IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING THE SEPARATION OF FEATHERS HAIR, OR OTHER COVERING FROM THE SKINS OF ANIMALS, AND IN SECURING SUCH IN POSITION WHEN SEPARATED
Year: 1861

page_text: Tussaud, of Marylebone Road, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING THE SEPARATION OF FEATHERS
HAIR, OR OTHER COVERING FROM THE SKINS OF ANIMALS, AND IN SECURING
SUCH IN POSITION WHEN SEPARATED."
Sealed the 20th December 1861, and dated the 26th June 1861.
and Francis Curtius Tussaud at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents. with their Petition, on the 26th June 1861.
We, JOSEPH RANDALL TUSSAUD and FRANCIS CURTIUS TUSSAUD, of Maryle-
bone Road, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING THE SEPARATION OF
FEATHERS, HAIR, OR OTHER COVERING FROM THE SKINS OF ANIMALS, AND IN
SECURING SUCH IN POSITION WHEN SEPARATED," to be as follows:-
The object of the improvements is to enable the feathers, hair, or such
other covering of the skin of animals to be removed from such skin, and yet
retain the natural order or arrangement thereof, and preserve the skin. For
this purpose we introduce in a liquid form on the outside of the skin a

page_text: solution of some matter adapted, when the solvent thereof has evaporated, to
form an artificial skin, by which to hold the feathers or hair, or other covering
thereof at or near the roots in the desired relative position, in order to the
skin being removed without its necessarily being destroyed. We first lay the
skin inside downwards upon a board or other suitable surface. and apply
thereon a solution which will hold the feathers, hair, or other covering in
position during the removal of the natural skin; a solution of shellac answers
well. When the shellac has become dry by evaporation, the skin may be
drawn off the inner ends of the feathers, hair, or other covering, leaving such
held by the shellac. We then apply upon such inner ends a coating or solution
of india-rubber, or other suitable adhesive matter. When shellac is used as
the first holding medium, we remove the same again for re-use or otherwise
by applying thereto a suitable solvent. Additional strength may be given to
the artificial skin obtained by the india-rubber or other suitable adhesive
matter applied as stated, by a lining thereto of woven or other material.
Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
RANDALL TUSSAUD and FRANCIS CURTIUS TUSSAUD, of Marylebone Road, in
the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Joseph Randall Tussaud and Francis Curtius Tussaud, Her special licence
that we, the said Joseph Randall Tussaud and Francis Curtius Tussaud, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Joseph
Randall Tussaud and Francis Curtius Tussaud, 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 THE SEPARATION OF FEATHERS,
HAIR, OR OTHER COVERING FROM THE SKINS OF ANIMALS, AND IN SECURING SUCH

page_text: IN POSITION WHEN SEPARATED," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Joseph Randall Tussaud and Francis Curtius Tussaud, our executors
or administrators. by an instrument in writing under our or their hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 Joseph Randall Tussand and Francis
Curtius Tussaud, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say-
The object of the improvements is to enable the feathers, hair, or such
other covering of the skin of animals to be removed from such skin, and yet
that the natural order or arrangement of such feathers, hair, or other covering
of the skin may be retained, and the skin preserved if desired. For this
purpose we introduce in a liquid form on the outside of the skin a solution of
some matter adapted, when the solvent thereof has evaporated, or the matter
employed has solidified, to form an artificial skin close upon the natural one,
by which to hold the feathers, or hair, or other covering thereof at or near the
roots, and in their desired relative position. in order to the skin being removed
without its necessarily being destroyed. We first lay the skin inside down-
wards upon a board or other suitable surface, and apply thereon the solution
of matter, which after the evaporation of the solvent, or the solidification of
such matter, will, by acting as a temporary artificial skin, serve to hold the
feathers, hair, or other covering in position during the removal of the natural
skin, taking care that such matter be introduced amongst the feathers, hair,
or other covering of the skin as near as possible to their roots. A solution of
shellac in alcohol answers well for the production of the artificial skin. When
the shellac has become dry by the evaporation of the solvent, the skin may be
drawn off the inner ends of the feathers, hair, or other covering, leaving such
held by the shellac. We then cleanse the projecting roots of any remaining
fatty or animal matter, and apply upon such inner ends a coating or solution of
india-rubber, or other suitable adhesive matter. To facilitate the removal of
the natural skin from the roots, we prefer to steep it for a time in lime water,
as is practised by tanners. When shellac is used as the first holding medium,
we remove the same again for re-use, or otherwise, by applying thereto a
suitable solvent, Additional strength may be given to the artificial skin

page_text: obtained by the india-rubber or other suitable adhesive matter applied as
stated, by a lining thereto of woven or other material.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Randall Tussaud and Francis
Curtius Tussaud, have hereunto set our hands and seals. this Twenty-
fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
Indred and sixty-one.
J. R. TUSSAUD. (L.S.)
F. C. TUSSAUD. (1.S.)