An Improved Method for Treating Hides and Skins for Leather.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1887
Complete Left, 19th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
Lewis, State of Kentucky, United States of America.]
An Improved Method for Treating Hides and Skins for Leather.
JAMES SINGLETON HOOPER, of No. 11 Comeragh Road, West Kensington, S. W.
London, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
An improved process for treating Hides and Skins for preserving them from taint
in hot weather or other trying conditions and for neutralizing lime or other deleterious
matter remaining in hides after any treatment for taking off hair or flesh and for
softening hides into better condition for absorbing tanning solutions extracts or
applications of any kind, by subjecting or exposing hides (preferably in an appartment
specially fitted for the purpose) during the process of tanning, to the fumes of ignited
charcoal and sulphur, one or both, as desired; and with the several objects or purposes
of doing away with a most unpleasant process of tanning hides, and saving much
usual loss of hides, and saving much time in the process of tanning, and for improving
the quality of finished leather.
Til
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page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method for Treating Hides and Skins for Leather.
JAMES SINGLETON HOOPER of 11. Comeragh Road West Kensington London S.W.
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to a process or method for purifying or preserving hides and
skins from taint and for neutralizing lime or the effects of lime or deleterious matter
remaining in hides and skins after treatment for taking off the flesh or hair and for
softening and bringing hides and skins into condition for absorbing or being acted
upon by tanning preparations solutions extracts or applications.
The process or method is to subject or expose hides or skins (preferably in a tight
and close compartment) to the conjoint or successive heat fumes gasses and vapours
from ignited charcoal and sulphur and more especially for so exposing hides and skins
which have been flushed and taken from the lime vat or other treatment for removing
the hair.
In ordinary practice I hang from twenty five to thirty skins in a light close room in
which is placed an iron kettle or other receptacle containing from three to four pounds
of charcoal and when the charcoal is well ignited put from two to three pounds of
sulphur upon the burning charcoal. In about twelve hours the heat fumes, gasses and
vapours soften and whiten hides and skins ready for tanning improving the texture of
the leather.
Though the foregoing method is the best, I do not confine myself to a particular
method of burning the charcoal and sulphur."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is.
1. The right of use of ignited charcoal and sulphur used conjointly or successively
for purifying or preserving hides and skins from taint.
2. The right of use of ignited charcoal and sulphur used conjointly or successively
for treatment of hides and skins after said hides and skins have been subjected to any
process for taking off hair or flesh in preparation for tanning.
Dated this 19th day of January 1888.
JAMES SINGLETON HOOPER.