IMPROVEMENTS IN RE- MOVING THE FUR FROM SKINS, AND PREPARING SAID SKINS FOR TANNING
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Garnett Taylor, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in
the County of Leicester, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RE-
MOVING THE FUR FROM SKINS, AND PREPARING SAID SKINS FOR TANNING."
Sealed the 10th May 1859, and dated the 10th November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Garnett Taylor,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th November 1858.
I, WILLIAM GARNETT TAYLOR, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in the County of
Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REMOVING THE FUR FROM SKINS, AND PREPARING SAID SKINS FOR
TANNING," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in removing the fur from skins of various kinds,
after which they are in a fit state for tanning, the same being effected in the
following manner :-I place the skin or pelt upon a block somewhat similar
to the human scalp after making it very limped, and then stretch it very
carefully over and fasten it to small hooks attached to the block. I then use
a pair of scissors, the bottom shear having a plough tool connected thereto in

page_text: front, which raises the fur in advance of the cutting of the scissors. The
effect of this is to remove the fur without injuring the pelt of the skin, thereby
preparing the skin ready for tanning.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Garnett Taylor in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th May 1859..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GARNETT TAYLOR, of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in the County of Leicester, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me the said William Garnett Taylor, Her special licence that I, the said
William Garnett Taylor, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others, as I, the said William Garnett Taylor, 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REMOVING THE FUR FROM SKINS, AND PREPARING
SAID SKINS FOR TANNING," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Garnett Taylor, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Garnett Taylor, 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 :-
It being a matter of great importance to remove the fur from skins of

page_text: various kinds without injuring either the fur or the skin, my Invention consists
in effecting such object in the following manner :-I moisten or wet the flesh
side of the skin until it becomes soft and pliable, I then place it upon a
curved top table or block, and after stretching it I fasten it to tenter hooks
attached to the table or block. When the skin is thus stretched and attached
to the table or block, I remove the fur with a pair of scissors or shears,
having or not a plough tool connected thereto in front, to raise the fur in
advance of the cutting of the scissors or shears, the object being to remove
the fur without injuring the surface or face of the skin, thereby redering the
fur available for commercial and manufacturing purposes, and the skin for
tanning in the usual manner.
I now proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying
my said Invention into effect, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the numerical figures and letters marked thereon

page_text: scissors as shewn by the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and herein
described for the purpose herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the, said William Garnett Taylor, have hereunto
set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
W. G. TAYLOR. (L.B.)
Witness,
ALEX PRINCE,'
Patent Office,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.