A NEW DETERGENT
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elijah Freeman Prentiss, of the City of Philadelphia,
in the United States of America, Manufacturing Chemist, for the Inven-
tion of "A NEW DETERGENT."
Sealed the 30th April 1861, and dated the 5th November 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Elijah Freeman Prentiss
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 5th November 1860.
I, ELIJAH FREEMAN PRENTISS, of the City of Philadelphia, in the United
States of America, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "A NEW DETERGENT," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
This improved detergent consists in the mode of preparing and using the
material herein-after described, which is a form of silicate of soda, specially
adapted to be used for fulling and cleansing in the manner herein-after
described, as a substitute for soap, alkalis, urine, and other materials.
In the operation of fulling woollen goods it is necessary that the goods
should be thoroughly cleansed from all grease. This is ordinarily effected by
alkali and soap; stale urine is also employed for softening and cleansing the
goods; soap will not of itself cleanse the grease from the wool, and although
a preparation of silicate of soda has been heretofore attempted to be made up
into a soap, yet it does not possess the cleansing or softening property of the
material made and used as herein-after described.
The preparation of silicate of soda, as herein-after described, when used in

page_text: the manner herein-after described, has the effect by itself of cleansing tho-
roughly the woollen goods, dispensing with the use of any alkali, and also with
the use of soap, and obviating a large amount of labor. In manufacturing the
silicate of soda solution for the purpose of fulling and washing, use a mixture
of one pound of soda ash free from salt, and two of clean white sand, or employ
a mixture of sulphate of soda, charcoal, and white sand. The materials are
ground and mixed together and then fused in a furnace, similar to a glass fur-
nace, and the same kind of pots as those employed by glass makers may be
used, or the silicate of soda may be manufactured in any other convenient way.
The time required to fuse it is about 10 hours, with an intense heat. The
fused part is then removed and immediately treated with cold water to soften
it. It is then crushed between rollers and ground, then dissolved in hot water
and evaporated down to a consistency of 30° Beaumé, and is then ready
for use.
In applying the preparation for fulling purposes I use it instead of alkali,
with or without a small quantity of common soap, and in the proportion of ten
gallons of water to one of the solution above described. No urine or any
other article is necessary in fulling with silicate solution, as it possesses the
property of both cleansing and softening. This solution is to be used for
washing purposes instead of soap, as follows:-For washing cotton and linen
fabrics, put half a pint of the solution into 4 gallons of hot water (or in that
proportion), soak the clothes in this for 12 hours (24 hours would be still
better, if convenient). Wring the clothes out of this solution into warm water,
then, if any soiled parts remain, give them a rub between the hands and rinse
out in clean water.
Very much soiled clothes (such as those of mechanics) after going through
the above process, may require rubbing with the hands before being rinsed
ont.
For washing woollens. Use the same proportions as above of solution and
water, but not boiling water, and do not boil the goods. Let the water be
about 120° Fahrenheit, or about as warm as you can bear your hand in. Put
in the fabrics, let then remain about half an hour, and then rinse out in clean
cold water.
For cleansing wool. Use gallon of solution to 60 gallons of hot water 120°,
and keep on washing in same liquor by adding a little of the solution.
For fulling. Use 1 gallon solution in 10 gallons water.
For cleansing woollen fabrics the operator will have to be governed accord-
ing to circumstances, some goods containing more oily substances than others.
For cleansing silk dresses and woollen and silk fabrics. Use half a pint of

page_text: solution to 6 gallons of hot water; after soaking the fabrics in this liquor
a few minutes rub the soiled places with the hands and rinse in clean cold
Coloured goods will be improved by using the solution, and at the
same time rendered perfectly clean and soft.
For cleaning type. Use 1 gallon of solution to 5 gallons of warm water.
For cleaning paint. Use about the same quantity named in first direction.
The advantages of the use of the silicate of soda solution when prepared
and used as above described arè, that it is much more economical, requires
much less labor and time, and possesses a greater power of cleansing and soft-
ening the fabrics. It possesses the advantage over solutions of alkali by
leaving the goods in a softer state, and the power also of removing the gum
from the wool in scouring it, which no silicated soap, common soap, or alkali
possesses.
Having thus described the said Invention, it is not desired to claim the em-
ployment of silicate of soda as an ingredient in the manufacture of soap, as
that has been tried before, nor any mode of making alkaline silicates, nor yet
the solutions of alkaline silicates with chlorine or chlorides for bleaching and
finishing textile fabrics, as they do not possess the cleansing properties of the
solution prepared and used as above described; but what this Invention con-
sists in is, the employment of silicate of soda solution by itself when prepared
and used substantially as above described for cleansing and softening the fabric
in the fulling mill or wash tub as a wash mixture.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Elijah Freeman Prentiss in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th May 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELIJAH
FREEMAN PRENTISS, of the City of Philadelphia, in the United States of
America, Manufacturing Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Пer Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Iler reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Elijah Freeman Prentiss, Her special licence that I, the said Elijah Freeman
Prentiss, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Elijah Freeman Prentiss, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all

page_text: 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 "A
NEW DETERGENT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Elijah
Freeman Prentiss, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Elijah Freeman Prentiss, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
This my improved detergent consists in the mode of preparing and using
the material herein-after described, which is a form of silicate of soda specially
adapted to be used for fulling and cleansing in the manner berein-after
described, as a substitute for soaps, alkalis, urine, and other materials.
In the operation of fulling woollen goods it is necessary that the goods
should be thoroughly cleansed from all grease. This is ordinarily effected by
alkali and soap; stale urine is also employed for softening and cleansing the
goods; soap will not of itself cleanse the grease from the wool, and although a
preparation of silicate of soda has been heretofore attempted to be made up
into a soap, yet it does not possess the cleansing or softening property of the
material made and used according to this my said Invention.
Silicate of soda prepared and used as herein-after described has the effect
by itself of thoroughly cleansing woollen goods, dispensing with the use of any
alkali, and also with the use of soap, and obviating a large amount of labor.
In manufacturing the silicate of soda solution for the purpose of fulling and
washing, I use a mixture of one pound of soda ash, free from salt, and two of
clean white sand, or I employ a mixture of sulphate of soda, charcoal, and
white sand. The materials I grind and mix together, and then fuse in a fur-
similar to a glass furnace, and the same kind of pots as those employed
by glass makers may be used, or the silicate of soda may be manufactured in
any other convenient way. The time requisite to fuse it is about ten hours,
with an intense heat; the fused part is then removed and immediately treated
with cold water to soften it. It is then crushed between rollers and ground,
then dissolved in hot water, and evaporated down to a consistency of 30°
Beaumé, and is then ready for use.
nace,

page_text: In applying my improved preparation for fulling purposes, I use it instead
of alkali, with or without a small quantity of common soap, and in the propor
tion of ten gallons of water to one of the solution above described. No urine
or any other article is necessary in fulling with silicate solution, as it possesses
the property of both cleaning and softening.
This my improved solution is used for washing purposes instead of soap, as-
follows, say:
For washing cotton and linen fabrics I put half a pint of the detergent into
five gallons of hot water, and immerse the clothes in the above proportions of
solution for five or ten minutes; then give the soiled parts a rub between the
hands, wring out, and rinse in cold water.
For washing woollens, I use the same proportions as above of solution and
water, but not boiling water, and do not boil the goods. I let the water be
about 120° Fahrenheit, or about as warm as you can bear your hand in. I
put in the fabrics and let them remain about half an hour, and then rinse out
in clean warm water.
For cleansing wool I use half gallon of solution to 60 gallons of hot water
120°, and keep on washing in the same liquor, adding a little of the solution.
For fulling I use one gallon solution to ten gallons water.
For cleansing woollen fabrics the operator will have to be governed
according to circumstances, some goods containing more oily substances than
others.
For cleaning silk dresses and woollen and silk fabrics I use half a pint of
solution to six gallons of hot water; after soaking the fabrics in this liquor a
few minutes, I rub the soiled places with the hands and rinse in cold
water. Coloured goods will be improved by using the solution, and at the
same time rendered perfectly clean and soft.
For cleansing type I use one gallon of solution to five gallons of warm
water, but cold water will answer.
For cleaning paint I use about the same quantity named in first
direction.
The advantages in the use of the silicate of soda solution, when prepared
and used as above described, are, that it is much more economical, requires
much less labour and time, and possesses a greater power of cleansing and
softening the fabrics than any thing hitherto used. It possesses the advan-
tage over the solutions of alkali by leaving the goods in a softer state, and the
power also of removing the gum from the wool in scouring it, which no sili-
cated soap, common soap, or alkali possesses.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said

page_text: Invention, and the best mode I am acquainted with to give it a useful prac-
tical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the employment of
a silicate of soda as an ingredient in the manufacture of soap, as that is not
new, and is in common use; nor do I claim any mode of making alkaline
silicates, nor yet the solutions of alkaline silicates with chlorine or chlorides for
bleaching and finishing textile fabrics, as they do not possess the cleansing
properties of the silicate prepared and used as herein-before described and set
forth; but what I do claim is, the employment of a silicate of soda solution by
itself when prepared and used substantially and in the manner herein-before
described and set forth, or any mere modification, as a washing mixture for
cleaning and softening fabrics in the fulling mill or wash tub.
In witness whereof, I, the said Elijah Freeman Prentiss, have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Third day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
ELIJAH FREEMAN (L.s.) PRENTISS.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.