AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVE- MENTS IN MEANS FOR UNHAIRING AND FLESHING HIDES AND SKINS
Year: 1881

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS FOR UNHAIRING AND FLESHING HIDES AND SKINS."
A communication from abroad by Archibald White Reid, of Schenectady, in
the State of New York, and James Ebenezer Reid and Edward Potter, junior,
of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, all in the United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
AND
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1881.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR UNHAIRING
FLESHING HIDES AND SKINS." (A communication from abroad by Archibald
White Reid, of Schenectady, in the State of New York, and James Ebenezer Reid
and Edward Potter, junior, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, all in the
United States of America.)
Machines have been made for unhairing and fleshing hides in which the hide is.
laid upon a concave table and a revolving tool is used to scrape the surface...
These tools have usually been made of metal, and they are liable to scratch and
scab the hide while removing the hair.
In the said improved machine the concave table upon which the hido is laid is
constructed in such a manner that it may be moved towards the revolving scraping
tool by means of a treadle acting upon a slide, and the concave table is hinged at
the upper end, and there are stops to regulate the extent of motion, and springs
that yield to excess of pressure upon the hide. The hide is laid upon this table,
spread out smooth, and moved from time to time by hand so as to present it to the
action of the fleshing or unhairing tools.
When this machine is employed for fleshing the hide the tools are preferably of
metal and placed in a stock upon the revolving wheel at an inclination to the
radius, so as to scrape and remove the fleshy portions of the hide.
One feature of this improvement relates to the use and application of vulcanized
india-rubber, or similar slightly flexible or yielding material, is especially useful
for the tools employed in unhairing hides, because it has sufficient adhesion to draw
out the hairs, and at the same time the india rubber scraping tool yields and the
surface of the hide does not become injured. These india rubber tools are in the
form of rectangular blocks set in holders or stocks upon the revolving wheel or
drum at an inclination to the radius, and they take a firm hold upon the hair and
do the work in the most rapid and thorough manner without injury to the
surface.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th July 1881.
AND
Edward GriffITH BREWER, of 33, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR UNHAIRING
FLESHING HIDES AND SKINS." A communication from abroad by Archibald
White Reid, of Schenectady, in the State of New York, and James Ebenezer Reid
and Edward Potter, jr., of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, all in the
United States of America.
Machines have been made for unhairing and fleshing hides in which the hide is
laid upon a concave table and a revolving tool is used to scrape the surface. These
tools have usually been made of metal, and they are liable to scratch and scab the
bide while removing the hair.
In the said improved machine the concave table upon which the hide is laid is
constructed in such a manner that it may be moved towards the revolving scraping
tool by means of a treadle acting upon a slide, and the concave table is binged at
the upper end, and there are stops to regulate the extent of motion, and springs
that yield to excess of pressure upon the hide. The bide is laid upon this table,
spread out smooth, and moved from time to time by hand so as to present it to the
action of the fleshing or unhairing tools.
When this machine is employed for fleshing the hide the tools are preferably of
metal and placed in a stock upon the revolving wheel at an inclination to the
radius so as to scrape and remove the fleshy portions of the hide.
The especial feature of this improvement relates to the discovery that vulcanized
india rubber, or similar. slightly flexible or yielding material, is especially useful
for the tools employed in unhairing hides, because it has sufficient adhesion to
draw out the hairs, and at the same time the india rubber scraping tool yields and
the surface of the hide does not become injured.
These india rubber tools are in the form of rectangular blocks set in holders or
stocks upon the revolving wheel or drum at an inclination to the radius, and they
take a firm hold upon the hair and do the work in the most rapid and thorough
manner without injury to the surface.
.
In the Drawing the machine is represented sectionally with the improved
scraper.
The revolving wheel a is provided with arms b in pairs, to which the scrapers c
of vulcanized india rubber are attached by clamping jaws or holders d. Only one
such scraper is shown, but it is to be understood that a scraper should be applied to
cach pair of arms.
The concave table f receives the hide that is to be fleshed or unhaired, and the
table is upon the sliding supports i and frames, and is a treadle, by means of
which the concave table and hide can. be pressed towards the revolving wheel and
scrapers.
This improvement is not limited to any particular character of concave table or
means for holding the hide while being fleshed or unhaired.
What is claimed and to be secured by Letters Patent is,-
In a machine for unhairing hides, the combination with the support for the hide
of a holder and a flexible tool of vulcanized rubber, leather, or similar material,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentyninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.