CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PLASTIC MANUFACTURE OR COMPOSITION, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO DECORATIVE AND USEFUL PURPOSES, AND PART AS A FIREPROOF CEMENT OR PLASTER
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
YATES, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Upholsterer, and DENIS
DOLAN, of the same place, Scagliola Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-first day of January, in the eighth year of Her reign, and
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said William
Yates and Denis Dolan, our exors, adñiors, and assigns. Her especial license,
full power, sole privilege, and authority, that we, the said William Yates and
Denis Dolan, our exors, adiñors, and assigns, and such others as we, the said
William Yates and Denis Dolan, our exors, adiñiors, 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 the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PLASTIC MANUFACTURE OR COMPOSITION,
PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO DECORATIVE AND USEFUL PURPOSES, AND PART AS
A FIREPROOF CEMENT OR PLASTER;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso, that we, the said William Yates and Denis Dolan, shall particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, and cause the same to be en-

page_text: rolled in Her 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 thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
William Yates and Denis Dolan, do hereby declare that the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof
(that is to say) —
Our improvements consist in the novel and peculiar combination of certain
materials employed in the manufacture of cements and other plastic composi-
tions, and also in the process or method whereby such novel and intimate
combination of materials is effected. The differences in the proportions and
of the materials employed will depend upon whether the composition required
be for decorative, hydraulic, or fireproof purposes. Hitherto most plastic
compositions or cements concrete or set on the outer surface or side next to the
atmosphere first, and from this cause they are always found liable to be
detached or separated from the wall or whatever surface they may be placed
upon, and hence ultimately become easily broken and flake off, which is the
principal reason that all cements have hitherto been so defective in case of
fire or any extraordinary application of heat or damp, as it will be found in
all cases where known cements have as yet been used, that in case of extreme
heat from fire they immediately expand and fly or fall from the surface of
the structure they may be placed upon, from the weakness or insufliciency
of bond or union between the cement or plaster and the ground upon
which it may have been placed. The chief objects we have in view in
making our improvements are to produce a plastic composition that will set
or concrete first upon the surface upon which it is applied, and so on
gradually until it arrives at the outer face of the work, and at the same time
have such adhesive or growing qualities to the material that it will scarcely be
possible by any outward force or violence to destroy or overcome their adhesion,
and also to produce such a composition as will resist the action of fire or
These improved plastic compositions or manufactures may be applied
to any purpose for which ordinary mortar, plaster, or cement is used, either in
setting bricks or stones, or plastering walls or ceilings, and ornamental and
other works. The preparation is formed, as in the following formula, by
two separate processes, the results of which are by admixture made to act
upon each other. Take one pound of bark, or a quarter of a pound of gall
water.

page_text: nuts, which crush or grind fine, and boil them in two quarts of water, continu-
ing the heat until one half of the water has evaporated, so that only one quart
shall remain, which mix with seven pounds of dry fire-clay, employing as
much of the decoction as the last-mentioned quantity of clay will absorb; dry
the clay thus prepared; then grind and repeat this operation with such a
quantity of the like decoction as will ensure the saturation of the fire-clay by
the tannin principle, or, in other words, put into the clay as much tannin as it
is capable of containing. Dry the clay in this state again, and finally grind or
otherwise reduce it to the state of fine powder; where bark or gall nuts are not
at hand, any other tannin may be used in equivalent proportion. This is the first
preperation. The second is made as follows, namely:--Dissolve half a pound
of glue in a pint of water; to the solution add a quarter of a pound of slacked
or hydrate of lime, and let the mass be brought by the addition of water to the
consistency of a beaten egg or thick cream. This mixture must be boiled and
carefully mixed by stirring until it is thoroughly blended and of uniform con-
stitution. Now, add seven pounds of dry fire-clay, and work the materials toge-
ther into a paste or putty, and then dry the mass produced. The mode of drying
resorted to is either to expose it to the action of the sun or to an artificial heat
not exceeding that of boiling water, or in other words, not above two hundred
and twelve degrees of temperature. When it has been thus rendered perfectly
dry, break it into lumps, and then by a mill or otherwise grind or pulverize the
whole of the mass to the state of a fine powder. This may be considered as
the second preparatory process, being distinct from the preceding. These two
separate compounds or mixtures are now to be carefully and intimately
blended together until they are rendered uniform; to this fine dust or powder
add eight parts, that is to say, eight times its weight (in a dry state) of
sulphate of lime (plaster of Paris), and mix all well together by running; it
through sieves or riddles, or in any other way, so that the materials may bo
evenly and thoroughly incorporated. To the materials in this state add, of
silica sixteen parts (or twice the weight of sulphate of lime) in the state of well-
washed and fine dry sand, or in a corresponding proportion, when instead of the
sand any other silicious substance, as granite, stone, or flint, for example, is em-
ployed. When the whole has been duly mixed, the process is finished, and the
article obtained. It is for some purposes found advantageous to add afterwards
a small quantity of solution of alum, and though this addition is not necessary,
it is claimed as part of the process, fitting the article better for peculiar appli-
cations, and thus to be used or omitted, as occasion may require, and therefore
claimed as under the protection of the Patent. The substance thus obtained..

page_text: either with or without the alum, is used by adding water to it until it is of the
usual consistency of common mortar or plaster, and applying it in the ordinary
way to walls, ceilings, interior coatings, or other surfaces. The preparation as
above described is applicable to the purposes of rendering fire-proof buildings,
boxes, or safes, for the preservation of deeds or other articles, and for the
protection of property under any circumstances, in which the preparation is
used as a fire-resisting medium.
Secondly, when the cement or plaster is required for hydraulic purposes, or
setting under water, or in foundations, outside walls, or other such like work
exposed to water, damp, or rain, it is requisite the formula should run as
above, except instead of or in connection with the fire-clay, substitute an
equivalent quantity of oxide of lead, iron, or iron filings, copper, or any other
convenient oxide, and apply such substitute in the same manner as the fire-
clay in every respect, and the composition will be found perfectly waterproof,
extremely adhesive, and of the greatest strength, and useful for building water-
wall docks or arches, or any other structure where strength and water-resistive
power is required.
Thirdly, for colored or fancy plaster, composition, or cement, such as imi-
tation marble, scagliola, or other such like fancy work, the following alteration
is required in the formula :-One pound of glue to two ounces of good slacked
lime, which must be boiled and diluted and mixed as above described in pre-
paring the fireproof cement, and then to one part of this mixture add the color-
ing matter, and wet-grind it as in preparing common paint or covering, after
which carefully dry and grind it to fine powder. To the other part add about
fourteen pounds of carbonate or sulphate of barytes, or any other appropriate
mineral (instead of fire-clay), which make into pasto or putty, and then dry
and pulverize and grind to fine dust or flour, as in preparing the first-described
or fireproof cement, and when so ground mix these two separate powders
together, then add of sulphate of lime eight times the weight of the barytes
or other mineral. In this colored plaster or cement the artist or operator
must use his own judgment in mixing or combining the colors that are suitable
to produce any particular or required tint or effect in color. This cement is
intended for forming any decorative work that may be required, that is, by
first forming a groundwork of the first-described or fireproof cement, upon
which put a skimming or coating of the colored cement, and they will both
concrete together, forming one solid substance, and when dry can be highly
polished. If any imitation or artificial marble be required, mix the colors
and apply them as in producing ordinary scagliola, and if the foundation be the

page_text: fireproof cement, the most beautiful columns, pilasters, pannels, and slabs or
mouldings may be formed, and with this advantage, that owing to the adhe-
siveness and union of these two mixtures or cement, blistering and shelling off,
as in scagliola work, will not occur. This cement may also be laid in solid
colors, and finished to a most beautiful surface. Its effect is exceedingly
beautiful, and walls may be wrought or decorated in pannels, figures, flowers,
&c., as desired. In mixing the improved cement for flooring or pavement,
we put coarsely ground or pulverized granite, instead of sand, in the last
coating or skimming, mixed with oxide of lead instead of fire-clay, and it
forms upon the fireproof cement a perfectly secure fireproof floor, with a
surface harder than that of an ordinary stone, and may be employed as a
plain or ornamental pavement or flooring, if laid in the form of Mosaic tiles or
tracery, as different-colored granite may be procured with ease or otherwise.
To form a composition to represent wood carving, cornices, or any ornamental
decoration, where the weight of the plaster is objectionable, take to one
hundredweight of sulphate of lime the quantity of fire-clay and glue as in
our second preparation. Add three times the quantity of these ingredients
by measure or bulk of ground spent bark (such as the tanners throw aside),
which must first have been well washed and dried in an oven or kiln, and
ground as fine as possible, and where strength in the composition is requisite,
as in making benches, seats, or tables, take the hydraulic mixture of clay and
glue; that is, put instead of clay an equivalent of the oxide of lead, iron, or
copper, and blend all well together. (Where bark is not attainable, take the
same quantity of common sawdust, or an equivalent quantity or amount of
paper or woollen silk, linen, or cotton fabrics, which must be previously well
boiled and cleansed from all extraneous matter, and then well dried and
ground or pulverized to a fine powder; to three parts of this powder add the
first and second preparations, with the sulphate of lime, as in the fireproof
cement; blend all well together.) To this mixture add water suflicient to
make it of the consistency of paste or putty, which press into moulds, well
oiled to prevent the same from adhering to the moulds. A hand press will
greatly add to the perfecting of the impressions of the carvings. It is found
that the composition is capable of being mixed advantageously with other
known cements, and this application is claimed as part of the discovery to be
included in the Patent.
We do not claim as of our Invention any of the before-named well-known
constituents; but what we do claim is, the mixing and application of such
constituents in the novel and peculiar mode before described.

page_text: We wish it to be distinctly understood that we do not intend to confine
ourselves to any of the exact proportions of these ingredients to be used in the
manner and for the purposes above set forth, yet recommend them as those
we have found to be practically useful, which said Invention being, to the best
of our knowledge, new and never before publicly used in that part of Her
Majesty's Dominions called England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, we deliver this as our true and faithful Specification of the same.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Yates and Denis Dolan, havo
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighteenth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Eighteenth day of July, in
the year of our Lord 1845, the aforesaid William Yates and Denis Dolan
came before our said Lady the Queen in Пer Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.