IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING TANNIC ACID, TANNIN, GALLIC ACID, OR THE LIKE, AND THE UTILIZATION OF CERTAIN RAW PRODUCTS FOR THE PURPOSE."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick George Vedova, of Smyrna, in the Empire of
Turkey, temporarily at the Office for Patents, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION OF
CERTAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING TANNIC ACID, TANNIN, GALLIC ACID, OR THE
LIKE, AND THE UTILIZATION OF CERTAIN RAW PRODUCTS FOR THE PURPOSE."
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick George Vedova at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th July 1878.
FREDERICK GEORGE VEDOVA, of Smyrna, in the Empire of Turkey, temporarily
at the Office for Patents, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING TANNIC ACID,
TANNIN, GALLIC ACID, OR THE LIKE, AND THE UTILIZATION OF CERTAIN RAW
PRODUCTS FOR THE PURPOSE."
I take a peculiar light excrescence of a reddish colour found on the oaks in Asia
Minor and the neighbouring countries, of a globular form, and one to two inches in
diameter. This material, which is about of the consistency of elder pith, I wash in
a weak solution of soda, dry, then grind to powder, pack and press into sacks, and
export for tanning, dyeing, and calico printing purposes. While the people are
gathering this material they also collect the young shoots and leaves of those oaks
rich in tannin, and the acorns; these are also dried and ground, separately packed
All these three
and exported for the same purposes as the first-mentioned article.
articles can be mixed also to suit peculiar purposes in tanning, dyeing, and printing.
The dried or powdered acorn is useful besides for its starch when treated in the
ordinary way for that purpose.
-
I also make a valuable extract for tanning and other purposes out of these various
before-mentioned materials by boiling and concentrating.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of an
Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Frederick George Vedova in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th February 1879.
FREDERICK GEORGE VEDOVA, of Smyrna, in the Empire of Turkey, temporarily
at the Office for Patents, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION OF CERTAIN MATERIALS CONTAINING TANNIC ACID,
TANNIN, GALLIC ACID, OR THE LIKE, AND THE UTILIZATION OF CERTAIN RAW
PRODUCTS FOR THE PURPOSE."
My Invention consists in the production of a new tanning material suited for
tanners, dyers, printers, et cetera, for purposes. where tannic acid, tannin, gallic acid,
or the like is used.
I take a peculiar light excrescence of a light brown colour found on the oaks in
Turkey and neighbouring countries, such, for instance, as the Levant. This
excrescence, which is of a globular form and of the average size of one inch diameter,
is produced by the sting of a small insect similar to that producing the galls used
principally for dyeing purposes. This material, which is about of the consistency
of elder pith, owing to its extraordinary lightness and consequent excessive bulk for
a given weight, is inapplicable in its ordinary form as an article of commerce for
tanning purposes. It has, too, an exterior gummy coating prejudicial for this
purpose. To make this material available I wash it after collection in a weak
solution of carbonate of soda, say 4 ounces to the gallon of water, until the gummy
matter is dissolved off. This will easily be ascertained by examination, and no
specific time can be stated, as some samples require rather longer than others,
depending on the time of year in which they are plucked, and other circumstances."
After the removal of the envelope has been effected I dry the material, and when
quite dry put it into a pulverizing machine, which reduces it into a powder more
or less fine, according to the fineness it may be required by the different consumers.
I then pack and press it into sacks and export it. To this article I have given the
name of "vedovine."
Another way of manufacturing this article is by making it into an extract; this
is done after the material has undergone the first process and is pulverized. Instead
of packing it I make an infusion by steeping it in water with the aid of steam,
care being taken to use sufficient water to extract all the tan, then strain out and
boil down the extract till it becomes almost solid.
In order to economise fuel it is best to steep the fresh stuff in a strong solution
till the latter is almost saturated, then draw the solution off and let in weaker
solution, and repeat the process a third time with pure water. The 2nd and 3rd
subsequent solutions drawn off are used with fresh matter till saturated. In this
way all the soluble matter is extracted and yet the weakest washings are made
available of without waste in evaporation.
Having discovered that the young shoots, the leaves, and acorns of some of the
oaks are rich in tannin, I have gathered them also, and after being dried I pulverize
them, pack them, and export them for the same purposes as the "vedovine," besides
making also the extract from them. All these articles can be mixed also to suit
peculiar purposes in tanning, dyeing, and printing.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as my Invention the
separate steps of the processes herein described taken separately and for other
purposes, nor do I limit myself to these exact details or quantities; but what I
believe to be new and desire to protect under the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
1. The above-described manufacture, and also the use after such manufacture of
pulverulent or other solid material from these peculiar excrescences, also from the
leaves, acorns, and young shoots of the oaks in Asia Minor and contiguous countries

page_text: where these parts of the oaks are very rich in tannin, for use in tanning, dyeing,
and other industrial operations where substances rich in tannin are required.
2. The manufacture and also the use of the peculiar soluble extract herein
described for purposes where tannic acid, gallic acid, tannin, or any of their
compounds are required, or as material for their manufacture.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick George Vedova, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
FREDERICK GEORGE VEDOVA. (L.S.)