin I
obtain a fair representation of the muslin surface desired.
The last method is necessary in constructing a fabric with one layer of paper
and one of muslin out of which it is desired to make a cheap grade of reversible,
xylonite coated, turn-down collar having a correct linen impress on one side and an
imitation linen surface on the other.
The operation consists in taking any of the fabrics described, say, in rolls of a
hundred yards, or more and of say, thirty-six inches in width and feeding the same
through the ordinary machinery (the same as now used for making collars and cuffs
from paper) whether done in stages or at one complete operation as by some of the
mechanism now in use. After the article has been thus formed nothing requires to
be done but to pass the blank through the rolling machine exactly the same as now
practised in treating paper-stock for the manufacture of similar articles unaided by
any extra heating or manipulation, cementing, polishing, or other treatment and
producing with great rapidity perfect results, notwithstanding the fact that
ordinarily such plastic substance cannot be permanently bent and shaped and set
without breaking or causing injury to the same unless they be heated or rendered
plastic and then cooled in such new form.
In producing an article resembling patent leather I take a sheet of leather such
as is technically called "splits" or those which are formed from the sides of
leather which have been subjected to the splitting process and apply thereto a thin
sheet of xylonite or similar substance of a proper color in the manner, and by the
means, above described subjecting the xylonite and leather to a pressure say of
two hundred pounds more or less and for a period sufficient to pass a sheet of say
three feet wide and six feet in length between the rolls of twelve or fifteen inches
in diameter revolved at a speed of about three revolutions per minute, I then
partially dissolve the exterior surface of the xylonite by applying thereto by the
means above described, a solvent such as collodion, and progressively pass the
combined sheets between the pair of rolls or compressing surfaces in contact with
a plate of glass or other similar surface under a pressure of say one to two hundred
pounds the rolls of the diameter above stated being revolved at a speed of say
three revolutions per minute. When the combined sheet has emerged from between

page_text: the rolls, the exterior surface of the xylonite will be found to be as finely polished
as the surface against which it has been compressed.
A convex surface beginning at the centre of the split and gradually extending
out to each end, in the case of such articles as are formed from sides of leather, will
be found to be the preferable method of applying the pressure. The pressure will
be the same as when the rolls are used.
To form imitations of goat pebble the same steps are followed as in the production
of patent leather, except that the pressure in the first instance is say one hundred
pounds and the revolutions very slow as indicated and in the second instance the
pressure is say two hundred pounds and number of revolutions say about three
per minute. The same is true in the production of imitation French calf, the
pressure in the first instance being say one hundred pounds and the number of
revolutions say one or less and in the second instance the pressure will be say two
or three hundred pounds and the number of revolutions say three or more.
production of imitation alligator, the same steps are followed, the pressure in the
first instance being say one hundred pounds and the number of revolutions of
the rolls say two or three per minute and in the second instance the pressure is
say two or three hundred pounds and the number of revolutions say three or four
per minute.
In the
The above pressures and the length of time of applying them are given as
illustrations but any departure therefrom producing the same result will be within
the scope and spirit of my invention.
In constructing apparatus for carrying out this invention I provide a pair of
rolls one or both of which may be of india rubber or some suitable elastic substance,
so that a plate of glass may be passed between them without fracture. A sheet of
the xylonite or similar substance may be fed from one roll and onto a receiving
roll, or other receiver. A distributing device is used which may be a roller or it
may be a tube with jets to distribute some solvent as collodion, upon the surface of
the sheet of xylonite and immediately before its contact with the polishing plate
which is preferably a plate of glass, as at present it seems to be the best material
which I have found for the purpose, and which when passed between a pair of rolls
in contact with the said partially dissolved surface of the sheet of xylonite has the
effect as the pressure advances of expelling the air from the composition and at the
same time so compressing and finishing the surface as to make it as smooth as
the glass with which it has been in contact.
Instead of a plate of glass a cylinder of glass mounted between the rolls may be
used so that the operation may be performed continuously as would be required
where long sheets of the xylonite were formed as in a web.
It is evident that if figures or designs of any kind be formed either on the plate
or cylinder of glass as by the process of engraving or etching corresponding figures
will also be formed on the surface of the xylonite sheet so that any desired
ornamentation may be produced at the same time that the surface is being finished
or polished. It is evident that vitrified surfaces mounted upon plates of metal
may be used in place of the polishing plate or cylinder and it may be possible by
some process or by electro-plating, or in some other manner, to finish plates of
metal so that their surfaces may be as highly polished as plates of glass in which
case they could be used in the same manner but the essence of the invention
consists in compressing the partially dissolved surface of a sheet of xylonite or a
similar substance in contact with a highly polished surface for the purpose of
expelling the air and so compressing the surface as to give it a highly finished or
polished condition.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake, in the. Patent Office on the 26th May
1884.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE OR OTHER
FABRICS OR MATERIALS COATED OR COVERED WITH XYLONITE, PYROXYLINE, OR
SIMILAR SUBSTANCES WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES "VARIOUS ARTICLES MADE
WITH THE SAID MATERIALS, AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN SUCH MANUFACTURE"
A communication to me from abroad by Jarvis Bonesteel Edson, of Adams,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer.
This invention relates to the manufacture of improved materials which consist of
a suitable base such as cloth or other textile fabric, wood, or paper coated with
xylonite, pyroxyline or its equivalent.
The said invention comprises the various methods or processes as hereinafter
described, and apparatus for use in connection therewith
す
It also comprises various articles made from the said material
According to the said invention the xylonite or similar substance is formed into:
a very thin sheet by the operation of cutting as in the process of making veneer.
The said thin sheet and the material to be coated are then simultaneously passed
through a pair of pressure rollers or similar gradually approaching surfaces, one.
surface of the said thin sheet being treated with a solvent thereof, immediately
previous to being passed between the gradually approaching surfaces, so as to cause
the said thin sheet to stick or adhere to the surface to be coated; while under
pressure as will hereinafter appear. Or in other words, after the sheet of xylonite
is formed, say from two to five thousandths of an inch in thickness (either
continuously as a roll, or in sheets as they may be sliced from a body or mass of the
same, as in the process of planing) one end of the said sheet is introduced between
a pair of pressure rollers or similar advancing surfaces, simultaneously with the
piece of fabric, such as cloth or other textile material or leather, or thin sheets of
wood or any substance that it is desirable to have coated, and which exists in
sheets. Immediately before starting the rolls a sufficient quantity of a solvent, as
collodion is introduced, either by a brush or any suitable applying device, as a roll
or a tube with jets, between the two surfaces, so that as the rolls begin to revolve
or the pressure advances the said solvent will be compressed between the two
surfaces of material. The surplus of the fluid or solvent is forced back or prevented
from passing through on account of the close contact between the rolls, or the
pressure upon the substances so combined.
The result of this action is that the solvent applied upon the surface of the
xylonite or similar substance slightly dissolves the thin sheet, without injuring the
opposite surface, and allows the surface of the thin sheet to be forced into the
interstices or between the fibres of the fabric upon which it is held or pressed by
the action of the rolls or their equivalents; a perfect union between the two
surfaces is thus caused
By making the sheet of xylonite exceedingly thin say two to four thousandths
of an inch, and laying it upon figured fabrics, such as linen stuffs, woven with
figures, the said fabrics may be coated without destroying the effect of the figures,
and at the same time form a surface which is absolutely impervious to water. I
thereby produce a water proof fabric, which may be used for wearing apparel, or
for table covers or cuffs and collars and other purposes, which articles may be.

page_text: washed with soap and water when desired. It is preferable that in this case one of
the rolls or pressing surfaces should be made of india-rubber, so as to have a
slightly yielding action, in order not to destroy the figures upon the woven
fabric.
It is evident that both sides of the material may be covered, or that both sides
may be finished as desired for any purpose whatever, either simultaneously or at
separate operations, and from such sheets any articles may be cut by dies or other
convenient means
. When collars or cuffs are to be made from the improved material I first form a
suitable base to give the requisite body and strength. I next apply to one or both
sides of the base a thin sheet of the xylonite or its equivalent and then punch,
crease indent and fold the desired article from the same
Owing to the fact that a collar or cuff to retain its strength must possess a
certain thickness as well as stiffness and in order to use the thinnest sheet of the
xylonite possible, on account of its costliness, consistent with a proper surface, I
manufacture what I term a "base" by first making a strong quality of white and
suitably thick paper in long lengths, after which I attach with a paste to one or
both of its sides a suitable quanlity of muslin, and then dry and calender the said
base so as to produce a smooth, strong and stiff fabric, taking special care to
remove by scraping and brushing such of the combining paste as has worked
through to the outer surface of the muslin.
It is not absolutely necessary that the paper should be made first as a separate
operation, as I have obtained good results by passing the muslin through a paper
pulping machine depositing the pulp thereon and making the paper directly upon
and in combination with the muslin fabric. While however I prefer the former
process of making the base, that is, making the paper first as a separate step, I do
not limit myself thereto as I may use either method or I may substitute therefor a
strong paper having united with it during its nearly completed state an additional
long fibre which shall differ in length from that of which the bulk of the paper
has been made.. I thereby produce a base of sufficiently strong texture and thickness
as to entirely avoid the necessity of using any muslin at all.
one
Having thus constructed a paper base. I take the said base and a roll of sheet
xylonite or similar pyroxyline compound in sheet form, cut say, four
thousandths of an inch thick and pass both through mechanism such as I have
above described for slightly dissolving the surface of the xylonite and uniting it to
the base by pressure, which pressure so imbeds the xylonite into the interstices of
the muslin (assuming the base to be muslin) as to produce a surface quite equal in
appearance to that of the muslin. The xylonite and base when so treated and
dried form a fabric say about seventeen thousandths of an inch thick, possessing
superiority over similar fabric heretofore produced, as to stiffness, durability,
strength and muslin like surface, and supplying a fabric which admits of being
worked up into collars and cuffs by the machinery now employed on paper goods
without any modification or special requirements for heating or moulding the same
whatever. The said collars and cuffs cannot be softened or caused to wilt by the
moisture or perspiration of the body even in the hottest weather and when slightly
soiled on their xylonite surface can be easily sponged with soap and water so as to
present the same appearance as a new article.
"
base" with
When, as in some forms of goods, it is desirable to cover both surfaces of the
"base" with the xylonite or its equivalent, I either make the
the muslin applied to both sides of the paper or to one side only, the difference
being that when both sides of the "base" have xylonite surfaces while the base
itself has only one surface of muslin, there will result a fabric in which the muslin-
like surface to the xylonite only obtains on one side, so that, as in a standing
collar, for instance, one side only will appear like muslin, while the remaining
side which would be next to the wearer will be smooth. When, however, it is
desirable, to use a "base" having one muslin and one paper side and to cover both
Bides of the base with the xylonite, and still show a muslin surface on both sides ;

page_text: then by passing the muslin fabric through an engraved roll or against a roll
covered with muslin I obtain a fair representation of the muslin surface desired.
The last method is necessary in constructing a fabric with one layer of paper
and one of muslin out of which it is desired to make a cheap grade of reversible
xylonite coated, turn-down collar having a correct linen impress on one side and
an imitation linen surface on the other.
The next operation consists in taking any of the fabrics described, say, in rolls
of a hundred yards, or more, and of say, thirty-six inches in width, and feeding
the same through the ordinary machinery the same as now used for making collars
and cuffs from paper, whether done in stages or at one complete operation, as by
some of the mechanism now in use. After the article has been thus formed.
nothing requires to be done but to pass the blank through the rolling machine,
exactly the same as now practiced in treating paper stock for the manufacture of
similar articles unaided by any extra heating or manipulation, cementing polishing
or other treatment and producing with great rapidity perfect results, notwith-
standing the fact that ordinarily such plastic substance cannot be permanently
bent and shaped and set without breaking or causing injury to the same, unless
they be heated or rendered plastic and then cooled in such new form.
In producing an article resembling patent leather I take a sheet of leather such
as is technically called "splits," or those which are formed from the sides of leather
which have been subjected to the splitting process, and apply thereto a thin sheet
of xylonite or similar substance of a proper color in the manner and by the means
above described, subjecting the xylonite and leather to a pressure say of two
hundred pounds more or less and for a period sufficient to pass a sheet of say three
feet wide and six feet in length between the rolls of twelve or fifteen inches in
diameter revolved at a speed of about three revolutions per minute I then partially.
dissolve the exterior surface of the xylonite by applying thereto by the means
above described, a solvent, such as collodion, and progressively pass the combined.
sheets between the pair of rolls or compressing surfaces in contact with a plate of
glass or other similar surface under a pressure of say one to two hundred pounds
the rolls of the diameter above stated being revolved at a speed of say three
revolutions per minute. When the combined sheet has emerged from between the
rolls the exterior surface of the xylonite will be found to be as finely polished as
the surface against which it has been compressed.
A convex surface, beginning at the centre of the split and gradually extending
out to each .end, in the case of such articles as are formed from sides of leather,
will be found to be the preferable method of applying the pressure. The pressure
will be the same as when the rolls are used.
To form imitations of goat pebble, the same steps are followed as in the
production of patent leather, except that the pressure in the first instance is say
one hundred pounds and the revolutions very slow as indicated; and in the second
instance the pressure is say two hundred pounds and number of revolutions say.
about three per minute. The same is true in the production of imitation French
calf, the pressure in the first instance being say one hundred pounds and the
number of revolutions say one or less and in the second instance the pressure will
be say two or three hundred pounds and the number of revolutions say three or
more.
In the production of imitation alligator, the same steps are followed, the pressure
in the first instance being say one hundred pounds and the number of revolutions.
of the rolls say two or three per minute and in the second instance the pressure is
say two or three hundred pounds and the number of revolutions say three or four
per minute.
The above pressures and the length of time of applying them are given as
illustrations and may be varied without departing from the nature of this
invention
The apparatus which I prefer to employ for carrying this invention into practice
is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which

page_text: Figure 1 is a view of a pair of pressure rolls between which is represented a
sheet of the material to be polished and the polishing plate.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the rolls, but with the polishing surface made in a
cylindrical form so as to be continuous in its operation, instead of intermittent as
in Figure 1.
J.
A, B indicate a pair of rolls, one or both of which may be of india rubber or
some suitable elastic substance, so that a plate of glass may be passed between
them without fracture.
C indicates a sheet of the xylonite or similar substance, which may be fed from
a roll, D, and on to a receiving roll H or other suitable receiver
E indicates a distributing device which is provided with a roller or a tube with
jets as shown to distribute some solvent, as collodion, upon the surface of the sheet
of xylonite, and immediately before its contact with the polishing plate F which is
preferably a plate of glass, as at present it seems to be the best material which I
have found for the purpose, and which when passed between a pair of rolls in
contact with the said partially dissolved surface of the sheet of xylonite, has the
effect, as the pressure advances, of expelling the air from the composition, and at
the same time so compressing and finishing the surface as to make it as smooth as
the glass with which it has been in contact
In Figure 2 the same combination of devices is used except that instead of a
plate of glass a cylinder G of glass is mounted between the rolls so that the
operation may be performed continuously, as would be required where long sheets
of the xylonite were formed as in a web.
It is evident that if Figures or designs of any kind be formed, either on the
plate or cylinder of glass, as by the process of engraving or etching, corre-
sponding Figures will also be formed on the surface of the xylonite sheet, so
that any desired ornamentation may be produced at the same time that the surface
is being finished or polished. It is evident that vitrified surfaces, mounted upon
plates of metal, may be used in place of the plate F or cylinder G, and it may be
possible by some process, or by electro-plating or in some other manner, to
finish plates of metal so that their surfaces may be as highly polished as plates of
glass, in which case they could be used in the same manner, but the essence of the
invention consists in compressing the partially dissolved surface of a sheet of
xylonite or a similar substance in contact with a highly polished surface for the
purpose of expelling the air and so compressing the surface as to give it a highly
finished or polished condition
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim
First The method herein described of coating substances with xylonite or its
pyroxyline equivalent, which method consists in introducing a thin sheet of the
xylonite and a sheet of the material to be coated between gradually advancing
surfaces, slightly dissolving the contact side of the xylonite and then compressing
the sheets between the gradually advancing surfaces, substantially as described.
Second The method herein described of coating substances with xylonite or its
pyroxyline equivalent, which method consists in introducing a thin sheet of the
xylonite and a sheet of the material to be coated between gradually advancing
surfaces, then introducing a solvent between the two sheets to slightly dissolve the
surface of the xylonite and then immediately compressing the sheets between the
gradually advancing surfaces to disseminate the surplus solvent and unite the two
sheets, substantially as described
Third The method herein described of coating substances with xylonite or its
pyroxyline equivalent, which method consists in introducing a thin sheet of the
xylonite and a sheet of the material to be coated between gradually advancing
surfaces one of which is yielding, then introducing a solvent between the two
sheets to slightly dissolve the surface of the xylonite, and then 'immediately'

page_text: compressing the sheets between gradually advancing surfaces to disseminate the
surplus solvent and unite the two sheets, substantially as described.
Fourth A sheet of fabric such as cloth or other material coated on one or both
sides with thin sheets of xylonite or its equivalent through the medium of an
interposed solvent, substantially as described.
Fifth The process of producing a fabric from which collars and cuffs and other
articles may be formed, consisting in softening the contact side of a sheet of
xylonite or its pyroxyline equivalent and uniting it by pressure to the side of a
paper base, substantially as described.
Sixth The process of producing a fabric from which collars and cuffs and other
articles may be formed, consisting in forming a base by combining paper, and a
textile fabric and then softening the contact side of a sheet of xylonite or its
pyroxyline equivalent and uniting it to the base by pressure, substantially as
described
Seventh The process of producing a fabric from which collars and cuffs and
other articles may be formed, consisting in forming a base by combining paper and
a textile fabric, and then softening the contact side of a sheet of xylonite or its
pyroxyline equivalent and uniting it to the base by pressure and indenting the
surface of the xylonite to imitate muslin or linen, substantially as described.
Eighth The process of producing a fabric from which collars and cuffs and other
articles may be formed, consisting in forming a base by combining paper and a
textile fabric, then softening the contact side of a sheet of xylonite or its pyroxyline
equivalent and by pressure uniting a sheet thereof to each side of the base, indenting
one sheet of the xylonite with the textile fabric of the base and the other sheet to
imitate muslin or linen, substantially as described.
Ninth A fabric from which collars and cuffs and other articles may be made,
composed of a paper base with a thin sheet of xylonite or its pyroxyline equivalent
secured to its side by a solvent of the xylonite or its equivalent, substantially as
described.
Tenth. A fabric from which collars, cuffs and other articles may be made,
composed of a base of paper and a textile fabric with a thin sheet of xylonite or
its pyroxyline equivalent cemented to one or both sides thereof with a solvent of
the xylonite interposed between it and the base, substantially as described
Eleventh. A collar, cuff or other article of like character composed of a base of
paper and a textile fabric with a thin sheet of xylonite or its pyroxyline equivalent
cemented to one or both sides thereof by a solvent of the xylopite interposed
between it and the base and having one or both sides indented to imitate linen or
muslin, substantially as described
Twelfth. The method of making an imitation leather, consisting in partially
dissolving the surface of a sheet of xylonite or similar pyroxyline substance by a
suitable solvent; applying the said sheet to the material forming the base with the
partially dissolved side of the sheet next thereto, and applying pressure to expel the
surplus solvent and air and cause an intimate union of the base and sheet of
xylonite, substantially as described
Thirteenth. The method of making imitation leather, consisting in partially
dissolving the surface of a sheet of xylonite or similar pyroxyline substance and
subsequently uniting said partially dissolved surface to the material forming the
base, and partially dissolving the exterior surface of the sheet of xylonite and
compressing the partially dissolved surface next to a material having a highly
polished surface, substantially as described.
Fourteenth. An imitation leather consisting of a suitable base forming material
having attached to one of its surfaces a thin sheet of xylonite or similar pyroxyline
material having a highly polished surface, Substantially as described.
Fifteenth. The within described process of polishing sheets of xylonite or similar
substances, by first slightly dissolving their surfaces by any of the well known
solvents for such purpose, and then subjecting the same to pressure, with the slightly

page_text: dissolved surface in contact with the surface of a highly polished substance, such
as glass, in the manner set forth and for the purpose specified
Sixteenth. The combination of a pair of compressing rolls, adapted for receiving
a sheet of xylonite or similar pyroxyline substance, a distributing device for
applying the solvent and a polishing plate, substantially as described.
Seventeenth. The combination of the pressure rolls and a polishing cylinder
interposed between the same, for the purpose of forming a continuous polished
surface upon a plastic substance, substantially as described
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty second day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.