IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF PAPER, LEATHER, AND OTHER SKINS, SPONGE, COCOA- NUT FIBRE, AND ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bowers Fitch, of Coleman Street, in the City of
London, Chemist, and Harry Augustus Barton, of Queenhithe, in the City of
London, Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OR TREATMENT OF PAPER, LEATHER, AND OTHER SKINS, SPONGE, COCOA-
NUT FIBRE, AND ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bowers Fitch and
Harry Augustus Barton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
7th January 1881.
WILLIAM BOWERS FITCH, of Coleman Street, in the City of London, Chemist,
and HARRY AUGUSTUS BARTON, of Queenhithe, in the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF PAPER, LEATHER,
AND OTHER SKINS, SPONGE, COCOA-NUT FIBRE, AND ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention has for object the manufacture or treatment of paper, vegetable
parchment, leather, and other skins, sponge, cocoa nut fibre, and analogous
materials or substances, whereby such materials or substances are rendered more or
less soft, pliable, and elastic, and capable of absorbing and retaining moisture, and
in some cases translucent, the extent to which the substances are effected as above
described depending upon their nature and quality.
In carrying out our Invention we treat the materials or substances with a
solution of either acetate of potash or acetate of soda, according to the nature of the
material operated on and the purpose for which it is to be used, in the manner
hereinafter described.
In some cases, as hereinafter described, we add to the solution a sufficient
quantity of a suitable mucilaginous or gelatinous substance, such as glucose, dextrine,
or starch, in which case so strong a solution of acetate is not required.
If required, to prevent mildew or other fungoid growths, a sufficient quantity
of carbolic or salycilic acid dissolved in a suitable solvent is added to the solution.
When a substance such as paper is required to be made semi-transparent or
translucent, we add to the hereinbefore described solution a sufficient quantity of a
solution of silicate of potash or silicate of soda.
Having now described generally the main features of our improvements, we will
proceed to describe the manner in which we carry our improvements into effect.

page_text: For the purpose of rendering paper, including the substance known as vegetable
parchment, more or less soft and pliable, we pass it through a bath of, or dress it
with, a solution of acetate of potash or acetate of soda, varying from about one
part by weight of acetate of potash or acetate of soda to about four to ten parts
of water, according to the degree of softness or pliability required.
When the substance known as vegetable parchment is required to possess.
a skin-like and elastic quality, we add about one part by weight of glucose, dextrine,
or starch to about twenty parts of the solution hereinbefore described.
We also employ a very small quantity of carbolic or salycilic acid, videlicet,
about 2 drachms of acid to one gallon of solution, for the purpose of preventing
mildew. When we require the paper to be more or less translucent we add also a
small proportion of silicate of potash or silicate of soda (of a strength of about one
part of silicate of potash or silicate of soda to about four, six, or eight parts of
water). For rendering paper suitable for copying purposes without it being
necessary, as at present, to damp or moisten it with water, we employ the above
solution of acetate of potash or acetate of soda together with a sufficient quantity
of chromic acid or ferro-cyanide of potassium (the former preferred), for the purpose
of fixing the ink and rendering the colour black, blueish, or blue-black in the
substance of the paper.
For paper which is to be used for the manufacture of what are known as "fly
papers we employ the solution of acetate of potash or acetate of soda alone,
and paper so treated will not require to be damped or moistened as at present
when used.
In treating leather and other skins, sponge, cocoa nut fibre, and analogous
substances, where such substance requires to be softened or moistened, we dress the
said substances with the solution of acetate of potash only, as herein before described,
or where it is required to prevent mildew we add carbolic or salycilic acid, as
herein before stated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Bowers Fitch and Harry Augustus Barton in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 6th July 1881.
WILLIAM BOWERS FITCH, of Coleman Street, in the City of London, Chemist,
and HARRY AUGUSTUS BARTON, of Queenhithe, in the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF PAPER, LEATHER, AND
OTHER SKINS, SPONGE, COCOA NUT FIBRE, AND ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention has for object the manufacture or treatment of paper, vegetable
parchment, leather, and other skins, sponge, cocoa nut fibre, and analogous materials
or substances, whereby such materials or substances are rendered more or less soft,
pliable, and elastic, and capable of absorbing and retaining moisture, and in some
cases translucent, the extent to which the substances are effected, as above described,
depending upon their nature and quality.
In carrying out our Invention we treat the materials or substances with a
solution of either acetate of potash or acetate of soda, according to the nature of
the material operated on and the purpose for which it is to be used, in the manner
hereinafter described, or we employ chloride of magnesia or ammonia chloride of
magnesia.
In some cases, as hereinafter described, we add to the solution a sufficient
quantity of a suitable mucilaginous or gelatinous substance, such as glucose,
dextrine, or starch, in which case so strong a solution of acetate is not required.
If required, to prevent mildew or other fungoid growths, a sufficient quantity of
carbolic or salicylic acid dissolved in a suitable solvent is added to the solution.
When a substance such as paper is required to be made semi-transparent or
translucent, we add to the hereinbefore described solution a sufficient quantity of a
solution of silicate of potash or silicate of soda.
Having now described generally the main features of our improvements, we will
proceed to describe the manner in which we carry our improvements into effect.
For the purpose of rendering paper, including the substance known as vegetable
parchment, more or less soft and pliable, we pass it through a bath of or dress it
with a solution of acetate of potash, or acetate of soda (or of chloride of magnesia,
or ammonia chloride of magnesia) varying from about one part by weight of acetate
of potash or acetate of soda (or of the chloride) to about four to ten parts of water,
according to the degree of softness or pliability required.
When the substance known as vegetable parchment is required to possess a skin-
like and elastic quality, we add about one part by weight of glucose, dextrine, or
starch to about twenty parts of the solution herein before described.
We also employ a very small quantity of carbolic or salicylic acid, videlicit,
about 2 drachms of acid to one gallon of solution, for the purpose of preventing
mildew. When we require the paper to be more or less translucent we add also a
small proportion of silicate of potash or silicate of soda (of a strength of about one
part of silicate of potash or silicate of soda to about four, six, or eight parts of
water). For rendering paper suitable for copying purposes, without it being
necessary as at present to damp or -moisten it with water, we employ the above
solution of acetate of potash, or acetate of soda, or of chloride of magnesia, or
ammonia chloride of magnesia, together with a sufficient quantity of chromic acid
or ferro-cyanide of potassium (the former preferred), for the purpose of fixing the
ink and rendering the colour black, blueish, or blue-black in the substance of the
paper.
For paper which is to be used for the manufacture of what are known as "fly
papers" we employ the solution of acetate of potash, or acetate of soda, or chloride

page_text: of magnesia, or ammonia chloride of magnesia alone, and paper so treated will not
require to be damped or moistened as at present when used, or if damped or
moistened such papers will retain the moisture for a much longer time than at
present.
In treating leather and other skins, sponge, cocoa nut fibre, and analogous
substances, where such substance requires to be softened or moistened, we dress
the said substances with the hereinbefore described solution, as hereinbefore
described, or where it is required to prevent mildew we add carbolic or salicylic
acid, as hereinbefore stated.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the best means
with which we are acquainted for carrying the same into effect, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact proportions herein
mentioned, as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar
character of our Invention, but what we do claim is,-
Firstly. The process herein described of rendering paper, leather, and other
skins, sponge, cocoa nut fibre, and analogous substances soft and pliable, and
capable of absorbing and attracting moisture by treating the said substances with
a solution of acetate of potash, or acetate of soda, or of chloride of magnesia, or
ammonia chloride of magnesia, substantially as described.
Secondly. The use of carbolic or salicylic acid in combination with the herein-
before described solution for preventing mildew or other fungoid growths, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
Thirdly. The use of silicate of soda or silicate of potash in combination with the
herein before described solution for rendering paper and other material translucent,
as herein before described.
Fourthly. The process hereinbefore described for. rendering paper suitable for
copying purposes by treating it with a solution of acetate of potash, or acetate of
soda, or of chloride of magnesia, or ammonia chloride of magnesia, and chromic acid
or ferro-cyanide of potassium, as bereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Bowers Fitch and Harry Augustus
Barton, have hereto set our hands and seals, this Sixth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South St., Finsbury.
YY. D. FIun.
{LS.)
HARRY A. BARTON. (L.S.)