AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF INDIA-RUBBER AND KINDRED GUNS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Lindsey Simpson, of Bridgeport, County of
Fairfield, State of Connecticut, United States of America, for the Inven-
tion of AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF INDIA-RUBBER AND
KINDRED GUNS"
Sealed the 16th April 1867, and dated the 19th October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Lindsey Simpson
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th October 1866..
I, EDWIN LINDSEY SIMPSON, of Bridgeport, County of Fairfield, State of
Connecticut, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF INDIA-RUBBER
AND KINDRED GUMS" to be as follows :-
The object of my Invention is to produce a vulcanized india-rubber or
gutta percha compound free from the odor or effects of free sulphur common
in vulcanized goods, and consists of the combination of linseed or other'
vegetable oil, sulphur, and benzoiu gum.
To enable others skilled in the art to prepare and use my compound I will
proceed to describe my manner of so doing.
I first boil the oil to the consistency of honey (this I do to facilitate the
preparation); the sulphur I pulverize to a powder, and thoroughly mix,
therewith the benzoin gum in the proportion of two ounces of the gum to one
Price 8d.]

page_text: pound of the sulphur; then to each quart of the boiled oil add one pound of
the prepared sulphur, more of the sulphur causes the compound to act quicker
and less of the compound to act more slowly; the proportion specified I find by
experiment; carefully subject this mixture to a moderate heat sufficient only
to cause the two substances to re-act upon each other until they pass from a
semi-fluid to a semi-hard state, having a honeycomb or spongy appearance,
this forms my vulcanizing compound. Benzoin gum by its vapourizing
qualities perfectly expells the fumes of the sulphur as well as the odor from
the oil, and renders the compound nearly if not perfectly odorless, and when
combined with india-rubber and subjected to a regulated heat will cause the
same to undergo the change known as vulcanizing. By this;
paration and combination all the fumes of the sulphur as well as the effects of
the sulphur upon other articles than the rubber or kindred gums, vulcanized
in the usual manner, are entirely destroyed.
.
process of
pre-
In the preparation of india-rubber or other allied gums preparatory to being
subjected to the requisite heat, I find by experiment the following to be the
proper proportion:-If for dry heat,one pound of india-rubber or gutta percha,
two ounces of my vulcanizing compound above described, and eight ounces of
litharge, and the proper colouring material; and to increase the quantity at
the expense of 'the quality, whiting may be added to the extent of about eight
ounces; mix all together in the usual manner by grinding between heated
rolls. If not for dry heat the litharge may be left out. When properly
prepared the preparation may be applied to fabrics in the usual manner of
applying similar compounds; or it may be used independent of fabrics and
rolled into thin sheets or fashioned in similar manner as common india-rubber
or gutta percha, and cured by subjecting to the requisite heat in the .pro-
portion which the quantity of vulcanizing compound bears to the quantity of
india-rubber to be vulcanized in like manner as for the common sulphur
vulcanization, and the material or article produced by my vulcanization is
entirely and positively free from all odor or effect of free sulphur or oil, the
benzoin gum by its well-known vapourizing qualities entirely expelling all
appearance of either.
My Invention is peculiarly adapted for dental purposes, as the rubber now
used for such purposes has incorporated with it large proportions of free
sulphur, for the purpose of vulcanizing the rubber after it is formed. The
odor and taste occasioned by the presence of this sulphur is extremely
obnoxious to many persons, and occasions the principal if not the only
objection to the use of rubber for dental purposes. To produce my rubber for
dental purposes, to one pound of india rubber or gutta percha add ten to

page_text: fourteen ounces of my above-described compound (the greater the quantity of
the compound the harder will be the rubber after curing), twelve ounces I
believe to be the proper quantity for general purposes. Thoroughly mix the
compound and rubber by grinding between warm rolls. To produce the
requisite color I add chrome red or lake pink, in quantities to produce the
requisite color, and when thoroughly mixed the substance will be in a plastic
state, and in this state rolled into thin sheets and ready for the dentist's use.
The dentist forms the plate in the ordinary manner for other rubber, and
when so formed it should be subjected to a heat of 320 degrees Fahrenheit
for about four hours, proportionately less time as the degree of heat is greater,
otherwise treat as ordinary rubber, and the plate thus prepared will be as
tasteless and odorless as metal plate, and will not tarnish the fillings or other
gold in the mouth of the wearer.
For the formation of articles "hard" or non-elastic the preparation is the
same as for dental purposes,and when molded into the desired form and cured
the articles may be polished or finished in the usual manner of finishing
similar articles of hard rubber.
The preparation of rubber or gutta percha when applied to fabrics as before.
mentioned may be "flocked" in the usual manner of "flocking" similar coated.
fabrics.
For mechanical purposes, as for belting, hose, &c., commonly called
fabricated rubber, several thicknesses of fabrick are laid one above the otlier,
and interlaid with a thin coating of the rubber prepared as first described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edwin Lindsey Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 18th April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWIN
LINDSEY SIMPSON, of Bridgeport, County of Fairfield, State of Counecticut,
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,"
the said Edwin Lindsey Simpson, Her special licence that I, the said Edwin
Lindsey Simpson, my executors,administrators, and assigns, or such others as: -
I, the said Edwin Lindsey Simpson, my executors,administrators,and-assigns,

page_text: 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 lawfullymight
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF INDIA-RUBBER AND KINDRED GUMS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edwin Lindsey Simpson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 Edwin Lindsey Simpson, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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):—
The object of this my said Invention is to produce a vulcanized india-
rubber or gutta percha compound free from the odor or effects of free sulphur
common in vulcanized goods, and consists of the combination of linseed or
other vegetable oil, sulphur, and benzoin gum.
To enable others skilled in the art to prepare and use my compound I will
proceed to describe my manner of so doing.
I first boil the oil to the consistency of honey (this I do to facilitate the
preparation); the sulphur I pulverize to a powder, and thoroughly mix
therewith the benzoin guin in proportion of two ounces of the gum to one
pound of the sulphur; then to each quart of the boiled oil add one pound of
the prepared sulphur, more of the sulphur causes the compound to act quicker,
and less causes the compound to act more slowly; the proportions specified
I find by experiment; carefully subject this mixture to a moderate heat
sufficient only to cause the substances to re-act upon one another until they
pass from a semi-fluid to a semi-solid state, having a honeycomb or spongy
appearance; this forms my vulcanizing compound. Benzoin gum by its
vaporizing qualities perfectly expels the fumes of the sulphur as well as the
odor from the oil, and renders the compound nearly if not perfectly odorless,
and when combined with india-rubber and subjected to a regulated heat will
cause the same to undergo the change known as vulcanizing. By this process
of preparation and combination all the fumes of the sulphur as well as the
effects of the sulphur upon other articles than the rubber and kindred gums,
vulcanized in the usual manner, is entirely destroyed.

page_text: In the preparation of india-rubber or other allied gums preparatory to
being subjected to the requisite heat, I find by experiment the following to
be the proper proportions:-If for dry heat, one pound of india-rubber or
gutta percha, two ounces of my vulcanizing compound above described, and
eight ounces of litharge and the proper colouring material; and to increase.
the quantity at the expense of the quality, whiting may be added to the
extent of about eight ounces; mix all together in the usual manner by grinding
between heated rolls. If not for dry heat, the litharge may be left out. When
properly prepared the preparation may be applied to fabrics in the usua]
manner of applying similar compounds; or it may be used independent of
fabrics and rolled into thin sheets or tashioned in similar manner as common
india-rubber or gutta percha, and cured by subjecting to the requisite heat in
the proportion which the quantity of vulcanizing compound bears to the
quantity of india-rubber to be vulcanized, in like manner as for the common
sulphur vulcanization, and the material or article produced by my vul-
canization is entirely and positively free from all odor or effect of free sulphur
or oil, the benzoin gum by its well-known vaporizing qualities entirely
expelling all appearance of either.
My Invention is peculiarly adapted for dental purposes, as the rubber now
used for such purposes has incorporated with it large proportions of free
sulphur for the purpose of vulcanizing the rubber after it is formed. The
odor and taste occasioned by the presence of this sulphur is extremely
obnoxious to many persons, and occasions the principal if not the only
objection to the use of rubber for dental purposes. To produce my rubber
for dental purposes, to one pound of india-rubber or gutta percha add ten to
fourteen ounces of my above-described compound (the greater the quantity of
the compound the harder will be the rubber after curing), twelve ounces I
believe to be the proper quantity for general purposes. Thoroughly mix the
compound and rubber by grinding between warm rolls. To produce the
requisite color I add chrome red or lake pink in quantities to produce the
requisite color, and when thoroughly mixed the substance will be in a plastic
state, and in this state rolled into thin sheets and ready for the dentist's use.
The dentist forms the plate in the ordinary manner as for other rubber, and
when so formed it should be subjected to a heat of 320 degrees Fahrenheit
for about four hours, proportionately less time as the degree of heat is greater,
otherwise treat as ordinary rubber; and the plate thus prepared will be as
tasteless and odorless as metal plate, and will not tarnish the fillings of other
gold in the mouth of the wearer.
For the formation of articles "hard" or non-elastic the preparation is the

page_text: same as for dental purposes, and when moulded into the desired form and
cured the articles may be polished or finished in the usual manner of finishing
similar articles of hard rubber.
· The preparation of rubber or gutta percha when applied to fabrics, as
before mentioned, may be "flocked" in the usual manner of flocking similar
coated fabrics.
For mechanical purposes, as for belting, hose, &c., commonly called
fabricated rubber, several thicknesses of fabric are laid one above the other,
and interlaid with a thin coating of the rubber prepared as first described.
Having therefore thus fully described my Invention, what I claim as now
and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
First, the herein-described compound of vegetable oil, sulphur, and benzoin
gum, prepared substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second, combining the herein-described compound with india-rubber,
gutta percha, or other similar gums, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Third, coating fabrics with the herein-described preparation, substantially
as specified.
Fourth, combining the within described vulcanizing compound with india-
rubber in the proportions herein named, and substantially in the manner
described for dental purposes.
Fifth, the same when cured and produced in articles known in commerse
as hard rubber.
Sixth, the same when combined with fabrics, producing what is known in
commerce as fabricated rubber.
Seventh,flocking fabrics when coated with the preparation, substantially as
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Lindsey Simpson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty second day of March, in the year
of our Lord 1867.
EDWIN LINDSEY SIMPSON. (L.S.)