US1664742A - Method of finishing leather - Google Patents

Description

FERDINAND WYCLIFFE .EL'LINGTON, or Jamaica, new YORK.-

No Drawing.

This invention relates METHOD or FINISHING LEATHER.

to the method of gilding leather such as employed in making shoes, slippers, pocket books t-icles of manufacture 'usi leather compositions.

ng pure leather or One .of. the objects of myinvention is to -provide means for andthe method of gilding leather 1n such a outin-relief asfar as of. the leather after-it has been g lded with a thin coating of gilt, silver, aluminum 'or' manner as to bring possible the grain their compoundsfwhen appliedto the surface of the leather in sh eet form.

Another object of my invention is to provide a leather coating or not wash oflf when wet covering that will or moistened and will be durable for a long period of time.

A further object is to with a bright, burnished,

provide a leather gilded surface that will not be subject to cracking by reason of the flexing of the leather inthe complete article of manufacture.

So far as I am aware,

shoes, slippers and other articles of manufacture have heretosilver or aluminum leaf fore been gilded by the application of gold,

by first apply ng a coating of gelatineor starchy preparation to the surface to cause the leaf to adhere. This preparation yields to moisture and to a certain degree to extreme temperatures with the result that when the gilded surface is wet, the gilt easily rubs the gelatine hardens and off. Furthermore, becomes stifl when dry and cold, and the gilt plating cracks when the leather is flexed.

I have discovered that by the use of a proper sizing,

such as Japan size that a much more durable coating may be made than with the use of gelatme or of starch preparations,

but it is very difficult to properly plate or coat with Japan size due to its quick drying properties. so in the case where the This is especially leather is dry and relatively stiff as the size is quickly absorbed by the leather and dries sheet of plating material and also for the reason before the is firmly attached that the thin flexible leather in bending cracks the gilt more or less.

These difficulties and entirely overcome by others have been the discovery that a nish may be applied to the Japan sizing is app the leather before lied thereto which and other 'ar- Application filed August 27, 1926. Serial No. 132,038.

will open the pores of the leather and when the size. is appliech the oil acts on the size to slow up the drying action, thus allowing sufficient time to apply. the leaf after the he action of the oil not only slows up the drying properties of the size but increases the flexibility of the surface of the leather so that the platingenters into more After the size has dried to a strong intimate contact with the leather and in consequence the plating will not easily wear off when wet.

After the plating operation iscompleted, the surface may be burnished with proper burnishing tools if desired or may be brushed with a fine wire brush to give a stippling effect, if this kind of a finish is desired. 1

Instead of coating the leather directly as above set forth, I may add a few drops of the oil or varnish to an ounce of the Japan size, say four or five drops, to modify the action, or slow up its drying properties, and increase the flexibility of the leather. When applied to the leather as a coating, the leaf may be applied as above set forth and very good results may be thus obtained by this practice.

It is obvious that I may use powdered metal instead of the: sheet form, as a covering for the leather, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the use of sheet covering only but contemplate that myinvention shall cover the use and application of a slow drying oil in combination with the size of the character set forth for the purpose and use specified.

Having described my invention, what I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the U. S. is:

1. The process of finishingleather which consists in applying to its surface a size of the character described in the presence of linseed oil to retard its drying properties substantially free from pigment such as by a separate application therewith, and then covering said surface with a gilt.

2. The process of finishing leather which consists in applying to its surface a size of the character described in the presence of a fastdrying oil substantially free from pigthen covering said surface with a sheet gilting. I

f. The process of finishing leather which consists in applying to its surface a fast drying ()ll substantlallyfree from pigment and size mixture, covering said surface with sheet gilting and then rubbing the surface to bring out the grain'of the leather,

5. The process of finishing leatherwhich consists in applying toits surface a size of asagna the character described in the presence of a fast drying oil substantially free from pigment, covering said surface with sheet gilting, rubbing the surfaceto bring out the grain of the leather and then burnishing the coated surface. a

6. The process of finishing leather which consists in applying to its surface a-s'ize of the character described in the presence of a fast drying oil substantially free fromipige nient, covering said surface with sheet gilting and then stippling the coated surface.

7. The process of'finishing leather which" consists in applying thereto a fast'drying oil substantially free from pigmentto increase 1ts flexibility, coveringsaid-oiled sur-- 1 face with a size of thecharacter described,

applying sheet metal gilting tothesurface,

rubbing the gilted surface to force-the metal intointimate contact withthe pores of the leather and then'burnishing the gilted surface. I V '1 In testimony whereof I affix mysignature.

FERDINAND WYCUFFE'ELLINGTONQ i