An Improved Method of Preparing Hides for Tanning.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Preparing Hides for Tanning.
I, ALBERT HULL, of New Winsted, Connecticut, United States of America,
Tanner, 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 :—
This invention relates to the treatment of hides and skins, after having been limed
and unhaired, to prepare them for being tanned or converted into leather in the usual
manner as will be hereinafter described.
The object of this invention is to thoroughly prepare hides and skins to be tanned
or converted into leather, after having been limed and unhaired, by subjecting them
to the action of a Bate" in order to remove all traces of lime that may remain after
the hides have been washed.
"
The process of liming and unhairing hides and skins and subsequently tanning
or converting them into leather being no part of my invention, and quite familiar
to those skilled in the art of tanning, a detailed description thereof is omitted.
After the hides have been thoroughly washed and as much of the lime removed
therefrom as practicable by washing, a further treatment is necessary in order to
more completely prepare the hides for tanning and to produce a superior quality of
leather. To accomplish this object in a certain, expeditious and economical manner,
and without injury to the hides, they are subjected to a "Bate" consisting of a solution
of Gallic acid and water substantially as follows.
The proportion of acid and water to compose a proper and successful "Bate” may
be about four ounces of Gallic acid in crystals to about ten thousand pounds of water,
the crystals to be thoroughly dissolved and commingled with the water. In this solution
the hides may be immersed from ten to twenty four hours which will be quite
sufficient to neutralize and form a soluble combination of the lime, still remaining in
the hides after washing, by uniting with the Gallic acid. After the hides have been
washed to remove as much of the lime therein as possible, and before they are
subjected to the action of this solution of Gallic acid and water, they are stiff and
hard, which condition is produced by the direct effects of the lime still remaining
theroin.
The result of thus bating the hides before tanning by the employment of a solution
of Gallic acid and water as before stated, is to render them soft and flaccid, and then
by the usual method of working on the beam and subsequently rinsing in water, the
combination of Gallic acid and neutralized or dissolved lime therein; together with
any extraneous matter will be readily and thoroughly removed therefrom, and the
hides rendered in proper condition to be tanned in the usual manner.
It may be briefly recapitulated in order to clearly define and separate this
preparatory process of "Bating" from the subsequent and distinct process of
tanning hides, that this process of "Bating" is employed after the hides have been
limed and unhaired and before the process of tanning is commenced it being strictly
a preparatory process employed in the "Beam-house" to eradicate all traces of lime
and to thoroughly prepare the hides for tanning.
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 :-
In preparing hides and skins to he tanned the method of neutralizing the lime in

page_text: hides and skins by subjecting them to the action of a solution of Gallic acid and
water and subsequently removing the Gallic acid and neutralized lime therefrom by
washing and working substantially as set forth.
Dated the 17th day of September 1889.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.