A New or Improved Substitute for Leather and Process of Preparing same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 2nd June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Substitute for Leather and Process of Preparing
same.
I, WILLIAM WALLACE MCLAURIN,, Cartside Works, Milliken Park, Renfrewshire,
Paper Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved substitute
for leather and process of preparing same, said material being capable of use in
place of leather, leatherette, cloth, paper, or any similar material in the boot,
shoe, slipper, upholstery, fancy leather trades, and for bookbinding, boxmaking,
or any purposes where these or similar materials are or can be utilized.
66
The material utilized in preparing this substitute for leather is that called
and known as vellum cloth or any similar material of a fibrous or felty
nature in which the fibres are firmly bound together and possessing the requisite
strength, pliability and elasticity.
"
"
The vellum cloth or other suitable material is first coated with gelatine, glue,
lactarine, caseine, "gloy or vegetable paste shellac or any other substance suit-
able for fixing down the loose fibrous hairy surface of vellum cloth" or other
similar material which would otherwise form an obstacle to its commercial utiliza-
tion for the above mentioned purposes.
To further improve this and to render the above fixing material insoluble,
formaldehyde or any aldehyde, alum, chrome alum, bichrome or any similar acting
substance in any form or water, spirit, or oil varnishes are applied to first coat
the material or any combination of these substances may be applied.
Or alternatively a single coat of any of the above sizing substances containing
in solution any of the above mentioned fixing substances may be used or a coat
of lactarine alone, or shellac alone, or any oil, water or spirit varnish alone or in
combination.
The vellum cloth or other similar material, if wanted coated, is first coated on a
suitable machine or run through a bath of glycerine or a deliquescent salt or any
other softening material, the proportion varying according to amount of pliability
required. Aniline colour or any other colouring material in any quantity and
shade being also if necessary added. Or the vellum cloth or other similar material
may be coated on one or both sides on a machine suited for the purpose with a
colour or a colouring matter suited to dye the fibres of the material, glycerine or
a deliquescent salt or any other softening material being added if pliability is
required.
The vellum cloth or similar material next receives one or more coats of colour and
a suitable sizing material in form of gelatines, glues, lactarine, cascine, "gloys"
or any suitable animal or vegetable sizing or any combination of these sub-

page_text: stances, glycerine, or a deliquescent salt or any other softening material being
added if required.
A solution of formaldehyde or any other aldehyde, alum, chrome alum, bi-chrome
or any similar acting substance either alone or in combination containing any one
or any combination of the above sizing materials may be then applied. Or
alternatively one or more coats of colour with any of above mentioned sizing
materials or any combination thereof and having in solution either formaldehyde,
or any other aldehyde, alum, chrome alum, bi-chrome or any similar acting sub-
stance or any combination of these may be employed.
Or alternatively the vellum cloth or similar material may be treated by any of
the foregoing processes without undergoing the first or softening process or the dye-
ing process as above described.
Or alternatively the vellum cloth is next coated with one or more coats of
lactarine or caseine in solution in proportion to suit finish required with
glycerine or a deliquescent salt, or any other softening material being added if
required.
Or it is coated with size or any other gelatinous matter in necessary proportions
with glycerine or a deliquescent salt or any other softening material added if
required.
It is then coated with a formaldehyde or any other aldehyde, alum, chrome alum,
bi-chrome or any similar substance applied in any form in sufficient quantities
to render the sizing and coated material insoluble in water or nearly so, or
any combination of these chemicals, glycerine or a deliquescent salt or any other
softening material added if required.
Or the last coat may be omitted and a coat of varnish substituted. This varnish
may be either water, spirit, or oil or any other suitable varnish. The substance
can be coated on the back or front after these processes or during any part of these
processes by means of a fine spray or a suitable machine, with glycerine or a
deliquescent salt in solution or any other softening material if extra pliability
required. The material may be brushed, burnished, frictioned, flinted or rolled
during and part of this process or afterward if desired according to finish wanted.
The proportion of the chemicals and the process will also vary according to
pliability, strength, toughness, finish, smoothness, waterproof and absorbent
qualities required.
It can then be rolled, calendered, embossed, stamped or printed any design
or grain as desired. Or may be if desired left unfinished.
The material is dried after each coating or process by means of a suitable drying
plant at a moderate temperature. The material can also be pasted to any other
substance such as cloth, paper, boards, as desired or one or more sheets of the
plain vellum cloth or similar suitable material may be pasted to one or more
sheets of the prepared vellum cloth or similar suitable material by means of
starches, glues, size, indiarubber solution or any other matter suitable for making
it adhere or any combination of these substances with the addition of glycerine, or
a deliquescent salt or any other softening material if required.
These pasting substances are used according to the pliability or stiffness
required, or the prepared sheets may be pasted together in like manner.
To make a stronger and more untearable material two or more sheets may be
pasted with ingredients as before mentioned or any combination of these in a
cross grained" manner that is to say the long fibres of one pasted sheet are
made to cross the long fibres of the other pasted sheet and this ensures a material
which is equally strong both ways a result hitherto unattainable with any sub-
stance used as a substitute for leather and thus marking a distinct and vital
improvement on any previous attempt to imitate real leather, and by the foregoing
processes thereby producing an article with a tensile strength and flexibility
hitherto unattainable and which possesses all the good qualities of leather with
additional printing, blocking, and other advantages, and which has the distinct
advantage of being less liable to injury on surface and with a hard, tough, and

page_text: smooth surface which cannot be rubbed up or roughened by wear and tear, as is
at present the case with vellum cloth or similar substances.
Dated the 3rd day of June 1898
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow,
Agents.
A New or improved Substitute for Leather and Process of Preparing
same,
I, WILLIAM WALLACE MCLAURIN, Cartside Works, Milliken Park, Renfrewshire,
Paper Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement;-
6
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved substitute
for leather and process of preparing same, said material being capable of use in
place of leather, leatherette, cloth, paper, or any similar material in the boot,
shoe, slipper, upholstery, fancy leather trades, and for bookbinding, boxmaking,
or any purposes where these or similar materials are or can be utilized.
The material utilized in preparing this substitute for leather is that called and
known as
vellum cloth" or any similar material of a fibrous or felty nature
(not woven) in which the fibres are firmly bound together and intermixed with
indiarubber or any other suitable substance to give the requisite strength,, pliability
and elasticity and which material has an advantage over any woven material yet
known, inasmuch as the vellum cloth or like felty material is capable of stretching
in any direction returning to its original appearance showing embossed grain
exactly as before, as does leather, and leather only until now. It has also the
advantage, unlike all imitation leathers hitherto produced, of being a perfect
facsimile of leather on the back, as well as the face. It also possesses the hitherto
unattainable property of being perfectly capable of being pared exactly as real
leather, which no imitation of leather has yet done. Its tooling properties are
also better than leather, and it stands gold. blocking without preparation.
The vellum cloth or other suitable material is first coated with gelatine, glue,
lactarine, (caseine) "gloy" shellac or any other substance suitable for fixing
down the loose fibrous hairy surface of vellum cloth or other similar material
which would otherwise form an obstacle to its commercial utilization for the
above mentioned purposes.
To further improve this and to render the above fixing material insoluble,
formaldehyde or any aldehyde, alum, chrome alum, potassium dichromate com-
monly known as bichrome or any similar acting substance in any form of water,
spirit, or oil varnishes, are applied to first coat the material or any combination
of these substances may be applied.
Or alternatively a single coat of any of the above sizing substances containing
in solution any of the above mentioned fixing substances may be used or a coat
of lactarine alone, or shellac alone, or any oil, water or spirit varnish alone or in
combination.
The foregoing part of the process is not in all cases essential and may some-
times be omitted.
The vellum cloth or other similar material is first coated on a suitable machine
or run through a bath of glycerine or a deliquescent salt in solution or any other
softening material, the proportion varying according to amount of pliability

page_text: required. Aniline colour or any other colouring material in any quantity and
shade being also if necessary added. Or the vellum cloth or other similar material
may be coated on one or both sides on a machine suited for the purpose with a
colour or a colouring matter suited to dye the fibres of the material, glycerine or
a deliquescent salt or any other softening material being added if pliability is
required.
66
The vellum cloth or similar material next receives one or more coats of colour
and a suitable sizing material in form of gelatines, glues, lactarine, (caseine)
gloy" or any suitable animal or vegetable sizing or any combination of these
substances, glycerine, or a deliquescent salt or any other softening material being
added if required.
or
A solution of formaldehyde, chrome alum, or any similar acting substance
either alone or in combination containing any one or any combination of the
above sizing materials may be then applied. Or alternatively one
more coats of colour with any of above mentioned sizing materials
or any combination thereof and having in solution either formaldehyde, or any
other aldehyde, alum, chame alum, potassium dichromate or bi-chrome or any
similar acting substance or any combination of these may be employed.
Preferably however the use of the formaldehyde or other waterproofing material
is reserved until all the coatings of sizing or equivalent material have been applied
when the waterproofing is effected.
Or alternatively the vellum cloth or similar material may be treated by any of
the foregoing processes without undergoing the first or softening process or the dye-
ing process as above described.
Or alternatively the vellum cloth is next coated with one or more coats of
lactarine (caseine) in solution in proportion to suit finish required, with
glycerine or a deliquescent salt, or any other softening material being added if
required.
Or it is coated with size or any other gelatinous matter in necessary proportions
with glycerine or a deliquescent salt or any other softening material added if
required.
It is then coated with a formaldehyde or any other aldehyde, alum, chrome alum,
bi-chrome or any similar substance applied in any form in sufficient quantities
to render the sizing and coated material insoluble in water or nearly so. or
any combination of these chemicals, glycerine or a deliquescent salt or any other
softening material added if required.
Or the last coat may be omitted and a coat of varnish substituted. This varnish
may be either water, spirit, or oil or any other suitable varnish. The substance
can be coated on the back or front after these processes or during any part of these
processes by means of a fine spray or a suitable machine, with glycerine or a
deliquescent salt in solution or any other softening material if extra pliability
is required.
The material is dried after each coating or process by means of a suitable
drying plant such as means for hanging it up in festoons, at a moderate tem-
perature. The material may be brushed, burnished, frictioned, flinted or rolled
during any part of this process or afterward if desired according to finish wanted.
It is then rolled, calendered, embossed, stamped or printed any design or grain
as desired. Or may be if desired left unfinished.
The proportions of the chemicals and the process may be varied and are
necessarily so according to pliability, strength, toughness, finish, smoothness,
waterproof and absorbent qualities required.
I will now proceed to detail one modified process which has been found to yield
excellent results in the production of a substitute for leather of a red or crimson
colour. The vellum cloth preferably in the web form is first coated on one side
to be afterwards the face of the material, in a suitable coating machine, such as
is commonly used for coating paper, with a combination or admixture of 1 lb. of
brilliant scarlet aniline colour; lb. of croceine 91; 3 gallons of water and 1 gallon

page_text: of lactarine in solution of a standard strength of 9 lbs. dry lactarine to 6 gallons of
water.
After drying it is coated on the other surface which is afterwards the back of
the material with a similar mixture but having 2 lbs. of brilliant scarlet instead
of 1 lb. and 1 gallons of standard lactarine solution instead of one. This which
is the only coating applied to the back, permeates the material to colour it all
through.
It is next coated with a mixture of 30 lbs. of scarlet lake, 30 lbs. of cerise lake;
1 lbs. of rhodamine aniline; 4 gallons of size at 10° Twaddle and gallon of
glycerine (12400°). After drying it is again coated with the same combination.
It now receives two coatings of the standard solution of lactarine consisting of
9 lbs. of lactarine to 6 gallons of water to which added 1 pint of glycerine.
These various coatings are then waterproofed by the application of a solution
of formaldehyde consisting of 1 quart of formaldehyde to 3 gallons of water a very
small quantity of glycerine being added.
The inaterial is dried after each coating and before applying the next and after
waterproofing and drying is ready for the finishing processes according to the
finish desired which in some cases is friction glazing through rollers and there-
after embossing the material with any desired pattern. The colouring material
is naturally susceptible to very considerable variation and for some colours such
as black it is preferred to use gelatine instead of lactarine and the proportion of
glycerine added to the combination of coating materials is also variable according
to the colour or material being dealt with and amount of pliability desired.
A solution of chrome alum may be used instead of formaldehyde in the pro-
portion of say lb. of chrome alum to 1 gallon of water.
The material can also be pasted to any other substance such as cloth, paper.
boards, as desired, or one or more sheets of the plain vellum cloth or similar
suitable material may be pasted to one or more sheets of the prepared vellum
cloth or similar suitable material by means of starches, glues, size, indiarubber
solution or any other matter suitable for making it adhere, or any combination
of these substances with the addition of glycerine, or a deliquescent salt or any
other softening material if required.
These pasting substances are used according to the pliability or stiffness required,
or the prepared sheets may be pasted together in like manner.
in a
6
To make a stronger and more untearable material two or more sheets may be
pasted together with ingredients as before mentioned or any combination of these
cross grained" manner that is to say the long fibres of one pasted sheet
are made to cross the long fibres of the other pasted sheet and this ensures a
material which is equally strong both ways and very much stronger than most
kinds of real leather results hitherto unattainable with any substance used as a
substitute for leather and thus marking a distinct and vital improvement on any
previous attempt to imitate real leather and by the foregoing processes, thereby
producing an article with a tensile strength and flexibility hitherto unattainable
and which possesses all the good qualities of leather with additional printing,
blocking, and other advantages, and which has the distinct advantage of being
less liable to injury on surface and with a hard, tough, and smooth surface which
cannot be rubbed up or roughened by wear and tear, as is at present the case with
unprepared vellum cloth or similar substances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion. and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim
is:-
First. A substitute for leather prepared from vellum cloth or equivalent material
by a process of coating and waterproofing same all substantially as herein de-
scribed.
Second. In a process for preparing a substitute for leather from vellum cloth
the coating of same with lactarine, gelatine, or equivalent material in solution

page_text: softened or rendered pliable with glycerine and waterproofing same by means
of formaldehyde, chrome alum or equivalent material all substantially as herein
described.
Third. In a process for preparing a substitute for leather from vellum cloth
the application of coatings of lactarine in solution with or without admixture.
of colour, softened or rendered pliable with glycerine and waterproofed by means
of formaldehyde or chrome alum all substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The use of vellum cloth in the preparation of a substitute for leather
all substantially in the manner as herein described.
Dated the 3rd March 1899.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.