An Improved Substitute for Leather.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1893-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1893
COMPLETE OPECIFICATION.
An Improved Substitute for Leather.
ERNEST DREW 33 Piccadilly Circus London W. Travelling Trunk and Dress
Basket Manufacturer 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 :--
My invention has for its object an improved substitute for leather for use in the
manufacture of dress baskets travelling trunks and other similar articles and is
composed of layers of canvas and veneered, or thin sheets of wood.
The method I adopt in this improved substitute for leather is as follows-
I obtain three pieces of canvas and two pieces of veneered or thin sheets of wood
(for preference American ash) all of equal size. The surfaces of the wood I rough
with a roughing plane so that the cement hereinafter described will adhere firmly
to the same. then take a layer of canvas and coat one side with the cement
which is composed of best Scotch glue marine glue and plaster of Paris in the
following proportions 10 lbs. best Scotch glue 3 lbs. marine glue and 1 lb. plaster
of Paris well melted and mixed together and used as ordinary glue is used. I then
take one of the pieces of wood before mentioned coat both sides with the before
mentioned cement and lay it upon the canvas. On the top of this I place a second
piece of canvas which is coated both sides with the before mentioned cement
then take the second piece of wood coat both sides with the same preparation and
lay it upon the second piece of canvas. I now take the third or last piece of canvas
conted one side with the before named proparation & lay it upon the second layer
of wood. The last piece of canvas which forms the outside is of waterproof material.
The adhesive cement above referred to is also proof against moisture thus making
the materials with which it is covered damp proof.
Having now formed a board of layers of canvas and thin sheets of wood I place
the same under pressure and dry in a temperature of 60 degrees, after which I out
the same to any required size bevel the edges all round to an angle of 45 degrees
so that when two edges are put together they form a close mitred joint.
then sew and welt the same as ordinary leather is sown and welted.
can
I do not confine myself to any particular kind of wood, neither do I confine
myself to the number of layers of canvas and wood but any kind of wood of a
pliable nature is suitable for my invention and the number of layers may be
increased to any desired thickness. I mention five layers only for convenience of
description.
I do not claim in this Specification the composition of the above mentioned
cement as new, but what I do claim to be new is the forming of a substitute for
leather of layers of canvas and wood alternately of at least five layers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is performed I declare that what I claim is
1st. An improved substitute for leather composed of alternate layers of canvas and
thin sheets of wood substantially as specified.
2nd. The manufacture of an improved substitute for leather as specified for
the manufacture of dress baskets travelling trunks, bags, and other analogous
articles.
ERNEST DREW.