„o«,A«,&^«mnwnMfinn mm ^^r^/^^M'^A t^mr^^^mmmm 'mmm§m d^f^f^f^M d'^'^-^^s^"*-'^" .>%,<^'%,^n)' LIBRARY OF CONGRE WAa. AMERICA. WW/' m i C\hA'rsAAi Mm A^' UJJ gifeS^f%5s^^ mm^MK THE ©itiFiif m aiw TMJPKOVJiir) ^-B.^, ROSSlNfi MACHINE, Be In ^^lovh : PHAIR A: CO.. STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. No. 1 3 Frankfort Stkeet. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Yfar 1872. byCHAELEs Gii.pin. in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, CONSIDERED. A far farts thdi hare sathjied the writer, irho has lieeri enga^^ed in tanning Oak and Hem! or k leather for more than thirty-jive years^ of the eronomy and general advantages rlerived by di- vesting all kinds of Barks of the Ross, t)efore grinding them for Leaching or Layaway pur- poses, or making Extracts, when it can he done at little or no extra expense, vrith a Machine thai trill cotrrey the Bark directly into the Mill : The question of the ad vantages of llossing bark before using it for tanning purposes, or malving extracts, ein|)loyearatively, no ross compared with the flesh or true bark. These barks are anxiously sought for l>y tanners, who deem them inore |>rolital)le, at one-third more cost, than (^hesnut. Oak, and other barks tliat contain a heavy coating of ross As another fact entitled to great considei'ation with those who are skeptical on the subject of rossing bark, it is a universal practice, both in F^ngland and (Tcrmany, to take the largest proportion of the epidermis from old liarks before leaching them : and while it icipiires but three and a half to four pounds of their bark to make one pound of good servicea])le sole leather, we use ten to twelve pounds of the same quality of l)ark and produce the same gains in weight. Another fact, equally as incontrovertible, is, that one cord of light young bark, with little oi- no ross on it, will tan out as many })ounds of leather as three cords of very heavy rossed l)ai*k. Tliese are facts that any tanner can settle by prac- tical tests in his tann<'ry, with little oi" no ex})ense, and which his pecuniary interest demands he should at once demonstrate to his entire satisfaction. I am aware that many tannei's who admit that to divest the bark of the old ross that has, fi-om age and exposure, been converted into a mass of partially dec-iyed vegetable matter, would l)e of great advantage in con- centrating the tanning power of the true bark, are de- teied from doing so because it is, tirst, too expensive to 5 accomplish it by hand ; and, secondly, because they have not satisfied themselves of the cai)acityof any machine, introduced for this purpose, to accom])lish it iiilly lo their satisfaction and without extra expense. T<> all sucli, I will say, give the (lilpin & Hill llossi no- Machine a fair trial, and their want of faith will \aiiisli so soon as they witness the |)erfect manner in whicli it it does the work : seeing in this case is l)elieving. Why do yon reconnnend that all barks, used for tan- ning purposes, should })e divested of the e])idermis or ross '? First. Be(rause this portion of the bark does not yield any tanning principle ; but, on the contrary, will ab- sorb it to a greater or less extent, while undergoing tiie leaching pi-ocess, either in the regular leac;hes oi-layaways. This has been demonstrated under the following pi-actical tests : By taking a quantity of ross from the bark, grinding it, then leaching it in boiling water for forty- eight hours, then remove it to a place where it will be- come dry, and expose it to the elements for eight to twelve months, it will decay and become earthy matter ; for the reason that it has none of the tannin element imparted to it to preseve it from de(^om})osition. Take the same ross and leach it witli the true bark, jor that poi'tion containhig the tannin, and expose it at |the same time and manner, and you will discover that it has absorbed a suliicient quantity of the tannin from I jhe inner bark to jjreserve it for a great length of time, |md, Mfhen exposed to those elements tliat are known 'o destroy all organized vegetable matter, that have ad no preserving qualities imparted to them. i Second. In natm-e's economy, the laws that regulate production in the vegetable as well as the animal king- dom, are fixed and cannot be changed by hmnan ingen- uity or reason. These laws teach us that all barks are divided under this law of economy and preservation, into tour distinct and well-defined divisions, which it will be well for us to observe and obey in the employ- ment of the various kinds of bark for tanning purposes, if we would avail ourselves of all the advantages per- taining thereto in an economical point of view. The four divisions, constituting these barks, are clas- sified as follows : The cortex, or true bark, which is the real seat of the pure tannin, is located immediately in comiection with the trunk or body of the tree, extending throughout the limbs, and assists in sustaining and })erforming those functions that are necessary to the vitality of the plant or tree. The vital elements that maintain the sap or juices that give vitality, impart growth, and prevent decay, are confined to this division, and all the other divisions or sections may be removed ; the tree will still live and flourish. The next division is known as the parenchyma ; this is to a considerable extent the seat of color, and is com- posed of succulent layers thrown ofi^" by the cortical lay- ers, and each succeeding annual layer is ])ushed outward, and is transformed into a third division. This is known as celular integuments, and is com posed of coarse liard fibre that possesses no succulent substance or vitality, but designed, by nature, simply as a protection to tlie imier formations. The foiu'tli and outer division is known among bota- nists as the Epidermis, and, technically, called Ross by the tanning-fraternity. This is formed, from year to year, by the inner divisions, as they have served tlieir })ur})ose ; being no longer of any use, except as an ad- (Utional protection to those divisions in which tlie vital elements reside, and where their functions are performed. Let us investigate the composition of this ross, and en- deavor to explain its true character and influence ui)on the tanning interest of the world, both in regard to economy and the quality of the stock produced under its influence. As all tanners, as well as scientiflc men who have given this matter any attention, are aware, most of the barks employed for tanning purposes are covered with this ross : varying in thickness from one-eighth to three inch es, and is deeply furrowed in proportion as the tree be- comes old, and as has been practically demonstrated, the less of this ross bark contains the more valuable is it known to be for tanning purposes, as instanced in the younger qualities of barks, and those older barks, such as the Bay Spanish and Peach Oaks, which are covered with a very thin ross ; this, in my my judgment, alone should be suflicient evidence to satisfy every tanner that his in- rerest demands that he should discard the old ross, be- fore grinding, leaching, or laying away with these barks. But when we know that one hundred parts of the inner bark contains twent}'-two per cent, of tannin, and one hun(h-ed parts of tlie entire bark only contains from four to six per cent., it is conclusive evidence that a large proportion of the outei- bark not only contains 10 tannin, but does absorb it, to a considerable extent, fvhen allowed to come in contact with it under the eaching and layaway })rocesses. Again, how is it possible that a material that is con- , stantly exposed to the elements, as the ross is, can after J a period of from thirty to one hundred years, drenching | through countless storms, retain any vital principle, f | either tannin or other matter, that it is known can be ex- tracted in a few weeks under an ordinary system of | leaching, even when the bark is unground. I^et any i one who desires to satisfy himself in regfu'd to the in- : fluence of drenching I'ains upon the outer back of a tree, ' pass through the forest after a heavy tall of rain for i several hours, and he will find the bark satui-ated to a considerahle extent ; and this being repeated one hun- dred times during the year, certainly would have no inconsiderable influence in extracting what was extract- | able under these influences. Perha[)S, it may be deemed ' unnecessary to refer to the influence of this material on the quality of the stock, both as regards complection i and texture, which are recognized as of sufficient im- ; portance among tlie trade to claim their attention ; and is believed by those who have investigated the mat- ter, to l)e the principal reason why the French and Germans excel in imparting a texture, fibre and finish, to their stock which we have never been able to accom plish, notwithstanding our continued efforts in this direction. If, as has been demonstrated, every atom of matter that is allowed to come in contact with tannin, which has an affinity for this substance, will take up an atom of tannin, then it follows that a large pei'centage of the tannin contained in the true bark is lost to the tanner, by allowing that portion of the bark void of tanning principle, and in a state of incipient decay, to be ground up and jni\t'rocess than un- der any method in use for this purpose, and had. by lay- ing away with rossed bark, turned out a stc»ck of heavy 10 sole leatlier in one-third less time than he hadheen aH^ to do vyith unrossed bark. Some <|uestions that are [)ro|M.unde(l hy a iiumher of the trade, with whom I have eome in contact, att- swered : ri<»\\ ai'c you to determine what (piantity ot'tlic outer bark it is necessary to ?"emo\('. and when you ha\e de- termined this {)roV)leni, how can the machine he ivii'ula- ted to accomplish it ? This is ail important (iuestie removed. Tlie pro]>ortion to he removed from all hea\y rossed harks, ascertained V)y actual ex[>eriment in testing ilio tanning [>roperties, is one-third. Those of a thinner grade of ross, such as white Fleinlock, 8})anish Oaks, ifcc, one-fourth is deemed sufficient among those practi- cal tanners who are rosaing their bark. Tlie second pait of this question is one that has cost the writer mucli thought and time, before the machine was brought up to his full ideas of wliat a rossing ma- chine sliould be, to fully meet the wants of the trade. To meet tliis actual necessity, it was necessary to cof.- stnict a machine that would adjust itself to the vai-ioim thicknesses of bark passed through it. and in order to 11 arcomplivsh this, it was apparent to my mind that the upper cyhnder and knife should both he self-adjusting, and at the same time tht- arrangement jnust be such that the knife eould )«■ giadunted to take off much or little in pro[iortio!i t<» thethickiu'ss <»f caeh and every piece of bark ]>asst'd l)ct\veen tlie cylinders : and while the Gilpin & Dickinson machine gaAe genei'al satisfaction to those of the trade who were using it, some thought it might l«e impro\ed :mortion to the thickness of each [(iece of V)ark, thus [•lacing i]i tlie hanro(luce those liquors. The bark enqtloyed was about two inches thick, and I removed thi'ee-foui'ths <»f an inch fivun one half of it. And the analysis showed that a large propoi'- lion of the weight manifested under the test, made by j the Barkometer, was attributable to the gi-eatei- quantity of tilth contained in the li(jUor ]»i-oduced from um'ossed j bark. For the reason, that altlmugh the «|uantity of , rossed bark leached, was little moie than one-half the i tpiantity of um'ossed bark leached.it demonstrated under i the analytical test made by Professor Meyer, fnlly one- ! tliird mo]-e grains of tannin to the wine gallon of liquor. | Under what pro(>ess were these lif|uoi-s produced ? f They were made from pure water, under a tonpera- J tureof 160" F. and the bark was allowcl to leach for i forty -eight liours. 1 Have you made any ex}>eriments with the loss to satisfy you that it possesses little oi- no tamiing |»owei', and demonstrated tljat it will absoi'l) tannin ' Yes : I have repeatedly made liquors Iron] b<:>tli the 13 ross of oak and hemlock barks, and endeavored to pro- duce leather therefrom. In these cases I have taken one-third of the outer substance from heavy barks, ground them, leached them in boiling water, for from thirty-six to forty-eight hours, drawn them oft] and after being sufficiently cooled, immersed pieces of hide in them for months, and the result was that the pieces of skin were colored through, became quite black with coloring mat- ter, but when withdrawn from the liquid and dried, were found to have lost weight and were hard and crisp, like dried rawhide, and would have perished entirely if the operation liad not been carried on in a cool place during the fall and winter montlis. That the ross will, like any other substance that has an affinity for tannin, take u|) and retain it, I have demonstrated beyond controversy, by the following experiment. A quantity of strong liquor made from rossed bark was placed in a vessel and then charged with the ross taken from bark ranging in thickness from five-eighth to two inches, and allowed to remain for forty eight hours, after which it was with- drawn and allowed to drain over the vessel ; it was re- turned to tlie liquor aiid remained one week longer, at the end of which time, it was found to have taken up the principal portion of tl»e tannin from the liquor, and converted the balance into gallic acid. The vessel being tightly covered during the operation, prevented the pos- sibility of any of the tannin contained in the liquor from escaping during the operation. This ross was after- wards leached in water for ten days, at a temperature of 200*^ F., and although the water became highly colored, no trace of tannin could be discovered after the most careful analysis. 14 As further proof of the necessity of exchuliiig from our liquors all extraneous matter that tends to corrupt them, and absorb tannin, I will refer to an experiment that came under my observation, and wliich I exam- ined with much interest. For the purpose of kee})ing the leather in the layaway from pressing too closely to- gether, several bags of cork shavings were procured and distributed over the surface of the lieavy layer of bark, with which each side was sprinkled as they were laid down. This, it was thought, would facilitate the tanning op- eration, by allowing the liquor to circulate freely through- out the entire pack. Another pack was laid away on the same day in the usual way, the same quantity of bark being employed for both. After the expiration of one month, both packs were drawn. The result proved that the cork shavings, which are known from their na- ture to be more impervious to water than almost any other crude vegetable substance, had taken uj) nearly all the tannin ; from the fact that the leather, instead of hav- ing advanced, as was expected, had actually flattened under the experiment, while that laid away with the same quality of bark and liquor, was nearly tanned, very plumj), and was a fine specimen of leathei- in every respect. I have repeatedly tested the influence upon the stock, of laying away with rossed bark as compared vv itii un- rossed bark, and have under every test been confirmed in my belief that the advantages are decided in point of economy, both in material and tune, also in the ap- pearance and quality of the stock produced. Why should we allow foreign matter to be amalga- 15 mated with our extracts or tanning liquors, when it can he avoided without additional expense compared with the advantages '? There can certainly be no substantial reason })resen- ted against jnaking our liquors as pure and concentra- ting as much of the real tannin principle contained in the bark as practicable. No question of tlie actual ad- vantages of divesting every other substance employed for the purpose of making extracts, tinctures, dyestuffs, and all materials, both mineral and vegetable, that enter into the manufacturing departments, of their extraneous components, even at much time and expense, before ap- ]>lying them to the various purposes for which they are intended. When we consider the vast quantity of really worthless and obnoxious matter that is allowed to pass through the bark mill, and become distributed through the liquors contained in one of oui- large tanneries, which is demonstrated by the enormous quantity of tilth that accuinulates in the stowes of one of these es- tablishments, it seems almost incredible that tanners do not at once avail themselv es of the means at hand of getting rid of this matter, that imparts an objectiona- ble color to the stock, and takes from it a considerable portion of the tannin that would be taken up by the skins. Nothing is more easily done than for every tanner to satisfy himself of the facts set forth in the foregoing statements. Among the strongest ai-guments in favor of our views, is that not a single tanner, who has our machine in use, could be induced to dispense with it, and some have, by its inliuence upon the stock in one of their Yards, ordered other machines for their other 16 Yards, aTid several have informed the writer tliat tlieir stock has advanced several cents ]>er ])ound in the inai'- ket, since they have used one of our machines. Some reasons why the (Tilpin & Hill Iiuj)roved Kossing Machine is superior to any Machine ofterc^d to tlie trade. I am aware that most of the Kossing Machines in ti'oduced have not given entire satistaction to those who have employed tlieni : and having witnessed the opera- tion of all of them, except an im[)rovement made on one, and also having seen the model of this one at the Patent Otiice, I discovered wherein the improvement must be made to give to the trade a Kossing Machine that would ross every quality and description of bark, embracing the hardest S])anish Oak, as well as the soft- est Hemlock, either in the woods or at the tannery, in a manner that would meet the various ideas entertained by difl^erent manufacturers, in relation to renu>ving much or little of tlie ross, as in their judgment might be re(|uired, in pro])ortioH to the thickness of each piece of l)ark passed through the machine. This, T feel fully guaranteed in stating, has been accomplished in the Automatic Knife arrangement introduced by (Til])en & Hill in their Improved Machine. This arrangement is such that a boy twelve years old may adjust it by means of the gi-aduating lever by which the knife is set to take off of a piece of bark from one-eighth to one or more inches, in proportion to its thickness, so that every tan- ner, however scrupulous he may be in regard to en- croaching on the seat of the tamiing ju'inciples of his bark material, will feel perfectly secure in this i-espect in using the Gilpin & Hill Improved Kossing Machine, 17 which are warranted to accomphsh the work thoroughly and rapidly, and will ross nioi'e Imrk in a driven time than any other machine ever introduced to the trade, and is the only machine ever invented that will ross all kinds of bark, either in the woods or at the tannery. IDIIREOTIOISrS FOK SETTING ANI^ STARTING THE GILPIN & HILL (MPliVlft 80SSIW® MAillll. This Machine, l)eing constructed of iron and cast steel, nnd weighing- about 1,300 pounds, if placed on a solid foundation and elects nailed against the feel, will not be liable to change position. The Machine being put together, ready for work, be- fore leaving the Foundry, it is only necessary to attach the feed and ross apron, which can be done in a tew mimites, place the [nilly on the Machine (which is four- teen inches in diameter and six inches broad), 0})posite the pully on the driving shaft, arrange the strap and start the machine. The shaft to whicli the pully on the Macliine is attached, is of sutiicient length to allow it to be placed on either end, to suit the position of the mill or gearing, whichever way it may run. The i)ulley, be- ing arranged with set screws, can be removed from one end of the shaft and attached to the other, in live min- 18 utes. The Machine sliould be geared for rossing heavy oak bark to nm at a speed of two hundred revolutions per minute. For liernlock bark, one liundred revolutions is sufficient ; for the former two liorse -power will do the work thoroughly; for the latter, one horse power is amj)le. This Machine will ross all the bai-k, per day, that four men can feed it, and will guarantee, if worked up to its full capacity, seventy-five coi'ds of Chestnut- Oak bark may be rossed within ten hours. A roller is attached for driving an endless carrier, that will convey the rossed bai'k direi'tly into the mill ; therel)y requir- ing no extra labor to feed it, and boys from twelve to thirteen years old, can feed the rosser, even to greater advntage than men. The Machine is so firmly built that it is neither liable to get out of order or break, and may V)e run, for years, witliout extra ex[)ense. The knife should be kept sharp and will require whetting, at least once a week, if ten cords of bark ai'e rossed per day. This de})ends, however, mainly on the quality of bark rossed: in ro-i-iing h;ird Spmish Oak, the knife nuist be ke})t sharp, and tlieone opei'ating the Machine, will readily discover when the knife reiil't, SA(fHl| Patented Jufij 2d, 7rovenient consists in the introduction of the automatic knife and graduated regulator, by Avhich tlie knife is elevated in proportion to the thickness of the bark passed between the cylinders, and is adjusted to take from the bark, in proportion to its thickness, any (pumtity of the ross, from one-eighth of an inch \\\) to one or more inches, as may be desired by the manufac- turer. It is deemed by those who have examined the (iilj)in &j Hill iinprovement that it is the most etheient ma- chine ever offered to the trade, as the following testimo- nials will represent. The automatic knife may he at- tached to the (xUimi c& Dickinson Machine : 20 We have examined a working model of the " Gilpin & Hill Improved Rossing Machine," which, fi-om its 0|)eration, we believe to V)e the most ])ertect machine for rossing all kinds of l)Mik now on the market. ITOYT B1{()TIIEHS. Nkw Vokk, June, 1872. Having witnessed the oi)i'ration of a working model of the (lilpin ife Hill InijU'oved Ilossing Machine, I have no hesitation in recommending it as Ihe most eihcient machine oi^'ered to the trade, for the reason that, hv mcnns of the antoniatic knife jukI its arrangements, the mnchine is entirely self-Mdjusting. I.. A. UOBEKTSON. Nkw VoitK, .lune. 1S72. M.MvingexamiiKMl a working model of Messrs. (iilpin & Ililfs m|)roved Ilossing Macliine. we are fully sMtis- tied that the introduction of the autom.-itic knife su|> plies the deficiency heretofore existing in machines in troduced for rossing bark. The knife is so arranged that it will take off the re(|uired (piantity from a thin or thick piece of any khid of bark, being entirely selt- adjusting, and recommend it tv) the trade as the most ])erfect machine introduced for this purpose. J. B. HOYT .t CO. Nkw Yokk, June, 1S72. I have examined the Improved liossing Machine of Messrs. Gil|)in & Hill, anti liave no hesitation in saying tothos«< tanners who wish to ross theii" bark, that this machine will do it satisfactorilv. .1. s. sc;iun/rz. Nkw Yohk, June, 1872. FoK KULK rAKTICUI>AHS ADDHKSS GH.PJN & HHJ., Cumberland, Md. A.'^AAAI^'^ 'wr./siA ^/^mM^ AA/^d '^hA^/S: Am^k ■A@a:a«, tr\mm^^ A..A/^^%- '^»»^^* ««»h'« :mr^^nfmm \^kr\M AAx;^ AA» ^f^^.m.M!^B0A iMiiiteiiia mmmmm VSAaa. iflllMi IaAA'/^i :.-■; A 'MI?*^AK ¥. (<*V-1, i "A^l