AN IMPROVEMENT IN TANNING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Rowo, of Hale, Farnham, in the County of Surrey,
Clerk in Holy Orders, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN TANNING."
A communication from abroad by William Rowe, of Cornwall, in the Island of
Jamaica.
Sealed the 27th February 1877, and dated the 23rd December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Rowe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1876.
DAVID ROWE, of Hale, Farnham, in the County of Surrey, Clerk in Holy Orders.
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN TANNING." A communication from abroad by William
Rowe, of Cornwall, in the Island of Jamaica.
My Invention relates to an improvement in tanning, and consists in the
employment in the process of tanning of the leaves, the twigs, or the bark of the
pimento plant or tree in the following manner:-The leaves, twigs, or bark are
pounded or ground and a decoction made therefrom with water, and applied in
the operation of tanning in the same way as the materials now used for the
purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Rowe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd June
1877.
DAVID ROWE, of Hale, Farnham, in the County of Surrey, Clerk in Holy Orders.
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN TANNING." A communication from abroad by William
Rowe, of Cornwall, in the Island of Jamaica.
My Invention relates to an improvement in tanning, and consists in the employ-
ment in the tanning process of the leaves, the twigs, or the bark of the pimento
plant or tree which is largely grown in the island of Jamaica. The leaves, twigs,
and bark may be used either separately or together, and may either be crushed,
ground, or pounded, and an infusion made thereof with cold water and used in that
state, or a decoction or extract may be made thereof with boiling water, and used
[Price 2d.1
•

page_text: when cold, or the boiling may be continued until the decoction or extract is
evaporated to dryness, so as to form a concrete mass which may be afterwards
dissolved in or mixed with boiling water. I prefer the first method of preparing
the materials for immediate use.
The following is the result of a chemical analysis of this vegetable extract in the 5
concrete form above mentioned :-
It will thus be seen that this product contains a very large proportion of tannin
available for tanning purposes, and the practical tanner will be readily able to
calculate the proper quantity of the pimento infusion or extract to be used in
tanning, and if necessary to modify the tanning process accordingly.
Hides are more rapidly tanned by the use of pimento than by many of the
materials ordinarily used, and the leather is of a good oak color, and of a strong and
durable quality.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the employment in the process of tanning of
leaves, twigs, and bark of the pimento plant, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Rowe, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
DAVID ROWE. (L.S.)