Improved Manufacture of Imitation Leather."
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improved Manufacture of Imitation Leather."
We, TEMPLE DAWSON BOWMAN, of 2, Park Road, Newcastle on Tyne, in the
county of Northumberland, Leather Warehouseman, and JOHN BOWDEN, Sheriff-
Mount, Gateshead-Fell, in the county of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates: Firstly to the manufacture of a certain fabric in
imitation of leather of an improved class or kind having on one or both sides a
highly polished glossy and smooth surface whereby the effect of "Patent leather"
is obtained at a less cost.
The finished fabric is suitable for making all goods for which enamelled and
japanned leather is used and a variety of other purposes.
The invention comprises the combination together and application seriatim of
the processes of manufacture and finishing hereinafter described and to the pro-
duction resulting therefrom of the improved kind of imitation leather to which
reference is above made.
In carrying out our invention we use as a foundation any suitable textile fabric
such as canvass, cotton, cloth and the like which we boil in tannic acid or solution
of suitable strength. Then in order to produce imitation enamelled or japan
leather we treat the product on one or both sides as required with linseed or other
oil boiled with colour. The side which is to be the finished surface is then sized
with a size composed for example of a mixture of the following ingredients in
suitable proportions: Linseed Oil, Pale Blue, Vegetable Black. These are all
well ground together and boiled until a proper consistency is obtained.
The product so obtained is dried and then we apply to the dried surface with a
suitable tool in succession any required number of separate finishing coatings com-
posed for example of the following ingredients in suitable proportions: Linbeed
Oil, Best Dark Prussian Blue, Vegetable Black, Copal Oil, ground up and boiled
together to required consistency. The finished surface has a high gloss and may
be embossed or grained or ornamented in any required degree. The above-named
ingredients may be varied or improved, but experiment has shown that they are
practically suitable to the purpose.
Secondly, to the manufacture of a certain fabric in imitation of leather plain
and unvarnished, suitable for book-binding, furniture, and various fancy articles.
After the treatment of the textile fabric above alluded to with Tannic Acid, the
fabric is treated with albuminous matter according to the foundation required, and
Is afterwards embossed in various grains as desired.
The result of the employment of the above processes as indicated will be an
mitation leather with a single or double face elastic and flexible with highly
glossed face or faces or plain and unvarnished of a superior kind to what has

page_text: hitherto been produced, and it is a fabric capable of being worked or used in many
cases as ordinary leather.
1
T
1907
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Agent.
πριονα
We, TEMPLE DAWSON BOWMAN, of 2, Park Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Leather
Warehouseman, and JOHN BOWDEN, Sheriff-Mount, Gateshead-Fell, Durham,
Engineer, 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 the manufacture of a certain fabric in imitation of
leather of an improved class or kind which may either have one or both surfaces
highly polished and enamelled or japanned whereby the effect of "Patent Leather"
is obtained, or its surfaces may be plain or grained if desired, as hereinafter set
forth. The finished fabric is not only cheaper but also stronger and more durable
than any of its kind hitherto produced, its tensile strength equals that of real
leather, it is waterproof, and will withstand a moderately high temperature (say
up to 150° Fahr.). It can be made in seamless sheets of greater area than real
hides and can be bent or folded without cracking or injury, it is therefore suitable
for a great variety of purposes.
The invention emprises the combination together and application seriatim of
the processes of manufacture and finishing hereinafter described, and to the pro-
duction resulting therefrom of the improved kind of imitation leather to which
reference is above made.
"
In carrying out our invention we use as a foundation any suitable textile fabric
such as canvas, cotton, cloth, or the like which we boil in Tannic acid or solution
thereof of suitable strength. When it is desired to produce imitation enamelled
or Japan leather we treat this product on one or both sides as required with a size
composed of linseed oil or other oil boiled with any desired colouring pigment. For
example for a black finish we use the following ingredients in substantially the
proportions given
Linseed Oil
Pale Blue
Vegetable Black
One Gallou.
5 Ounces.
I Ounce.
for other coloured finishes the required colouring matters will be substituted for
the two latter ingredients in equivalent or suitable proportions. These are all
well ground together and boiled to about the consistency of Jelly.
The product so obtained is dried preferably by stove heat and then we apply to
the dried surface with a suitable tool such as a scraper any required number of
separate finishing coatings of varnish composed for example, if a black colour is
required, of the following ingredients in substantially the proportions stated:
Linseed Oil
Best Dark Prussian Blue
Vegetable Black
1 Gallon.
2 Ounces.
1 Ounce.

page_text: then dried and its surface has a high gloss and may then be embossed or grained
or ornamented in any required degree. We do not precisely limit ourselves to the
proportions of ingredients above specified, but experiment has shown that they
are practically suitable to the purpose.
To produce an imitation of plain and unvarnished leather suitable for book-
binding, furniture, straps, belts and other articles, after the boiling of the textile
fabric selected as specified in Tannic acid, it is treated with albuminous matter
such as Gum, Irish Moss Glycerine or Glue according to the substance or weight
or body required, and after drying it, if required, embossed in various grains as
desired.
The result of the employment of the above processes as indicated will be an
imitation leather having a single or double elastic and flexible face either highly
glossed, or plain and unvarnished as may be required and it is of a superior kind
to what has hitherto been produced. It possesses all the advantages above cited
and is capable of being worked or used in many cases as ordinary leather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The manufacture by the series of processes such as above described of an
imitation leather either with an enamelled or japanned surface or surfaces as first
above specified or with plain and unvarnished surfaces as second above specified,
substantially as herein set forth.
2. The improved kinds of imitation leather either enamelled or japanned or
plain, manufactured and finished off as described.
3. In the manufacture of an artificial leather such as above referred to, the
employment as a foundation of a suitable textile fabric boiled in Tannic acid or
solution thereof, and afterwards treated substantially as above specified according
to the kind required.
U
Dated 3rd. day of November, 1897.
For the Applicants.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Chartered Patent Agent, 70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C. and
3 St. Nicholas Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.