US87325A - John frederick bechmann - Google Patents

Description

JOHNFREDERICK BECHMANN, OF ABBOTS CORNERS, NEW YORK. Letters Patent No. 87,325, dated Ma/rch 2, 1869.

IMPRQ'V'ED PROCESS DP TANNING.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN Fnnnnmcx BEOHMANN, of Ahhots Corners, in the county of Erie, and State oi New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Tanning; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

, My invention is for the purpose of shortening the time of tanning, and to keep the hides soft during the process; and consists in the peculiar use o the va 'io 5 ingredients hereinafter mentioned, more especial! y, however, in the use of oil of vitriol, for the purpose here inafter fully set forth.

My process is as follows:

The green salted hides are soaked and fleshed in the ordinary manner.

For sweating or unhairing, which is one of the important features in my tanning-process, I take the skins, after they have been limed in the usual manner, (about twenty-four hours in strong lime,) and put in warm water, with oil of vitriol and red arsenic.

For example, for'one hundred skins I use six pounds oil of vitriol and one pound of red arsenic, with a sufficient quantity of warm water By thus sweating or liming, by my method, I gain greatly in time, for one advantage.

The old or ordinary process is to let them (the skins) lie in a lime-bathahout fourteen (14) days, which is a detriment to the skins, as the lime is apt to eat up the strength of the leather.

I leave the skins in my bath for only twenty-four hours;

The hot water, oil of vitriol, and red arsenic, open the pores of the skins, without ultimate hurt to the leather, and this is done more effectncll and w th great saving of time.

Ail-er the hides are taken out of my bath, the hair is removed in the usual way, and they are then put into .cold water and left about a day.

From there they are again put into warm water, and the lime worked out in the usual manner.

They are then put into tannin g-liquor for three (3) days, and receive the usual handling.

My process new again comes into play.

I take the skins, after the last-described operation, and put them into cold water, with oil of vitriol.

As an example, for one hundred skins I use from six to eight pounds of the oil of vitriol.

This is doneto change the color and soften the skins.

After they have lain about four (4) or five (5) hours they are taken out, and then put into strong tanningliquor and tanned out.

It takes, by this process, but fifteen days to tan a skin thoroughly, while by the usual processes in vogue it occupies not less than two months. Thus a great and important saving of time is secured, which is rather to the advantage than the detriment'of the skin.

My process also possesses the important advantages of producing a tougher and stronger leather, and at least one-quarter (3;) more weight is gained.

1 know that oil of vitriol or sulphuric acid has been used for what is called plumping hides, and also for liming, but this is not my use inlthe slightest degree, and I consider that it burns-them and destroys the leather.

The object'whioh I fully accomplish is to soften the skins, and thereby aid and shorten the process oitanning, as before fully explained.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to'sccure by Letters Patent, is-- Sweating and tanning leather by the process herein described, viz, first, using oil of vitriol, incombination with red arsenic and warm water, for sweating, and subsequently using oil of vitriol, combined with water, for tanning, herein specified.

I witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOH1\ FR. BEOHMANN.

Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, ALBERT lzliircrncr.v