Improvements in the Manufacture of Balls for use in Cricket and other like Games.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Balls for use in Cricket and
other like Games.
We, FREDERICK HENRY AYRES, of 111, Aldersgate Street, in the City of
London, Manufacturer, and GEORGE FREDERICK EVANS, of 222, Railton Road,
Herne Hill, in the County of Surrey, Laboratory Assistant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Cricket balls as at present manufactured are made with an internal body or filling
covered with a cover or casing of thick leather which is dyed to the required shade,
generally red, on the exterior surface, but in use the ball becomes cut shewing a
light streak or tear detrimental to its appearance.
According to our invention we employ a leather casing (preferably rendered water-
proof eventually) the dye to which is driven throughout the substance of the leather
to the required extent and of the desired shade of colour, so that the scratches or
cuts in the surface shall not disclose a light streak. This is effected by inducing or
forcing the dye (under pressure or pressure and vacuum if desired) to penetrate
into the body of the leather whilst it is contained in suitable vessels or in suitable
chambers.
We proceed to divide suitable leather such as is adapted for casing cricket balls
into quarters or pieces approximately adapted to form the casing for the ball.
When afterwards sewn together these pieces we pile or stack interposing wet
bran or like matter (damped with water) for say 48 hours covered with a covering
or cloth. The leather is then wiped clean and carefully dried to a sufficient degree.
It is placed in a saturated solution of eosine in methylated spirit or alcohol until the
dye thus prepared has thoroughly saturated the body of the leather or the colouring
matter is drawn or forced throughout the texture thereof by means of pressure or
pressure aided by vacuum suitably applied and then the dyed leather is carefully and
sufficiently dried preferably in the open air.
When nearly dry the leather so dyed is treated by the application of a small
quantity of oxalic acid in solution of a strength approximating to saturation.
The leather may then be suitably rubbed and burnished to heighten its
appearance.
DL 00
1
exc
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Balls for use in Cricket and
other like Games.
We, FREDERICK HENRY AYRES, of 111, Aldersgate Street, in the City of
London, Manufacturer, and GEORGE FREDERICK EVANS, of 222, Railton Road,
Herne Hill, in the County of Surrey, Laboratory Assistant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Cricket balls as at present manufactured are made with an internal body or filling
covered with a cover or casing of thick leather which is dyed to the required shade,
generally red, on the exterior surface, but in use the ball becomes cut shewing a
light streak or tear detrimental to its appearance.
According to our invention we employ a leather casing (preferably rendered
waterproof eventually) the dye to which is driven throughout the substance of the
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page_text: leather to the required extent and of the desired shade of colour, so that the
scratches or cuts in the surface shall not disclose a light streak.
This is effected by inducing or forceing the dye (under pressure, or pressure and
vacuum if desired) to penetrate into the body of the leather whilst it is contained
in suitable vessels or in suitable chambers.
"
We proceed to divide suitable leather such as is adapted for casing cricket balls
into quarters or pieces approximately adapted to form the casing for the ball.
When afterwards sewn together these pieces we pile or stack interposing wet
bran or like matter (damped with water) for say 48 hours covered with a covering
or cloth.
The leather is then wiped clean and carefully dried to a sufficient degree.
It is placed in a saturated solution of eosine in methylated spirit or alcohol until
the dye thus prepared has thoroughly saturated the body of the leather or the
colouring matter is drawn or forced throughout the texture thereof by means of
pressure or pressure aided by vacuum suitably applied and then the dyed leather is
carefully and sufficiently dried preferably in the open air.
When nearly dried the leather so dyed is treated by the application of a small
quantity of oxalic acid in solution of a strength approximating to saturation.
The leather may then be suitably rubbed and burnished to heighten its
appearance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
==
. 1. In the manufacture of balls for use in cricket and other games the employment
of leather casings (preferably eventually rendered waterproof) the dye of which
is induced or forced to penetrate the substance of the leather to the extent and of
the shade of colour required (by means of pressure, or pressure and vacuum, if
desired) as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
2. A ball for use in playing games manufactured as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated the 15th day of December 1890.
ed the lot day of December 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.