IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF IMITATION OR ARTIFICIAL LEATHER
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrington, of Ryde, Isle of Wight,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF IMITATION OR
ARTIFICIAL LEATHER."
Sealed the 8th April 1873, and dated the 31st December 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrington at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st December 1872.
I, JOHN HARRINGTON, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF IMITATION OR
ARTIFICIAL LEATHER," to be as follows:-
· For the above purpose I take strong long fibred paper of the desired
thickness, and stain or dye it any desired colour as a ground colour;
I then colour the surface thereof to the tint required for the imitation

page_text: leather to be produced, after which I glaze the paper by passing it
between metal plates or rollers, -I then waterproof it by brushing over
the surface thercof by preference a weak solution of shellac either in
methylated spirit or in water as is well understood.
The strength I prefer to use of the shellac solution is about one pound
of shellac to the gallon of spirit or water. Other descriptions of varnish
may however be employed.
In order to give a greater degree of pliability to the paper than it
would otherwise possess I apply glycerine thereto as follows:-In cases
where the paper is dyed or stained by immersion I mix the glycerinc
with the dye or stain in the proportion of about ten fluid ounces of
glycerine to a gallon of the dye or solution. In cases where paper is
stained or dyed otherwise than by immersion, I work the glycerine into
the paper by brushing or otherwise applying the glycerine to the surfaces
thereof, or I immerse the paper in a solution of glycerine and water in
the proportion of about two parts of glycerine to one part of water.
Paper prepared as above described may be used plain, when it will
resemble calf skin, or it may be grained by the means described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to me dated September 14, 1871,
Number 2423. When however it is desired that the paper should
resemble calf skin I apply thereto an additional coating of waterproof
solution or varnish, and before applying the second coat of varnish I
pass the paper under pressure between polishing or glazing plates or
surfaces, whilst after the second coat of varnish is applied thereto, I pass
the paper under pressure between plates or rollers having a "granulated"
surface, whereby a dead appearance is produced to the surface of the
paper.
In order to produce long lengths of imitation or artificial leather from
fac-simile moulds, whether in paper or other material, I cause each
impression slightly to overlap the preceding one so as to render the lines
of junction imnercentible or nearly so.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Harrington in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 28th June 1873.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HARRINGTON, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Harrington, Her special license
that I, the said John Harrington, [my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Harrington, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, excrcise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OF PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF
IMITATION OR ARTIFICIAL LEATHER," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Harrington, my executors or administrators, by au
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, 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 Harrington, 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 thereof, that is to say :—
"
For the above purpose I take strong long fibred paper of the desired
thickness, and stain or dye it to any desired colour as a ground colour; I
then colour the surface thereof to the tint required for the imitation
leather to be produced, after which I glaze the paper by passing it
between metal plates or rollers, I then waterproof it by brushing over

page_text: the surface thereof by preference a weak solution of shellac prepared
either in methylated spirit or in water as is well understood.
The strength I prefer to use of the shellac solution is about two
pounds of shellac to the gallon of spirit or water. Other descriptions of
varnish may however be employed.
In order to give a greater degree of pliability to the paper than it
would otherwise possess, I apply glycerine thereto as follows:-In
cases where the paper is dyed or stained by immersion I mix the
glycerine with the dye or stain in the proportion of about ten fluid
ounces of glycerine to a gallon of the dye or solution; but in cases where
paper is stained or dyed otherwise than by immersion I work the
glycerine into the paper by brushing or otherwise applying the glycerine
to the surfaces thercof, or I immerse the paper in a solution of glycerino
and water in the proportion of about two parts of glycerine to one part
of water.
Paper prepared as above described may be used plain, when it will
resemble calf skin, or it may be grained to resemble any description of
leather by the means described in the Specification of a Patent granted
to me, dated September 14th, 1871, No. 2423. When however it is
desired that the paper should resemble calf skin I apply thereto an
additional coating of waterproof solution or varnish, and before applying
the second coat of varnish I pass the paper under pressure between
polishing or glazing plates or surfaces, whilst after the second coat of
varnish is applied thereto I pass the paper under pressure between plates
or rollers having a "granulated" surface whereby a dead appearance is
produced to the surface of the paper.
In order to produce long lengths of imitation or artificial leather from
fac-simile moulds, whether in paper or other material, I cause cacli
impression slightly to overlap the preceding one so as to render the lines
of junction imperceptible or nearly so.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode
in which I carry the same into effect I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
First. The peculiar mode of treating paper for the production of artificial
leather substantially as herein described, namely, by first dyeing or
staining the paper to any desired ground colour, and by the application

page_text: of glycerine thereto, then colouring the surface to the colour required for
the imitation leather, and then by glazing it and applying either one or
two coats of waterproofing solution or varnish thereto in manner and
for the purpose herein described.
Secondly. I claim the mode herein described of producing long lengths
of imitation leather, whether of paper or other material, by causing cach
impression of the mould or die slightly to overlap the preceding one, so
as to render the lines of junction imperceptible or nearly so."
In witness whercof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.