Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Whalebone from Parchmentized Skin.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Whalebone from
Parchmentized Skin.
I, JOHN PATRICK O'DONNELL, Patent Agent, of 70 & 71 Palace Chambers,
Westminster in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (communicated to me from abroad by J. A. Schweitzer of Villa des
Tilleuls, 86 Route de Gonesse, Stains, in the Republic of France) to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a new and improved method of manufacturing artificial
whalebone from parchmentized skin.
The methods hitherto in use to obtain this result have not been successful.
insomuch as the skins have been treated with lime and the hair removed by sulphides
or fermentation. Skins treated in this manner lose much of their stiffness and
elasticity and are no longer of value in the manufacture of artificial whalebone.
The main feature in this manufacture is to preserve in the skin all its gelatine
aud fibrine.
With my process, instead of destroying the nerve in the skin by pulling or
tearing off the hair, L. simply shave it off and then dip the skin into a bath of
potassium bi-chromate after which it is stretched tightly on special frames by special
tools or by any tightening apparatus, and left to dry.
When dry the skins are dipped into a bath of bi-sulphide of soda or lime, again
dried and then cut into strips of imitation whalebone.
Skins prepared according to my process
an olive-green hue, are
unalterable and imputrescible.
Dated this 14th day of July A.D. 1894
assume
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Whalebone from
Parchmentized Skin.
I, JOHN PATRICK O'DONNELL, Chartered Patent Agent, of 70 & 71 Palace
Chambers, Westminster in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (communicated to me from abroad by J. A. Schweitzer
of Villa des Tilleuls, 86 Route de Gonesse, Stains, in the Republic of France)
to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to a new and improved method of manufacturing artificial
whalebone from parchmentized skin.
The methods hitherto in use to obtain this result have not been successful in so
much as the skins have been treated with lime and the hair removed by sulphides or
fermentation. Skins treated in this manner lose much of their stiffness and
elasticity and are no longer of value in the manufacture of artificial whalebone.
The main feature in this manufacture is to preserve in the skin all its gelatine
and fibrine.

page_text: With my process, instead of destroying the nerve in the skin by pulling or
tearing off the hair, I simply shave it off and then dip the skin into a bath of
potassium bi-chromate after which it is stretched tightly on frames by means of
suitable known form of tightening apparatus, and left to dry.
any
When dry the skins are dipped into a bath of bi-sulphide of soda or lime, again
dried and then cut into strips of imitation whalebone.
Both baths are cold; the first consists of 10% of potassium bi-chromate and
90% of water and the second of 10% of bi-sulphide of soda or lime and 90% of
water.
The skins remain in the first bath for about 15 to 20 minutes and in the second
from 48 to 72 hours,-until the skins are quite green.
Skins prepared according to my process assume an olive-green hue, are
unalterable and imputrescible..
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:-
The method of making artificial whalebone from parchmentized skin consisting
in the removal of the hair by shaving and the immersion of the skin, first, in a bath
of potassium bi-chromate and second, in a bath of bi-sulphide of soda or lime and
then drying the skin on a tightening or stretching frame.
Dated this 28th day of March 1895.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71, Palace Chambers, Westminster, London, S.W.