AN IMPROVED COMPOUND TO BE USED FOR WATERPROOPING FABRICS, PAPER, LEATHER, OR OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philippe Pierre Hoffmann, of Strasbourg, in the
Empire of France, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMPOUND TO BE
USED FOR WATERPROOPING FABRICS, PAPER, LEATHER, OR OTHER MATERIALS."
Scaled the 23rd January 1857, and dated the 16th August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philippe Pierre Hoffmann
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th August 1856.
I, PHILIPPE PIERRE HOFFMANN, of Strasbourg, in the Empire of France, do
hereby decare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED COMPOUND
TO BE USED FOR WATERPROOFING FABRICS, PAPER, LEATHER, OR OTHER MATERIALS,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the manufacture of coatings quite impervious to
water, and also to air, which may be used for coating fabrics and materials
of various sorts, and as waterproof awnings or coverings, and may also be
applied to leather, paper, pasteboard, as a varnish or waterproof coating or
paint. Coatings of this compound are very elastic, supple, and little affected
by atmospheric influences, and do not warp, break, or become sticky, but
keep dry under all variations of atmospheric temperature.
These coatings consist of either a mixture of siccative or drying oil and
sulphur, which mixture I call, or is generally called, balm of sulphur, or of a

page_text: mixture of the said balm of sulphur with a quantity of siccative oil, gum
copal, gum opal, galipot, yellow amber, resin, litsphalt, india-rubber, and
gutta percha, and with essences of turpentine, naptha, &c., these two latter
keeping in solution the above said substances, which may be mixed
separately or at the same time with the balm of sulphur.
The two chief features of my Invention consist in the use or employment of
the balm of sulphur for rendering fabrics of all descriptions airor waterproof,
and in preparing the said balm, which being once obtained by the process
herein-after described, contains less sulphur, and has a less offensive smell,
yet at the same time preserving all the requisite properties.
I prepare the balm of sulphur in the following manner:-When the siccative
oil has boiled for about two hours, in order to thicken it and separate its
mucilaginous parts, which coagulate, I allow this oil a few days to settle
previous to decantation; I then take ten parts of it by weight, and submit it
again to slow boiling, during which I add smallquantities of flowersofsulphur,
and agitate the whole time. After putting in each portion of sulphur, which
immediately gives rise to a slight ebullition, I wait till the ebullition is over
and then add another portion; when from one to two part of flowers of sulphur
have been thus thrown in small quantities into the oily mixture,a transforma-
tion soon takes place, and the balm of sulphur now assumes a homogeneous
mass of a brownish colour, cohesive and elastic somewhat like india-rubber.
If it happens that by too great a heat, and in consequence of the sulphur
being thrown in at too short intervals, a quick ebulition may ensue, when a
mass almost inelastic will be obtained, which would not answer the desired
purpose; to render this useful, it will suffice to submit the material to the
action of a second boiling in a closed vessel for about two hours, and with a
properly managed fire, when the whole will return again to the liquid state,
and in such state may be employed.
The following is another improvement or manipulation:-In preparing the
balm of sulphur,a certain quantity of siccative oil is boiled till it has acquired
a thickish consistency; balm of sulphur is then added, containing from one-
tenth to one-fourth of sulphur, according to the greater or less quantity of
sulphur it is desired that the result should contain; mixture is effected by the
fusion of the two substances together. Instead of the flowers of sulphur, as
designed for the preparation of the balm of sulphur, roll sulphur, sulphuret of
carbon, or chloride of sulphur may be used.
The balm of sulphur thus prepared is used as the coating, and liquified
either by the action of heat, or by means of solvents, such as essence of
turpentine, naptha, &c. When it is desired to obtain a harder coating,

page_text: galipot, gum opal, yellow amber, and resin, litsphalt may be added. The
mixture of the said materials is effected as is usually done for preparing
varnishes, the gum or resin and the balm being melted separately and after-
wards mixed together; a solution of india-rubber or gutta percha will increase
the adhesiveness of the compound. These various coatings, prepared in the
manner described,may be applied in various ways on the fabric. The fabric to
be coated is dipped into the material when hot and in the liquid state, and
drawn back by being made to pass between two scrapers or cutters adjusted
transversely above the vessel, so that any excess of the material is removed by
the scrapers or knives, and drops into the vessel again; or the fabric may
be placed in a frame, and the hot material poured on and spread by means of
large blades; or any suitable machine may be used for rolling or spreading
it on the fabric or substance required, taking care that is uniformly applied,
and any superfluity of the coating removed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Philippe Pierre Hoffinann in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PHILIPPE
PIERRE HOFFMAN, of Strasbourg, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Philippe Pierre Hoffman, Her special licence, that I, the said Philippe
Pierre Hoffman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Philippe Pierre Hoffman, 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 IMPROVED COMPOUND TO BE USED FOR WATERPROOPING FABRICS. PAPER, LEATHER
OR OTHER MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Philippe Pierre Hoffman,my executors or administrators, byan instrument in
writing under my or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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

page_text: Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Philippe Pierre Hoffman, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention; and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention consists in the manufacture of coatings impervious to water,
and also to air, which may be used for coating fabrics and materials of various
sorts, as waterproof awnings or coverings, and may also be applied to leather,
paper, or pasteboard as a varnish or waterproof coating or paint. Coatings of
the compounds herein-after described are veryelastic, supple, and little effected
by atmospheric influences, and do not warp, break, or become sticky, but keep
dry under all variations of temperature of the atmosphere.
These coatings consist of either a mixture of siccative linseed oil and
sulphur, which mixture I call, or is generally called, balm of sulphur, or of a
mixture of the said balm of sulphurwith a quantity of siccative oil, gum copal,
gum opal, gallipot, yellow amber, resin, litsphalt, india-rubber, and gutta
percha, and with the essences of turpentine or naptha, &c., these two latter
keeping in solution the above named substances, which may be mixed.
separately or at the same time with the balm of sulphur.
The chief features of my Invention consist in the use or employment of the
balm of sulphur for rendering fabrics of all descriptions air and waterproof, and
in preparing the said balm, which, being obtained by the process herein-after
described, contains less sulphur, and has a less offensive smell than ordinary
balm of sulphur, yet at the same time preserving all the requisite properties.
I prepare the balm of sulphur in the following manner :-When the siccative
oil has boiled for about two hours, in order to thicken it and separate its
mucilaginous parts, which coaggulate, I allow this boiled oil a few days to
settle previous to decantation; I then take ten parts of it by weiglit, and
submit it again to slow boiling, during which I add small quantities of flowers
of sulphur, and agitate it the whole time. After putting in each portion of
sulphur, which immediately gives rise to a slight ebulition, I wait till the
ebulition is over, and then add another portion; when from one to two parts
of flowers of sulphur have been thus thrown in small quantities into the oily
mixture a transformation soon takes place, and the balm of sulphur now
assumes a homogeneous mass of a brownish colour, cohesive and clastic some-
what like india-rubber.
This composition or coating then is the following by weight :-Ten parts
of siccative thickened linseed oil, from one to two parts of sulphur in powder,

page_text: in addition to which one part of mixture A may be added. The mixture A
is separately compounded, as herein-after described, with oil and resin orgum.
If it happens that by ton great a heat, and in consequence of the sulphur
being thrown in at too short intervals, a quick ebulition may ensue, when a
mass alınost inelastic will be obtained which would not answer the desired
purpose; to render this useful, it will suffice to submit the material to the
action of a second boiling in a closed vessel for about two hours with a properly
managed fire, when the whole will return again to the liquid state, and in such
state may be used.
The following is another improvement or manipulation in preparing the
balm of sulphur-A certain quantity of siccative oil is boiled till it has
acquired a thickened consistency, balm of sulphur is then added, containing
from one-tenth to one-fourth of sulphur, according to the greater or less
quantity of sulphur it is desired that the result should contain; mixture is
effected by the fusion of the two substances together.
Thecomposition ofthe second coating may consist of the following materials
and proportions (by weight):-Forty parts of siccative linseed oil, thickened
with seven and a half parts of sulphur in powder, five parts of siccative linseed
oil, which, in addition to the boiling, may be further thickened by one part of
the mixture A, herein-after described.
Instead of the flowers of sulphur, as designed for the preparation of the
balm of sulphur, roll sulphur, sulphurate of carbon, orchloride of sulphur may
be used.
In preparing the balm of sulphur, as last herein-before described, the
component parts given are separately treated which are used, and their
proportions regulated according to the ultimate purpose for which the coatings
are required.
The balm of sulphur thus prepared is used as the coating, and liquified
either by the action of heat or by means of solvents, such as essence of
turpentine, naptha, &c. When it is desired to obtain a harder coating,
gallipot gum, yellow amber, and resin, litsphalt, &c. may be added.
These substances are all to be added one by one, or instead of so adding
them, a separate mixture herein-before denominated mixture A may be used.
Mixture A is prepared in the following manner :-I take (by weight) six
parts of siccative linseed oil, thicken it by boiling two hours on the fire, and
mix it with four parts of gum or resin. I melt these substances, and mix with
the oil when they are in ebulition. I use these mixtures separately, or with
other substances, as above described.
The mixture of the said materials is effected as is usually done for preparing

page_text: varnishes, the gum or resin, and the balm being melted separately, and
afterwards mixed together; a solution of india-rubber or gutta-percha will
increase the adhesiveness of the compound.
These various coatings, prepared in the manner described, may be applied
in various ways on the fabric or other material or article to be coated. The
fabric to be coated is dipped into the material when hot and in the liquid
state, from which it is withdrawn and made to pass between six scrapers
or cutters adjusted transversely above the vessel, so that any excess of the
material is removed by the scrapers or knives, and drops into the vessel
again.
I arrange these scrapers, which may be six in number, three on either side
of the material, and so arranged that the material quoted cannot pass straight
through between them, but is deflected alternately in opposite directions by
each alternate scraper. The scrapers are adjustable and arranged to produce
a greater or less amount of deflection, as may be required. According to the
deflection from the direct course in which the fabric or material coated when
drawn through has a tendency to pass, so will be frictional contact of the
scrapers upon its surface, and therefore the material coated may be scraped
with more or less force according to quantity of the coating taken up it is
desired to remove; or the fabric may be placed in a frame, and the hot material
poured on and spread by means of large blades; or any suitable machine may
be used for rolling or spreading it on the fabric or substance required, taking
care that it is uniformly applied, and any superfluity of the coating removed.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be performed, I declare that what I claim as of my Inven-
tion, and to be secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is, the methods of preparing, and the preparations of balm of sulphur,
as herein-before described, to be used as a waterproof coating separately urin
combination with other substances, as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philippe Pierre Hoffinan, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
PH. P. HOFFMANN. (L.s.)