An Improved Substitute for Leather.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
UDIT LEIE DIECIFICATION.
An Improved Substitute for Leather.
ERNEST DREW of 33 Piccadilly Circus in the County of Middlesex Travelling
Trunk Portmanteau and Dress Basket Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, durable, and effective substitute
for leather for the manufacture of travelling trunks, dress baskets, portmanteaus,
bags, and the like articles.
The method I adopt in the manufacture of this improved substitute for leather is
as follows.
I obtain a piece of special flat wood and specially prepare it (particularly
described hereafter) to a suitable thickness so that it is perfectly pliable and will
bend without cracking or breaking taking particular care that I obtain a perfectly
equal thickness throughout. Having obtained the required thickness I take two
pieces of canvas or other suitable material of the necessary sizes to cover the whole
surface of the plate or piece of wood and affix the same with a special adhesive
cement hereinafter described the outside canvas or other covering material being of
waterproof texture prepared to stand wear and damp when the canvas is firmly
fixed to the wood I well press and allow it to thoroughly dry when it is ready to cut
up into suitable sizes for use.
The means I prefer for carrying my invention into practice are First I obtain
a log of American ash and reduce it by sawing to an equal thickness throughout,
of an eighth of an inch or thereabouts. Secondly having obtained the required
thickness I leave the surface of the wood both sides quite rough from the roughing
plane so that the canvas or other covering will adhere firmly to the wood. Thirdly
take a solution of suitable glue hereinafter described and cover the whole surface
of the wood both sides & fix the canvas or other covering material thereto. The
wood & material with which it is covered is then well pressed together and allowed
to thoroughly dry. I then prepare & cut this plate into suitable sizes so that it can
be sewn and welted as leather is sewn and welted.
Although I use American ash reduced to an eighth of an inch in thickness I do
not confine myself to this particular wood nor to this particular thickness. All kinds
of wood of a pliable nature and capable of being sawn into plates as described and
any suitable thickness can be used for the purpose of my invention.
In further explanation of the manner in which I carry my invention into practice
I obtain a log of selected American ash, cut the same into boards of an equal
thickness, of an eighth of an inch, or thereabouts, by sawing; 1 then stack these
boards for the purpose of drying, so that they will not split after which I rough
the surface, on each side, with a roughing plane. I then shoot, or cut the edges of
these boards and join them together, edge to edge, with the adhesive preparation
hereinafter described by this means 1 obtain a plate that will not break or come
asunder as would be the case if they were joined with ordinary cement or glue.
The boards then form the basis of my invention.
I then coat each surface of the boards with a coating of the adhesive preparation,
hereinafter described, which being waterproof prevents the wood being affected by
moisture as would be the case unless the wood were so treated. I then cover the
surface (one side) of the board with waterproof canvas which adheres by means of
the adhesive preparation, (hereinafter described), in a strong manner. The other
surface of the wood I cover in like manner, but the canvas in this case is not
waterproof.
I now press this plate now formed of the wood basis, adhesive preparation and

page_text: canvas very closely together and allow the same to dry in a temperature of
60 degrees when it becomes hard pliable and very durable for the purposes for
which it is intended.
Having now obtained the desired boards or plates I cut them to any required
size 1 bevel the edges all round to an angle of 45 degrees so that when two edges
are put together they form a close mitred joint I can then sew and welt the same as
ordinary leather is sewn and welted.
The adhesive preparation or cement before referred to is composed of the
following inmedia
which it is intended.
Having now obtained the desired boards or plates I cut them to any required
size 1 bevel the edges all round to an angle of 45 degrees so that when two edges
are put together they form a close mitred joint I can then sew and welt the same as
ordinary leather is sewn and welted.
The adhesive preparation or cement before referred to is composed of the
following ingredients
10 lbs. of best Scotch glue
3 lbs. of marine glue
1 lb. of plaster of paris
which when melted and well mixed together forms a reliable cement proof against
moisture. It is applied as ordinary glue is used.
The features that are quite new in this my invention are, the manner of preparing
the wood basis, the composition of the adhesive cement.
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
1st. An improved substitute for leather composed of wood sawn roughed and
coated with an adhesive material and covered with canvas or other suitable covering
substantially as specified.
2ndly. The manufacture of an improved substitute for leather as specified for the
manufacture of travelling trunks portmanteaus dress baskets and other analogous
articles.
3rdly. The composition of an adhesive cement used in the manufacture of this
substitute for leather as specified.
Dated this 15th do of Anril 1801