IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES AND BRUSH SURFACES COMPOSED OF INDIA-RUBBER, GUTTA PERCHA, PARKSINE LEATHER, OR OTHER SIMILAR ELASTIC OR FLEXIBLE MATERIAL
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Chamberlain, of Camberwell, in the County
of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
BRUSHES AND BRUSH SURFACES COMPOSED OF INDIA-RUBBER, GUTTA PERCHA,
PARKSINE LEATHER, OR OTHER SIMILAR ELASTIC OR FLEXIBLE MATERIAL"
Sealed the 30th April 1867, and dated the 3rd November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Chamberlain at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd November 1866.
I, MATTHEW CHAMBERLAIN, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES AND BRUSH SURFACES COMPOSED OF INDIA-RUBBER,
GOTTA PERCHA, PARKSINE LEATHER, OR OTHER SIMILAR ELASTIC OR FLEXIBLE
MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of brushes and brush surfaces
composed of india-rubber, gutta percha, "parksine" leather, or other similar
élastic or flexible materials suitable for being made up into brushes; as herein-
after described, the chief object of my improvements being the reduction of
the cost of manufacturing brushes made of such materials. I would in the
outset remark that I am aware that it has before been proposed to manufacture
brushes with the materials above referred to 'by moulding and other means,
but 'owing to their expensive character such brushes have not hitherto been
brought into general use.
In manufacturing brushes of india-rubber according to the first part of my
improvements I prepare the "india-rubber with compounds of sulphur and other
materials, so that when treated chemically or subjected to heat, as is well
understood, it will become permanently hard and suitable for the backs of the
[Price 8d!]

page_text: brushes made according to this part of my improvements. The india-rubber
compound is first rolled into sheets from which the forms of the stocks
or backs and handles of the brushes are cut by means of cutters of
corresponding or other suitable shape. Upon the form so prepared I mount
or apply (by means of suitable india-rubber cement) the brush surface com-
posed of. india-rubber compound, which when treated chemically or subjected
to heat in conjunction with the back will remain pliable or permanently
elastic, the amount of pliability and hardness in the brush surface and the
back thus combined depending upon the proportion of sulphur and other
materials forming the compounds of india-rubber as is well understood.
The brush surface is composed of strips of sheet rubber compound, either
slit or cut out, and by preference formed with pointed ends which may be
readily accomplished, according to this part of my Invention in the following
manner: The strips of india-rubber are formed or rolled with a bevilled,
tapered, or wedged-shaped edge, so that when slit or cut out across their
width the row of ends will be of pointed form. These strips are either cut
up into suitable lengths and placed side by side, or they may be folded or
rolled up and then cemented on to the form previously prepared for the back
of the brush, as previously described, the whole being afterwards treated
chemically, subjected to a suitable degree of heat so as to cure or convert the
india-rubber compound forming the back into a hard substance, at the same
time leaving the brush surface (owing to the difference in the compound)
comparatively soft, as is well understood in the manufacture of vulcanized or
"converted" india-rubber articles.
In place of forming the brush surface of strips, as previously described, it
may be composed of short pointed lengths of rubber, and arranged and cemented
upon the back or stock in tufts or otherwise, if preferred, and any desired color
may be given to the india-rubber compounds forming the stock or brush
surface. For some purposes I prefer to form the ends of rubber brush surfaces
curved or semicircular; or the brush surfaces cut or made from strips of rubber
formed with pointed ends as previously described may be embedded or set in
gutta percha to form stocks. backs, and handles thereto, ar may be otherwise
set in stocks or backs as practiced in the manufacture of other descriptions of
brushes.
Another of my improvements consists in making up brush surfaces with
strips of leather "or parksine" slit or cut out to form transverse ends, the
edges of the strips of leather or "parksine" being previously cut at an angle or
of wedge shape to cause the parts when cut or slit to have pointed ends, as
previously described in reference to india-rubber; the strips of leather or

page_text: "parksine" so prepared are afterwards employed in the manufacture of brushes
of various descriptions by fixing them to stocks, backs, or handles of gutta
percha, wood, or other suitable material in any convenient manner; or the
strips of leather or "parksine" so prepared may be cut into short lengths and
used in place of bristles or other materials in the manufacture of brushes, as
is well understood, and the ends of such materials may for some purposes
be of curved or semicircular form.
Another of my improvements in the manufacture of brushes consists in
forming the stocks or backs with two or more thicknesses of hard and soft india-
rubber or other materials combined to impart a slight degree of elasticity to
the same, and to the materials set therein to form the brush surface.
Another improvement consists in applying woven fabric by means of cement
to the back of india-rubber brush surfaces to admit of such surfaces being
fixed by means of wire, cement, or otherwise to stocks or backs made of wood
or other materials.
In manufacturing circular or rotary brushes for polishing purposes of india-
rubber, leather "parksine," or other similar materials according to my
Invention I prefer to form them by means of a series of discs cut out from
sheets of the materials, each disc having projecting ends around its circum-
ference, and a central opening to admit of a number of these discs being slid
on to an axis and if desired a disc of wood, metal, or other materials of smaller
diameter may be placed between each or other number of the discs of flexible
or pliable materials forming the brush surface, and such discs may be cemented
together if required, or they may be made up of discs of the above materials
combined. Or brushes of this character may be made by forcing india-rubber
or its compounds into suitable moulds, so as to produce pointed brush surfaces
around the circumference, and the cylindrical brush surfaces so made may be
afterwards divided to form brushes of different sections or widths, and be
mounted on central stocks or axes in any suitable manner, and the cylindrical
brush surfaces made as above described may be cut into sections longitudinally
to form the heads of brushes if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Matthew Chamberlain in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd May 1867.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent. bearing date the Third day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Matthew Chamberlain, Her special licence that I, the said Matthew
Chamberlain, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I.
the said Matthew Chamberlain, my executors, administrators. and assigns. 1
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRUSHES AND BRUSH SURFACES
COMPOSED OF INDIA-RUBBER, GUTTA PEROHA, PARKSINE LEATHER, OR OTHER
SIMILAR ELASTIC OR FLEXIBLE MATERIAL" upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Matthew Chamberlain, 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 Matthew Chamberlain, 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 thereof, that is to say;-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of brushes and brush surfaces
composed of india-rubber, "gutta percha," "parkesine" leather, or other similar
elastic or flexible materials suitable for being made up into brushes as herein-
after described, the chief object of my improvements being the reduction of
the cost of manufacturing brushes made of such materials. I would in the
outset remark that I am aware that it has before been proposed to manu-
facture brushes with the materials above referred to by moulding and other
means, but owing to their expensive character such brashes have not hitherto
been brought into general use.
In manufacturing brushes of india-rubber according to the first part of my
improvements I prepare the india-rubber with compounds of sulphur and
other materials, so that when treated chemically or subjected to heat, as is
well understood, it will become permanently hard and suitable for the backs
of the brushes made according to this part of my improvements. The india-
rubber compound is first rolled into sheets from which the forms of the

page_text: stocks or backs and handles of the brushes are cut by means of cutters of
corresponding or other suitable shape. Upon the form so prepared I mount
or apply (by means of suitable india-rubber cement) the brush surface com-
posed of india-rubber compounds, which when treated chemically or subjected
to heat in conjunction with the back will remain pliable or permanently
clastic, the amount of pliability and hardness in the brush surface and the
back thus combined depending upon the proportion of sulphur and other
materials forming the compounds of india-rubber as is well understood.
The brush surface is composed of strips of sheet rubber compound. slit or
cut to the width desired, and by preference formed with a series of points on
one or both edges thereof, which may be readily accomplished according to
this part of my Invention in the following manner:-The strips of india-
rubber are formed or rolled with a bevilled. tapered. or wedge-shaped edge.
I so that when slit or cut out across their width the edge or edges of such
strips will be composed of a number of points. These strips are either cut
up into suitable lengths and placed side by side, or they may be folded or
rolled up and then cemented on to the form previously prepared for the back
of the brush as previously described, the whole being afterwards treated
chemically, and subjected to a suitable degree of heat so as to cure or convert
the india-rubber compound forming the back into a hard substance, at the same
time leaving the brush surface (owing to the difference in the compound)
comparatively soft, as is well understood in the manufacture of vulcanized or
"converted" india-rubber articles.
Figure 1 is a face view, and Figure 2 is a cross section of one form of
brush, constructed of a series of strips a, a, having their rubbing surfaces
formed of a number of points, as shewn at Figure 3, which represents a
portion of one of these strips separately; these strips a, a, are in this case
placed in concentric rings with other shallower concentric rings b, b, placed
between them, the strips a, a, and b, b, are cemented by suitable india-rubber
cement to the back c, which may be of hard or other suitable description of
india-rubber, and cut out as herein-before referred to.
Figure 4 is a face view of a brush which is formed with two rubbing
surfaces and made up of a strip or strips of the character shewn at Figure 5,
which represents a portion of such strip. These strips are coiled up into the
form of a volute, as shewn at Figure 4, and by suitable india-rubber cement
being applied to the sides thereof the parts are firmly united together, the
pointed portions a, a, of the strip shewn at Figure 5 forming the rubbing
surface, and the narrow portions b, b, forming the distance, pieces between
the rings of points a, a. Instead, however, of cutting out the strips, as shewn

page_text: at Figure 5, strips such as that shewn at Figure 3 and provided with a
series of points on one or both sides thereof may be employed, and coiled or
otherwise made into the form desired, and either with or without distance
pieces as desired, such parts being connected together by suitable india-rubber
cement as previously described.
Figure 6 is a face view, and Figure 7 is an end view of a brush suitable to
be used as a nail brush or otherwise, as desired, and having a loop or finger
stall d applied to the back thereof, so as to enable the brush to be placed on
the finger or on a suitable handle, as will be readily understood. If desired.
straps or bands may be applied to brushes.constructed according to my Inven-
tion, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, or loops may be attached to the
back thereof, through which the hand may be passed, as will be readily
understood. In place of forming the brush surface of strips. as previously
described, it may be composed of short pointed lengths of rubber and arranged
and cemented upon the back or stock in tufts or otherwise, if preferred, and
any desired color may be given to the india-rubber compounds forming the
stock or brush surface. For soine purposes I prefer to form the rubber brush
surfaces with curved or semicircular projections, as will be readily understood.
The brush surfaces cut or made from strips of rubber formed with pointed
ends and made up, as previously described, may be embedded or set in gitla
percha or other rigid material to form stocks, backs, and handles thereto.
Another of my improvements consists in making up brush surfaces with
strips of leather or "parksine "slit or cut out to form transverse ends; the
edges of the strips of leather or "parksine" may, if desired, be previously
cut at an angle or of wedge shape to cause the parts when cut or slit to have
pointed ends, as previously described in reference to india-rubber.
The strips
.
of leather or "parksine" so prepared are afterwards employed in the manu-
facture of brushes of various descriptions by fixing them to stocks, backs, or
handles of gutta percha, wood, or other suitable material in any convenient
manner; or the strips of leather or "parksine" so prepared may be cut into
short lengths and used in place of bristles or other materials in the manu-
facture of brushes, as is well understood, and the ends of such materials may
for some purposes be of curved or semicircular form.
In manufacturing circular or rotary brushes for polishing or other purposes
of india-rubber, leather, parksine, or other similar materials according
to my Invention I prefer to form them by means of a series of discs
cut out from sheets of the materials, each disc having projecting ends
around its circumference, and a central.opening to admit of a number of these
discs, being slid on to an axis, and, if desired, a disc of wood, metal, or other

page_text: materials of smaller diameter may be placed between each, or other number
of the discs of flexible or pliable materials forming the brush surface, and
such discs may be cemented together, if required, or they may be made up of
discs of the above materials combined.
Figure 8 is a side view, and Figure 9 is a front view of a rotary brush
constructed of a number of discs e, e, having pointed rubbing surfaces formed
thereon, such discs being placed side by side on the axis f, and secured together
between the discs g, g, by cement or otherwise, as will be well understood;
these discs e, e, may, if desired, be placed at an angle to the shaft or axis f.
Figure 10 is a side view, and Figure 11 is a section of a portion of
a rotary brush in which the rubbing surface is formed, as described in
reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the Drawings annexed, a, a, being the strips
of pointed or other suitably formed brush surface, and c the back or founda-
tion to which such strips a, a, are cemented, such back or foundation being
in the form of a tube, which is passed over the cylinder g fixed to the axis h.
In my Provisional Specification I referred to other means of forming such
brushes, but since the filing thereof I have discovered that such means are
not new, and I therefore lay no claim thereto.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein shewn and described, so long as the peculiar
character of my Invention be retained, substantially as herein shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Matthew Chamberlain, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
*Witness,
FRED. HARRIS,
Patent Agent,
35, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane.
M. CHAMBERLAIN. (L.S.)