IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER BINDING
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER BINDING."-A communication from abroad
by Matthew Henry Merriam, and Eugene Lindsey Norton, both of
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition and Decla-
ration, on the 8th October 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THI
MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER BINDING," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant

page_text: unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent
for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Matthew Henry Merriam and Eugene
Lindsey Norton, both of Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
. manner the samo is to be performed, in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to an improved manufacture of leather binding
employed mostly for binding the edges of shoes, though applicable elsewhere
in the arts, for the purpose of binding edges of various goods.
This Invention is a new article of manufacture, and consists of a leather
binding made up to considerable length by joining the ends of such short
pieces as can be cut from skins, by scarfing and cementing together said ends,
when reduced to a uniform width and thickness after such joining, by which
reduction alone. a necessary and perfect equality of cross section is secured
everywhere throughout the length of the binding, this condition of size being
necessary for the convenient application of leather binding by implements
known as "binders" used in combination with sewing machines, and having
one or both edges of the binding colored to give a finished appearance there-
unto where exposed on bound goods, said edge coloring being generally, by
preference; that of the striping or coloring on the finished surface of the
binding or that of the exposed surface of the goods to be bound.
In practice it desirable to have some of this binding striped longitudinally,
which is effected by means referred to beyond; some of the binding it is
desirable to have of the color of the hair surface of the skins, or the color of
the skins may be modified or changed on the surface of the binding by
unformily spreading color over that surface of the binding designed to be the
finished surface thereof. In connection with the continuity of this article, its
distinguishing features are perfect uniformity of width and thickness, the
thickness being such as to allow it to be easily doubled over the edges of shoe
uppers or other goods by the action of "binders" before referred to, as well
as by hand, without objectionable protuberance from the parallel surfaces of the
object bound.
Prior to this Invention leather binding was produced in short strips cut
from skins in such lengths as the various parts thereof would afford. Such
binding was rarely cut with the care necessary to give it uniformity of width,

page_text: and it varied in thickness with the thickness of the skins, this lack of uniformity
coupled with lack of continuity for any considerable: length rendering.it
impracticable to apply such binding with the aid of binders in connection with
sewing machines. When it was desired to have this kind of binding striped, the
whole skin was striped as follows:-A marking tool, simply made of wood
with brushes or sponges attached so as to leave spaces between the brushes or
sponges of about equal width therewith, was supplied with ink or other suitable
fluid color, and was then drawn over the surface of the skin guided by a
straightedge, and this operation was repeated till the whole surface of the
skin was striped. When the color became dry the skin might be cut up into
strips by cutting in the centre of each stripe; but the skins were usually sold
whole to the consumers of binding, who with but rude devices cut the skins
into strips as required for consumption.
To produce this improved manufacture the skins are
." set out" upon
boards, and when dried are cut into strips of some, width, say a little more than
two inches if it is desired to produce binding of half inch in width. These
wide strips are inspected and bad places therein are cut out, and then the
ends are scarfed and cemented with isinglass or other fine glue or other suitable
cement, and it is of advantage to make use of a series of presses in this
cementing so as to have the cement-set or dry in the first press before the last
is used, thus avoiding delay to the operator; then by the action of a set of
rotary shears this wide strip is slit into several narrow ones, a slight string or
shaving being taken off from the outer edge of each outer strip to secure
straightness and uniformity of width. If it is desired to produce striped
binding from these strips, or if it is desired to print them with uniform color
or with figures in color, they are passed through suitable printing rolls and
thence through a dryer, from which on emerging the strips are to be conducted
to a cutting machine, by which by splitting or shaving the binding is reduced
to uniform thickness. The best machine for this purpose is provided with a
rotating cylindrical or tub knife, though a disc knife may be used, and the
cutting edge in either case is kept always sharp by the action of rotating
grinders. Instead of passing to printing rolls, embossing rolls may be used
alone or in connection with printing rolls, and where the binding is not
embossed it is well to finish it either in callender rolls or in a rubbing or
polishing machine. After the last surface making or finishing operation is
performed, the binding passes into a winding machine, which by preference
is such as will measure the same into definite lengths while making up the
binding into close scroll-like rolls like rolls of tape.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said improvements as communicated to me
from my foreign correspondent, I claim the Invention substantially as herein.
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)
Witness,
CECIL RAWORTH,
8, Southampton Buildings, W. C.