IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION. OF INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA, AND, IN THE APPLICATIONS THEREOF
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION.
OF INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA, AND, IN THE APPLICATIONS THEREOF."-
A communication from Henri Victor Wacrenier, of Paris, in the Empiro
of France.
Sealed the 29th April 1856, and dated the 27th November 1855.
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th November 1855.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRE-
PARATION OF INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA, AND IN THE APPLICATIONS THEREOF,"
a communication from Henri Victor Wacrenier, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, to be as follows:-
This Invention, so far as it relates to the manufacture or preparation of
india-rubber or gutta percha, consists in mixing with these materials calcined
shells, or other cheap substance of a like nature, reduced to powder, for the

page_text: purpose of increasing the volume of the material and reducing its cost; and
the Invention, so far as it relates to the applications of those materials when
mixed with sulphur and rendered hard by being subjected to a high degree of
licat, consists in the application thereof to the manufacture of the bobbins,
cylinders, & rollers, and coupling or clutch boxes, used in spinning machines,
whether for cotton, wool, hemp, or flax; and to the manufacture of the racks
and ratchet wheels employed in hand and power looms & spinning machines,
whereby such pieces of mechanism may be made much more economically than
when composed of metal, as heretofore. It is proposed also to apply hard
india-rubber to the manufacture of the teeth of wheels and plate bolsters
generally, hitherto made of metal, of which there are great numbers in spinning
machines; hard india-rubber, from tho high polish which it is capable of
receiving, being particularly well adapted for this purpose. The collars or foot-
steps may also be made in one piece with the plate bolster if found desirable,
which can be readily effected by constructing the matrix or mould accord-
ingly. In all cases the bearings and footsteps usually fitted on to the plate
bolsters, and composed of copper, may be replaced by corresponding pieces of
hard india-rubber. This material will be found equally applicable to the
manufacture of the bearings for driving and other shafts generally of all kinds
of machinery. Spindles for spinning machines may also be made of hard
india-rubber as well as the back spindles for twisting machines.
The articles above enumerated may either be moulded the required size, or
they may be cast rather larger, to admit of their being subsequently turned,
& polished. In place of manufacturing the various articles above enumerated
entirely of hard india-rubber, it is proposed to make them of metal covered
with hard india-rubber, thereby combining the advantages of the strength and
durability of the metal with the non-liability to oxidation of the india-rubber.
All the articles herein-before enumerated should be made, in preference, of
caoutchouc previously vulcanized & reduced to powder, and then moulded in
heated moulds.
By the admixture of calcined powdered shells with hard india-rubber, the
material acquires a lustre similar to that of mother-of-pearl, and may be used
as a substitute for that material. These materials, when simply vulcanized
and not rendered hard and mixed with powdered calcined shells or other cheap
substance, will be found particularly applicable to the. manufacture of buffer,
draw, and bearing springs, and may be used with advantage in all cases when
a considerably elastic medium is required. :

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th May 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF INDIA-RUBBER AND GUTTA PERCHA,
AND IN THE APPLICATIONS THEREOP," a communication from Henri Victor
Wacrenier, of Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo.
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement:-
The said Invention, so far as it relates to the manufacture or preparation of,
india-rubber or gutta percha, consists in mixing with these materials calcined
shells, or other cheap substance of a like nature, reduced to powder, for the
purpose of increasing the volume of the material and reducing its cost. And
the Invention, so far as it relates to the applications of those materials when
mixed with sulphur and rendered hard by having been subjected to a high
degree of heat, consists in the application thereof to the manufacture of the
bobbins, cylinders, and rollers, and coupling or clutch boxes, used in spinning
;

page_text: machines, whether for cotton, wool, hemp, or flax; and to the manufacture of
the racks and ratchet wheels employed in hand and power looms and spinning
machines, whereby such pieces of mechanism may be made much more
economically than when composed of metal, as heretofore. It is proposed
also to apply hard india-rubber to the manufacture of the teeth of wheels
generally, and to plate bolsters, hitherto made of metal, of which there are
great numbers used in spinning machines; hard india-rubber, from the high
polish which it is capable of receiving, being particularly well adapted for this
purpose. The collars and footsteps may also be made in one piece with the
plate bolster if found desirable, which can be readily effected by constructing
the matrix or mould accordingly; in all cases the bearings and footsteps
usually fitted on to the plate bolsters, and composed of copper or brass, may
be replaced by corresponding bearing pieces of hard india-rubber. This
material will be found equally applicable to the manufacture of the bearings
for driving and other shafts generally of all kinds of machinery. Spindles for
spinning machines may also be made of hard india-rubber, as well as the back-
spindles for twisting machines.":"*.
The articles above enumerated may either be moulded of the required size,
or they may be cast rather larger, to admit of their being subsequently turned:
and polished in a lathe. In place of manufacturing the various articles above
enumerated entirely of hard india-rubber, it is proposed also to make them of
metal covered with hard india-rubber, thereby combining the advantages of tho
strength and durability of the metal with the non-liability to oxidation of:
the india-rubber. All the articles herein-before enumerated should be made,
in preference, of caoutchouc previously vulcanized and reduced to powder, and s
then moulded in heated moulds; but I do not confine myself to this particular
mode.
By the admixture of calcined powdered shells with hard india-rubber, the
material acquires a lustre similar to that of mother-of-pearl, and may be used!
as a substitute for that substance. These materials, when simply vulcanized
and not rendered hard and mixed with powdered calcined shells or other
cheap substance, will be found particularly applicable to the manufacture of
buffer, draw, and bearing springs, and may be used with advantage in all cases
when a considerably elastic medium is required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without

page_text: deviating from the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what
I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the mixing with gutta percha or india-rubber of calcined shells or
other cheap substance of a like nature reduced to powder, for the purposes
herein-before referred to.
Second, the constructing rollers and cylinders and coupling or clutch
boxes of spinning machines of hard india-rubber or gutta percha.
Third, the constructing racks, ratchets, and gearing of hand and power
looms and spinning frames of hard india-rubber.
Fourth, the constructing plate bolsters, footsteps, collars, and bearings for
the spindles of spinning machines of hard india-rubber or gutta percha.
Fifth, the constructing the bearings of driving and other shafts of hard
india-rubber or gutta percha.
Sixth, the constructing back spindles of doubling and twisting machines of
hard india-rubber or gutta percha.
Seventh, the constructing bobbins, reels, and spools used in spinning
machines of hard india-rubber or gutta percha.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)