IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING IMITATION MOROCCO OR OTHER LEATHER OR ARUND FLOYIBLE FABRIC OR TISSUE
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrington, of No. 1, Cambridge Villa,
Swanmore Road, Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING IMITATION MOROCCO OR OTHER LEATHER OR
ARUND FLOYIBLE FABRIC OR TISSUE"
DDED AD
Scaled the 11th April 1871, and dated the 14th January 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrington at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th January 1871: ·
.
OR OTHER
I, JOHN HARRINGTON, of No. 1, Cambridge Villa, Swanmore Road,
Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING IMITATION MOROCCO
LEATHER OR RAISED DESIGNS ON CLOTH, PAPER, OR OTHER FLEXIBLE FABRIC OR
TISSUE," to be as follows:-
t
My Invention consists in producing in the manner herein-after.
described imitation morocco or other leather, as well as other designs.
in low relief upon cloth, paper, or other flexible fabric or tissue...
-
:

page_text: I will describe my Invention as applied to the production of imitation
morocco leather. I take a perfect skin of well grained morocco leather,
and stretch and fix it upon a flat surface, the grain side being upwards.
I take a cast or impression from the grained surface of the leather by
plaster of Paris, fusible metal, or by any of the other well-known
materials and processes employed for making moulds; from the moulds
thus obtained I procure a perfect fac-simile of the grained surface of
the morocco leather in the following way :-I take common glue and
dissolve it by the aid of heat in the usual way, in about twice its weight
of water. To every 10 parts by volume of this solution of gluc, I add
about 3' parts by volume of glycerine, and 2 parts by volume of a
saturated solution of bichromate of ammonia, I also add a small quantity
of French chalk, and sufficient colouring matter to give the mixture the
required colour. The gelatinous mixture while at a temperature suffi-
ciently high to preserve its semi-liquid state is spread upon the surface
of the mould, either by pouring a quantity in the middle of the mould
and spreading it over its entire surface, or it may be applied by means
of a brush. I then take a piece of canvas, cloth, or other flexible fabric
or tissue, and place it in close contact with the gelatinous mixture in
the mould, the said canvas or fabric being pressed and rubbed to bring
it into close contact with the gelatinous mixture, and to remove bubbles.
of air from between it and the said mixture. After the mixture has
gelatinized, the canvas or fabric is lifted from the mould, when it brings
with it firmly attached thereto the gelatinous cast or impression of the.
mould. By now exposing the gelatinous impression to light the
bichromate of ammonia is decomposed and the gelatine made insoluble.
When thoroughly dry the gelatinous surface is varnished with a good
flexible varnish, such as is ordinarily used for varnishing leather. The
varnishing however is not absolutely necessary. There is thus produced
a flexible material, the front surface of which exactly resembles well
grained morocco leather. In addition to varnishing the front of the
imitation leather I prefer to apply a waterproofing solution to the
back.
Instead of mixing the bichromate of ammonia with the glue and
other materials as described, the said bichromate of ammonia may be
applied to the impression in gelatine, after it has been removed from
the mould hy the Canvas the colating aurila

page_text: In place of bichromate of ammonia, bichromate of potash, or other
soluble bichromate may be employed, and in place of glue, isinglass or
other form of gelatine may be employed, and in place of French chalk,
common chalk, or other impalpable powder capable of giving body or
density to the mixture may be employed.
In place of bichromate of ammonia, bichromate of potash, or other
soluble bichromate may be employed, and in place of glue, isinglass or
other form of gelatine may be employed, and in place of French chalk,
common chalk, or other impalpable powder capable of giving body or
density to the mixture may be employed.
Instead of taking an impression or mould from the leather or surface
to be imitated, a plate engraved with the required design may be used
as the mould.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Harrington in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th July 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HARRINGTON, of No. 1, Cambridge Villa, Swanmore Road, Ryde, in the
Isle of Wight, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Harrington, Her special licence
that I, the said John Harrington, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Harrington, 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
PRODUCING IMITATION MOROCCO OR OTHER LEATHER, OR RAISED DESIGNS ON CLOTH,
PAPER, OR OTHER FLEXIBLE FABRIC OR TISSUE," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Harrington, my exécutors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office

page_text: -
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Harrington, 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 consists in producing in the manner herein-after
described imitation morocco or other leather as well as other designs
in low relief upon cloth, paper, or other flexible fabric, or tissue.
In producing imitation morocco leather, I proceed as follows:-I take
a perfect skin of well-grained morocco leather, and stretch and fix it
upon a flat surface, the grained side being upwards. I take a cast or
impression from the grained surface of the leather by plaster of Paris,
shellac, fusible metal, or by any of the other well-known materials and
processes employed for making moulds; plaster of Paris yields a cast or
impression of the grained surface of the leather sufficiently accurate for
ordinary purposes, yet when I wish to produce a cast or impression
specially perfect I employ the process of electro-deposition by which
I obtain a cast or impression of the grained surface of the leather
in copper or other metal, which can be conveniently deposited by
clectricity.
I do not consider it necessary to describe the method of obtaining a
metallic cast or impression by electro-deposition, as the processes to be
resorted to in order to produce the said cast or impression are well
known and commonly practiced by clectro-metallurgists. From the
mould thus obtained I procure a perfect fac-simile of the grained surface
of the morocco leather in the following way:-I take common glue
and dissolve it by the aid of heat in the usual way in about twice
its weight of water. Or I steep glue in water until it has absorbed
To every
so much water that on the application of heat it will liquefy.
10 parts by volume of this solution of glue or liquefied glue, I add about
3 parts by volume of glycerine, and 2 parts by volume of a saturated
solution of bichromate of ammonia, I also add a small quantity of French
chalk and sufficient colouring matters to give the mixture the required
colour. The colouring matters I employ are the ordinary colours or
pigments.
When the pigment or colouring matter is of an earthy nature or has
considerable body, the French chalk may be omitted and where in the

page_text: imitation of morocco leather to be produced great flexibility is required,
boiled linseed oil and green or soft soap, may be added to the materials
herein-before described. The boiled linseed oil may be added in the pro-
portion of about twice the weight of glycerine, and the green soap may
be added in the proportion of about half the weight of glycerine.
The gelatinous mixture while at a temperature sufficiently high to
preserve its semi-liquid state and after the thorough incorporation of the
ingredients is spread upon the surface of the mould either by pouring
a quantity in the middle of the mould and spreading it over its entire
surface, or it may be applied by means of a brush or a roller. I then take
a piece of canvas, cloth, or other flexible fabric or tissue and place it in
close contact with the gelatinous mixture in the mould, the said canvas
or fabric being pressed and rubbed to bring it into close contact with the
gelatinous mixture, and to remove bubbles of air from between it and the
said mixture. After the mixture has gelatinized the canvas or fabric is
lifted from the mould, when it brings with it firmly attached thereto the
gelatinous cast or impression of the mould. Or the mixture may be
spread upon the fabric by means of a roller or otherwise and allowed to
cool and solidify. The fabric with the said mixture upon its surface
may afterwards be heated and placed upon the mould or the mould

page_text: Instead of mixing the bichromate of ammonia with the glue and other
material as described, the said bichromate of ammonia may be applied
to the impression in gelatine after it has been removed from the mould
by the canvas, the gelatine surface being exposed to light after the
application of the bichromate of ammonia.
In place of bichromate of ammonia bichromate of potash or other
soluble bichromate may be employed, and in place of glue, isinglass or
other form of gelatine may be employed, and in place of French chalk
for giving body or density, common chalk or other impalpable powder
capable of giving body or density to the mixture may be employed.
Instead of taking an impression or mould from the leather or surface
to be imitated a plate engraved with the required design may be used
as the mould.
:
Although I have only described my Invention as applied to the pro-
duction of imitation morocco leather, yet my said Invention may be
applied to the production of imitations of other kinds of leather as well
as to the production of imitations of other natural surfaces.
My said Invention may also be applied to the production of raised
designs, whether for ornamental or useful purposes from engraved plates
or plates or moulds, produced in any other manner, the said designs
being produced on paper cloth or other flexible fabric or tissue.
In applying my Invention to the several purposes herein last
enumerated the imitation surface or design is produced in the way.
herein-before described with respect to imitation morocco leather, and I
believe my said Invention will be fully understood by the description
herein-before given of the production of imitation morocco leather.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described as the same may
be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention, but I claim
as my Invention the improvements in producing imitation morocco or
other leather or raised designs on cloth, paper, or other flexible fabric or
tissue herein-before described, that is to say, producing the said imitation
leathers and designs by the use of a mixture or composition consisting
essentially of a solution of gelatine, glycerine, and bichromate of ammonia
or other soluble bichromate, which mixture or composition while made
or kept liquid or semi-liquid by heat is spread. upon the fabric or tissue,

page_text: and impressed by a mould, proper to give to it the required imitation surface
or design, the impressed mixture or composition after it has gelatinized
and the imitation surface or design thereby fixed being exposed to light
so as to render the said mixture or composition insoluble, substantially
as described.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JOHN HARRINGTON. (L.s.)

page_text: In the Matter of the Letters Patent granted to JOHN HARRING-
TON, of No. 1, Cambridge Villa, Swamore Road, Ryde, in the
Isle of Wight, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING
IMITATION MOROCCO OR OTHER LEATHER, OR RAISED DESIGNS ON CLOTH,
PAPER, OR OTHER FLEXIBLE FABRIC OR TISSUE," bearing date the
Fourteenth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-one, No. 109.
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
entered and filed by Thomas Rowan, of Glasgow, in the County:
of Lanark, the Assignee of the above-named Letters Patent, to
portions of the Specification of the said Letters Patent, according
to the Statutes in that case made and provided..
(
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS.
ROWAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Chemist, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of January,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, did grant unto the
above-named John Harrington, his exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, the sole privilege to make, use, exercise, and vend, the In-
vention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING IMITATION MOROCCO OR OTHER
LEATHER OR RAISED DESIGNS IN CLOTH, PAPER, OR OTHER FLEXIBLE FABRIC
OR TISSUE," within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, during the term of fourteen
years then next ensuing:
And whereas the said John Harrington, on the Seventh day of July
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, within the time pre-
scribed by the said Letters Patent, caused a Specification in writing
under his hand and seal to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office :
And whereas by an Indenture of Assignment bearing date the Sixth
day of February, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, madė
between the said John Harrington of the one part, and William Francis
Richards of the other part, and registered in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the Twelfth day [of February, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two, the said John Harrington assigned unto the said
William Francis Richards, the said Letters Patent for all the residue of
the said term of fourteen years, and by another Indenture of Assignment
bearing date the Fourteenth day of September, One. thousand eight
mado
A
hundred-and-seventy-two, ^ "between the said William Francis Richards
of the one part, and me the said Thomas Rowan of the other part,
and registered in the Great Seal Patent Office on the Twenty-seventh
day of September, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two,
the said William Francis Richards assigned the said Letters Patent unto
me, the said Thomas Rowan, for all the residue of the said term of
fourteen years, and such Letters Patent are now vested in me::
And whereas after the date of the application for the said Letters
Patent and since the Specification in pursuance thereof, I have
.
title and
A
ascertained and been advised that the description of the said Invention
is too broad and contains matter which was not new and original
at the date of the said application for Letters Patent, particularly
the matter relating to the production of raised designs upon cloth, paper,
or other flexible fabric or tissue. And in order to render the said

page_text: thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Harrington, Her special license that I, the said
John Harrington, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Harrington, 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 PRODUCING IMITATION
MORROCCO OR OTHER LEATHER" (upon the condition amongst others) that
I, the said John Harrington, 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 Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
с
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Harrington, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statetement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in producing in the manner herein-after
described imitation Morocco or other leather.
In producing imitation Morocco leather I proceed as follows-I take
a perfect skin of well grained Morocco leather, and stretch and fix it
upon a flat surface, the grained side being upwards. I take a cast or
impression from the grained surface of the leather by plaster of Paris,
shellac, fusible metal, or by any of the other well known materials and
processes employed for making moulds. Plaster of Paris yields a cast
or impression of the grained surface of the leather sufficiently accurate
for ordinary purposes, yet when I wish to produce a cast or impression
specially perfect I employ the process of electro-deposition, by which I
obtain a cast or impression of the grained surface of the leather in copper
or other metal, which can be conveniently deposited by electricity.
I do not consider it necessary to describe the method of obtaining a

page_text: metallic cast or impression by electro-deposition, as the processes to be
resorted to in order to produce the said cast or impression are well known
and commonly practised by electro-metallurgists. From the mould thus
obtained I procure a perfect facsimile of the grained surface of the
Morocco leather in the following way:-I take common glue and
dissolve it by the aid of heat in the usual way in about twice its weight
of water; or I steep glue in water until it has absorbed so much water
that on the application of heat it will liquefy. To every ten parts by
volume of this solution of glue or liquified glue I add about three parts
by volume of glycerine, and two parts by volume of a saturated solution
of bichromate of ammonia. I also add a small quantity of French
chalk, and sufficient coloring matters to give the mixture the required
color. The colouring matters I employ are the ordinary colours or
pigments.
matter
A
When the pigment or colouring is of an earthy nature or has
considerable body the French chalk may be omitted, and where in the
imitation of Morocco leather to be produced great flexibility is required
boiled linseed oil and green or soft soap may be added to the materials
herein-before described. The boiled linseed oil may be added in the
proportion of about twice the weight of glycerine, and the green soap
may be added in the proportion of about half the weight of glycerine.
The gelatinous mixture while at a temperature sufficiently high to
preserve its semi-liquid state, and after the thorough incorporation of
the ingredients, is spread upon the surface of the mould either by
pouring a quantity in the middle of the mould and spreading it over its
п
entire surface or it may be applied by means of a brush or A roller. I
then take a piece of canvas, cloth, or other flexible fabric or tissue, and
place it in close contact with the gelatinous mixture in the mould, the
said canvas or fabric being pressed and rubbed to bring it into closo
contact with the gelatinous mixture and to remove bubbles of air from
between it and the said mixture. After the mixture has gelatinized, the
canvas or fabric is lifted from the nould, when it brings with it, firmly
attached thereto, the gelatinous cast or impression of the mould. Or
the mixture may be spread upon the fabric by means of a roller or
and
A
otherwise and allowed to cool solidify. The fabric with the said
mixture upon its surface may afterwards be heated and placed upon the
mould or the mould placed upon it.

page_text: By the application of pressure by means of rolls or otherwise the
patter of figure upon the mould is impressed upon the mixture or
composition. The fabric with the composition upon it, the said com-
position having the pattern or figure of the grained Morocco leather is
exposed to light. By the action of the light the bi-chromate of ammonia
is decomposed and the gelatine made insoluble. When thoroughly dry
.the gelatinous surface is varnished with a good flexible varnish such
as is ordinarily used for varnishing leather. The varnish known in
commerce as carriage varnish answers very well, but I do not limit
myself thereto; the varnishing however is not absolutely necessary.
There is thus produced a flexible material the front surface of which
. exactly resembles well grained Morocco leather. In addition to
varnishing the front of the imitation leather I prefer to apply a
waterproofing solution to the back. A solution of india-rubber in
benzole or in any of its other well known solvents answers this purpose,
boiled linseed oil may also be used for the purpose of waterproofing tlic
back of the imitation leather.
Instead of mixing the bi-chromate of ammonia with the glue and
other materials described the said bi-chromate of ammonia may be
applied to the impression in gelatine, after it has been removed from the
mould by the canvass, the gelatine surface being exposed to light after
the application of the bi-chromate of ammonia.
In place of bi-chromate of ammonia bi-chromate of potash or other
soluble bi-chromate may be employed, and in place of glue isinglass or
other form of gelatine may be employed, and in place of French chalk
for giving body or density common chalk or other impalpable powder
capable of giving body or density to the mixture may be employed.
Instead of taking an impression or mould from the leather or surface
to be imitated a plate engraved with the required design may be used as
the mould.
Although I have only described my Invention as applied to the pro-
duction of imitation Morocco leather, yet my said Invention may be
applied to the production of imitations of other kinds of leather.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that
A
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described, as the

page_text: same may be varied without departing from the nature of my Invention,
but I claim as my Invention the improvements in producing imitation
Morocco or other leather herein-before described, that is to say, producing
the said imitation leathers by the use of a mixture or composition 'con-
sisting essentially of a solution of gelatine, glycerine, and bi-chromate of
-ammonia, or other soluble bi-chromate, which mixture or composition
while made or kept liquid or semi-liquid by heat is spread upon the
fabric or tissue, and impressed by a mould proper to give to it the
required imitation surface or design, the impressed mixture or com-
position, after it has gelatinized and the imatation surface or design
thereby fixed, being exposed- to light so as to render the said mixture or
composition insoluable, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto
my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
sct
And I, the said Thomas Rowan, do hereby further and lastly declare
that the above written Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration is
not, nor is any part thereof respectively, intended to extend the exclusive
right granted by the said Letters Patent, and that these Presents shall
not extend the said exclusive right in any way whatever.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Rowan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-four.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the above-named Thomas
Rowan, in the presence of
J. GUTHRIE SMITH,
of 109 West George Street.
THOMAS ROWAN. (L.S.)

page_text: To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named Thomas
Rowan, to file in the Great Scal Patent Office, with the Specification
to which the same relates, the above-written Disclaimer and Memo-
randum of Alteration.
Dated this 3rd day of November, 1874.
RICHARD BAGGALLY.
Attorney-General.