Improvements in the Manufacture of Soap.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1892-Accepted. 1st Oct.. 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Soap.
I EDWARD JOHN THEODORE DIGBY of 131 Leadenhall Street in the City
of London Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
To the ordinary ingredients used for making soap, I add oyster or other shells
prepared as follows, that is to say. The shells having been well washed are
placed in a solution of acetic acid (or an equivalent) and water in the proportions
of 1 part of acid (or the equivalent) and 3 parts of water, in order to remove the
dark or slimy parts from the backs of the shells. The shells are afterwards dried
in an oven or kiln moderately heated for the purpose of absorbing the moisture or
sap, and lastly are ground into, an impalpable, or as fine a powder as possible.
This powder is put into a copper into which sufficient water to cover the top of the
powder is poured. Sulphate of potash, or soda, or any other equivalent substance
is mixed with the bulk of the powdered oyster shells in the proportions of about
6 lbs. of the former to 20 cwt. of the latter, and the mass-that is to say the
powdered oyster shells and sulphate of potash, or soda, or other equivalent-is
boiled for about 12 hours into a fine paste, which when mixed weight for weight
with the other ingredients in common use in the manufacture of soap causes the
production of a soap of very great hygienic and cleansing properties, and much
cheaper than soap of ordinary manufacture.
Dated this 26th dow of No 1001
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Soap.
I EDWARD JOHN THEODORE DIGBY of 131 Leadenhall Street in the City
of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference to improvements in the manufacture of soap. I
carry my invention into practice as follows.
I provide oyster shells, or the like, and wash them well in a solution of acetic
acid, (or other equivalent), and water in the proportions of 1 part of the acid, (or
other equivalent) and 3 parts of water. By this operation I remove the dark,
or slimy parts from the backs of the shells. Í then place the shells, or the like in
an oven, or kiln moderately beated, until the sap, or moisture in such shells, or
the like, has been evaporated, and, lastly, I grind them into an impalpable-or as
fine a powder as possible. This powder is put into a copper into which is poured
sufficient water to cover the top of the contents of the vessel. Sulphate of
potash, or soda, or any other suitable equivalent substance is mixed with the bulk
of the powdered oyster shells, or the like, in the proportions of about 6 lbs. of
the sulphate of potash, or other equivalent substance, and 20 cwt. of the powdered.
oyster shells, or the like. The mass is boiled for about 12 hours until it is
resolved into a fine paste, which, when mixed, weight for weight, with the other
ingredients commonly used in the manufacture of soap, imparts great hygienic,
and cleansing properties to the soap so produced, and such soap is much cheaper
than other soap as ordinarily manufactured.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In the manufacture of soap, the use, and application of oyster shells, or the
like, prepared in the manner, and preferably in the proportions herein specified,
substantially as, and for the purposes herein mentioned.
Dated this 25th day of August 1892.
E. J. T. DIGBY.