Improved Means and Process for Preparing Skins and Hides for Tanning.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Process for Preparing Skins and Hides
for Tanning.
I, RANDOLPH CHARLES WANT, of 9 Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County
of Middlesex, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me from abroad by George Mitchell of Dunedin, in the
Colony of New Zealand, Baker, and Robert William Rutherford, of the same place,
Photographer, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for object the employment of an aqueous solution of Sulphate
of Ammonia, an aqueous solution of Sulphate of Soda, an aqueous solution of
Sulphate of Magnesium, or an aqueous solution of Sulphate of Potassium for the
purpose of preparing skins and hides for tanning.
The skins or hides are simply steeped in the solution in the same manner as hides
or skins are steeped in the ordinary process of "bating" or "puring" in preparing
them for tanning and allowed to remain in the solution as long as may be necessary.
The hides or skins are then taken out of the solution and "scudded or scraped and
washed and are then ready for tanning.
"
33
or
"
29
The use of the process is in place of the present process of "bating puring
and renders the use of acids unnecessary in preparing the hides or skins for tanning.
The strength of the solution is regulated according to the thickness of the hides or
skins to be treated and the time to be allowed and there is no difference in the
treatment of hides and of skins.
As an example, for ordinary bullock hides or skins; a solution of one pound of
Sulphate of Ammonia to four gallons of water, this is sufficient to effect the above
purpose in twenty-four hours and for calf or sheep skins, or hides, or pelts in some
hours less but the skins or hides are not injured by being allowed to remain in the
solution for a much longer time. In cold weather a longer time will be required than
is required in warm weather. The workman whose duty it is to watch the
will be able to determine in the ordinary way as is now the practice in "bating "hides
or skins when the hides or skins have been long enough in the solution and will
exercise his discretion as to when they should be removed. A greater or less
proportion of the Sulphate will result in a less or greater time being required for
bating" or "puring the hides or skins.
process
The above solution of Sulphate of Ammonia and water is believed to be the best
for the process. The other Sulphates are used separately in the same proportions
thus, one pound of Sulphate of Soda, or of Sulphate of Magnesium, or of Sulphate
of Potassium to four gallons of water.
By the use of this process skins and hides are prepared for the reception of the
tanning without injury to them and in a much shorter time than is required in any of
the ordinary methods of treatment, and skins and hides so prepared are rendered so
susceptible to the reception of the tanning that they are tanned much more rapidly
than by any of the ordinary processes, the time required being about one fourth of
the time taken by the processes now in use. This process also improves the quality
of the leather produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The employment of an aqueous solution of Sulphate of Ammonia, or an aqueous
solution of Sulphate of Soda, or an aqueous solution of Sulphate of Magnesium, or an
aqueous solution of Sulphate of Potassium, in or about the proportions named for the
Dusse ducaribed

page_text: 2. The process of operating upon skins and hides by either of the substances
above set forth as a preparatory treatment to tanning.
The 27th day of August 1889
H. GARDNER,
166 Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said Randolph Charles Want.