IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUTTA PERCHA AND COMPOUNDS THEREOF WITH OTHER MATTERS AND SUBSTANCES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rolfe Hunt, of 3, Chichester Place, Wands-
worth Road, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUTTA PERCHA AND COMPOUNDS THEREOF WITH OTHER
MATTERS AND SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 5th November 1861, and dated the 8th May 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Rolfe Hunt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
May 1861.
I, JOHN ROLFE HUNT, of 3, Chichester Place, Wandsworth Road, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUTTA PERCHA AND COMPOUNDS THEREOF
WITH OTHER MATTERS AND SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in mixing or compounding vulcanised india-rubber
in a crushed or ground state with masticated gutta percha in a doughy state,
in the proportion of one pound of vulcanized india-rubber to two pounds of
gutta percha; also, if desirable, mixing therewith arrowroot in the proportion
of about four ounces of the arrowroot to every three pounds of the compound
of vulcanized india-rubber and gutta percha; I then work this compound into
a mixture until it is in a fit state to roll into sheets. By this Invention a

page_text: very flexible substance is produced, well adapted for the soles of boots and
shoes, pump buckets, valves, and washers, and many other purposes for which
vulcanized india-rubber and gutta percha are now employed separately.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Rolfe Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ROLFE HUNT, of 3, Chichester Place, Wandsworth Road, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Rolfe Hunt, Her special licence that I, the said John
Rolfe Hunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Rolfe Hunt, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUTTA PERCHA AND COMPOUNDS THEREOF,
WITH OTHER MATTERS AND SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Rolfe Hunt, my executors or administrators, by an
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 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 John Rolfe Hunt, 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 follow-
ing statement, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in mixing or compounding vulcanized india-rubber
in a crushed or ground state with masticated gutta percha in a doughy state
in the proportion of one pound of vulcanized india-rubber to two parts of
_gutta percha; also, if desirable, mixing therewith arrowroot in the proportion

page_text: of about four ounces of the arrowroot to every three pounds of the compound
of vulcanized india-rubber and gutta percha; I then work this compound into
a mixture until it is in a fit state to roll into sheets. By this Invention a
very flexible substance is produced well adapted for the soles of boots and
shoes, pump buckets, valves, and washers, and many other purposes for which
vulcanized india-rubber and gutta percha are now employed separately. I
prefer using new, fresh-made, and pure vulcanized india-rubber, but in some
cases I mix the same with old and waste vulcanized india-rubber, freed as
much as possible from any admixture of black lead, French chalk, or other
deteriorating matters. I grind or crush the vulcanized india-rubber by
passing it through suitable mills or rollers, and then sprinkle the same with
coal tar, naptha, or other suitable solvent, and afterwards rub it through iron
sieves. I find in practice the addition of arrowroot produces a superior
compound material, which is peculiarly adapted for the soles of boots and
shoes, being much more flexible than gutta percha, and resembles more the
character and toughness of leather.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Gutta Percha and Compounds
thereof with other Matters and Substances," and the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I am aware that gutta percha
and india-rubber have been mixed together before; but what I claim as my
Invention, and desire to be secured by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent, is, the combination or admixture of vulcanized india-rubber
and arrowroot with gutta percha in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Rolfe Hunt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JOHN ROLFE HUNT. (L.S.)