IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MATERIAL IMITATING LEATHER FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES EMBOSSED OR OTHERWISE FIGURED "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Loewenberg of Wiesbaden in the German Empire
but at present of Thavies Inn Holborn in the County of Middlesex for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR
MANUFACTURING MATERIAL IMITATING LEATHER FABRICS AND OTHER
SURFACES EMBOSSED OR OTHERWISE FIGURED
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Loewenberg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1882.
HENRY LOEWENBERG of Wiesbaden in the German Empire, but at present of
Thavies Inn, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MATERIAL IMITATING LEATHER,
FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES EMBOSSED OR OTHERWISE FIGURED
"
In the Specification to Letters Patent granted to me on the 19th May 1875,
N° 1837, and in the Specification to Letters Patent granted to B. Beer on the
1st April 1878, N° 1285 are described mixtures and methods and apparatus for
applying them so as to produce imitations of leather fabrics or other surfaces
embossed or figured. My present invention relates to the manufacture of articles
of this kind by the use of novel materials and methods whereby I am enabled to
obtain greater strength, durability and beauty in the products. One material which
I employ for this purpose is linseed oil, the oil being thickened to a gelatinous
consistence by agitating it in a close vessel supplied with chlorine gas, or agitating
it in mixture with a solution of chlorine. Another material consists of a mixture
of 10 to 12 parts glue or gelatine 2 to 4 parts of vaseline, and a small quantity, not
exceeding 2 parts of glycerine, 1 to 2 parts of a salt of copper, a chromate, some-
what less than 1 part, or of a salt of iron, along with colouring matters, and in some
cases with a very small addition of alkali. In order to prevent penetration or
action of damp I apply to the fabric which forms the backing of the article a
waterproofing composition such as a solution of caoutchouc. This backing may be
D

page_text: applied by a second operation similar to that for applying the facing material. I
prefer, however to apply both the facing and the waterproof backing to the fabric
at one operation. Thus while the facing composition is laid on the mould or
negative, and the fabric is rolled or smoothed over it by a rubbing blade I lay on
the fabric behind the roller or blade the waterproofing composition, smoothing it
down by a second roller or blade. In many cases where the presence of caoutchouc
solution or the like is objectionable, a solution of a chromate, or of a salt of iron may
be employed this being applied to the fabric by a brush travelling along it with the
roller or blade that smooths it over the facing composition In the same way as I
have above described for applying a caoutchouc baking, other material can be
applied and not only a single fabric but several folds of fabric with facing and
backing material, and like material interposed between them can be thus united
together, the whole forming a strong and pliable band which may be used for
machine belting The negative or mould on which the composition is laid may be
with advantage strengthened by a backing or fabric, so that it corresponds in its
manufacture and character, with the ultimate imitation product. I employ however
for the facing of the mould or negative a composition of the following kind :-a
mixture of 1 or 2 parts of strong solution of a salt of copper, such as the sulphate or
ammoniauret, 1 or parts of a chromate or bichromate in a weak solution of about
1 part of the salt to 50 parts of water, and 1 to 1%, parts of glycerine is added to 5
to 7 parts of liquid glue. This composition is applied to the original that is to be
copied preferably along with.a.fabric backing as mentioned above to form a mould
or negative in exactly the same way as the imitation material is afterwards produced
as described in the Specifications above referred to. The mould or negative thus
produced requires no farther preparation, but can be used for receiving the mixture
and fabric to form the imitation material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Loewenberg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
May 1883.
HENRY LOEWENBERG of Wiesbaden in the German Empire, but at present of
Thavies Inn Holborn in the county of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS
"
AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MATERIAL IMITATING LEATHER FABRICS
AND OTHER SURFACES EMBOSSED OR OTHERWISE FIGURED."
In the Specification to Letters Patent granted to me on the 19th May 1875
No 1837 and in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to B. Beer on the
1 April 1878 N°. 1285 are described mixtures and methods, and apparatus for
applying them so as to produce imitations of leather, fabrics or other surfaces
embossed or figured.
My present invention relates to the manufacture of articles of this kind by the
use of novel materials and methods whereby I am enabled to obtain greater
strength, durability and beauty in the products. One material which I employ for
this purpose is linseed oil or other drying oil with coloring matters, the oil
being thickened to a gelatinous consistence by agitating it in a close vessel supplied
with chlorine gas, or agitating it in mixture with a solution of chlorine. From
2 to 4 parts of oil thus prepared may be applied in admixture with 1 to 3 parts of
caoutchouc solution and 2 to 3 parts of coloring matter, and for certain classes of
goods to be imitated, this should have mixed with it 5 to 8 parts of glue or
gelatine with 1 to 2 parts of glycerine. Another material consists of a mixture of
10 to 12 parts glue or gelatine, 2 to 4 parts of vaseline and a small quantity, not
exceeding 2 parts of glycerine, 1 to 2 parts of a salt of copper, somewhat less than
1 part of a chromate or of a salt of iron, along with coloring matters, and in some
cases with a very small addition of alkali. In order to prevent penetration or
action of damp, I apply to the fabric which forms the backing of the article, a
waterproofing composition such as solution of caoutchouc or a mixture containing
caoutchoue as for the facing. This backing may be applied by a second operation
similar to that for applying the facing material. I prefer however to apply both
the facing and the waterproof backing to the fabric at one operation. Thus, while
the facing composition is laid on the mould or negative and the fabric is rolled or
smoothed over it by a rubbing blade, I lay on the fabric, behind the roller or blade,
the waterproofing composition, smoothing it down by a second roller or blade.
In many cases, where the presence of caoutchouc solution or the like is
objectionable, a solution of a chromate may be employed, this being applied to the
fabric by a brush travelling along it with the roller or blade that smooths it over
the facing composition.
In the same way as I have above described for applying a caoutchouc backing,
other material can be applied, and not only a single fabric, but several folds of
fabric, with facing and backing material and like material interposed between them,
can be thus united together, the whole forming a strong and pliable band which
may be used for machine belting. The negative or mould on which the composition
is laid may be with advantage strengthened by a backing or fabric, so that it
corresponds in its manufacture and character with the ultimate imitation product.
I employ however for the mould or negative a composition of the following kind:
a mixture of one or two parts of strong solution of a salt of copper, such as the
sulphate or ammoniauret, 1 or 2 parts of a chromate or bichromate in a weak
solution of about 1 part of the salt to 50 parts of water, and 1 to 1%, part of
glycerine is added to 5 to 7 parts of liquid glue. This composition is applied to

page_text: the original that is to be copied, preferably along with a fabric backing as
mentioned above, to form a mould or negative in exactly the same way as the
imitation material is afterwards produced as described in the Specifications above
referred to. The mould or negative thus produced requires no farther prepartion,
but can be used for receiving the mixture and fabric to form the imitation
material.
When the imitation material is likely to be exposed to moisture, it is better to
reduce the quantity of glycerine used in the facing material, and to obtain pliability
by soaking with glycerine the fabric to which the facing is applied. A backing
being also applied to the fabric, the imitation material is dry on both sides, and the
glycerine, being enclosed between the front and the back layers, is not subject to
atmospheric influence.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim in the manufacture of material imitating leather, fabrics
and other surfaces embossed or otherwise figured :-
First: The use of drying oil, thickened by action of chlorine, in admixture with
other substances to form a facing material, as herein described.
Second: The use of vaseline in combination with gelatine and other ingredients
to form a facing material, as herein described.
-Third Applying to the fabric a-waterproof backing, as herein described
Fourth Preparing the mould or negative by applying to the original surface the
herein described composition along with a backing of fabric
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Loewenberg have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eleventh day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand,
eight hundred and eighty-three.