IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE DECORATION OR ORNAMENTATION OF LEATHER CLOTH AND SIMILAR FABRICS, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of
Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE DECORATION OR ORNAMENTATION OF LEATHER CLOTH AND
SIMILAR FABRICS, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO VARIOUS USEFUL
PURPOSES." A communication from Auguste Pellet, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, Merchant.
Sealed the 2nd August 1858, and dated the 8th March 1858...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th March 1858.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North.
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention- for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DECORATION OR ORNAMENTATION OF LEATHER CLOTH AND
SIMILAR FABRICS, AND THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES,"
a communication from Auguste Pellet, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Merchant, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved system or mode of decorating or
ornamenting leather cloths, whereby the cloth so decorated is made to wear.
much better than those treated in the ordinary manner, the cracking or ⚫

page_text: separation of the ornamented portions from the body of the fabric when in
use being avoided.
In carrying out this Invention the leather cloth to be ornamented is
impressed with the required design in colors or metal leaf by suitable blocks
or cylinders, these designs are printed by the aid of oil mordants in any
suitable or well known manner. After the impression has been made, it is
varnished and passed through pressing or callendering rollers for the purpose
of fixing it. A continuous design may be applied, or the aid of the painter
called in for the purpose of painting by hand any design required, but in all
cases the design is subsequently varnished and callendered for the purpose of
fixing the same. Fabrics ornamented in the manner above described may
be applied extensively to the manufacture of hats and caps, boots, shoes, and.
slippers, articles of furniture; also to the manufacture of garments, fancy
toilette articles, and to decorative upholstery, such as theatrical decorations
or decorations for large appartments.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
: by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
..the 6th September 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and
of 166, Buchanan Street, in the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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
THE DECORATION OR ORNAMENTATION OF LEATHER CLOTH AND SIMILAR FABRICS, AND
THE APPLICATION OF THE SAME TO VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES," a communication
from Auguste Pellet, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Merchant, upon the

page_text: condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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:
The said Invention relates to an improved system or mode of decorating or
ornamenting leather cloths, whereby the cloth so decorated is made to wear
much better than those ornamented in the ordinary manner, as the cracking
or separation of the ornamented portions from the surface of the body fabric
when subjected to friction from constant use is altogether prevented.
In carrying out this Invention the leather cloth to be ornamented has the
desired figures or devices painted or laid upon its face, either by the aid of
block printing, or by passing it between suitably engraved cylinders, or in any
other convenient manner, such figures or devices being printed in colors, or in
metallic foil, such as gold or silver leaf, and always by the aid of an oil
vehicle or "mordant." It is important that the ornamentation or decoration
should be so applied as to be as flat as possible upon the general surface of
the fabric, since parts that are raised in relief are very liable to be injured by
friction, and present a difficulty in the subsequent calendering process to which
the fabric so ornamented is to be subjected. After the figures or devices
have been painted or laid upon the fabric the entire surface is varnished, and
the fabric is passed through a pair of calendering or pressing rollers, for the
purpose of fixing the ornamented portions permanently upon the fabric,
whereby such ornamented portions become embodied with the fabric, and are
not liable to be separated therefrom by cracking or peeling off when in use.
The essential feature of this Invention, therefore, is the rendering of orna-
mental designs on leather cloths permanent, by the successive operations of
varnishing and calendering or pressing between rollers. Patterns of all kinds
may be treated according to this Invention. Painting by hand may also be
adopted in applying the designs to the fabrics, so long as the subsequent
operation of varnishing and rolling be employed. Leather cloth so orna-
mented will be found to be well adapted to the decoration of theatres and
interiors generally of public buildings or private houses, and may be employed
in saddle making, in the manufacture of coverings for the head and feet, such

page_text: as caps,. and fancy shoes and slippers;: coverings for furniture, and a variety
of other purposes both useful and ornamental.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of September, One thousand
eight, hundred and fifty-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)