IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER CLOTH
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Galland, of Cecil Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER CLOTH."-A communication from abroad by
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Galland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th November 1871.
I, CHARLES GALLAND, of Cecil Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER CLOTH," a communication to me
from abroad by Cristoforo Muratori, of Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy,
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of
leather cloth, which can be used as a substitute for leather, which it
resembles most closely. It is adapted for shoes, boots, harness, straps or

page_text: travelling bands, tarpauling, and in fact for all purposes to which leather
is applicable and now used. It is more durable than ordinary leather,
and is very much cheaper.
The leather cloth is prepared by immersing cotton linen or woollen
cloth in a hot solution of glue and alum till it is thoroughly soaked or 5
saturated, after which it is exposed to a current of warm air in order to
dry it, but before it is quite dry it is brushed over with fine talc powder
to close up the very minute pores and give a shine to the surface.
In order to render the material more pliable or supple for harness,
driving reins, or other uses, potatoe flour or other farinaceous substance 1
may be added to the glue and alum.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Galland in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
GALLAND, of Cecil Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of November, 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 Charles Galland, Her special licence that
I, the said Charles Galland, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Galland, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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
MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER CLOTH," a communication to me from abroad by
Cristoforo Muratori, of Turin, in the Kingdom of Italy, upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Galland, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or

page_text: во репотписи, ани с
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Galland, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of leather
cloth, which can be used as a substitute for leather for all purposes to
which leather is applicable and is now used. It is more durable than
ordinary leather, and much cheaper.
The said leather cloth is prepared by immersing cotton, linen, or
woollen cloth in a hot solution of glue and alum till it is thoroughly
soaked or saturated, after which the cloth is exposed to a current of
warm air in order to dry it, but before it is quite dry the said cloth is
brushed over with fine tale powder to close the more minute pores and
give it a shining surface. I commonly use the above substance in the
proportion of about four parts of glue to from one to two parts of alum,
but these proportions may be varied according to the nature or quality
of the materials used and the desired quality of the leather cloth. A
little practice will enable an operator to determine the exact proportions
in each particular case.
In order to render the cloth more pliable or supple when it is to be
used for harness, driving reins, or other like uses, potato flour or other
farinaceous substances may be added to the glue and alum.
This improved leather cloth is admirably adapted for boots and shoes,
more especially for ladies. It is waterproof, and at the same time has
the softness and suppleness of kid and the warmth of moleskin.
For harness, carriage aprons and fronts, and the like, the said leather
cloth will be found stronger and more durable than leather and other
materials hitherto used. It is not subject to mildew, and consequently
does not like leather require greasing to be kept in good condition. It
can be put aside ungreased and left in any ordinary place of deposit

page_text: without being injured thereby; it can even after exposure for some
hours to rain be put into store without previous drying or wiping, and
will not suffer therefrom; and it can at any time be repaired with ease.
For sofas, chairs, and other furniture the said leather cloth will serve
advantageously as a substitute for Morocco or other leather, or for
American cloth, as it is less costly than these materials, and surpasses
them in durability and strength, and it may be produced in any colour.
It is also applicable for book covers and bookbinding in general. It can
be engraved, marked, embossed, gilt, or otherwise ornamented like
leather or other material now in use for such purposes.
The said leather cloth is in no way affected by changes of temperature,
and will bear extreme heat or cold. It can be held close to a large
fire till it becomes unbearably hot to the touch without alteration or
emitting the least odour.
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, the improved leather cloth
manufactured by treating cotton, linen, or woollen cloth as herein
described.
ATTTTTA