IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING HAIR AND FIBRE OBTAINED THEREFROM
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster; Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING
HAIR AND FIBRE OBTAINED THEREFROM." A communication from abroad by
John Foster Greene, of Brooklyn, State of New York, United States of
America.
Sealed the 29th September 1877, and dated the 14th August 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th August 1877.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF TREATING HAIR AND FIBRE OBTAINED THEREFROM." A communica-
tion from abroad by John Foster Greene, of Brooklyn, State of New York, United
States of America.
The Invention relates to an improvement in treating hair to make a new or
improved fibre.
While the hair of various animals may be treated the best product has been pro-
duced from buffalo hair, which in its natural condition is dark in colour, coarse, and
harsh in texture, and in a gummy condition, which unfits it for spinning into yarn.
The hair is taken in its natural condition, washed, and then introduced into a hot
bath, consisting of nitric acid and water, in the proportions generally (although they
may be varied) of about one part of nitric acid to ten of water. After an immersion
of from ten minutes to half an hour the hair is removed, when it is washed and
dried.
The effect of the bath is to remove all the gummy matter from the hair, render
it soft and elastic, and to impart to it a color so bright that the hair is in a suitable
condition for use as a colored fibre without any preparatory bleaching and dyeing
process. If however other colour be required the fibre may be made so light in
colour that it will take in dyeing other desirable shades.
The same results as are obtained by the use of nitric acid can also be obtained by

page_text: using any salt of nitric acid, such as saltpetre (nitrate of soda, or potash), and an
acid, such as sulphuric, which will liberate the nitric acid, may be employed.
It has been found that the usual dark brown hair of buffalo's or cow's becomes
under the above treatment a bright clean rellow, so that the yarn made therefrom
may be woven into blankets of a most desirable shade and quality, or employed in
the manufacture of carpets, thereby increasing its value to from 3 to 4 times that
of the original material.
As the colour which is produced by this process is a fast colour, and is not destroyed
by acids or alkalies, the fibre is much superior to ordinary yellow dyed fibres which
do not possess these properties.
The prepared fibre may be readily distinguished from other dyed or bleached
fibres by the general appearance as to colour, feel, texture, and by the action of acid
and alkalies upon it. While bearing a strong resemblance to wool in appearance
it can be readily distinguished by an expert, as it has but slight felting properties
compared with wool; and does not shrink.
I claim,―
1st. The within-described mode of producing colored fibre from hair, that is to
say, subjecting animal hair to the action of strong hot nitric acid solution, or the
equivalent, and then dryeing the same, as set forth.
2nd. The within-described coloured fibre, consisting of animal hair, having a light
colour indestructible by acid as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this. Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
1. One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TT T
זגתתזז
H. J. HADDAN. (..)