IMPROVE MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF LEATHER WITHOUT SEAMS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samúel Middleton, of No. 15, Porter Street, Newport
Market, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES
OF LEATHER WITHOUT
SEAMS."
Scaled the 2nd January 1857, and dated the 3rd November 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Middleton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
November 1856.
1, SAMUEL MIDDLETON, of No. 15, Porter Street, Newport Market, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF LEATHER
WITHOUT SEAMS," to be as follows:-.
This Invention relates to the manufacturing of such articles of leather
as have heretofore been made with seams, either by sewing (technically
termed "closing") or otherwise connecting the separate or divided parts
of the material together, and consists,―
Firstly, in exerting pressure upon dies or lasts of wood or metal, so
as to cause a flat piece of leather when. pressed thereby to assume and
retain the shape of such die or last, as herein-after more fully explained.
Secondly, in the use of the skins of the tails and other parts of certain
animals for the manufacture or production of articles without seams, the
length whereof is considerably greater than their diameter or width,

page_text: such as sword scabbards, bayonet scabbards, whip handles, and such like
articles; the said skins being simply tanned for the purpose of such
manufacture.
The means by which these improvements may be effected are as
follows: Suppose this Invention to be applied to the manufacture of the
uppers of boots or shoes, I propose to form the fore part and back part
thereof of one entire piece of leather without seam or join of any kind,
thus dispensing with the operation of "closing," commonly practised in
the manufacture of boots and shoes, and this I effect by means of a screw
press and apparatus of the following construction:-The frame of the
press is very similar to an ordinary screw press, but instead of employ-
ing one screw passed through the centre of the top or cross head of the
said press, I enipioy three screws, namely, two small ones and one large
one, the large one passing through the centre of the head of the press,
and the smaller ones equidistant therefrom through the said cross head,
say half way from the uprights of the press. I also employ strong iron
plates, having a long hole or opening formed at the centre thereof, some--
what larger than the last or die which is to pass through the same, and--I
employ three or more of such said plates. The lowermost plate, which
should be made very strong, is supported in proper position at a certain
distance from the bottom or base plate of the press, and the other two
plates rest thereon. The uppermost plate has countersunk holes formed
therein, which respectively come opposite to the points of the before-
mentioned small screws. In operating with the above press the work-
man takes a piece of flat leather simply tanned, but not curried, of the
proper size to form the entire upper of a boot or shoe, and having first
softened the leather with water and oatmeal he then rubs it with treacle,
after which he places the leather thus prepared between the two upper-
most plates, and screws the top plate down thereon; the workman then
places the last (inverted) beneath the middle screw of the press, and
exerting pressure thereon by such said screw forces the last and leather
through the openings in the aforesaid plates, by which the leather
assumes and retains the shape of the under part and sides of the last,
and by these means the upper or fore part and back of a boot and shoc
are produced. And this mode of operating applies also to the manu-
facture of soldiers' pouches and cartouche boxes, cigar cases, ladies'
reticules, bags, and purses, and other similar articles. And as regards
the manufacture of bayonet scabbards, sword scabbards, whip handles,
and sockets for the same, and other articles of similar character, I pro-
ceed as follows:-For the manufacture of sockets for whips to stand in
I use the skins of sheeps' and pigs' tails; for whip handles I use the skins
of calves' tails. For bayonets' scabbards and sword scabbards I use the

page_text: skins of the tails of oxen; these are tanned, and afterwards softened by
water and oatmeal, and rubbed with treacle, and finally, manufactured
to the desired shape by instruments suitably formed for the purpose.
By these means I am enabled to produce these and other similar
articles in one entire piece of leather without seams or joins. If desir-
able, I propose to use the skins of the legs of oxen and other large
animals for manufacturing the legs of Wellington boots from, tanned
and prepared as before stated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Middleton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd May 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
MIDDLETON, of No. 15, Porter Street, Newport Market, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of November, 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 Samuel Middleton, Her special licence that I, the said
Samuel Middleton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Samuel Middleton, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN ARTICLES OF LEATHER
WITHOUT SEAMS, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Samuel Middleton, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Middleton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to the manufacturing certain articles of leather

page_text: heretofore usually made with seams, either by sewing (technically termed
"closing") or otherwise connecting together the separate or divided
parts of the material, and consists,-
First, in exerting pressure upon lasts or forms acting upon pieces of
leather, and made to pass therewith through plates or dies of metal,
whereby I cause a flat piece of leather when acted upon and made to
pass as aforesaid to assume and retain the external shape of such said
lasts or forms.
And, secondly, in manufacturing certain articles out of the skins of
the tails and other parts of certain animals; as, for example, sword
scabbards, bayonet scabbards, whip handles, soldiers' pouches, sockets
for lances and carbines, whip sockets, tips and coverings for gig shafts,
shot belts, and gunpowder flasks, coverings for telescopes, legs for boots,
and as a covering for the handles of cricket bats instead of string, ladies'
reticules or bags, purses, or porte monnaies, and such like articles.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed-to-describe_the_best means I am acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative-
Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures-and-
letters of reference marked thereon respectively as follows.

page_text: axle of wrought or cast iron, the journals a, a, of which work in suitable
bearings formed in or connected to the standards B, B; D, D, are
hexagonal-shaped castings, securely fixed on the axle C, as exhibited at
Figure 4. These castings are formed with lugs b, for the purpose of con-
necting thereto (by pins or screws at c) plates of metal E, E; one of these
plates is shewn detached at Figure 5, where it will be seen that the
centre of said plate has a hole formed therein with a rebate d, upon
which rests another plate of gun metal or brass G, shewn at Figure 1,
corresponding in its external shape to the opening in the plate E; the
centre of the plate G is also formed with an opening at e, constituting
a die or draw plate, through which the article to be manufactured is
pressed, in the manner and by the means herein-after fully described.
And I would here observe, that although the Drawing exhibits the
above machine adapted for the manufacture of the uppers " of boots
and shoes, nevertheless, by removing some of the minor parts, as are
herein-after described, and substituting other parts in lieu thereof, the
machine may be readily adapted to the manufacture or production of
other articles of leather without seams, of any varied forms and shapes.
G' is a wrought-iron rod, the ends whereof are securely fixed to the
parts f, f, of the standards A, A; H, H, are levers, one end of each of
which passes loosely over the rod G', and the other and opposite ends of
said levers are connected together by a rod g and handle I. The upper
edges of the levers H, H, are notched for suspending weights h there-
from, said weights being employed for the purpose herein-after men-
tioned. K is a casting (shewn detached at Figure 6); this casting is
connected by the lugs i, i, and pins to the levers H, H; there is an open-
ing formed through the centre of the casting k, somewhat larger than
the opening e in the plate G; or there may be a plate of gun metal or
brass, similar to that before described, and marked G, fitted into the
opening, which must then be formed larger to receive it; when a
separate plate is not used, it will then be necessary to galvanize or other-
wise coat or cover the under side of the casting K, to prevent the oxide
of the metal injuring the material which is to be operated upon. Lis
a casting, the ends whereof are securely fixed by bolts and nuts to the
standards B, B; through the centre of this casting a hole is formed in
which fits a piece of brass or gun metal l, as at Figure 7, in which a
square hole is formed, and into and through this said hole a square piece
of metal M fits and slides. m is a shoe piece, fixed to or formed upon
the piece M, to which is connected by a split pin u a wooden last or
"dummy" o. employed for giving the first shape to the leather; the
piece M is held up by the elastic force of the spring p and the pin 7,
which rests thereon, as at Figure 1. N is a strong wrought-iron shaft,

page_text: the ends whereof are supported by and revolve in suitable bearings, con-
nected to the upper part of each of the standards B, B; O is a cam or
snail, securely fixed upon the shaft N immediately over the piece M; P
is a spur wheel, keyed on the shaft N; and Q is a smaller toothed wheel
or pinion, taking or gearing into the wheel P for imparting motion
thereto. If the machine is to be worked by steam power, then the
wheel may be fixed upon a shaft R, as exhibited; but if it is desired
to work the said machine by manual power, then the wheel or pinion Q
may be mounted upon a short stud r connected to the standard B, as
denoted by the dotted lines at Figures 1 and 3, and motion imparted
thereto by a lever handle fixed upon the stud r. S is another lever
handle, the lower end whereof fits loosely upon the axle C; s is a pall and
spring connected to the handle S, as at Figures 1 and 3. This pall
takes into the teeth of the ratchet wheel T, which is securely fixed upon
the axle C. Upon moving this handle upwards the pall will pass over
the teeth of the ratchet wheel, but upon moving said handle downwards,
the axle-C-will-be moved,-and-with-it the casting D, and parts connected
thereto. If-desirable, the-whole of the before-mentioned operations of
the machine may be rendered self-acting, instead of actuating some of
the parts by hand, as above stated.
I now proceed to describe the mode of operating with the above
machine for manufacturing certain articles of leather without seams, as
follows.
MODE OF OPERATING.
I first cut a piece of ordinary tanned leather by any convenient and
suitable means of the required size to form the article which is to be
made. If required to form the upper of a boot or shoe, the leather is
then cut of the external shape of the plate G, but a little larger in size,
such said plates being made or marked of various sizes in accordance
with the different sizes of boots and shoes. I then place the leather in
a dry state upon the plate G, and lift up the plate K by the handle I,
and by means of the lever S bring the plate G with the leather thereon
under the plate K, I then lower the plate K thereon and adjust the
weights h, h, until I attain the required degree of pressure necessary
to hold the leather flat whilst the last or form with the leather is being
forced through the opening e in the plate G, which is effected by the
rotation of the cam O pressing upon the rod N. I would here state that it
is desirable to push down by hand that part of the leather against which
the last or dummy first comes into contact, to prevent the leather being
unnecessarily stretched, and to facilitate the operation of shaping the
same to the said last dummy. In cases where it is desirable to manu-

page_text: facture more than one article at a time in the above machine, the same
may be effected by arranging the plates E and G and pieces of leather
in the order exhibited at Figure 8, in which case it will only be necessary
to employ as many separate cams O on the shaft N as there are pieces
of leather to be shaped at one time. In other respects the machine is the
same as above described.
.
I now proceed to describe the construction of the machines or
apparatus exhibited at Sheet 2, which are also adapted to the manu-
facture or production of the uppers of boots and shoes and other articles
of leather without seams, observing, that the main principal of action in
these machines is the same as that above described, namely, the exerting
of pressure upon a last or form passing through dies or metal plates
with holes in them. The construction of these last-mentioned machines
differs from that exhibited at Sheet 1 in the following respects:-Instead
of arranging and disposing the plates or dies G around an axis, so as to
bring each one successively underneath the pressure plate K, I adapt
only one plate or dic to each machine, and the other parts of the said
machines I arrange or construct as follows:-As regards Figures 9
and 10, A is a screw for exerting pressure on the "last" or "form;" B
a wheel, the centre of which fits upon the screw A; I employ this wheel
for bringing and maintaining the pressure plate K in forced contact with
the leather when placed upon the plate or die G, and I cause such
pressure by means of the spring C, upon which the wheel B presses. D
is a piece of metal for lifting the plate K after the leather has been
shaped, to enable the same to be removed from the machine. This
operation may be facilitated by making the parts 1, 1, of the plate E
hinged, as at Figure 11, by which, upon turning up such parts, the plate
may be drawn out. And as regards the machine exhibited at Figures 13
and 14, it differs in detail from that lastly above described in. the follow-
ing respects: Instead of the screw A, at Figures 9 and 10, I employ a
rectangular-shaped sliding piece A, to one side of which a double rack a
is securely fixed, into the teeth whereof a double pinion 6 takes or gears.
The axis C of such said pinion is supported by bearings d in which it
revolves, and has rotatory motion imparted thereto by a lever wheel e
fixed upon the axis c, as at Figure 13, and I employ the following method
for causing forced contact of the plate K upon the leather which it is
desired to operate upon in place of the wheel B; at Figure 9 I use a
piece of steel (scen better at Figure 15) the top of this piece I form
rounded, and when such said piece is out of use it lies in a recess
formed in the piece A, as at Figure 15. Similar letters of reference are
employed to denote such other parts of this machine as are employed for
a similar purpose to those of the machine before described with reference
*

page_text: to Figures 9 and 10. The operations of the machine exhibited at
Figures 13 and 14 are as follows:-Supposing the several parts to be
in the position shewn at these Figures, the operator first places the
leather upon the plate G, he then imparts motion to the wheel e, by
which the rack a, plate K, and last or form o will be lowered; and when
the plate K has been fairly deposited upon the leather, and previous to
the last or form o operating thereon, the necessary pressure is exerted
upon the leather, as before stated, by the bevilled shoulder 1 of the groove
*(shewn at Figure 15) forcing the upper part of the piece f out of the
said groove, the upper end of such said piece being firmly held by the
under side of the cross piece, Figure 2, which is suitably formed to receive
and retain it in the position exhibited, and by these means I cause
pressure upon the leather. The piece A continuing to descend by turn-
ing round the lever wheel E, forces the last or form o upon the leather,
both of which pass through the hole in the plate ór die G, and thus the
necessary shape is imparted to the leather without seam or join of any
kind. The direction of motion-of-the-wheel-e-is-then-reversed, thus
raising the piece A, and the pin 3, which previously-held-up the last or
form o, is at the same time drawn out of it, thus leaving the said last or
form in the leather, and when the shoulder 1 of the groove reaches the
head of the piece f, such piece will again fall into the groove *, and the
pressure thus be removed from the spring C and plate K, after which
the piece A continuing to ascend will lift the plate K from the leather
sufficiently high for the plate or die G to be removed with the leather and
last or form thereon, which is placed in a convenient situation to dry
gradually. Another similar plate is then substituted in its place, and
the operation repeated as before. The upper, thus far shaped, before
being used in the manufacture of boots and shoes requires to be lasted
and then cut.
I now proceed to describe the mode practised by me in the manu-
facture or production of certain articles, as whip handles, out of the
skins of the tails, legs, and private parts of animals. I take the skins
of the tails of calves and pigs carefully removed or separated (without
slitting or cutting, as usually the case,) from the meaty portion thereof;
I then pass a wire up the meaty portion of the tail, working the same
about, by which I loosen the meat from the skin; I then withdraw the
wire and strip the skin off and "flesh "it, after which I place it or several
of them in fresh slacked lime water, rather weak, and let them remain
therein for about 24 hours; I then place them in a stronger solution of
lime and water, and leave them there until the hair can be easily removed
by scraping, after which they are cleaned, and then tanned in the manner
commonly practised by tanners. I then take the skins separately, and

page_text: place them one by one upon a taper mandril of metal or hard wood, and
roll the skin which is thereon between two hard surfaces of wood or metal
by any convenient means, and from time to time I drive the said mandril
thereinto until the leather thus stretched and curried fits tight thereon,
and I continue this operation as long as is necessary; or I operate upon
the same in a machine and with tools of the construction exhibited at
Sheet 5, as follows, which I prefer. The Drawing at Sheet 5 exhibits
certain tools and machinery adapted for the above purpose. I take the
tails, prepared as before stated, and stretch and dry them upon a hollow
mandril A, exhibited at Figure 3, in a precisely similar manner to that
before described with reference to the bayonet scabbards, after which I
place them in a currying machine of the following construction, as
exhibited at Sheet 5, and operate upon them therewith, as herein-after
stated. The general character of this machine is very similar to that
exhibited at Sheet 3, to be employed for currying bayonet scabbards, and
differs therefrom in detail of construction in the following respects;-
Each of the mandrils B has a worm wheel a fixed upon the largest end
thereof, so that when such said mandrils are placed in the notches 3
formed in the sliding frame K, the teeth of such said wheels shall take
into the spaces between the threads of the screw C. This screw works
in suitable bearings in the framing K, and there is a spur pinion D fixed
upon one end of said screw, which said pinion takes or gears into a toothed
rack E fixed to the inside of the framing F. Thus it will be seen that as
the sliding frame K is moved forwards containing the mandrils and
leather to be operated upon, such said mandrils will have gentle rotatory
motion imparted thereto by the rolling of the pinion D in the teeth of
the rack E. The plates 4, 5, 6, 7, which I employ for currying the
leather, are constructed, arranged, and actuated in the following
manner: The plate 7 (or it may be one continuous plate of gun metal
or brass) have semicircular shaped recesses formed therein, and is or
are fixed to the cross piece G of the framing F; immediately above each
of these said recesses a similar shaped piece 4 slides in-guides, and is
operated upon by the weighted lever H. 5, 6, are other sliding pieces
similar to that marked 4. These pieces. I connect together by bent
levers 8, S. and attach weights 9 thereto, and so adjust them as that
they are always pressing inwards or approaching each other. By this
arrangement, as the mandrils and leather are advanced between the
plates 4, 5, 6, 7, they receive a slow rotatory movement, and this I
consider necessary to bring as near as may be the whole surface of the
leather into contact with the edges of the pieces 4, 5, 6, 7 at each
forward movement of the frame containing the said mandrils and leather.
A similar result may be attained by making the currying pressure pieces

page_text: or a system of expanding pieces to rotate instead of the mandrils, in
which case said mandrils are simply forced between them without
rotating, as lastly above stated, but I believe the above described method
of operating as being the best I am at present acquainted with for effect-
ing the object of this part of my said Invention; I then remove the skin
and place it upon a thin taper tube of metal A, shewn at Fig. 3, the
handle is then ready to be attached to the other part of the whip, and
may be mounted as desired. In the manufacture of sword scabbards
and bayonet scabbards I proceed as follows:-I take the skins of the
tails of calves, oxen, and other animals, treated as above stated, and I
pass thereinto and the whole length thereof a mandril, last, or form of
the desired shape to form the article, and proceed to stretch, dry, and
curry them with tools, and in machines of the construction exhibited at
Sheets 3, 4, 5, as follows:-
The Drawing at Sheets 3 and 4 exhibits certain tools and machinery
adapted-for-the-above-purpose. I take the_tails_of_calves and oxen (but
I prefer the latter-as-possessing most substance,) prepared as before
described, and whilst in a soft state 1 take each tail separately and
insert the collapsible hollow mandril A, exhibited at Figure 5, thereinto
the whole length of the tail, after which I forcibly press a solid mandril
B, shewn at Figure 5, into the mandril A as far as is necessary, 1 then
place the aforesaid mandrils with the leather thereon in one of the holes a
of the apparatus exhibited at Sheet 4, and by means of the screw I
force the said mandrils through the said hole, until the whole of the
upper part of the leather, or nearly so, is forced into the said hole, and
in this position I hold the aforesaid mandrils and leather by a pin c,
passed through holes formed in the pieces d and the head of the man-
dril B; I then remove the pressure of the screw b, and move the arm e
to the next hole and operate as before upon the mandrils and leather
which are therein. For the purpose of drying the leather I employ jets
of gas, as at /, /, or other suitable heat contained within the jacket or
case g, and by the above means I dry the leather thus stretched upon
the mandrils; when dry I remove them and subject them to the currying
process in the machine exhibited at Sheet 3, the construction of which
is as follows:-C is a framing supporting the following parts:-D is a
cross piece fixed to the framing C; E are V-shaped pieces of
gun metal
or brass, securely fixed to the piece D; G are sliding pieces of gun metal
or brass, fitted between guide pieces H, and connected by a pin 1 to the
weighted levers 1; the fulcrum of such said levers is a pin at 2; K is a
rectangular-shape sliding frame, somewhat shorter than the scabbard
mandrils, which are held therein by the notches 3. There is a toothed
rack L fixed to the under side of the sliding frame K, into which the

page_text: teeth of a wheel N take or gear; said wheel is fixed upon an axle m work-
ing in suitable bearings, and bas rotatory motion imparted thereto by a
winch handle O fixed thereon if the machine is to be worked by hand;
if worked by steam or other power, the same may be effected by straps
or bands passing over the fixed pulleys P and P. I use two pulleys for
producing alternate reciprocating movement of the sliding frame K. In
operating with the above machine during the backward movement of
the frame K, I have found it necessary in practice to take the pressure
off the leather; this I effect by the following means:-Q are levers, the
lower ends whereof are connected to each side of the upper edge of the
framing C by a pin 4, and to the upper ends of such said levers I connect
a roller R, see Figures 3 and 4. I also connect one or both of the afore-
said levers to one end of a rod S, and the other end of said rod I
connect to an horizontal rod T, upon which is fixed or formed a stud 5,
which stud, as the sliding frame K moves backwards and forwards, is
operated upon by pins 6, 6, fixed in the side of the sliding frame K.
The pin 6, as it moves in the direction of the arrow's flight and comes
into contact with the stud 5, pulls the rod S and levers Q, Q, thereby
raising the several levers I, I, and thus removing the pressure from the
plates G during the time that the frame is coming back; the pin 6* act-
ing upon the other side of the stud 5 effects the pushing back of the
levers Q, Q, into their original position, so as to allow pressure to be
again exerted upon the plates G as the frame K with the scabbards
therein is moved forward between the plates E and G, for effecting the
operation of currying all of the sides of the scabbard at one time. The
outer surface of the leather may then be japanned or otherwise blacked
and finished, and the metal mountings be affixed thereto in the usual
way. The leather may also be moistened and dried in a stove, whereby
it is rendered stiff and firm. The above mode of operating upon the
leather applies also in part to the manufacture of the legs of boots,
coverings for telescopes, printers' rollers, and cricket bat handles, tips
and coverings for gig shafts, and other articles of similar character
thereto; observing, that for the legs of boots, and large rollers used by
printers, or for other purposes, I employ the skins of the legs of large
animals, such as horses and oxen, treating and preparing the skin as
before stated. For all these last-mentioned articles the lime should be
removed from the skin instead of being left therein, as before stated with
reference to the whip handles, and such removal of the lime may be
effected in the manner commonly practised by tanners. And to manu-
facture soldiers' helmets, cartouche boxes, and other articles of similar
character thereto, I proceed as follows:-As regards soldiers' helmets,
I proceed in a similar manner to that before described with reference to

page_text: the manufacture of boots and shoes, using tools of suitable shape, and
damping the leather. But in operating upon a flat piece of leather to
make a cartouche box, or other articles of similar character thereto, it
is then necessary to employ two lasts or forms for shaping the same, (and
this applies also to helmets,) and I proceed to manufacture such said
cartouche box as follows:-1 cut a piece of leather sufficiently large to
make the flap and box part of the cartouche box, and having first damped
it slightly so as to render it supple, I then place it upon a plate or die
with a hole in it of the size and shape of the box outside; I then place
upon the leather an oval last, or a form with the angles rounded off, so
as not to cut the leather when it is pressed thereon, and during its
passage through the hole in the aforesaid plate or die, and when this
said last or form has been pushed to its full extent, by exerting pressure
thereon by one of the machines exhibited at Sheets 1 or 2, or other con-
venient and suitable means, I then remove this last or form and insert
another one of the required shape, so as to form the angles of the box as
sharp as is practically safe, and in this state 1 remove the leather with
the form therein and the plate or die containing the same, and place
them in any convenient situation to dry gradually, and when dry 1
finish the article in the manner commonly practised and attach thereto
the pouch, manufactured as follows; I take the skin of the private
parts of a caif, for example, and having "fleshed" and cleaned it I tan
it with the hair on, after which I "perch" it, by placing it upon an
ordinary stretcher or form of suitable shape, and when dry I affix it to
the cartouche box by rivets or otherwise; I also form the lid of the
cartouche box from a flat piece of leather, after the same manner as that
above stated, and connect it to the box by rivets or otherwise. I would
here observe that the above mode of manufacturing helmets, sailors'
hats, and cartouche boxes applies also to the manufacture of buckets
for containing water, cigar cases, and other articles of similar character
thereto; and the mode above set forth of manufacturing pouches applies
also to the manufacture of gunpowder flasks, ladies' reticules, or bags,
purses or porte monnaies, and other similar articles.
I next proceed to describe the manner in which I manufacture sockets
for lances, carbines and sockets for driving whips to stand in. as
follows And first, as regards sockets for soldiers' lances and carbines,
employ for such purpose the skins of the tails of horses or sheep, and the
private parts of calves, which I prefer, and I proceed to strip the skins
from the meaty portions of the tails in any convenient manner, leaving
the bottom part or stump of the tail (if the tail has been cut) to form
the bottom of the socket; the said skins are then "fleshed," cleaned,
tanned, and curried, as before stated. And as regards sockets for

page_text: whips to stand in, I employ for such purpose the skins of the tails of
sheep, calves, or pigs, treated as before stated, and form the bottom
thereof by a mounting of metal, or by inserting and fixing a piece of
leather or other material thereinto.
I next proceed to describe the manner in which I manufacture shot
belts of leather without seams, as follows:-I employ for the purposes of
such manufacture the skins of the tails of oxen treated and prepared as
before stated with reference to the legs of boots, &c. &c., the natural
shape of such skin being admirably adapted for the manufacture of the
above articles. One end of the skin of the tail I finish by a mounting of
metal of the ordinary kind for measuring and discharging the shot, and
to both ends I affix straps and furnish the same with a buckle for
suspending the shot belt over the shoulder, as desired.
In conclusion, I would remark that in all cases of operating upon
leather in the manufacture of articles of leather without seams, excepting
the uppers of boots and shoes, I have found the best results have been
obtained when the leather has been operated upon immediately it leaves
the tan pit and whilst it is supple or pliable.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my
said Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of certain Articles
of Leather without Seams," together with the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark, in con-
clusion, that I am aware of the skins of animals having been used or
suggested for certain purposes, as for covering the rollers of spinning
machines, I do not therefore claim the exclusive use of such skins except
when the same are applied in and for the manufacture of articles as
above described; but what I claim as my Invention is,―
First, the manufacture of articles of leather, as above described,
without seams out of the skins of the tails, legs, and private parts of
animals.
Secondly, I claim the manufacturing of the uppers of boots and shoes,
and other articles by pressure, as above described.
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In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Middleton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
SAMUEL MIDDLETON. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEX PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross