AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POTTERY
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge-
}
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POTTERY." A communication from
abroad by Georges Gros, of 39, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France.
7
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge+
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on
the 16th June 1865.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11,
Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD.
OP AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POTTERY," (a communication to me from.
abroad by Georges Gros, of 39, Faubourg St. Martin; Paris, France,) to be.
as follows:-
The means hitherto used in the manufacture of pottery cause a great loss-
of time and produce articles wanting finish, the pots being usually made on a
lathe and fashioned by hand. This Invention consists in an improved method
of manufacturing pottery by means of a plug and intermediate envelopes or.
caps made of felt, of a cotton, woollen, or silken fabric, of hide, of india-rubber,
vulcanized or not, or of any analogous material offering the requisite suppleness.
The apparatus is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing forming

page_text: part of this Provisional Specification, and the mode of proceeding is as follows:-
A ball of clay P (Figure 1) is placed in the cap B, which is itself in the
mould G, then by the action of the motor K, the plug F, covered by the cap A,
introducing itself into the mould G, crushes the ball of clay P, and causes it
to rise regularly along the sides of the mould G, so that when the plug F bas
arrived at the end of its downward journey the space comprised between the
plug F and the mould G (which is equal to the thickness to be given to the
vase) is filled with clay and constitutes the vase. The clay in excess of what
is required for the operation finds itself separated from the required quantity
by the junction of the edges of the plug F with those of the mould G. The
plug F in rising abandons the cap A which remains adhering (by reason of
the adhesive nature of the clay) to the vase contained in the mould G; this
cap is quickly removed by the workman, who at the same time by a treadle M
lifts the rod I as shewn, Figure 2. The inner envelope of the mould G being
fixed to the upper plate of the rod I, as well as to the upper edges of the
mould G, it follows that the rod in rising regularly disengages the vase P from
the cap, B and that the rod I arrived at the end of its journey presents the
vase entirely uncovered as shewn, Figure 2. The joint D, cross piece E, and
pieces N serve to render the motion direct and secure precision. The supple
envelopes A and B possess the property of' partially absorbing the humidity
of the pot, causing it to dry more quickly; whereas in manufacturing with the
lathe the workman is obliged to keep his hands constantly wet to prevent the
clay sticking to his fingers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Májesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING POTTERY," a
communication to me from abroad by Georges Gros, of 39, Faubourg St.
Martin, Paris, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that 'I, the said
William Edward Gedge, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in' and
by the following statement :-
The means hitherto used in the manufacture of pottery cause a great loss
of time and produce articles wanting finish, the pots being usually made on a
lathe and fashioned by hand. This Invention consists in an improved.method
of manufacturing pottery ware by means of a plug and intermediate envelopes
or caps made of felt, of a woollen, cotton, or silken fabric, of bide, of india-
rubber vulcanized or not, or of any analagous material offering the requisite
suppleness.
The apparatus used is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Draw-
ing forming part of this Specification, and the mode of proceeding is as
follows: A ball of clay P (Figure 1) is placed in the cap B, which is itself
placed in the mould G, then, the crank shaft K being set in motion the plug F,
covered by the cap A, introduces itself into the mould G, crushes the ball of
clay P, and causes it to rise regularly along the sides of the mould G, and
when the plug F has arrived at the end of its downward journey the space
comprised between the plug F and the mould G (which is equal to the thick-
ness to be given to the vase) is filled with clay and constitutes the vase. The
clay in excess of what is required for the operation finds itself separated from
the required quantity by the junction of the edges of the plug F and those of
the mould G. The plug F in rising abandons the cap A which remains
adhering (by reason of the adhesive nature of the clay) to the vase contained
in the mould G; this cap is quickly removed by the workman, who at the
same time by a treadle or jointed pedal movement-M, lifts the rod I as shewn

page_text: Figure 2. The inner envelope B of the mould G being fixed to the upper
plate of the rod I, as well as to the upper edges of the mould G, it follows
that the rod in rising gradually disengages the vase P from the cap B, and
that the rod I arrived at the end of its journey presents the vase entirely
uncovered as shewn Figure 2. The joint D, cross piece E, and clutch boxes N
serve to render the motion direct and ensure precision; C, connecting rod;
HI, supports; J, guide rods; L, framing. The mould G is usually made of cast
iron, the plug F also of cast iron or of wood, and the cross piece E and
framing L of wood; but I do not confine myself to the use of any particular
metal or material for the several parts of this improved apparatus, excepting
in so far that the caps A and B must always be made as already stated of
some supple or flexible fabric or material; and I need scarcely observe that I
do not confine myself to any particular dimensions, as such will be regulated
by the size of the article to be made. The supple envelopes A and B possess
the property of partially absorbing the humidity of the pot, causing it to
dry more quickly; whereas in manufacturing with the lathe the workman is
obliged to keep his hands constantly wet to prevent the clay sticking to his
fingers.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five..
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)