A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF TREATING FELTED CLOTH IN THE PRODUCTION OF A WASHABLE COVERING FOR FLOORS WITH PATTERNS NOT ON THE SURFACE ONLY, 584
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hulme, Decorator, of 18, Jordangate,
Macclesfield, in the County of Chester, for the Invention of "A NEW
OR IMPROVED MODE OF TREATING FELTED CLOTH IN THE PRODUCTION OF A
WASHABLE COVERING FOR FLOORS WITH PATTERNS NOT ON THE SURFACE ONLY,
584
N"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hulme at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th June 1872.
I, GEORGE HULME, Decorator, of 18, Jordangate, Macclesfield, in the
County of Chester, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF TREATING FELTED CLOTH IN THE PRODUCTION
OF A WASHABLE COVERING FOR FLOORS WITH PATTERNS NOT ON THE SURFACE ONLY,
BUT ALSO PASSING PARTIALLY OR ENTIRELY THROUGH THE CLOTH," to be as
follows:-
I take felted cloth and subject it to pressure by passing it through
heated rollers either with a smooth or embossed surface, it is then
impregnated by an oily composition (by preference of linseed oil) boiled
until it attains a proper consistency, litherage, and sugar of lead or

page_text: substances similar that may aid the oil in drying quickly are put into
the oil before boiling.
In some cases (where the pattern finally given is of the lighter colours)
a little quicklime is also added whilst the oil is boiling. The oil is then
mixed with whitening, white lead or red lead to give it body, and sufficient 5
pigments to give the colors required. The impregnation of the cloth by
the oil which has thus been treated is effected by means of rollers upon
which the pattern is placed, cut out in felt two fold, that is, I take two
pieces of felt, one piece I impregnate with a composition called knotting
(composed of shellac and naptha) which hardens the felt, on the felt 1
thus hardened I fasten my soft felt, and out of the two fold felt thus
obtained I cut my pattern; after the pattern is cut the edge of the soft
felt is either hardened by knotting or surrounded by an outline edge of
copper or wood.
The rollers may either be worked by hand or geared with supply 1
rollers (to supply the composition) covered with soft felt, and dipping
in a vessel containing the composition, and a smooth roller or drum to
secure pressure. The treated cloth is then dried and passed between
heated rollers, smooth or embossed, as desired.
If the pattern is to go completely through the cloth, exactly the same 2
process is repeated on the other side. If the pattern is to go only partly
through, the opposite side is similarly treated, but only with a composi-
tion of one plain colour.
For the stouter cloths there is an additional treatment with a com-
position of boiled oil, or oil and glue, and for the cloths of better finish 2
the printing by the coloured oil composition may be given a second
time, either by the rollers as aforesaid or by blocks, and then may be
oiled or varnished over.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George Hulme, Her special licence that
I, the said George Hulme, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said George Hulme, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 " A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF TREATING
FELTED CLOTH IN THE PRODUCTION OF A WASHABLE COVERING FOR FLOORS WITH
PATTERNS NOT ON THE SURFACE ONLY, BUT ALSO PASSING PARTIALLY OR ENTIRELY
THROUGH THE CLOTE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said George Hulme, 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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Hulme, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 consists in treating felted cloth with an oily compo-
sition by preference of linseed oil boiled until it attains a proper or
glutinous consistency, a small quantity of litharge, sugar of lead, or
substances similar that may aid the oil in drying quickly are put into
> the oil before boiling.
In cases where the oil is desired for light colours and of sufficient
consistency with less boiling, I add whilst the oil is boiling a small
quantity of quick or newly conched lime dried and ground to a very fine
powder, or where great elasticity is desired india-rubber may be dissolved
and mixed with the oil. The oil is then mixed with whiting,' white lead,
or red lead to give it body and sufficient pigments to give the colours
required. If the composition is of too great consistency it may be let

page_text: down with volatile spirits, such as naphtha, petroleum, or turpentine.
The felted cloth before impregnation is subjected to pressure by passing
it through heated rollers or cylinders, cither smooth or embossed; this is
to remove or press down the hoose on the surface of the cloth.
The impregnation of the cloth by the oily composition is effected by
means of rollers upon which the pattern is placed or sunk, cut in felt two
fold, that is, I take two pieces of felt, one piece I impregnate with a com-
position called knottin (composed of shellac and naphtha) which hardens
the felt; on the felt thus hardened I fasten my soft felt, and out of the
two fold felt thus obtained I cut my pattern, the edges of which are
either hardened by knottin or surrounded by an outline edge of copper
or wood; the pattern may be sunk into the roller, and the parts of the
roller that are not to convey any of the oily composition cut away
leaving an outline edge of wood. At intervals on both ends of the
rollers I fasten pieces of wood or copper that will leave an impression of
colour on the margin or edge of the cloth; this is the pattern mark or
guide to answer the same purpose as the block marks in block printing.
The pattern rollers may be either worked by hand or geared with
supply rollers and a smooth roller, cylinder, or drum to secure pressure.
The supply rollers (to supply the composition) are covered with soft felt
and dipping or working in vessels containing the oily composition
which is kept warm by means of steam; the supply rollers come in
contact with the pattern rollers, coating them with the oily composition,
the pattern rollers come in contact with the felted cloth which passes
between the pattern roller and the smooth roller, drum, or cylinder, thus
impregnating the felted cloth with the oily composition, the smooth
roller, drum, or cylinder which secures pressure being heated by steam.
If the pattern is to go completely through the cloth the opposite side is
also impregnated with the oily composition; if the pattern is to go only
partly through, the opposite side receives a coating of the oily compo-
sition of one plain colour, or if desired may be left without treatment.
The surface printing is allowed to become partially dry before thic
back or opposite side is treated.
After both sides of the cloth have been treated with the composition
it is then dried in a room heated with steam or other suitable means,
and when dry, if a stout and well finished cloth is desired, it receives a
coating of the boiled oil or oil and glue; this coating is allowed to dry,

page_text: and then the cloth is passed between one or more sets of steam heated
rollers, smooth or embossed.
The cloth being now sufficiently impregnated the second or surface
printing may be accomplished by the ordinary blocks, and then if
desired the cloth may be varnished over. The commoner cloth after
impregnation with the oily composition by means of the rollers is when
dry passed between the steam heated rollers and then oiled or varnished.
'
If the rollers are worked by hand the composition is spread upon a
sheet of copper which is kept warm by steam or any other suitable
means, the pattern roller is rolled across the sheet of copper on which
the composition is spread, the roller is then pressed along the surface of
the cloth which is stretched upon a smooth table, along the edges of
which spikes are placed to keep the cloth straight whilst printing.
And having thus described the nature of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same may be carried into practical effect,
I declare that what I claim and desire to be secured by the herein-before
in part recited Letters Patent is, the new or improved mode of
treating felted cloth in the production of a washable covering for floors
with patterns not on the surface only, but also passing partially or
entirely through the cloth, together with the impregnation by rollers,
and the subjecting the material to the pressure of rollers plain or
embossed, thereby obtaining solidity, firmness, and a good finished
surface, either plain or embossed, substantially as herein-before described,
or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hulme, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.