The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-04-22
Manufacture of FlOOrciOth.

largest manufacturers of floor oilcloths II
the world. Mr.. John r. Regnault, of The
firm of Regnault & Co., of this city, visited
their works when in England, and ou1
| readers will bc interested in the following
description of the works and the various
processes carried on therein.
The premises in question occupy an area
of more than ten acres, and are situate
Immediately opposite the railway station
| The firm was founded in 1882 by the great
grandfather of the present junior partners,
and who might be said to have practically
introduced to the public an article that
| forms so great an adjunct 10 our oollcS'ic
comfort. FloorclothS are made partly o'
hemp and partly Of flax, III suitable proper
tons; the former being the stronger, ou'
| the latter being more capable OF retaining
| the paint on the surface. 10 aVolu Scaius,
| the looms are constructed for the weaving
of canvas of the greatest width likely 10
| be required, the usual lengths being sixty
and sixty-eight yards, and the widths seven,
eight. and nine yards. The flax and hemp
are spun and the canvas woven on
| the best principles, upon the premises,
and none but tirSt-claSS materials are
uscd-no admixture of lute, which Is
a weak, common East Indian hemp, being
permitted. The canvas is cut into pieces
VARYING from IS to l02 feet long, each
framed its entire width in a vertical posi-
ton. A wash of melted size having been
applied by means of brushes to the sur
face, while yet wet each side Is well
rubbed down by pieces of pumice stone,
and any irregularities in the texture re-
moved, thus laying the foundation Tor the
oil color afterwards 10 be applied. The
paints employed consist Of the same NINE
raj colors as those used in house painting,
and are, like them, mixed with linSeed oil,
prepared, however, with great care to Sc
cure excellence in drying hard but these
paints are much sitter and thicker in con-
sistence, and have very little turpentlne
added TO them. The canvas receives
many coatingS on the back, and more on
the front, which increase the weight OF the
fabric from twenty-three ounces to SIX or
seven pounds per square yard; and each
coating is well dried and Smoothed before
another is applied.
The printing Of tioorcloth is conducted
in buildings about eighty feet high, admit
rably arranged at a distance from each
other) much on the same principle as that
of paper-hangings for rooms, and that OF
' color printing" namely, the successive
application of two or more blocks OF en-
graved surface, each one giving different
portion of the device, and being supplied
with paint of a different color. To state it
more plainly: The pattern is engraved or
cut upon blocks Of wood, formed OF pear
tree or sycamore on one side, and deal on
the other: each block is about sixteen
inches square, and is to give the portion OF
the device which is to be in one particular
color, although sometimes two blocks are
used for the same portion and for the same
color the blocks (Which for some patterns
are more than twenty in number, and for
none less than FOUR being ready, and the
primed or prepared canvas spread out upon
4 flat table covered with many folds OF
soft thick WOODEN felt, the printing COM
meuces. The paint (say rcd) is applied
with a brush to the surface Of pad or
cushion, formed Of flannel covered with
foorcloth. The block is then placed
face downwards on this cushion, and the
LAYER of paint thus obtained is transferred
TO the surface of the canvas by pressing tue
block smartly down on the latter ; second
impression is made in similar way by the
side of and close to the first, and so on
throughout the breadth OF the canvas, each
impression being of the size OF the block.
The proper junction of the successive I'M
pressions is ingeniously contrivedh by means
of a guage, which enables the printer to
accurately and rapidly adjust the blocks,
and the color is pressed upon the canvas
with great force by spring press for that
purpose. When the whole surface of the
entire breadth is thus printed with one
color, all the others are similarly applied in
succession, and then another breadth dis
posed Of in the same way, and SO on
throughout the entire length ofl00 feet and
upwards. When the number OF blocks are
more than fifteen or twenty, the greatest
care is necessary in adjusting the numerous
partial impressions so as to insure perfect
arrangement of the whole. We might
mention that Messrs. Hare have building
expressly assigned for these wood blocks,
where there are many thousands arranSedi in
compartments, each compartment contain
ing those belonging to each pattern. After
the blocks have done their daily work they
are thoroughly cleanscd and made ready
either for the next day, or to be placed
aside until further required.
The same company also manufacture
large quantities of japanned goods, and Of
those very pretty, cheap, and serviceablc
articles, table covers, which, for their low
price and durability, are in universal use
and rcpute. This manufacture is carried
on in buildings separate and distinct from
the floorcloth factories, and as the process
is much the same as that Of 1loorcloth, we
need not describe it.
Passing from the foorcloth and table
cover works, we first come to the color
works, which have recently been reformed
and fitted with all the modern improve
ments, so that they are entirely rebuilt,
and arranged with great care TO prevent
unnecessary labor in the various details of
levigating and grinding the colors and
paints used in the hoorcloth works, and for
sale TO the customers of the firm. Besides
the mills for lcvigating and grinding, here
are spacious oil-houses, varnish stores,
coopcragcs, drying -houseS, and packing
warehouses for the home trade and ex-
port-a distinct building for each.
Below the color works and the other side
of the Bristol and Exeter railway are the
various japanning houses and varnish
works, which are separated by the river
Avon from the flax mills, the property Of
the same firm. The fax and hemp are
spun, and the canvas for floorcloth woven,
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