AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PICTURE AND OTHER FRAMES AND CORNICES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER USEFUL AND DECORATIVE PURPOSES
Year: 1841

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SPENCER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Carver and Gilder, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters Patent
under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
bearing date at Westminster, the Eighth day of March now last past, did give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Spencer, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas Spencer, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Spencer, 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 of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PICTURE AND OTHER FRAMES AND CORNICES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER USEFUL
AND DECORATIVE PURPOSES;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso obliging me, the said Thomas Spencer, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same 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
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will.
more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Spencer, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawing hereto annexed, and as follows, that is
to say :-
Firstly, a method of manufacturing picture and other frames of copper.-In
the prosecution of this method I usually proceed as follows:-A model is first
made after a given design; it may be of wood, clay, wax, or other non-conducting
substance, or it may be of metal. This model serves as the original.from which
any number of the same design may be made in the following manner :-
A series of reverse or intaglio moulds are to be produced from it by the com-
mon process of casting, varying however the method according to the sub-
stance of which the original is formed; as, for instance, should the original be
of wood, metal, plaster of Paris, or indurated or baked clay, then the moulds
may be made from an easily fusible. metal, as the metal used for type founding
or the metallic compound termed Newton's fusible metal, or they may be
made from wax or stearine, or compounds of these or other plastic substances
with plaster of Paris. Should, however, the original model be produced in
wax, or any substance fusible at a less temperature than boiling water, then
the reverse mould cannot be made of metal (in the first instance), but must
be cast from in the cold state, as with plaster of Paris; or it may be made a
conductor of electricity by any of the methods hereafter to be described, and
a reverse obtained from it in metallic copper by the action of voltaic electricity,
following in every particular the instructions that are herein-after given to
produce the frames by the same agency, Should it be expedient to make the
reverse moulds of a metallic substance or compounds, then they require no
further preparation before being placed in an electrical apparatus; but should
they be made of any of the non-metallic or non-conducting substances already
stated, then their surface must be prepared.in the following manner, in order
that it may become a conductor of electricity. To effectuate this purpose, I
have invented and already published the whole of the practical methods that
are before the public, and applicable to surfaces of all descriptions; but I give
preference to the following for the manufactures claimed in this Patent, through
I do not intend to claim the exclusive use of it-The non-conducting. sub-
stance must receive a coating of thin varnish with a camel's hair brush. It
must then remain till it is nearly dry, which may be ascertained by application
of the finger, which, when in the proper state, will adhere slightly. While in
this state a metallic powder of copper, usually termed bronzo .powder, must be
applied with a dry camel's hair brush to the partially dry surface of the mould

page_text: until it is wholly covered and rendered inėtallić: In this state the mould or
model is ready to be placed in the electrical apparatus, where copper may
be deposited on it of any thickness. The electrical ör voltaic apparatus to be
used for the purposes of this Patent may be what is termed the single cell
apparatus, as, where the prepared surface is ñade, to act as one of the plates
or elements of the motive apparatus, or where the electrical force is conducted
by wires from the battery into an adjoining cell. This latter is usually termed
the compound apparatus, both forms of which having been invented by myself,
and described by me in various publications, are not intended to be claimed
under this Patent. I shall here, however, describe by a Drawing that form to
which I give the preference. A, a vessel containing a solution of a salt of
copper; for this purpose I prefer the solution of the sulphate. B, a vessċl
containing a single pair of metallic plates or surfaces arranged as a galvanic
battery, as zinc and platinum, zinc and silver, zinc and copper, or either of
these metals, and substituting iron in place of the zinc, the principle being
tlint of placing two metals opposite each other, which shall have opposite
electrical properties, usually ternied positive or negative, with respect to
each other. C will represent the negative or platinum plate, D thè posi-
tive or zinc plate. The mould of the picture or other frame must
now be placed in the vessel A, and is indicated in the Drawing by F.
It is then made to coñimunicate by a wire with the positive surface D,
in the vessel B. A surface or plate of copper E must also be placed
in the vessel A, and opposite the surface of the mould to be deposited on.
This latter surface must be made in like manner to communicate by a
wire with the surface C in the vessel B. The plates in the vessel B may
be excited into action by dilute sulphuric acid. This arrangement. being
completed, the action in the vessel B is kept constantly up until the deposit of
copper, which will be the effect of the arrangement, is considered to be of
sufficient thickness on the surface of the mould. The copper frame which
will have been formed is to be removed, which may be done by a slight
application of heat. The back of the frame may now be filled up with solder,
in order that it may be level, a slip of metal is then to be fastened entirely
round it. This is usually termed the rabbitt, and is intended for the picture
and glass to be fitted into. At this stage the frame is ready to undergo the
progress of gilding, silvering, or being covered with platinum.
The claim here made is for this application of voltaic electricity to the
manufacture of picture and other frames.
Secondly, a similar method of manufacturing moulds and other patterns,
from which may be cast ornaments in the material usually termed by carvers

page_text: and gilders composition, and in the material termed papier maché; suitable
also for casting glass, earthenware, and china. To make moulds for these
purposes, I usually proceed in the following manner:-An obverse or exact
model of the required ornament is procured; it may be of any substance,
metallic or non-metallic; it is then to be fastened to a perfectly flat or
smooth surface; I prefer a plate of polished metal or glass. It may be
fastened to the plate by thick white paint or varnish. Should the model be
fastened on glass, and at the same time be itself non-metallic, the glass and
mould must be metallized in the manner described in the preceding claim; or
should the plate be metallic and the model otherwise, then the model only
must be metallized. When this process is perfected, it is ready to be placed
in the vessel, A in the Drawing, and attached or arranged as F and D; it
must remain for four, five, or six days in this apparatus, the time varying with
the thickness of the metal that is required to form the mould; I generally
suffer the operation of voltaic decomposition to proceed until it has acquired
a coating of one eighth of an inch. It is then removed from this apparatus
and the deposit taken off the surface it has been deposited on; should it have
been deposited on glass it may be very easily removed by applying the edge of
a common knife between the deposit and the plate, but should it have been
deposited on a metal plate, then the edges of it will have to be cleared of the
deposit by filing. It may then be removed in the same manner as the
preceding. When the mould of the ornament thus formed is removed
it must be tinned on the back part by any of the methods in common
usc, or it may be tinned before removal from the plate by voltaic electricity,
the process to be hereafter described. The process of tinning is resorted
to for the following reason: When the deposit of copper is the proper
thickness, its outward surface or back presents a rough fac simile of the
ornament deposited on, and consequently the surface is unequal; but for
most of the purposes that these moulds will be required, it is necessary
that the back of them should be perfectly level, as when in use they are
submitted to the action of a press. To obtain this necessary object the
deposit is first tinned, then any metal that will sustain the necessary pressure
is poured on the tinned back of the mould while in the molten state, the
tiuning causing the necessary adhesion to take place. For most purposes lead
will be found sufficient, but in some instances, where the pressure is but slight,
it will bo sufficient to give the back a coating of any hard cement or even
plaster of Paris, and close the whole up in a wooden box, leaving the face
surface of the mould only exposed. But in all cases where molten glass has
to be pressed into these moulds, it then becomes necessary to use a metal for

page_text: the outside coating that is not easily fusible, such as brass or iron; these are to
be fastened to the deposited copper mould by the process of brazing. Moulds
for casting in glass may be also made by taking any article formed of glass,
and cut and polished by the wheel, as in the instance of a drinking tumbler.
It may then receive a coating of thin varnish, and be metallized in the manner
already described, and in that state it may be put into the vessel A, and be
deposited on as before described. Moulds for casting glass may be made in one
or more pieces as may be consistent with the design.
The claim here made is for this practical application of voltaic electricity to
the manufacture of moulds for the purposes above enumerated.
Thirdly, a méthod of manufacturing obverse moulds or patterns in copper
for the purpose of casting or founding decorative ornaments in iron.―Moulds
for this purpose have been hitherto carved, or otherwise formed in wood.or
modelled in wax or clay, and when so modelled facsimiles are obtained of them
in brass or other metal by casting by heat, care being taken that the back part
shall be kept hollow for the double purpose of lightening the ultimate castings
and insuring an uniform thickness of metal. My improvements consist in
adopting the following methods:-A given model or pattern is obtained and.
may be constructed by any of the usual methods. A cast is then to be taken
from it which will be a reverse of the original. This cast may be taken in a
soft fusible metal, wax, stearine, or plaster of Paris. I usually prefer stearine.
When the cast is obtained it must be metallized in the manner I have
described in the first part of my Invention, and placed in the vessel A
and attached to D in the vessel B, as indicated in the Drawing. In order
however to insure the great desideratum, viz, that the back part of the
mould or copper deposit shall present a surface at once smooth, and
uniformly the reverse of the front surface, instead of placing the surface to be
deposited on perpendicularly in the vessel A, as in the Drawing, it is to be
placed horizontally, the surface to be deposited on being opposed to the bottom
of the vessel underneath it; and resting on the bottom of the vessel shall
be placed the copper surface that is to be eroded, and which supplys 'the
copper for the deposit. This arrangement may be kept up until the deposit is
of the required thickness, which is usually the case in five or six days, varying
with the size of the required casting. Should it be of a large size, the thick-
ness of the deposit of copper will require to be greater to insure strength in the
ultimate casting. The deposit so obtained, when removed from the matrix on
which it has been formed, is ready to serve the purpose of an obverse mould
or pattern, that may be pressed in sand or other material for the purpose of
acting iron

page_text: The claim here made is for this practical application of voltaic electricity for
the purpose of making patterns or moulds for ironfounders in copper.
Fourthly, for the methods herein-after mentioned of covering the surface
of metallic picture and other frames with gold, applicable also to other surfaces,
whether decorative or to resist the action of the atmosphere, fluids, or acids,
the same being. applicable. to.raise or emboss devices in gold or its alloys on, the
above surfaces. To prepare a solution for this purpose I proceed in the first
instance as follows:-I dissolve pure gold, or any of its alloys, "in bromine.
This is most conveniently done by adding the gold to, the bromine in a highly
comminuted state (as when beaten into leaf gold) until the liquid refuses to
dissolve a further portion of the gold; or the solution may be prepared by
mixing one part of bromine and alcohol in equal parts with one part acetic
acid and four parts water; to this mixture let a few drops of sulphuric acid be
added. Solid gold may be dissolved in this compound by attaching the gold
required to be dissolved to the platinum end. of a galvanic. battery, while
another piece of gold is in like manner attached to the zinc end of the battery,
these pieces of gold forming, what is usually termed the poles of the battery.
These pieces of gold so attached must be immersed in the fluid, compound
containing the bromine, and when the battery is excited into action, the gold
attached to the platinum end of the battery will be dissolved, thus forming. a
solution of gold with bromine. The solution being obtained in either of the
above-described methods, the surface to be gilt or covered with gold must now
be cleaned, either by a dilute acid, or by being boiled in an alkaline ley,, or by
friction, adopting the usual methods to obtain this object, no claim being here
made for any of them. It must then be placed in the vessel A in the Drawing,
and attached to the vessel B by a wire connecting it with D, F being, the
surface to be gilt. In like manner another surface, but of gold, either
pure or an alloy, must be opposed to the surface F, and placed in. the
same vessel. This is to be eroded or dissolved by the galvanic action, and is
represented by E, and is also attached to C in the vessel B.by, a wire. When
the battery plates contained in B are excited into action, the fluid compound
of gold and bromine is to be.added to the vessel A, and the surfaces E and E
will be acted on, the one being covered with gold, the, other losing, a like
portion of its surface. This action may be kept for any, length of time,
according to the thickness of gold required to be deposited; a surface is usually
covered in. from one or two hours. I find it necessary to add three parts of
water to the solution contained by the method described in the first instance,
and also a few drops of sulphuric acid, to render. the fluid a better conductor
of electricity. Where a thick deposition of gold is required, I prefer, to

page_text: add to the solution of gold and bromine a solution of an ammoniacal salt.
I generally prefer two parts of the acetate of ammonia in solution to one part
of the gold and bromine. Where the metal required to be gilt is a compound,
and of such a nature as to act on the solution of gold and bromine by the mere
act of immersion, I prefer to add a carbonate of an alkali, as carbonate or
bi-carbonate of soda in excess, this, being ascertained by a portion of the salt
remaining undissolved at the bottom of the vessel.
I have, invented another method of covering metals with gold, which only
differs from the above by the method of preparing the solution combined with
the gold; in all other respects it is exactly similar. This solution is prepared:
by taking one part of iodide of gold and dissolving it in twenty parts boiling.
water, then adding four parts of a saturated solution of acetate or muriate of
ammonia, and boiling the whole for half an hour; or the: iodide of gold: may
be dissolved in a solution of two parts of prussiate of potassa, adding ten parts
boiling water. This compound solution must then be boiled. for an hour,
taking care to add water as evaporation takes place, or a larger quantity may
be added at the commencement. The solutions thus prepared must be used
in the vessel A, following the instructions given with respect to the solution of
gold and bromine. When it becomes necessary to form a device or emboss-.
ment with gold, the deposit must take place in a metallic mould containing
a reverse of the design; this mould may be engraved, struck with punches, or
cast, the mould to be placed in the vessel A at F, and attached to the battery,
as in the former instances.. The surfaces of. materials having been covered
with gold by these methods, must be treated in the same manner as surfaces.
are usually treated, covered with gold by other methods, either being left'dead'
or brightened with the burnisher..
The claim here made is for the use of bromine and iodine combined with
gold, in conjunction with voltaic electricity, for the purposes above enumerated.
Fifthly, for methods of covering with. silver surfaces similar to those
enumerated in the fourth part of my: Invention.-These methods aro. in
all respects similar to the methods. I adopt for covering with gold, and
described in the preceding claim, but with the following exceptions, which
I shall proceed to enumerate. First, I dissolve silver in a saturated solution
of acetate of ammonia by the aid of the galvanic battery, proceeding as.
in the instance of gold, already described, substituting, however, silver for
gold. Or I dissolve, silver in bromine and alcohol, also with the aid of the
galvanic battery. The solution of bromine with alcohol and silver thus
obtained is suffered to remain at rest until. a yellowish white precipitate takes
place. The fluid portion is decantel and the remaining precipitate is

page_text: dissolved in thirty parts its weight of a saturated solution of acetate of
ammonia, by being boiled together for about ten minutes. The bromine and
silver may be dissolved by the same means in other ammoniacal salts or in
prussiate of potassa, but I prefer acetate of ammonia. The solution of silver
being obtained, the surface of the metal to be covered with silver must be
cleaned as formerly described, and then placed in the vessel A at F, and
attached to D in the vessel B. A plate of silver must'oppose the surface Fas
E, and in like manner be attached to C. The solution of silver is now added
to the vessel A. The battery being excited into action, a few hours is
sufficient to give a thin coating of silver, but the time is regulated by the
thickness of the deposit required by the operator. A solution may be formed,
for, the above purposes, of iodine and silver, by dissolving an iodide of silver"
in prussiate of potassa, or any of the ammoniacal salts.
The claim here made is for the use of bromine and iodine combined with silver,
and in conjunction with voltaic electricity, and applicable to the surfaces
_enumerated in the description of the fourth part of my Invention.
Sixthly, for methods herein-after mentioned of covering metallic surfaces
with platinum, being applicable to the purposes enumerated in the fourth
part of my Invention.-Surfaces have hitherto not been attempted to be
covered with platinum by the agency of electricity by any other means than
the simple use of the solution of chlorine and platinum, usually termed a
chloride of platinum. This solution, in conjunction with voltaic electricity,
has been used to cover all the useful metals, with the exception of lead; but
in no case has this method been successful in obtaining a permanent covering
of this metal, want of adhesion always being the result. My improvements
consist in the preparation of the solution in the first instance, and in the use
of bromine for the first time in conjunction with platinum in the second
instance, and for covering the surface of lead with platinum in the third
instance. To prepare the solution, I procure the yellow powder termed by
chemists the platino-bichloride of ammonia, it being procured by combining
the chloride of platinum with sal-ammoniac. The powder thus obtained
is added to sixty times its weight of water, to which three parts of muriatic.
acid have been already added, the acid promoting the solution of the yellow
powder. The mixture must then be boiled for a few minutes, about
two, when it is fit for use. Another method of preparing the solution consists
in dissolving metallic platinum in muriate of ammonia or sal ammoniac with the
aid of the voltaic battery. This is done exactly in the same manner as already
recommended to dissolve gold by similar means. Either of these solutions
may be used in the vessel A-in the Drawing, proceeding in all other respects.

page_text: as recommended in the description of the fourth part of my Invention.
When I use bromine in conjunction with platinum, I procure the metal in a
highly comminuted state, the whole being usually termed spongy platinum.
Bromine mixed with its bulk of alcohol is added to it, and the whole is stirred
or shaken to promote dissolution. The platinum in this state. combines with
the bromine. The solution of bromine and platinum thus obtained is combined
with balf its bulk of dilute sulphuric acid, containing six times its weight of
water. At this stage the solution is ready for use, and may be used exactly as
the preceding one. Bromine may also be combined with platinum by using
the yellow powder, obtained as already described, and combining it with the
alcoholic solution of bromine. Either of these solutions are to be used as for
covering surfaces with gold, but substituting a piece of solid platinum for the
surface of solid gold, and placing it opposite the surface to be covered with
platinum, and in connection with the plate C of the battery.
To cover surfaces of lead with platinum, the lead is first cleaned by any of the
methods in common use, and then immersed in water containing half an ounce
of any of the solutions of platinum to half a gallon of water. The lead must
be let remain for six hours in this solution; on removing it the surface will be
found to have changed to a dark brown colour, this being in some cases
sufficient to protect it from the action of the atmosphere and fluids. But
should a more permanent coating be required, it will then be necessary to
connect it, while in the solution, with the battery; in this case the solution may
be used double the strength. Surfaces of metal thus covered with platinum
are applicable for all the purposes already enumerated in the description of
the fourth part of my Invention, and lead so covered for surfaces used for the
negative element or plates of galvanic batteries.
The claim here made is threefold:-For the use of the solution above
described in conjunction with voltaic electricity; for the use of bromine
combined with platinum, and in conjunction with voltaic electricity; and
for covering lead with platinum, and applying it for the first time to the uses
already named.
Seventh, for an improved method of 'covering metallic surfaces with tin,
applicable to the purposes enumerated in the description of the fourth part
of my Invention. The metallic surface to be covered with tin is to be cleaned
by any of the methods already mentioned as applicable to other purposes; it
is then to be placed at F in the vessel A, and connected with D in the
vessel B. Another surface of solid tin must be placed in the vessel A at E, and
connected with C in the vessel B. A solution of acetate of ammonia or
muriate of that salt or suphate of soda, but I prefer the first it being a satu-

page_text: rated solution diluted with half its bulk of water, is placed in the vessel A,
which covers the surface to be tinned. The battery plates contained in the
vessel B being excited into action, the tin at E is dissolved, and by the same
agency is carried across to the opposite surface, on which it is deposited in the
solid state. The thickness to be regulated by the wants of the operator.
The claim here made is for covering the surfaces enumerated in the
description of the fourth part of my Invention with tin by these particular
methods.
Eighthly, for the methods of cleaning the surfaces of iron that are to be
covered with copper by the agency of voltaic electricity, and for this method
of covering the surfaces with copper when so cleansed, my improvements
are as follows: To clean the iron surface I attach it by a wire to the platinum
end of a voltaic battery of three pairs of plates, each plate having as much
surface as the iron to be cleaned. The surface thus attached is to be placed
in the vessel A, and will be represented by referring to E. Another surface
of iron must be attached in like manner to the battery, but to the zinc end of
the plates. This surfaco is also to be placed in A, and is represented by F.
A saturated solution of sulphate of soda is now to be placed in the vessel A,
covering the iron surfaces. The battery, being excited into action, will now
act on the surface E. In a few minutes tlie surface will be brightened,
should it be malleable iron, but should it be cast iron the immediate surface will
be deprived of its iron, and .the carbon contained in it will be exposed; in
either case it is ready to be deposited on. To deposit copper on these surfaces
the iron thus cleaned is immediately attached to the zinc end of a battery,
having a similar number of plates to that used in the first instance; and a
piece of copper is in like manner attached to the opposite or platinum end of
the same battery. These surfaces are now immersed in the vessel A, which
should contain a solution of a salt of copper. The cupreus solution may be
the acetate, sulphate, nitrate, or the ammonia acetate of copper. When thus
arranged the iron or carbon surface will receive a coating of copper, the thick-
ness to be regulated by the wants of the operator. Where malleable iron
only is to be coated it may be cleaned by the following process, which is
simpler than the preceding, .but requires longer time. The surface to be
cleaned is placed in a half saturated solution of sulphate of zinc, which must
contain a very small portion of any salt of copper, barely coloring the other
fluid. In an hour it will be found that the iron has become cleaned, and has
also become covered with a thin film of copper. In this state it is to be
attached to the zinc end of the battery, as in the former instance.
The claim here made is for these methods of cleaning iron surfaces, and for

page_text: this regulation of the quantity and intensity of electric force necessary to render
iron fit to be deposited' on for the first time pointed out.
Ninth, for a method of producing enriched surfaces, applicable to picture.and
other frames and cornices, also applicable to other interior decorations.―These
surfaces have usually been enriched by first receiving repeated coatings of a.
substance consisting of whiting and a glutinous matter termed size; this has
then been smoothed or polished into a level state, and then scratched with a
pointed instrument into various devices or enrichments.
.
Another method of producing enriched effects for similar purposes is by
fastening on the smooth surface a reticulated fabric termed bobbin net, of
various devices.
;
My improvements consist in producing all manner of enrichment applicable
to the above purposes by the use of embossed or enriched calico, or other
similar fabric. The enrichments are produced on the fabric in the first
instance by pressing it between rollers or blocks having the required pattern
depicted on their surface, but for the general production of which no claim is
made. This fabric is cut into pieces of the required size, and fastened to the
surface that is required to enrich. I shall describe the method to be adopted in
covering the surface of a picture frame, it being applicable to all other decora-
tions. The substance of larger picture frames generally consists of wood; this
surface is to receive one coating of a thin fluid, usually known to carvers and
gilders as thin whiting; when this becomes dry the same surface is to receive
another coating with a brush of the same substance, but rendered much thicker
by saturating it with whiting. While the surface of the frame is wet with
this coating the embossed fabric is to be laid carefully on it and pressed gently
down, care being taken that there shall be a sufficient quantity of the thick
fluid on the surface of the frame, so as to allow all the hollow spaces of the
embossed fabric to be filled up with it, in order that it may present a solid
surface when dry. The surface of the frame thus covered is now ready to be
prepared for gilding or colored, or to receive additional ornaments of any
description, the claim here made ending at this stage of the preparation of the
surface. Devices and enrichments of the same description may be produced
by adopting the same method as hore described in all other respects; but when
the embossed fabric becomes dry, after having been laid on the coating
of whiting, it may then be stripped off by raising any part of the fabric, and
pulling it gradually off the surface of the frame; by proceeding in this manner
the exact transcript of the embossed pattern is left on the surface of whiting,
and may be prepared in like manner to be gilt or otherwise treated. There
are several fluids or glutinous matters that might be used to fasten this fabric

page_text: on the surfaces, but I prefer the one I have named, but more especially so if
it should be deemed preferable to remove the fabric and leave the imprint.
The claim here made is for this method of producing embossed or enriched
surfaces on picture and other frames and cornices, being applicable to other
interior decorations.
Tenthly, for the following method of improving the texture of composition
used to cast ornaments for picture and other frames and cornices, and appli-
cable to other decorative purposes. The composition for these purposes, is
usually made of definite proportions of melted glue and water with whiting and
resin or pitch in the melted state. My improvements consist in adding to the
above materials caoutchouc or indian rubber dissolved in spirits of turpentine,
or the menstruum termed asphalte, pyroligneous spirit, or spirit of tar. This
addition is made to the usual materials in the proportion of one pound of caout-
chouc to every six pounds of glue used. It may be dissolved in any quantity of
the turpentine found convenient. I generally prefer two pounds of the fluid
to each pound of the caoutchouc. The proportions of the caoutchouc for the
composition generally may be, varied with the quality of the gluc, the best
material requiring a less quantity of the caoutchouc, the object being to give
the whole composition additional elasticity and tenuity, and prevent cracking.
The claim here made is for this first application of caoutchouc for the
purposes above enumerated.
In witness whercof, I, the said Thomas Spencer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord
Que thousand night hundred and fortszone
WIW STOCKLET, ME!er
Extraordinary in Chancery.
THOMAS (L.s.) SPENCER.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Sixth day of September,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Thomas Spencer came before
our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the Eighth day of September, in the year above written.