IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS FOR COATING. LEATHER IN ORDER TO RENDER IT MORE ENDURABLE AND LESS PERVIOUS TO MOISTURE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis John Bolton, of No. 21, Grosvenor Man-
sions, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, a Major in the
Army, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS FOR COATING.
LEATHER IN ORDER TO RENDER IT MORE ENDURABLE AND LESS PERVIOUS TO
MOISTURE."
Sealed the 4th April 1873, and dated the 3rd December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis John Bolton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 3rd December 1872.
I, FRANCIS JOHN BOLTON, of No. 21, Grosvenor Mansions, West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex, a Major in the Army, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOUNDS
FOR COATING LEATHER IN ORDER TO RENDER IT MORE ENDURABLE AND LESS PERVIOUS
TO MOISTURE," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the preparation of certain compounds,
which, when applied to the surface of leather (more particularly to the
soles of boots and shoes), shall render the same more endurable and
indestructible by wear and tear, and less pervious to moisture. Such

page_text: compounds consist of a mixture of asphalte, bitumen, pitch, resin or
other analogous substances or compounds with emery, emery powder,
corundum, powdered glass, silex, iron filings, or other hard substances in
in finely divided state. The asphalte, or other bituminous or resinous
substance, is first dissolved in naptha or other spirit, and the emery
powder or other hard substance is then incorporated therewith. On
applying this compound in a liquid state to the surface of the leather
it will penetrate, more or less, into the pores thereof so as to adhere
firmly thereto, and on hardening by the evaporation of the spirit it will
form a pliable waterproof coating, which will resist wear and tear in a
high degree.
The proportions which I have found suitable in preparing such. com-
pounds are two parts by weight of asphalte dissolved in naptha, and two
parts of emery powder, but I do not limit myself to these proportions,
as they may be varied considerably, according to the nature of the
substances employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis John Bolton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
JOHN BOLTON, of No. 21, Grosvenor Mansions, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, a Major in the Army, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Francis John Bolton, Her special
license that I, the said Francis John Bolton, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis John Bolton,
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
COMPOUNDS FOR COATING LEATHER IN ORDER TO RENDER IT MORE ENDURABLE AND

page_text: MODS & STURE, upon the condition (amongst others) that 1,
the said Francis John Bolton, 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 Francis John Bolton, 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 has for its object the preparation of certain compounds,
which, when applied to the surface of leather (more particularly to the
soles of boots and shoes), shall render the same more endurable and
indestructible by wear and tear, and less pervious to moisture. Such
compounds consist of a mixture of asphalte, bitumen, pitch, resin or
other analogous substances or compounds, with emery, emery powder,
corundum, powdered glass, silex, iron filings, or other hard substances in
a finely divided state. The asphalte, or other bituminous or resinous
substance, is first dissolved in naptha or other spirit, and the emery
powder or other hard substance is then incorporated therewith. On
applying this compound in a liquid state to the surface of the leather
it will penetrate, more or less, into the pores thereof, so as to adhere
firmly thereto, and on hardening by the evaporation of the spirit it will
form a pliable waterproof coating, which will resist wear and tear in a
high degree.
The proportions which I have found suitable in preparing such com-
pounds are two parts by weight of asphalte dissolved in naptha and two
parts of emery powder, but I do not limit myself to these proportions,
as they may be varied considerably, according to the nature of the
substances employed.
I have proved by practical experience that such before described
compounds, when applied to boots and shoes, preserve them against
wear and tear in a high degree, and at the same time render them
practically impervious to moisture, in fact they may be termed the “sole
remedy" for boots and shoes.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I claim the manufacture and use
of compounds for coating leather, consisting of a mixture of asphalte,
bitumen, pitch or other analagous substances with emery, emery
powder, corundum, powdered glass, silex, iron filings or other hard
substances in a finely divided state, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis John Bolton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.