IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND EMPLOYING CONTINUOUS LENGTHS OF TANNED LEATHER FOR VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hurn and Daniel Hurn, of Norwich, in the
County of Norfolk, Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OBTAINING AND EMPLOYING CONTINUOUS LENGTHS OF TANNED LEATHER FOR
VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 27th February 1866, and dated the 23rd December 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hurn and
Daniel Hurn at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Pétition, on the 23rd December 1865.
We, GEORGE HURN and DANIEL HURN, of Norwich, in the County of
Norfolk, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND EMPLOYING CONTINUOUS LENGTHS OF TANNED
LEATHER FOR VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows (that is to say):
Our Invention has reference to the manufacture of leather into continuous
lengths for weaving, plaiting, twisting, braiding, or for forming into webs,
or for other purposes, such as for driving bands of various descriptions,
webs or webbing, ropes, cords, twines or lines, "laid or otherwise," bed
mats, sackings, baskets, packing cases, hampers, reins or bridles for riding
or driving, in lengths without joins, halters, head stalls, traces, panels and
splashers for basket and other carriages, as also for hats, caps, or bonnets,
game bags, nose bags for horses, either with or without seams, reticules,
nets, or netting for cattle, aviaries, or fishing, hassocks, blind cords, or sash
Dine d

page_text: lines, window and sun blinds, corn, coal, and seed sacks, bags, sieves,
strainers, coverings for railway and other carriages, offices, chairs, sofas,
floorcloth, and carpeting for household and general purposes; and consists
in manufacturing the said continuous lengths out of tanned skins or hides
in one piece, in an oval or helical form, cut to or from the centre of the
said hide, into strips or bands in lengths varying from one to two or three
hundred feet, and subsequently passing the same through dyes for rounding
or forming the same into strips, threads, bands, or otherwise suitable for
any or all of the above purposes.
Having selected the prepared skin or hide, and pared or rounded off the
edges or corners, the continuous lengths are cut therefrom by causing the knife
or instrument set to any required guage to traverse the entire surface of the
skin, so as to divide it into an endless piece or coil which is subsequently
submitted to longitudinal, stretching, damping, greasing, or hammering as
may be found necessary for straightening or removing the angles,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Hurn and Daniel Hurn in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
HURN and DANIEL HURN, of Norwich, in the County of Norfolk,
Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said George Hurn and Daniel Hurn, Her special licence that we, the
said George Hurn and Daniel Hurn, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said George Hurn and Daniel Hurn, our
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING
AND EMPLOYING CONTINUOUS LENGTHS OF TANNED LEATHER FOR VARIOUS USEFUL
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said George
Hurn and Daniel Hurn, our executors or administrators, by an instrument

page_text: in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 we, the said George Hurn and Daniel Hurn, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, and the Drawings therein referred to
(that is to say) :-
:
Our Invention has reference to the manufacture of leather into continuous
or endless lengths for weaving, plaiting, twisting, braiding, or forming into
webs, or for driving bands, solid or otherwise, or for other purposes, such as
for ropes, cords, twines, or lines, laid or otherwise, suitable for the tackle for
grass mowers and garden rollers, army picket, artillery, and other traces,
tethering ropes, life buoys, fender and rubber lines, standing and running
rigging, warps, cables, and haulyards for ships and boats, drum cords, lines
for window sashes and shutters of any description, greenhouses and con-
servatories, clock, garden, and measuring lines, bell pulls and ropes for
churches, chapels, public and private buildings, swings, gymnasiums, tight,
slack, and skipping ropes, lines, cords, ropes, or threads for drays, falls,
waggons, carts, harrows, ploughs, tracking, railway sheets, agricultural
purposes, tents, or marquees, as also for submarine and other telegraphic
uses, lacing lines for bedsteads and hammocks, ropes for chests, portmanteaus,
and boxes, hat, cap, bounet, and other packing cases, ropes for ladders and
fire-escapes, leather rope, line, cord, thread, or yarn for working Venetian
or other roller blinds, hanging pictures or otherwise, also for weaving or
plaiting into matting, canvass sails for mills, ships, and boats, stack and rick
cloths, railway and other waterproof coverings, bed sackings, hammocks,
crinolines, skirts, dresses, and petticoats, likewise for endless cords or bands
for spinning wheels, trundles, stay laces, tassels, house furniture, and carriage
trimmings, bed mats, hampers, also for bridles and reins, round or flat, for
riding or driving (in lengths without joins), for harness, aprons for omnibuses,
gigs, carriages, and other vehicles, horse and loin cloths, whips, halters,
bead-stalls, panels, splashers, dashers, and rumbles for gigs, carts, basket and
other carriages, also for hats, caps, or bonnets, game and nose bags, with or
without seams, reticules, nets or netting for game, poultry, sheep, cattle,
aviaries, fishing, racket, cricket, or like purposes, hassocks, sash lines, corn,
coal, seed, and other sacks and bags, screens, cuvers for toilet and other

page_text: tables, drawers, counterpanes or quilts, window and rolling blinds, bed and
window curtains, stockings, drawers, shirts, trousers, coats, jackets, waist-
coats, garters, boots and shoes, flowers and trimmings for hats, caps, bonnets,
dresses and wearing apparel, neckties and scarfs, collars, cuffs, shirt fronts.
fringe, tapestry, bands for hats and caps, dinner and other table mats,
umbrellas, parasols, sun shades, travelling bags, knee wrappers, horse
collars, dog collars, and other descriptions, sieves, strainers, leather hide or
skin coverings ror railway and other carriages, offices, chairs, sofas, lounges,
floorcloth and carpeting for household and general purposes, and consists in
obtaining and employing continuous lengths of leather out of tanned skins
or hides in one piece, of an oval or helical form, cut to or from the centre of
the said skin or hide into strips or bauds in lengths varying from one
hundred to two thousand feet or more, and subsequently passing the same
through dies for rounding or otherwise forming them into strips, threads,
bands, or otherwise suitable for any or all of the above purposes.
Having selected the prepared skin or hide, and pared or rounded off the
edges or corners, the continuous lengths are cut therefrom by causing the
knife or instrument to traverse the entire surface of the skin, so as to
divide it in an endless piece or coil, which is subsequently submitted to a
longitudinal stretching, damping, greasing, or hammering as may be found
necessary for straightening or removing the angles and curves formed by
the cutting.
And in order that our said Invention may be more fully understood and
readily carried into effect, we now proceed to describe it by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures
thereon marked (that is to say) :-
Fig. 1 represents a flat or surface view of a tanned skin or hide partly cut
in the manner employed by us for forming the same into a continuous thread
of leather or of skin for manufacturing and other purposes; Fig. 2, a trans-
verse section thereof taken through the dotted line 1, 1; Figs. 3 and 4
corresponding views shewing the mode of cutting solid endless leather bands
of various widths and dimensions suitable for being rounded or employed as
flat bands for driving machinery and other purposes, as shewn at Figs. 5, 6,
7, and 8; Figs. 9 and 10 similar views representing a hide being cut into
bands of continuous lengths applicable for reins, straps, traces, or otherwise;
Figs. 11 and 12, front and side views of a coil or band of leather cut from the
skin or hide as aforesaid; Figs. 13 and 14, similar corresponding views of a
hank or skein of leather thread cut in like manner to the aforesaid; Figs. 15
and 16, portions of twisted rope, line, or cord, manufactured from our con-

page_text: tinuous lengths of leather of single, double, or compound strands; Figs. 17
and 18, transverse sections thereof; Figs. 19 and 20, front and side views of
plaited or braided leather rope, line, or cord; Figs. 21 and 22, strips of skin
or hide cut in like manner to the foregoing, with the hair, fur, or wool on,
which we purpose employing for any of the various uses to which the same
may be found applicable, such as weaving into mats or matting, twisting into
ropes or otherwise, so as to work the hair, fur, or wool in upon the surface;
Figs. 23 and 24, detailed portions of a square thread of leather cut from the
hide as aforesaid at Fig. 1; Figs. 25 and 26 the same, rounded as at
Figs. 13 and 14, and stained, painted, varnished, or dyed as required for
and Fig. 27 a portion of a woven crinoline skirt. In each Figure the
same letters of reference denote similar corresponding parts.
use,
A, A, skin or hide; B, B, thread formed therefrom by continuously cutting
away the same round from the outer edges thereof towards the centre in a
helix or oval form, as indicated by the arrows, until the whole of the hide in
like manner has been operated upon; C, C, bands of leather formed from the
hide in endless lengths, either flat or rounded, such as for endless cords or
bands for driving machinery or otherwise, the widths of the said bands being
so proportionately regulated to the size and thickness of the hide as to admit.
of the contracted inner edges thereof D, D, when first cut being readily
straightened or removed for running smoothly upon the drum or rigger wheels
as shewn at E, E, Figs. 5 and 6; F, F, rounded leather endless bands for
blind cords or otherwise; G, G, leather strap formed from the hide as repre-
sented by the dotted line H, H, in a continuous length to be employed for
driving reins, traces, and other like purposes; I, I, skein, hank, or ball of
round leather, obtained as above, for being employed for twisting, plaiting,
braiding, or weaving, or for other general purposes; J, J, coiled strap or band
of leather (as described at G, G, Figs. 9 and 10) which has been submitted
to a longitudinal stretching for removing the angles or corners caused by the
form of the hide; K,K, twisted rope, line, or cord formed of leather, either
with or without a core of vegetable or animal fibre, brass, iron, or steel wire,
whalebone, cane, or otherwise; L, L, plaited or braided leather strands;
M, M, strips of skin or hide prepared and cut with the hair, wool, or fur on.
In conclusion to the foregoing description it will be here first necessary to
note that we are aware that hides only have heretofore been run into strips or
lengths by traversing the hide concentrically. against a stationary knife or
cutter, in which case the operation admits only of being conducted within
certain limits, coupled with other disadvantages resulting from the waste of
material; whereas by our improved process and mode of operating upon the

page_text: said hides or skins, we are enabled not only to obtain strips or bands of
greater widths and lengths, but also endless bands in one continuous piece
by simply removing or paring away the rough or extraneous edges of the
hides or skins, and subsequently reducing the whole of the same into
continuous lengths or endless bands as above referred to.
We would again note that upon our improved principle we are enabled to
produce from a single skin or hide a thread of leather of two thousand feet
or more in length in one piece, whereby the various articles herein-before
mentioned may be manufactured without joins, either in combination with
cotton, silk, wool, hair, hemp, and flax of all kinds, or otherwise.
And we would again note that machinery or apparatus of any suitable
description may be employed for cutting or otherwise forming the said con-
tinuous lengths of leather as aforesaid, as also for rounding, dressing, or
coloring the said surfaces, or for twisting, braiding, plating, weaving, or
otherwise manufacturing the said articles before mentioned.
And furthermore, we would note that washleather or 'parchment may be
formed into line cord or thread and employed and manufactured in like
manner and for similar purposes to the leather hide above mentioned,
either as bands for bosses of spinning frames, looms, or otherwise.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried
into effect, we would have it clearly understood that we do not by any means
intend to confine ourselves to the precise details herein-before-set forth and
described, as the same may be otherwise varied without departing from the
general character of these our said improvements; nor do we claim as of our
said Invention the exclusive use of the said substances, combinations, and
processes, except when the same are employed in and for the purposes of
our said Invention, which we hereby declare to consist,-
Firstly, in forming continuous lengths of leather out of tanned skins or
hides, washleather, or parchment, as above described, for manufacturing
purposes.
Secondly, in obtaining endless leather bands cut from the hide in one
piece, as before. described.
Thirdly, in employing the said continuous lengths of leather for weaving,
plaiting, twisting, braiding, or manufacturing into ropes or otherwise,
either plain or in combination with hemp and flax, cotton, silk, wool, or
hair of all kinds, and painted, stained, dyed, varnished, and colored as may
be found necessary, or otherwise ornamented or waterproofed.
Fourthly, and lastly, the 'exclusive right of vending continuous lengths

page_text: of tanned leather thread, rope, line, or cord upon our improved principle
and finish in skeins, balls, hanks, or coils.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Hurn and Daniel Hurn, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Tenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.