Pantasote.

Manawatu Herald, 13 October 1894, Page 3

Pantasote.

A substitute for leather, called pantasote has come into notice in the United States within the last twelve or eighteen months. The composition of it still remains a secret, but the producers claim that it contains mo rubber nor animal substance of any kind. It is incombustible, or nearly so, odorless when scorched, and waterproof. Cold does not render it stiff or brittle, as would be the case with some compounds ; nor, on the other hand, does it soften and become t stickey under the influence of heat. " It is probable that soma mineral subitance like asbestos enters into the mixture. Pantasote leather, as marketed, consists of two or three layers of cloth, saturated with and

glued together by the secret preparation. It then has the hue ot leather, without special colouring matter, atjd diad; it is dsSet-ted; fciie durability of the substance #hiph it it, 13 desigried to replace. Trie cliief iise td which the new material is devoted at present is the upholstering of seats in railway csira ririd sfcefiniships arid far decorative purposes. While leather is reported to cost 20 cents a square foot, pantasott, guaranteed to be equally strong, is sold for less than half that price; I