IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER A communication to him from abroad by
John Shaw of Hindmarsh near Adelaide in the Colony of South Australia
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th December 1882.
"
JOHN IMRAY of No 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER [A communi-
cation to him from abroad by John Shaw of Hindmarsh near Adelaide in the
Colony of South Australia.]
According to this Invention Carbolic acid or Sulpho-carbolic acid or Salicylic
acid or some compound containing these is used instead of tannic acid along with
suitable penetrating liquids, for treating hides and skins so as to convert them
into leather. A wide range of penetrating liquids and solutions may be employed,
including water, glycerine oils and soaps, flour, sugar, spirits, organic acids,
bisulphide of carbon, and alkalies. The following are examples of the treatment:
For producing hard heavy leather suitable for soles, machine belting and the like,
the hides are kept immersed in a mixture made in the proportions of about
10 gallons water to 1 lb soap and 3 pints carbolic acid fresh acid being added
from day to day until the hides are converted into leather. For producing softer
kinds of leather, the skins are kept for one or two days immersed in a mixture of
about 4 parts oil to 1 part carbolic acid, and then are for several hours immersed
in a mixture of about 4 parts bisulphide of carbon and 1 part carbolic acid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th June
1883.
وو
JOHN IMRAY of No 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER A communi-
cation to me from abroad by John Shaw of Hindmarsh near Adelaide in the
Colony of South Australia.
According to this Invention Carbolic acid or Sulpho-carbolic acid or Salicylic
acid or some compounds containing these, is used instead of Tannic Acid, along
with suitable penetrating liquids, for treating hides and skins so as to convert them
into leather. A wide range of penetrating liquids and solutions may be employed,
including water, glycerine, oils and soaps, flour, sugar spirits, organic acids,
bisulphide of carbon, and alkalies. The following are examples of the treatment:-
For producing hard heavy leather suitable for soles, machine belting and the like,
the hides are kept immersed in a mixture made in the proportions of about
10 gallons water to 1 lb soap and 3 pints carbolic acid, fresh acid being added from
day to day until the hides are converted into leather. For producing softer kinds
of leather, the skins are kept from one or two days immersed in a mixture of
about 4 parts oil to 1 part carbolic acid, and then are for several hours immersed
in a mixture of about 4 parts bisulphide of carbon and 1 part carbolic acid.
Instead of carbolic acid, Sulpho carbolic or Salicylic acid may be used as above
described. Also the proportion of the acid may be varied, longer time being
required the less the proportion of acid employed.
Having thus described the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim
The manufacture of leather by treating hides or skins with Carbolic acid, or
Sulphocarbolic or Salicylic acid, or compounds containing these, instead of tan or
its equivalents, "along with suitable penetrating media, substantially as herein
described.
In Witness whereof I the said John Imray have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Sixth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.
JOHN IMRAY (L.S.)