THE USE AND APPLICATION OF PAPER PRINTED OR OTHERWISE ORNAMENTED WITH WATER COLORS FOR COVERING FLOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CARPETS AND OILCLOTHS, AND OF AN IMPROVED COATING OR VARNISH TO BE APPLIED TO THE SAME TO PROTECT ITS SURFACE FROM INJURY AND WEAR
Year: 1866

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "THE USE AND
APPLICATION OF PAPER PRINTED OR OTHERWISE ORNAMENTED WITH WATER
COLORS FOR COVERING FLOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES AS A SUBSTITUTE
FOR CARPETS AND OILCLOTHS, AND OF AN IMPROVED COATING OR VARNISH TO
BE APPLIED TO THE SAME TO PROTECT ITS SURFACE FROM INJURY AND WEAR."
-A communication from abroad by Anson Henry Platt, of the City of
Philadelphia, United States of America, Physician.
Sealed the 15th May 1866, and dated the 13th January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th January 1866.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Cou-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"THE USE AND APPLICATION OF PAPER PRINTED OR OTHERWISE ORNAMENTED WITH
WATER COLORS FOR COVERING FLOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR CARPETS AND OILCLOTHS, AND OF AN IMPROVED COATING OR VARNISH

page_text: TO BE APPLIED TO THE SAME TO PROTECT ITS SURFACE FROM INJURY AND WEAR,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention includes three different varieties of "paper carpet," which
I call respectively "stationary," "loose," and "portable" carpet, each being
prepared and applied in the following manner :-
The first or "stationary" variety is intended to be permanently attached to
the floor, which is previously to be prepared for receiving the carpet by planing
off the uneven joints and rough parts, if there are any, and filling the cracks
and holes if any are found with plaster of Paris or other suitable substance
of a like character. The floor thus made smooth and entire is first covered
with any kind of common brown or other cheap paper by pasting or other-
wise firmly securing it thereto. When this paper covering has become dry
it is covered with the ornamental paper (which may be such as used for paper-
bangings, or prepared expressly for this purpose), figured, printed, or tinted,
with water colors. The ornamental paper is attached in turn to the coarse
brown paper by firmly and smoothly pasting it thereon. When also this is
well dried it is ready to receive the coating or varnish.
The second or "loose" variety is made of a firmer and thicker under paper,
so that it shall not require to be pasted by all of its under surface to the 'floor,
but only tacked or otherwise secured thereto at its edges in the manner of a
carpet. For this purpose thick, heavy coarse brown paper is employed, such,
for example, as is used for covering roofs, and is sold in long rolls or sheets of
various and convenient widths. Strips of this paper of proper length and of
sufficient number to cover the floor are lapped and pasted together or other-
wise joined at their contiguous edges, the overlapped parts being pared down
if desired so as to give the whole paper a uniform thickness throughout. The
edges of the entire sheet are then tacked or pasted to the floor adjacent to the
walls of the room, while the main central body of the sheet is unattached or
loose upon the floor. The ornamental paper, figured, printed, or tinted with
water colors, is then pasted to this thick under paper in the same manner as
described for the first variety.
26
The third or portable" variety is intended to be sold ready for putting down
on the floor in strips like oilcloths or carpets. For this article a thick heavy
paper of good stock, so as to be tough, firm, and of handsome texture, is made
in rolls or wels of any required width and of any color for the ground which
may be desired. It is figured or printed with water colors in any style or
pattern, like oilcloth or carpet. It may be covered with the coating or varnish
either before or after it is put down upon the floor. I contemplate offering
it for sale generally ready finished as to its surface for use. It is to be fastened

page_text: down in strips upon the floor by tacking like oilcloths and mattings, or other-
wise. Instead of making the entire body of this paper of superior and handsome,
stock, the under body may be of inferior and coarser material, and the upper
surface only for finishing and ornamenting made of the superior stock, either
laid upon the coarser body in manufacturing the paper, or made in a separate
sheet or roll and afterwards attached to the coarser paper by pasting.
The improved coating or varnish for covering the surface of the paper and
receiving the wear is made by the application successively of two different
materials.
First, a sizing of white or clarified glue is applied by dissolving eight
ounces, more or less, of the said glue in one gallon of hot water, and when
somewhat cooled, but not sufficiently to exhibit indications of coagulation,
spreading it upon the paper with a brush. About three successive coats of
glue are applied to the paper as fast as each preceding coat becomes dry,
great.care being taken when laying on the first coat not to cause the water
colors on the paper to run or spread and thereby smear and mar the beauty of
the said paper.
Second, when these coats of glue or sizing are well dried and hardened a
compound is applied, made of about three parts of best quality light colored
copal varnish to one part of light colored boiled linseed oil, well mixed and
tempered with benzine or spirits of turpentine till brought to the proper
consistence to be spread with a flat soft brush, which may be about three
inches wide. From three to six coats of this outer varnish are applied,
according to the frequency and severity of the use to which the room is to be
.subjected. When the varnish is well dried and hardened the "carpet" is
ready for use.
I usually apply to the under surface of the heavy base paper used in the
second or loose variety, and also to the under surface of the paper of the
third or "portable" variety, before printing upon it a solution of common
glue, and also sometimes apply a coating of boiled linseed oil to toughen and
harden the paper and thereby increase its durability; but I do not consider
these applications essential to the Invention. In place of white or clarified
glue, gum arabic or isinglass may be used, but these are more expensive than
and not really so good for the purpose as the said glue. This coating, first of
glue and then of copal varnish and boiled linseed oil is also valuable for many
other analogous uses, such as for covering papered walls, counters, desks,
trunks, fire-boards, fuel and other boxes, window shades and other surfaces.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th June 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said
William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators,
and 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 "THE USE AND APPLICATION OF PAPER PRINTED OR OTHERWISE
ORNAMENTED WITH WATER COLORS FOR COVERING FLOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CARPETS AND OILCLOTHS, AND OF AN IMPROVED COATING
'OR VARNISH TO BE APPLIED TO THE SAME TO PROTECT ITS SURFACE FROM INJURY
AND WEAR," a communication, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an in-
'strument 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 sanie 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 Robert Lake, 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 :---
This Invention includes three
call respectively "stationary,"
different varieties of paper carpet, which I
"loose,"
" and "
portable "
66
carpet," each
being prepared and applied in the following manner :-
The first or "stationary" variety is intended to be permanently attached to

page_text: the floor, which is previously to be prepared for receiving the carpet by
planing the uneven joints and rough parts, if there are any, and filling the
cracks and holes, if any are found, with plaster of Paris or other suitable
substance of a like character. The floor thus made smooth and entire is first
covered with any kind of common brown or other cheap paper by pasting or
otherwise firmly securing it thereto. When this paper covering has become
dry it is covered with the ornamental paper (which may be such as used for
paperhangings, or prepared expressly for this purpose), figured, printed, or
tinted with water colors. The ornamental paper is attached in turn to the
coarse brown paper by firmly and smoothly pasting it thereon.
this is well dried it is ready to receive the coating or varnish.
When also
The second or "loose" variety is made of a firmer and thicker under
paper, so that it shall not require to be pasted by all of its under surface to
the floor, but only tacked or otherwise secured at its edges to the floor in the
manner of a carpet. For this purpose thick, heavy, and coarse brown paper
is employed, such, for example, as is used for covering roofs, and is sold in
market in long rolls or sheets of various and convenient widths. Strips of
this paper of proper length and sufficient number to cover the floor are lapped
and pasted together or otherwise joined at their contiguous edges, the over-
lapped parts being pared down if desired, so as to give the whole paper a
uniform thickness throughout. The edges of the entire sheet are then tacked
or pasted to the floor adjacent to the walls of the room, to hold the whole
firmly in place, while the main central body of the sheet is unattached or
"loose" upon the floor. The ornamental paper, figured, printed, or tinted
with water colors, is then pasted to this thick under paper in the same manner
as described for the first variety.
The third or "portable" variety is intended to be sold in market ready to
be put dowu on the floor in strips like oilcloths or carpets. For this article
a thick heavy paper of good stock, so as to be tough, firm, and of handsome
texture, is made in rolls or webs of any required width and of any color for
the ground which may be desired. It is figured or printed with water colors
in any style or pattern, like an oilcloth or carpet. It may be covered with
the coating or varnish already when sold in market, or not till after it is put
down upon the floor. I contemplate offering it in market generally all
finished as to its surface for use. It is to be fastened down in strips upon the
floor by tacking, like oilcloths and mattings, or otherwise. Instead of making
the entire body of this paper of superior and handsome stock, the under body
may be of inferior and coarse material, and the upper surface for finishing and
ornamenting only be made of the superior stock, either laid upon the coarser

page_text: body in manufacturing the paper, or made in a separate sheet or roll and
afterward attached to the coarser paper by pasting.
The improved coating or varnish for covering the surface of the paper and
receiving the wear is made by the application successively of two different
materials.
First, a sizing of white or clarified glue is applied by dissolving eight
ounces, or thereabouts, of the glue in one gallon of hot water, and when some-
what cooled, but not sufficiently to exhibit indications of coagulation, spreading
it upon the paper with a brush. About three sucċissive coats of the glue are
applied to the paper as fast as each preceding coat becomes dry, great care
being taken when laying on the first coat not to cause the water colors on
the paper to run or spread, and thereby smear and mar the beauty of the
paper.
Second, when these coats of glue or sizing are well dried and hardened a
compound is applied made of 'about three parts of best quality light colored
copal varnish to one part of light colored boiled linseed oil, well mixed and
tempered with benzine or spirits of turpentine till brought to the proper
consistency to be spread with a flat soft brush, which may be about, three
inches wide. From three to six coats of this outer varnish are applied,
according to the frequency and severity of the use to which the room is to be
subjected. When the varnish is well dried and hardened the "
ready for use.
carpet" is
I usually apply to the under surface of the heavy base paper used in the
second. or "loose" variety, and also to the under surface of the third or
"portable" variety, before printing upon it a solution of common glue, and
also sometimes apply a coating of boiled linseed oil to toughen and harden
the paper, and thereby increase its durability; but I do not consider these
applications essential to the Invention. In place of the white glue, wholly or
partially, gum arabic or isinglass may be used, but they are more expensive
than and not really so good for the purpose as the clarified glue. This
coating, first of glue and then of copal varnish and boiled linseed oil, is
.also valuable for many other analogous uses, such as for covering papered
walls, counters, desks, trunks, fire-boards, fuel and other boxes, window
shades, &c. &c.
What I claim as my Invention is, first, the use and application of paper,
printed or otherwise ornamented with water colors, for covering floors and
other analogous purposes as a substitute for carpets and oilcloths in either of
the three methods or varieties as above specified.
: Second, I claim the coating of clarified glue and of copal varnish and

page_text: boiled linseed oil applied successively to the surface of the paper, printed or
otherwise ornamented with water colors, for the purpose and substantially in
the manner above described.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-six.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)