258 - Christian HEINZERLING (1843 - ) [1]

HEINZERLING was a tanner in Biedenkopf (Frankfurt). He had invented a new process for converting skin and hides into leather. He obtained his first patent for the process in Germany in 1878 [2]. A German publication summarises HEIZERLING’s invention as follows: [3]

Das erste wirtschaftlich verwertbare Mineralgerbverfahren ist von Christian Heinzerling im Jahre 1878 patentiert worden. Heinzerlings Methode bestand in der Anwendung eines Gemisches von Alaun und Kaliumbichromat und in einer nachfolgenden Behandlung der Haut mit albuminoiden Substanzen, wie z. B. Blut. Um das Jahr 1880 erwarb die ,,Eglinton Chemical Co. Glasgow" die Patentrechte Heinzerlings für Großbritannien und begann die Fabrikation in kleinem Maßstabe in seiner „Exhibition Tannery" in Glasgow. Die Durchführung des Verfahrens wurde nur von einem sehr beschränkten Erfolge begleitet. Die Hautsubstanz hat die Chromsäure nur sehr unvollkommen reduziert, und man bediente sich albuminoider Stoffe und Fette, um das „Leder" gegen Wasser widerstandsfähiger zu machen.

On 30 October 1879 HEINZERLING filed an application for a brevet d’importation in Luxembourg under the title of:

Nouveau procédé de tannage minéral

In the corresponding British patent [4]  the invention is summarised as follows:

The hides, after being unhaired and soaked in the usual manner, are placed in a solution of acid or neutral chromate of potassium, sodium, or magnesium, and alum or sulphate of alumina; chloride of sodium may also be added, and chrome alum or sulphate of chromium may replace the chromates. The hides may he first immersed in a solution of alum containing zinc powder or zinc cuttings, which is stated to precipitate amor­phous alumina on the fibre. A small quantity of yellow or red prussiate of potash may be added to the solution after a few days or at the commencement of the operation. The tanning-stuffs are fixed by immersing the hides in a solution of barium chloride, acetate of lead, or soap. The smoothed damp hides may be greased in the ordinary way by tramping or dipping into stearine, paraffin, chrysene, naphthalene, resin, etc., dissolved in benzene, photogen, or the like; carbolic acid or thyme oil may also be added.

The Luxembourg patent was granted under the 1880 Patent Law on 28 July 1880. [5]

HEINZERLING patented his process in several countries. [6] 

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[1] FamilySearch database

[2] DE Reichspatent No 5,298, additions No 10,685 and No 14,769

[3] Lamb-Mezey, Chromlederfabrikation, 1925, pages 1-2 

[4] GB patent No 5,247/1878

[5] LU patent No 25

[6] ES patent No 652, US patents No 231,797, No 238,389 and No 528,162, CA patent No 12,629.

(08/02/2021)