Improvements relating to the Manufacture and Finishing of Leather.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture and Finishing of Leather.
We, CHRISTIAN EUGENE LAPPE, of 5920, Wellsley Avenue, and HENRY A. LAPPE,
of 812, N. Highland Avenue, both of Pittsburg, in the County of Allegheny
and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Tanners, 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:-
Our invention relates to a certain new and improved method of manufacturing
and finishing leather.
Our process particularly relates to the manufacturing and finishing of leather
which is adapted for use for the vamps and tops of shoes and may be advan-
tageously employed for the manufacturing of other articles.
The leather produced by our process possesses decided advantages over the
leathers heretofore manufactured in cheapness, durability, utility, and general
appearance, and particular attention is directed to the inner or flesh side of
the leather, which is colored a dull blue-black, giving it a distinctive appear-
ance, which is so desirable, and, furthermore, assisting materially to lessen the
cost of its manufacture.
The process finally consists in the novel succession of steps hereinafter
described, whereby the calf or kangaroo, skin or hide when finished is adapted
for the above purposes.
The process or steps used for the finishing of a calf or kangaroo, skin or hide
into a leather adapted for the above uses is as follows: An unstuffed calf or
kangaroo, skin or hide, tanned by a gambier, quebracho, or other vegetable
tanning process, is stuffed to its proper consistency by the use of fat liquor
composed of the following ingredients: 3 lbs. soap, 35 lbs. sod oil, 65 lbs. degras,
and lbs. carbonate of potash, and is then dried in the usual manner. The
inner or flesh side of the calf or kangaroo, skin or hide is colored a blue-black
by any suitable composition. After the flesh or inner face of the skin or hide
is blue-blacked the outer or grained face thereof is colored a jet black by any
desirable composition. After the outer and inner face of the calf or kangaroo,
skin or hide has been colored as desired the same is then slicked out smooth to
set out the grain on its outer or grained face. It is then dried in the well-known
manner. The skin or hide is then staked and trimmed in the ordinary way.
The calf or kangaroo, skin or hide after it has been staked and trimmed as set
forth is seasoned by the use of 4 ounces of blue-stone, ounce muriate of iron,
14 ounces of logwood, 5 ounces of ammonia, 16 ounces of blood and of an ounce
of nigrosine. The skin or hide after it has been seasoned is then dried at the
temperature of 120° to 180° Fahrenheit. The skin or hide after it is dried,
as stated, is then glazed in any desirable manner. The skin or hide after it
has passed through the glazing process is again staked. After it has been
staked it is seasoned again by the use of blue-stone, iron, logwood, ammonia,
blood and nigrosine, the proportions being as follows: 4 ounces of blue-stone,
ounce of muriate of iron, 14 ounces of logwood, 5 ounces of ammonia 16 ounces

page_text: of blood, ounce of nigrosine. The skin or hide after it has been seasoned is
again dried at the temperature of 120° to 180° Fahrenheit. The skin or hide
is then glazed in any desirable manner. The skin or hide after it has passed
through the glazing process for the third time is again staked. After it has
been staked it is seasoned by the use of blue-stone, iron,, logwood, ammonia,
blood, and nigrosine, the proportions being as follows: 4 ounces of blue-stone,
ounce of muriate of iron, 14 ounces of logwood, 5 ounces of ammonia,. 16 ounces
of blood, ounce of nigrosine. The skin or hide after it has been seasoned
is again dried at the temperature of 120° to 180° Fahrenheit. After the drying
process it is glazed in any desirable manner, and the finished product is ready
for the market.
The leather produced by the foregoing process has an unusually high-
polished grained surface and possesses all the qualities of the ordinary leathers
now on the market. It has the appearance of patent or enamel leather to a
great extent, as well as glazed kids and other leathers. At the same time
when in use the leather will be free from excessive cracking or breaking, which
is usual in patent or enamel leathers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
wo claim is:
The herein-described improved method of manufacturing and finishing leather
which consists in stuffing and drying a tanned skin or hide, subjecting the same
on the grain side to a composition of jet-black coloring matter, then slicking
drying and staking the same, subjecting the skin or hide to a seasoning
composition of blue-stone, logwood, muriate of iron, ammonia, blood and nigro-
sine, then drying in a temperature of 120° to 180° Fahrenheit, and then suitably
glazing to produce the finished product, substantially as herein set forth.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.