AN IMPROVE- MENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Ker, of the West of England Soap Works
Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVE-
MENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Ker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th November
1861.
I, DAVID KER, of the West of England Soap Works, Plymouth, in the
County of Devon, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to improve the quality of soap in which
sulphate of soda is used as an ingredient.
Hitherto, soap made by the admixture of sulphate of soda with the saponified
compounds while in a melted state has been very apt to become encrusted with
an efflorescence of soda, which detracts from its marketable value. I have,
however, found that by the introduction into soap of a solution made from
either gums, natural or artificial, albuminous, gelatinous, or glutinous sub-
stances, this efflorescence will be prevented, and a firm clear soap will result.
To this end, after applying the sulphate of soda, I mix therewith a solution
made from either gums, natural or artificial, albuminous, gelatinous, or gluti-
nous substances, whether derived from animal or vegetable substances, and

page_text: add the same to the saponaceous mixture while in a fluid state, the thorough
admixture of which substances I ensure by continuous stirring.
The proportions which I propose to adopt will vary widely, according to the
use to which the soap is to be applied. As an illustration, I may remark, that
I add from 1 lb. per ton to 10 cwts. per ton of my gelatinous, albuminous, and
gummy substance to the saponaceous mixture, and in like manner any quan-
tity of sulphate of soda, varying from 1 lb. per ton to 9 cwt. per ton.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Ker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
May 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
KER, of the West of England Soap Works, Plymouth, in the County of
Devon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said David Ker, Her special license that I, the said David Ker, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said David
Ker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said David Ker, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Ker, 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)
-
The object of this Invention is to improve the quality of that class of soap in
which sulphate of soda is used as an ingredient...

page_text: Hitherto soap made by the admixture of sulphate of soda with the saponified
compounds while in a melted state has been very apt to become incrusted with
an efflorescence of soda, which detracts from its marketable value. I have,
however, found that by the introduction of gluten into the soap containing sul-
phate of soda, the tendency to this efflorescence will be removed, and a firm
clear soap will result. To this end, either before or after applying the sulphate
of soda, I mix with the saponaceous compound, while in a fluid state, any albu-
minous, gelatinous, glutinous, or gummy substance (whether derived from
animal or vegetable substances), and ensure the thorough admixture of the
substances by the application of continuous stirring. The gelatinous or glu-
tinous substance to be applied according to this Invention I propose to obtain
(by preference) from Irish moss, Iceland moss, or seaweed, by dissolving the
same in cold water, or by boiling and then straining the liquid clear. I prefer
to operate upon the soap as it comes direct from the coppers (but the soap
may be a remelted soap), and I effect the mixing in a tub or other convenient
vessel while the soap is still in a liquid state. By preference, I first add the
sulphate of soda and then the gummy solution, but the order of procedure is
not materiál.
The proportions which I employ may vary considerably without destroying
the useful effect of the combination. I do not therefore confine myself to pro-
portions. As a guide, however, to the soap manufacturer I would state the
actual proportions which I have employed with good results in the production
of three qualities of soaps.
For what I term the "common quality," I take ten hundredweight of soap,
then crutch in seven and a quarter hundredweight of sulphate of soda, either
dry or in a hot solution, at a specific gravity of about fifty to fifty-six degrees
Twaddle, and having well crutched or stirred the mixture, I add thereto two
and three-quarters hundredweight of moss solution or other gummy, gelatinous,
or glutinous solution, made by boiling, say, eight pounds of the solid substance
in one hundredweight of water; after having well incorporated the glutinous
solution, I run the soap into the frames in the ordinary manner to cool.
For what I term the "medium quality," I take twelve hundredweight of
soap, then crutch in as above five and three-quarters hundredweight of sulphate
of soda in solution, at a specific gravity of about forty-four degrees Twaddle,
and after that two and one-quarter hundredweight of the gummy solution.
And for what I term the "superior quality," I take fifteen hundredweight
of soap in solution, at a specific gravity of about forty degrees Twaddle, and
add thereto as described four hundredweight of sulphate of soda, and sub-
sequently stir in one hundredweight of the solution.

page_text: Having now set forth the. nature of my Invention of "An Improvement in
the Manufacture of Soap," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters
Patent I claim, the combination, with saponaceous matters containing sulphate
of soda, of an albuminous, gelatinous, glutinous, or gummy substance, in the
manner and for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Ker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
(L.S.) DAVID KER.