IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER, AND IN THE PROCESSES AND COMPOSITIONS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of No. 1, Scrle Street, Lincoln's
Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER, AND IN THE PROCESSES
AND COMPOSITIONS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication from
abroad by John Charles White, of the City of Quincy, State of
Illinois, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 13th August 1872, and dated the 22nd February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd February 1872.
I, BRISTOW HUNT, of No. 1, Serle Strect, Lincoln's Inn, in the County
5 of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER, AND IN THE
PROCESSES AND COMPOSITIONS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," (a communication
to me from abroad by John Charles White, of the City of Quincy,
State of Illinois, in the United States of America,) to be as follows:-

page_text: This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of leather
by the use and employment of the various processes and chemical agents
or compositions as herein-after described.
In the manufacture of leather according to this Invention successive
processes are employed distinct in themselves, but having such a relation
as to be co-efficient in producing the general result.
The processes are four in number, viz., liming, bating, tanning, and
whiting, and will be described in the order in which they are employed,
the description being based upon an estimate of one hundred pounds of
skins or hides.
In the liming process the following ingredients are employed, water,
lime, sal soda, and chloride of ammonia. The sal soda used should be
distinguished from soda ash. The chloride of ammonia is in a
chrystalized form. Water is added to one-eighth of a bushel of lime,
to form a mixture which is poured into a vat containing a sufficient
quantity of water to cover the skins, and into the same vat is poured
a solution of one-third of a pound of sal soda in boiling water, two
ounces of chloride of ammonia are then added to the material in the
vat. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients the skins or hides are
allowed to remain therein three days, after which they are taken out,
the hair removed, and then soaked in a vat of fresh water for one day.
After removing the adhering flesh and lime the skins are ready for the
process of bating.
In the place of sal soda, brimstone and salt may be used, and instead
of the chloride of ammonia eight pounds of " gas ammonia" may be
used, as this hastens the operation and strengthens the leather. This gas
ammonia may be obtained from gas works, and is sometimes denominated
gas water." When used as a substitute for the chloride of ammonia
it is poured into the vat.
66
The liming composition may be renewed by adding to the liquid
remaining in the vat one-fourth the quantity of ingredients first used,
and in addition ten gallons of water with a like proportion of ingredients
are further added to every one hundred gallons in the vat.
In the bating process water, brimstone, potash (or lye of ashes),
sal soda, and chloride of ammonia or gas ammonia are employed. The
sal soda used in this process should be distinguished from soda ash, and
the use of and manner of using the sulphur and potash (or lye of ashes)
should be noted as other than the simple employment of sulphur. Four

page_text: ounces of brimstone and four ounces of potash (or lye of ashes) are
dissolved in water, and the solution is poured into a vat containing a
sufficient quantity of water to cover the skins. To this is added four
ounces of sal soda dissolved in warm water, and the solution is placed
in the vat with two ounces of chloride of ammonia (or a like proportion
of gas ammonia). After the ingredients are thoroughly mixed the
skins are allowed to remain therein one day, after which they are taken
out and the adbering lime removed, when they are ready for the process
of tanning. In this process also brimstone and salt may be substituted
for the sal soda.
The bating liquid may be renewed by adding to the liquor in the
vat the proper ingredients and water in similar proportions to those
used in the liming liquor.
In the tanning process the following ingredients are employed, water,
pyroligneous or acetic acid, lye of ashes or its equivalent, and terra
japonica or its equivalent. The vat being supplied with a sufficient
quantity of water to cover the skins there are added two ounces of
pyroligneous acid, one gallon of lye of ashes of proper strength (or three
ounces of potash dissolved by boiling in one-eighth of a gallon of water),
and ten pounds of terra japonica or its equivalent dissolved by boiling
in four gallons of water. After mixing the ingredients thoroughly the
skins are left therein from eight to eighteen days when they will be
ready for the process of whiting.
The tanning liquor may be renewed by adding to the liquor in the
vat one half the quantity of ingredients first used, and in addition a
like proportion of water and ingredients to those used in renewing the
liming liquor.
The whiting process immediately follows that of tanning, water, salt,
and sulphuric acid being employed. A sufficient quantity of water
being placed in the vat two pounds of salt and four ounces of sulphuric
acid are added, and the skins remain therein one day, they are then
immersed in a vat of clear water, after which they are ready to dry.
In addition to the ingredients specified one pound of brimstone boileḍ
with three ounces of potash in one gallon of water may be employed
when it is desired to have the leather very white.
The whiting liquor may be renewed in a manner similar to the
tanning, except that there is added to the liquor in the vat onc-eighth
the proportion of ingredients.

page_text: The proportions given in the foregoing descriptions are relative, and
slight variations may be made which will not affect the operations.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BRISTOW
HUNT, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Bristow Hunt, Her special licence
that I, the said Bristow Hunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Bristow Hunt, my exccutors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
LEATHER AND IN THE PROCESSES AND COMPOSITIONS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," (a
communication to me from abroad by John Charles White, of the City
of Quincy, State of Illinois, in the United States of America,) upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Bristow Hunt, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Bristow Hunt, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, that is to say :-

page_text: This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of leather
by the use and employment of the various processes and chemical agents
or compositions as herein-after described.
In the manufacture of leather according to this Invention successive
processes are employed distinct in themselves, but having such a relation
as to be co-efficient in producing the general result.
The processes are four in number, viz., liming, bating, tanning, and
whiting, and will be described in the order in which they are employed,
the descriptions being based upon an estimate of one hundred pounds of
skins or hides.
In the liming process the following ingredients are employed, water,
lime, sal soda, and chloride of ammonia. The sal soda used in this, as
also in the following process, should be distinguished from soda ash.
The chloride of ammonia is in a chrystalized form. Water is added
to one-eighth of a bushel of lime to form a mixture, which is poured
into a vat containing a sufficient quantity of water to cover the skins,
and into the same vat is poured a solution of one-third of a pound of
sal soda in boiling water, after which two ounces of chloride of ammonia
are added. After thoroughly mixing the ingredients the skins or hides
are deposited in the liquor and allowed to remain therein three days,
after which they are taken out, the hair removed, and then soaked in a
vat of fresh water for one day. After removing the adhering flesh and
lime the skins are ready for the succeeding process of bating.
In the place of sal soda brimstone and salt may be used, and instead
of the chloride of ammonia eight pounds of " gas ammonia "may be
used, which hastens the operation and strengthens the leather. This
gas ammonia may be obtained from gas works, and is sometimes deno-
minated" gas water." When used as a substitute for the chloride of
ammonia it is poured into the vat.
The liming composition may be renewed by adding to the liquid
remaining in the vat one-fourth the quantity of ingredients first used,
and in addition ten gallons of water with a like proportion of ingredients
are further added to every one hundred gallons in the vat.
In the bating process water, brimstone, potash (or lye of ashes),
sal soda, and chloride of ammonia or gas ammonia are employed. The
use of and manner of using the sulphur and potash (or lye of ashes)
should be noted as other than the simple employment of sulphur. Four
ounces of brimstone and four ounces of potash (or lyc of ashes) are

page_text: dissolved in water, and the solution is poured into a vat containing a
sufficient quantity of water to cover the skins. To this is added four
ounces of sal soda dissolved in warm water, and the solution is placed
in the vat with two ounces of chloride of ammonia or a like proportion
of gas ammonia. After the ingredients are thoroughly mixed the skins
are introduced and allowed to remain therein one day, after which they
are taken out and the adhering lime removed, when they are ready for
the succeeding process of tanning. In this process also brimstone and
salt may be substituted for the sal soda.
The bating liquid may be renewed by adding to the liquor in the vat
the proper ingredients and water in similar proportions to those used
in the liming liquor.
In the tanning process the following ingredients are employed, water,
pyroligneous or acetic acid, lye of ashes or its equivalent, and terra
japonica or its equivalent. The vat being supplied with a sufficient
quantity of water to cover the skins there are added two ounces of
pyroligneous acid, one gallon of lye of ashes of proper strength (or
three ounces of potash dissolved by boiling in one-eighth of a gallon
of water), and ten pounds of terra japonica or its equivalent dissolved.
by boiling in four gallons of water. After mixing the ingredients
thoroughly the skins are introduced into the vat and left therein from
eight to eighteen days, when they will be ready for the process of whiting.
The tanning liquor may be renewed by adding to the liquor in the
vat one half the quantity of ingredients first used, and in addition a
like proportion of water and ingredients to those used in renewing the
liming liquor.
The whiting process immediately follows that of tanning, water, salt,
and sulphuric acid being employed. A sufficient quantity of water
being placed in the vat, two pounds of salt and four ounces of sulphuric
acid are added, and the skins are introduced and remain therein one
day, they are then removed and immersed in a vat of clear water, after
which they are ready to dry. In addition to the ingredients specified
one pound of brimstone boiled with three ounces of potash in one
gallon of water may be employed when it is desired to have the leather
very white.
The whiting liquor may be renewed in a manner similar to the
tanning, except that there is added to the liquor in the vat one-eighth
the proportion of ingredients.

page_text: The proportions given in the foregoing descriptions are relative, and
slight variations may be made which will not affect the operations.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention
for "Improvements in the Manufacture of Leather and in the Processes
and Compositions to be employed therein," together with the manner
in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention com-
municated to me by the above-named John Charles White,-
Firstly. The improved process of liming hides or skins by the use
of lime, sal soda, chloride of ammonia (or gas ammonia) and water.
Secondly. The improved process of bating hides or skins by the com-
bination and use of brimstone, potash, water, sal soda, and chloride of
ammonia (or gas ammonia).
Thirdly. The improved process of tanning by the use and application
of the described materials.
Fourthly. The improved manufacture of leather by means of the
several successive process of liming, bating, tanning, and whiting in
the manner and by the use of the materials mentioned or of their
equivalents.
Fifthly. The several compositions for liming, bating, tanning, and
whiting.
Sixthly. The use of a solution of brimstone and potash in processes
connected with the manufacture of leather.
Seventhly. The use of chloride of ammonia in the liming process.
Eighthly. The use of chloride of ammonia in the bating process.
And ninthly. The use of sal soda and also of gas ammonia and of
brimstone and salt in the manufacture of leather.
All substantially as or in the manner herein-before described and set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
DDTCUTANT TITTYV