IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BLUE TO BE USED. AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR STONE BLUE
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LEIFCHILD, of the Minories, in the City of London, Blue Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Ninth day of July, in the ninth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Leifchild, my exors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said John Leifchild, my exors, adñiors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Leifchild, my exors, admors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BLUE TO BE USED.
AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR STONE BLUE;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso, that I, the said John Leifchild, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery,
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Leifchild, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):-
My Invention consists of combining certain well known descriptions of blue
color with oxalic acid, so as to render them suitably soluble in water, in order
that the combined matters may be used as a substitute for stone blue; and the
particular descriptions of blue colouring matter, to which this Invention are
those qualities or preparations of blue known as Chinèse blue and Turnbull's
blue.
And in order that my Invention may be understood, I will proceed to
describe the means pursued by me, and as the preparation will, I believe, to be
most generally used for colouring linen after washing in place of stone blue, I
will describe my Invention for that purpose, though I do not confine myself to
the particular combination here given, as the same may be varied.
I take by weight four parts of Chinese blue, one part of Turnbull's blue,
and one part of oxalic acid, and I mix them well together, and then add boiling
water gradually till the whole is dissolved; and to this combination I apply one
part by measure of the liquid called sulphate of indigo, which is made by mixing.
one part of indigo with four parts of concentrated sulphuric acid; and afterwards
neutralizing the excess of acid with. carbonate of ammonia, as is well under-
stood; and this combined liquid, when for use, is to be reduced in-intensity of
colour by adding water to the extent desired, and this is then to be used in
blueing linen after washing, as heretofore practised when stone blue in water
has been used.
I would here remark that although for the purpose herein described the
compound or combination above given is the best, yet I'do not confine myself
thereto, and it is not absolutely necessary to employ both the qualities of 'blue
known as Chinese blue and Turnbull's blue, nor to the combining therewith
the sulphate of indigo, though I believe it to be better under all circumstances,
and other colouring matters may be added if desired.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I would have it under-
stood that what I claim is, the combining oxalic acid with those qualities of
blue known as Chinese blue and Turnbull's blue with a solution of indigo; and
I also claim the combining that quality of blue known as Chinese blue or of
Turnbull's blue with or without a 'solution of indigo.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Leifchild, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
JOHN (L.B.) LEIFCHILD.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Ninth day of January, in the
year of our Lord 1846, the aforesaid John Leifchild, came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-six.