AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION APPLICABLE TO THE COATING OF WOOD, METALS, AND OTHER SUBSTANCES TO BE PRESERVED FROM DECAY
Year: 1852

page_text: WHEREAS
present me
Majesty Queen
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth day of June,
in the fifteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Laurent Machabee, my exors, admors, and
assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Laurent Machabee, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and in the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and
also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention
for "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION APPLICABLE TO THE COATING OF WOOD, METALS,
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES TO BE PRESERVED FROM DECAY;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Laurent Machabee, shall cause
a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being there-
unto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Laurent Machabee, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in combining mineral and vegetable tar, barras, tur-
pentine of pinus larix, white grease, either alone or combined with Roman
cement and hydraulic lime in or about the proportions herein-after enumerated,
and producing therewith an improved composition applicable to the protection
of iron, wood, brickwork, and other hard bodies from the destructive effects of
humidity; and the mode in which I operate is as follows:-I prepare three
ounces and one-fifth of an ounce of vegetable tar, one ounce of mineral tar,
one-sixth of an ounce of resin turpentine of pinus larix, one-third of an ounce
of wax, and one-sixth of an ounce of white grease (troy weight), and I intro-
duce them all into a boiler or copper. I make the whole boil during about
ten minutes, and when the matters have ceased to be in a state of ebullition,
I introduce into the copper containing them one-third of an ounce, troy, of
Roman cement, and an equal quantity of hydraulic lime previously sifted very
finely; I mix the whole well up with the rest of the substances by means of
an iron ladle, until all the matters have entered into a state of intimate
combination.
The mastic thus prepared is in a fit condition to be exposed to the action of
heat without endangering the melting of the fatty body contained in it, and
may be used for covering walls and other similar external works, or for articles
intended to be exposed to high temperatures; but if the bodies are intended
for internal works, such as the walls of apartments, and for articles in general,
then the addition of Roman cement and hydraulic lime is not resorted to.
Before applying the mastic for covering wood or iron articles, care must be
taken to remove the dust or dirt from their surfaces, and the mortar or
plaster that may be present on the surfaces of walls or other brickwork must
be disengaged, the presence of which, in either case, would render the covering
defective. The mastic is laid on in the following manner:-I dip a brush
into the matter when in a state of ebullition, and deposit a coating of the
thickness of about one-fifteenth of an inch upon the surface to be covered,
taking care to fill up all the cavities with it, and to cover the whole surface
of the body completely. About half an hour afterwards I deposit another
coating of mastic over the first coating, and then apply a slight coat of plaster;
by this mode of operating I completely protect the surfaces of walls in the
interior of houses and other edifices from humidity and the action of heat.
When the mastic is applied upon iron or wood, the second coat of mastic and

page_text: the use of plaster become unnecessary; the mode of applying the mastic is,
however, the same. The mastic hardens in water, and is capable of resisting
the action of acids of the strength of sixty-six degrees. It may also be
employed for protecting boats and iron bridges from the hurtful effects of
humidity, and is applicable in lieu of asphalte for covering the "coat". of
stone bridges.
And having now described my said Inveution, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to
the precise details of proportions of the different agents herein mentioned, or
of the quantity of mastic to be applied, as they may be modified according to
the situation of the localities and the particular kind and condition of the work
to be performed, and for which no precise directions can be given, the judicious
determination of them depending on the ability and judgment of the operator;
nor do I claim the same as of my Invention; but what I do claim as my
Invention, and intend to be protected by the said Letters Patent, is,―
The combination of the agents herein-before enumerated for the production
of an improved mastic, and the application of the same, for protecting iron,
wood, brickwork, and other hard bodies and articles made of wood and
iron covered therewith, from the destructive effects of air and humidity as
herein above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Laurent Machabee, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.

page_text: signature "Thomas Pickford," set, subscribed, or written in the margin of
the Specification hereunto annexed, marked A, and dated the Sixth day of
December instant, and purporting to be executed by Laurent Machabee,
whereby it is stated that the Specification was acknowledged by him, the said
Laurent Machabee, before the said Thomas Pickford, on the said Sixth day of
December, is of the proper handwriting of the said Thomas Pickford.