A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEATHER, CLOTH, HORN, TORTOISE-SHELL AND THE LIKE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE
OF MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR USE AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEATHER, CLOTH,
HORN, TORTOISE-SHELL AND THE LIKE a communication from Elkan Bauer, a
person resident at Vienna Empire of Austria, Manufacturer
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1883.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
"A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR USE AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR LEATHER, CLOTH, HORN, TORTOISE SHELL AND THE LIKE"
(a communication from Elkan Bauer a person resident at Vienna, Empire of
Austria Manufacturer,)
This invention relates to the manufacture of material that will not readily burn,
is insoluble in water, and may be produced of various degrees of hardness so as to
serve as a substitute for various substances such as leather, caoutchouc, bone, horn,
tortoise shell, etc, in the manufacture of articles usually made of such substances.
Also material according to this invention may be employed in conjunction with
fabrics to render them water proof and uninflammable.
It is composed of albuminous animal matter such for examples as the albumen
of eggs or the blood (serum) of animals, or gelatine or glue (made of animal refuse,
bones, leather and the like) mixed either by itself or in combination with vegetable
gluten or gum with glycerine and fat or oil. In some cases also a solution of
caoutchouc is added.
The mode of preparing material according to this invention depends upon the
substances employed in its manufacture. Thus when using hard albuminous
animal matters, they are steeped in cold water until completely swollen and heated
at a temperature lower than the boiling point of water. The albumen is dissolved
מ
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page_text: and glycerine fat or oil-(and when required a solution of caoutchouc) is added
while the mass is still warm, and the whole is thoroughly mixed until a uniform
combination of the materials is obtained.
When using liquid albumen steeping in water is dispensed with. If difficulty be
experienced in obtaining an intimate mixture Venice soap, or carbonate of soda, or
caustic soda, or caustic potash, may be added to the mixture continuously stirring
until the combination of the substances is thoroughly effected. By adding water
to the mixture during its heating or while it is still warm any desired degree of
fluidity can be obtained. The degree of hardness or brittleness of the compound
depends upon the quantity of the albuminous matters contained in it, the hardness
being greater in proportion as the quantity of albumen is increased and vice versa.
The following proportions give a soft leather or caoutchouc like product, i,e,-
about 21%, parts by weight of gelatine or glue
about 1 to 3 parts by weight of glycerine
2
about 1 to 3 parts by weight of fat, vegetable oil (such as olive or castor oil)
about 1/2 to 1 part by weight of a concentrated solution of caoutchouc.
The following proportions furnish a hard mass like bone or horn, i.e.—
about 5 parts by weight of albuminous matter
about 1 part by weight of glycerine and
about 1 to 1 part by weight of oil.
By varying the proportions within the above limits compounds of any desired
intermediate degree of hardness may be produced.
The compound obtained as described may be used in its natural colour (which
of course differs according to the material employed and their proportions)-or it
may be colored by the addition of pigments as referred to hereinafter. The after
treatment of the compound thus obtained depends upon the nature of the articles
to be manufactured with it, or with which it is to be employed. If soft or hard
plates are required which should be worked up like paste-board, leather, horn,
tortoise shell, etc, the compound (with or without the addition of coloring matter)
while in a liquid and still warm state is poured on to a flat surface of metal or
other substance such as glass, china, stone, or polished or varnished wood, and is
left until it has stiffened, care being taken that no air-bubbles are formed in the
The requisite fluidity of the compound for thin layers is obtained by
addition of water.-The thin layer when stiff can be easily taken from the surface
on which it has been formed and is dried on stretching frames.
mass.
When dried the compound is tanned like leather by immersion in moistened or
liquid tannic substances such as tan, bark, alum or tannic acid-leaving it therein
for from 2 to 24 hours according to the thickness of the layers.
The process of tanning is accelerated if an electric current is conducted through
the mass.
When the compound is sufficiently tanned it is taken out of the
tan bath and dried.
To form articles such as cups, goblets, bags and the like directly from the mass
by casting or steeping, the liquid compound while still warm is poured into a
mould of glass, porcelain, metal, stone, or polished wood in the ordinary manner.
Or the mould may be dipped into the liquid mass and then taken out of it, a
thinner or thicker layer adhering in or upon the mould according to the fluidity of
the compound mass. When it has stiffened the compound is taken out of or from
the mould, and is tanned as above described it being afterwards replaced in or upon
the mould and dried. If the mass or compound is to be used for the manufacture
of impregnated or other fabrics similar to wax-cloth the process is as follows,-The
compound is allowed to stiffen on a flat surface as described above. The fabric or
web to be treated having first been impregnated with a thin liquid solution of the
compound is then extended and pressed upon the stiffened layer of the compound
air-bubbles being removed by rubbing the surface.
The fabric or web together with the layer of the compound is then drawn from
the flat surface, dried on stretching frames and again tanned and dried in a manner.
similar to that described above.

page_text: In the case of felt or felt-like cloth where loose fibres are used in the manu-
facture the liquid compound is first poured on to a flat surface; the prepared
fibres are then spread uniformly (by preference by means of a sieve) over and into
the still liquid mass. After becoming stiff the felt like product is taken from the
plate and dried, then tanned and again dried and compressed.
Colouring of the mass is effected-when the mixture is still in a liquid and warm
state. In order to obtain a uniform colour the liquid or finely powdered pigment
must be intimately mixed with the mixture.
In order to produce a marbled or multiple coloured material the liquid mass to
be coloured is divided into several vessels into which the proper pigments are also
placed and the mixture in each vessel is effected. The mixtures in a still liquid
condition are then taken from the various single vessels in the manner used in
marbling or veining and are poured and divided over a glass or china plate, a brush
or thin stick being employed to aid in producing the desired effect.
The marbling or veining (especially veining for the imitation of tortoise shell)
can be effected in such a way that the finished tanned and single coloured mass
becomes marbled or veined by the application to it of suitable pigments by a
brush,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Lloyd Wise in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1883.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
A NEW OR IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF MATERIAL SUITABLE FOR USE AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR LEATHER, CLOTH, HORN, TORTOISE-SHELL, AND THE LIKE
(a communication from Elkan Bauer a person resident at Vienna, Empire of
Austria, Manufacturer)
This invention relates to a process of manufacturing a new compound or material
by mixing albuminous animal matters with glycerine and a fat or oil and by
treating such mixture or combination with tannic substances or tannic acid. The
new compound or material will not readily burn, is insoluble in water, and may be
produced of various degrees of hardness so as to serve as a substitute for various
substances such as leather, caoutchouc, bone, horn, tortoise shell, etc, in tho
manufacture of articles usually made of such substances.
Also material according to this invention may be employed in conjunction with
fabrics to render them waterproof and uninflammable.
It is composed of albuminous animal matters, such for examples as the albumen
of eggs, or the blood (serum) of animals, or gelatine or glue (made of animal refuse
or waste like tendons, muscles, gristles, bones, leather and the like) mixed either
alone or in combination with vegetable gluten (:dextrine, gum:) with glycerine
fat or oil. In some cases also a solution of caoutchouc is added.
The mode of preparing material according to this invention depends upon the
substances employed in its manufacture.
Thus when using hard albuminous animal matters, they are steeped in cold
water until completely swollen and heated at a temperature lower than the boiling
point of water. The albumen is dissolved and glycerine fat or oil-(and, when
required, a solution of caoutchouc) is added while the mass is still warm, and the
whole is thoroughly mixed until a uniform combination of the materials is
obtained.
When using liquid albumen steeping in water is dispensed with. If difficulty
be experienced in obtaining an intimate mixture Venice soap, or carbonate of soda,
or caustic soda, or caustic potash may be added to the mixture continuously
stirring until the mixing or combination of the substances is thoroughly effected.
By adding water to the mixture during its heating or while it is still warm any
desired degree of fluidity can be obtained. The degree of hardness or brittleness
of the compound depends upon the quantity of the albuminous matters contained
in it, the hardness being greater in proportion as the quantity of albumen is
increased, and vice versa.
The following proportions give a soft leather or caoutchouc-like product, i e;-
about 21, parts by weight of gelatine or glue, about 1/2 to 3 parts by weight of
glycerine. about 11% to 3 parts by weight of fat, vegetable oil (such as olive or
castor oil) about '/, to 1 part by weight of a concentrated solution of caoutchouc.
The following proportions furnish a hard mass like bone or horn, i e,—
about 5 parts by weight of albuminous matter.
about 1 part by weight of glycerine, and
about 1 to 1 part by weight of oil.
By varying the proportions within the above limits compounds of any desired
1
1

page_text: course differs according to the materials employed and their proportions) or it may
be coloured by the addition of pigments as referred to hereinafter. The after
treatment of the compound thus obtained depends upon the nature of the articles
to be manufactured with it, or with which it is to be employed. If soft or hard
5 plates are required which should be worked up like paste-board, leather, horn,
tortoise shell, etc, the compound (with or without the addition of coloring matter)
while in a liquid and still warm state is poured on to a flat surface of metal or
other substance such as glass, china, stone, or polished or varnished wood, and is
left until it has stiffened, care being taken that no air-bubbles are formed in the
mass. The requisite fluidity of the compound for thin layers is obtained by
addition of water in its warm state. The thin layer when stiff can be easily taken
from the surface on which it has been formed and is afterwards dried on stretching
frames. When dried the compound is tanned like leather by immersion in
moistened or liquid tannic substances such as tan, bark, alum or tannic acid leaving
it therein for from 2 to 24 hours according to the thickness of the layers. The
process of tanning is accelerated if an electric current is conducted through the
mass. When the compound is sufficiently tanned it is taken out of the tan bath
and dried.
In order to manufacture stuffs of very superior quality, which shall be soft like
leather I proceed in the following manner: After having formed sheets from the
compound with or without wefts and made insoluble by treating the same with
alum or tannic acid and drying, I submit the same to the following process.-T.
sheets being tanned and dried are well rubbed in with a solution of 3 parts by
weight of glycerine and 1 part by weight of soda-soap, then piled up in layers and
left in this condition about 24 hours. This process must be repeated. After the
solution has thoroughly penetrated the sheets, they are well rubbed with fish-oil
or with other fat; this treatment is repeated several times.
By means of the solution of soap and glycerine which has previously penetrated
the sheets an intimate incorporation with the fat or oil will be effected, because in
place of the water, being gradually evaporated, the fat is absorbed by the sheets,
which will become and remain soft and flexible.
To form articles such as cups, goblets, bags and the like directly from the mass
by casting or steeping, the liquid compound while still warm is poured into a
mould of glass, porcelain, metal, stone, or polished wood in the ordinary manner.
Or the mould may be dipped into the liquid mass and then taken out of it, a
thinner or thicker layer adhering in or upon the mould according to the fluidity
of the compound mass. When it has stiffened the compound is taken out of or from
the mould, and is tanned as above described it being afterwards replaced in or upon
the mould and dried. If the mass or compound to be used for the manufacture
of impregnated or other fabrics similar to wax-cloth the process is as follows.
The compound is allowed to stiffen on a flat surface as described above. The
abric or web to be treated having first been impregnated with a thin liquid
solution of the compound is then extended and pressed upon the stiffened layer of
he compound, air bubbles being removed by rubbing the surface.
The fabric or web together with the layer of the compound is then drawn from
he flat surface, dried on stretching frames and again tanned and dried in a manner
imilar to that described above.
In the case of felt or felt-like cloth where loose fibres are used in the manu-
acture the liquid compound is first poured on to a flat surface; the prepared fibres
re then spread uniformly (by preference by means of a sieve) over and into the
till liquid mass. After becoming stiff the felt like product is taken from the
late and dried, then tanned and again dried and compressed.
Colouring of the mass is effected when the mixture is still in a liquid and warm
ate. In order to obtain a uniform colour the liquid or finely powdered pigment
ust be intimately mixed with the mixture.
In order to produce a marbled or multi-coloured lustrous material the liquid
ass to be coloured is divided into several vessels into which the proper pigments

page_text: are added and then the mixture in each vessel is effected. The mixtures in a still
liquid condition are then taken from the various single vessels in the manner
adopted in marbling or veining and are poured and divided over a glass or
china plate, a brush or thin stick being employed to aid in producing the desired
effect.
The marbling or veining (especially veining for the imitation of tortoise shell)
can be effected in such a way that the finished tanned and single coloured mass
becomes marbled or veined by the application to it of suitable pigments by a
brush.
Having described the nature of the said invention and the manner of performing
the same as communicated to me as aforesaid I would have it understood that
what is claimed as secured to me under the Letters Patent hereinabove in part
recited is.-
1/ The manufacture of a compound of the novel and improved character
substantially as herein above described as a substitute for leather, cloth, horn,
tortoise shell and the like, such compound being neither readily inflammable nor
Boluble in water as above set forth.
2/. The hereinabove described process of manufacturing the compound above
referred to by mixing albuminous animal matters with glycerine, fat, or oil, and
also with a solution of caoutchouc and treating the same with tannic substances
the tanning process being accelerated by electric currents.
In Witness whereof I the said William Lloyd Wise have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fourth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
W LLOYD WISE (L.S.)