A NEW PROCESS OF BLEACHING FEATHERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolphe Viol and Cesaire Pierre Duflot, of Paris,
(France), Manufacturers, for the Invention of "A NEW PROCESS OF BLEACHING
FEATHERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolphe Viol and Cesaire
Pierre Duflot at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th August
1877.
ADOLPHE VIOL and CESAIRE PIERRE DUFLOT, of Paris (France), Manufacturers.
"A NEW PROCESS OF BLEACHING FEATHERS."
Feathers, particularly ostrich feathers, which are of the highest value irrespective
of the grey, brown, and black feathers, which constitute the chief parts of birds'
plumage, are found of different tints. Some are naturally pure white and require
only cleansing and bleaching to fit them for sale. Others are also white, but of a
dull leaden tint, which renders them unfit for sale, except as defective white feathers
at a great reduction of price. Others again have a mixture of white and grey;
these, which are chiefly feathers of female birds, present the same difficulties in their
sale as those previously mentioned.
The principal object of our Invention is to give to these two classes of feathers,
which are deficient in whiteness, all the purity of white feathers of the highest
quality, rendering their tint an unblemished white, and thereby highly enhancing
their value. The process which we adopt for this purpose is based upon the fact
that feathers dipped in resinous essences, such as turpentine and other products of
the distillation of resinous gums, or in other essences, such as those of lavender or
thyme, or finally in bituminous hydrocarbons, become bleached under the action of
light and heat. In applying this re-action practically we immerse the feathers to be
bleached, particularly ostrich feathers, in baths of the materials above mentioned,
and allow them to soak therein a longer or shorter time according to the amount
of colour to be discharged, maintaining the baths at an average temperature
of 85° to 90° Fahr., and exposing their contents as much as possible to the light.

page_text: When we consider that the feathers are sufficiently bleached, which generally
occupies three to four weeks, we spread and shake them, so as to get rid of every
trace of the liquid in which they were soaked, and then dry and prepare them in
the ordinary way, cleaning and bleaching them as usual.
The above description suffices to explain the practical application of our process;
we may add however some details which our experiments have shewn to be useful.
In respect of the essence employed we have found turpentine, either crude or
rectified, satisfactory, but the other essences referred to, either alone or mixed, may
used.
be
The vessels employed for the baths should be open, as the air plays some part in
the bleaching process as well as heat and light.
The vessels should be in a place naturally or artificially warmed.
The feathers should be well exposed to the daylight, and for this purpose they
are spread out horizontally in shallow basins or suspended vertically in glass
vessels.
Though we have mentioned ostrich feathers as the principal subject of our process,
it is applicable to other feathers for preparing, not only those that are to be white,
but also those that are to be dyed, particularly with delicate tints.
In some cases the feathers, instead of being soaked in a liquid bath, may be exposed
to the vapours of the suitable essences.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Adolphe Viol and Cesaire Pierre Duflot in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st January 1878.
ADOLPHE VIOL and CESAIRE PIERRE DUFLOT, of Paris (France), Manufacturers.
"A NEW PROCESS OF BLEACHING FEATHERS."
Feathers, particularly ostrich feathers, which are of the highest value irrespective
of the grey, brown, and black feathers, which constitute the chief parts of birds'
plumage, are found of different tints. Some are naturally pure white and require
only cleaning and bleaching to fit them for sale. Others are also white, of a dull
leaden tint, which renders them unfit for sale except as defective white feathers at
a great reduction of price. Others again have a mixture of white and grey; those,
which are chiefly feathers of female birds, present the same difficulties in their sale
as those previously mentioned.
The principal part of our Invention is to give to these two classes of feathers
which are deficient in whiteness, all the purity of white feathers of the highest quality,
rendering their tint an unblemished white, and thereby highly enhancing their
value. The process which we adopt for this purpose is based upon the fact that
feathers dipped in resinous essences, such as turpentine and other products of the
distillation of resinous gums, or in other essences, such as those of lavender or thyme,
or finally in bituminous hydrocarbons, become bleached under the action of light
and heat. In applying this re-action practically we immerse the feathers to be
bleached, particularly ostrich feathers, in baths of the materials above mentioned,

page_text: and allow them to soak therein a longer or shorter time, according to the amount of
colour to be discharged, maintaining the baths at an average temperature of 85°
to 90° Fahr., and exposing their contents as much as possible to the light.
When we consider that the feathers are sufficiently bleached, which generally
occupies three to four weeks, we spread out and shake them so as to get rid of every
trace of the liquid in which they were soaked, and then dry and prepare them in
the ordinary way, cleaning and bleaching them as usual.
The above description suffices to explain the practical application of our process;
we may add however some details which our experiments have shewn to be useful.
In respect of the essence employed we have found turpentine, either crude or
rectified, satisfactory, but the other essences referred to, either alone or mixed, may
be used.
The vessels employed for the baths should not be closed as the air plays some part
in the bleaching process, as well as heat and light.
The vessels should be in a place naturally or artificially warmed.
The feathers should be well exposed to the daylight, and for this purpose they
are spread out horizontally in shallow basins or suspended vertically in glass
vessels.
Though we have mentioned ostrich feathers as the principal subject of our process,
it is applicable to other feathers for preparing, not only those that are to be white,
but also those that are to be dyed, particularly with delicate tints.
In some cases the feathers, instead of being soaked in a liquid bath, may be exposed
to the vapours of the suitable essences.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we claim, the process substantially as herein described,
or bleaching feathers by soaking them in resinous essences, particularly turpentine,
and exposing them to air and light, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adolphe Viol, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, Jeune,
Civil Engineer,
Bd. de Strasbourg, 23,
à Paris.
ADOLPHE VIOL. (L.S.)