IMPROVEMENts in the ManufACTURE OF BLACKING
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Bell, of Acton, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of “IMPROVEMENts in the ManufACTURE
OF BLACKING.”
Scaled the 23rd May 1876, and dated tho 26th November 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Bell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th November 1875.
I, ROBERT BELL, of Acton, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
3 declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BLACKING," to be as follows:—
My Invention consists in mixing or incorporating one or more of the
following substances, that is to say:-Gelatine, glycerine, and washing
soda, or an anti-acid, with any other ingredients that are generally
employed in the manufacture of blacking, whereby I obtain an
economical composition, which when applied to leather and other
articles produces a brilliant polish which is wholly unaffected by damp.

page_text: The manner in which I prefer to make the composition is as follows :—
To 3 lbs. of ivory black add oil of vitriol 12 oz., solution of soda 4oz.,
treacle 1 lb., together with a sufficient quantity of gelatine dissolved in
three times its equivalent of water to reduce the whole to a liquid state
if necessary, or a smaller quantity so as to leave the whole in the 5
condition of paste.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Robert Bell in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, ROBERT
BELL, of Acton, Co. Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Bell, Her special
licence that I, the said Robert Bell, my heirs, executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Bell, my exe-
cutors, 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, excrcise, 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 BLACKING," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Robert Bell, 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.

page_text: ave to be particularly described and ascertained in ana by
the following statement :—
My Invention consists in mixing or incorporating gelatine and
glycerine or a mixture thereof; also washing soda or other suitable anti-
acid with any other ingredients, such as are generally employed in the
manufacture of blacking, whereby I obtain an economical composition,
which when applied to leather and other articles produces a brilliant
polish wholly unaffected by damp, and which besides contains no acid to
harden or otherwise injure the leather.
The manner in which I prefer to make the composition or blacking is
as follows:-I take ivory black, say one pound, and add to it four ounces
of oil of vitroil; I work them well together, and when the vitroil has
done its duty upon the black I add four ounces of fish, colza, or other
suitable oil; I stir the mixture well for some time until the oil is
thoroughly incorporated with the black; I then pour gradually into
the mixture a strong solution of washing soda or other suitable anti-
acid, and continue to stir thoroughly until ebullition ceases or until the
the acid is neutralized; I next add about eight ounces of treacle and
then pour in a solution of gelatine and glycerine in a quantity of about
two quarts which will be sufficient to make a liquid blacking, a less
quantity being required for paste, the manufacture being now complete.
The solution of glycerino and gelatine above mentioned is made by
dissolving, by preference, the best size in hot water in the proportion of
four parts of water to one of size, and then adding to every quart of the
liquid one ounce and a half of the glycerine.
The addition of the preparation of gelatine and glycerine gives great
brilliancy, depth of color, and permanency to the blacking when applied
to leather or other surface, and at the same time makes the blacking
water or damp proof, and the addition of the anti-acid has the effect of
neutralizing the acid or oil of vitroil employed to act upon the ivory
black, and thereby prevents that injurious action upon the leather
which is caused by the acid contained in the blackings ordinarily
made.

page_text: WHAT CBT IS,
First. The employment of gelatine and glycerine in the manufacturo
of blacking, substantially as herein-before described.
Second. The employment of an anti-acid in the manufacture of
blacking, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Bell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
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