IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF COTTON PULP TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEATHER
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Charles Vickers, of Compton Street,
Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Hat Manufacturer, for
IN THE PREPARATION OF COTTON
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
TH
"
Sealed the 28th May 1872, and dated the 13th December 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Charles Vickers
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th December 1871.
I, EDWARD CHARLES VICKERS, of Compton Street, Clerkenwell, in
the County of Middlesex, Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF
COTTON PULP TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEATHER," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the preparation of cotton pulp in such a
manner as to render it suitable to be used as a substitute for leather in
the manufacture of boots, shoes, leggings, bags, and for other purposes

page_text: for which leather has hitherto been employed. The pulp is made from
cotton fibre in the ordinary manner, and afterwards tanned in the same
manner as leather. The pulp is then made into sheets of the desired
form and size, and dried, grained, rolled, or glazed according to the kind
of leather it is desired to imitate, such operations being effected by well-
known means.
When the material has been dried it is coated with a
composition prepared as herein-after mentioned for the purpose of
strengthening and softening it, and when so coated it resembles dull
soft leather. The composition employed for this purpose is prepared as
follows: Pure linseed oil is boiled until it reaches the temperature of
about 350 degrees Fahrenheit, when gum galbanum, white baryta,
Egyptian asphalte, beeswax, sugar of lead, and oxide of iron are added
in the following proportions, that is to say:-To every six gallons of oil
one pound and a quarter of gum galbanum, a quarter of a pound of
white baryta, half a pound of Egyptian asphalte, two ounces of beeswax,
two ounces of sugar of lead, and two pounds of oxide of iron. The
whole mixture is then allowed to boil until it is of the consistency of
india-rubber, when it is clarified (by any of the well-known methods) and
thinned by means of turpentine or other suitable spirit until it is of the
necessary consistency for use, when it is applied to the material by any
The material is dried by the application of about 170
degrees of heat Fahrenheit.
suitable means.
"
If it is desired to produce a glazed surface on the material for the
purpose of producing an imitation of what is known as "patent
leather, gum copal, Prussian blue, white copperas, and nitric acid are
added to the before-mentioned composition, the proportions then being,
to every six gallons of oil one pound and a quarter of gum galbanum, a
quarter of a pound of white baryta, half a pound of Egyptian asphalte,
two ounces of beeswax, two ounces of sugar of lead, two pounds of oxide
of iron, one pound of gum copal, two pounds and a half of Prussian blue,
two ounces of white copperas, and one gill of nitric acid. The whole is
again boiled until it resembles treacle in consistency; it is afterwards
clarified and used, and the material to which it is applied dried, as before
mentioned. The material thus prepared may be stamped or embossed
to resemble morocco or any other description of leather by any of the
well-known methods adapted for the purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Edward
Charles Vickers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th June
1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
CHARLES VICKERS, of Compton Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of
Middlesex, Hat Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edward Charles Vickers, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Charles Vickers, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Charles Vickers,
my 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 THE PREPARATION OF COTTON PULP TO BE USED AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR LEATHER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Edward Charles Vickers, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, 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 I, the said Edward Charles Vickers, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, that is to say:-
My said Invention consists in the preparation of cotton pulp in such a
manner as to render it suitable to be used as a substitute for leather in
the manufacture of boots, shoes, leggings, bags, and for other purposes
for which leather has hitherto been employed. I make the pulp from

page_text: cotton fibre in the ordinary manner, and afterwards tan it in the same
manner as leather. I then make it into sheets of the desired form and
size, and dry, grain, roll, or glaze it according to the kind of leather it
is desired to imitate; such operations I effect by well-known means.
When the material has been dried I coat it with a composition prepared
as herein-after mentioned for the purpose of strengthening and softening
it, and when so coated it resembles dull soft leather. The composition
I employ for this purpose I prepare as follows:-I boil pure linseed oil
until it reaches the temperature of about 350 degrees Fahrenheit; I
then add gum galbanum, white baryta, Egyptian asphalte, beeswax,
sugar of lead, and oxide of iron in the following proportions, that is to
say-To every 6 gallons of oil 1½ pounds of gum galbanum, pound
white baryta,pound Egyptian asphalte, 2 ounces beeswax, 2 ounces
sugar of lead, and two pounds of oxide of iron. I then allow this mixture
to boil until it is of the consistency of india-rubber, and I then clarify it
(by any of the well-known methods), and thin it by means of
turpentine or other suitable spirit until it is of the necessary consistency
for use, when I apply it to the material by any suitable means.
I dry
the material so coated by the application of about 170 degrees of heat
Fahrenheit.
"
When it is desired to produce a glazed surface on the material for
the purpose of producing an imitation of what is known as patent"
leather, I add gum copal, Prussian blue, white copperas, and nitric acid
to the before-mentioned composition, the proportions in this case being
as follows: To every 6 gallons of oil 1 pounds of gum galbanum,
pound of white baryta, pound of Egyptian asphalte, 2 ounces
beeswax, 2 ounces sugar of lead, 2 pounds oxide of iron, 1 pound gum
copal, 2 pounds Prussian blue, two ounces white copperas, and 1 gill of
nitric acid. I again boil the whole mixture until it resembles treacle
in consistency, clarifying and using it and drying the material to which
it is applied as before mentioned. The material thus prepared may be
stamped or embossed so as to resemble morocco or any other description
of leather as may be desired by means of any of the well-known methods
adapted for the purpose.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim
as constituting the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent are, the methods of treating cotton pulp to be
used as a substitute for leather, herein-before described and set forthi, or
any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Charles Vickers, have here-
.
unto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
EDWARD CHARLES VICKERS. (L.S.).