IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL STONE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL STONE." A communication from abroad
by George Boden, of Atlantic City, Atlantic County, State of New Jersey,
one of the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Credge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1881.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL STONE."
A communication from abroad by George Boden, of Atlantic City, Atlantic
County, State of New Jersey, one of the United States of America.
This Invention thas for its object to provide a strong and handsome material for
the various purposes to which natural stone is applied, such as for building
purposes, for tiling, for tops, for tables, and other articles of furniture, for slabs, and
monuinents, and other analogous uses.
Heretofore in the construction of. artificial stone and in the use of natural stone
for outside work, the material has sooner or later undergone a species of
disintegration, more or less superficial, due to the changes of temperature and
weather, and has become roughened, or has shown, a tendency to crumble. This
effect is mainly due to two causes, viz., the porosity of the stone admitting moisture
which on freezing tended to crack the stone, and the solubility to a certain extent.
of the material in water. In the case of stone consisting wholly or in part of
carbonite of lime, this solvent action of water containing carbonic acid is greater
than is generally supposed and soon destroys the surface polish.
I obviate the deleterious action of water or moisture by practically waterproofing
the stone, and this I accomplish by veneering the stone with any suitable vitrifiable
kaolin or earthenware having a glaze.
This Invention consists, first, in a stone formed by facing a suitable composition
with a shell of porcelain or other earthenware having a surface glaze; second, in
the particular composition used; third, in imbedding in the body of the stone a

page_text: wire or wires, whereby the blocks may be bound together or to the beams in
building; or in lien of this I perforate the stones for the insertion of the wires;
and fourth, in a partition sheet designed to prevent access of moisture between the
blocks of stone.
In the Sheet of Drawing accompanying this Provisional Specification,--
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a block of stone embodying this present
Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the face plate.
Figure 4, a sectional view at right angles to that of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the plate which I interpose between the blocks
in building, and
Figure 6 is a front elevation shewing the junction of several blocks.
A is a shell of suitable glazed earthenware, porcelain being by preference used
having its edges c dished, as shown, so that the face of the stone will show a
marginal chamfer.
The rear face of the shell is unglazed, and by preference roughened (see Figure 3)
in order to increase the adhesion thereto of the block B, and on it is formed one or
more perforated lugs a, a. These shells are made of any desired size, shape, or
In the case of tombstones
color, and may have a design burned into their surface.
or monuments the entire surface or shell may be formed in one piece, or may consist
of several shells or faces united by the filling or otherwise.
In preparing the filling I use as a base a mixture of one part of lime and two
parts of sand, more or less, and moisten the same with a solution consisting of three
pounds each of shellac in solution, glue, and borax, four pounds of alum, and
twenty of sal-so da dissolved in one hundred gallous of water.
The shell or veneer being placed face downward in a suitable mould, the
moistened mixture of sand and line is pressed and tamped in the mould, wires C
being first attached to the lugs of the shell. In lieu of this the stone is provided
with one or more perforations for the subsequent insertion of the wires.
The stone being allowed to dry is ready for use. Instead of the mixture of
saud and lime I may use sand and cement, or cement alone as a filling, and instead
of providing the shells with perforated lugs I may simply furnish them with prongs
or pins for holding the body of the stone or the wire, or both.
In making tiling the cement is first placed in the mould, and the shell is
then pressed down upon it while the cement is still in a plastic state.
In using the stones for building purposes, and in order to prevent access of
moisture between the stones, I interpose plates D of metal, rubber, felt, or other
suitable material having beaded edges d, which are pressed home close to the
meeting edges of the stones. The peculiar chamfer of the blocks permits the
porcelain faces from coming in contact, and obviates all danger of them being
broken or chipped, as the weight is sustained wholly by the body of the stone.
It is obvious that as the only expand surface of the stone is glazed, the ordinary
effects of the action of moisture are not to be feared, and the stone is not liable to
become rough or disintegrated.

page_text: The shell or veneer being placed face downward in a suitable mould the
moistened mixture of sand and lime is pressed and tamped in the mould, wires C
being first attached to the lugs of the shell. In lieu of this the stone is provided
with one or more perforations for the subsequent insertion of the wires.
The stone being allowed to dry is ready for use. Instead of the mixture of sand
and lime I may use sand and cement or cement alone as a filling, and instead of
providing the shells with perforated lugs I may simply furnish them with prongs
or pins for holding the body of the stone or the wire, or both.
In making tiling the cement is first placed in the mould, and the shell is then
pressed down upon it while the cement is still in a plastic state.
In using the stones for building purposes and in order to prevent access of
moisture between the stones I interpose plates D of metal, rubber, felt, or other
suitable material, having beaded edges d, which are pressed home close to the
meeting edges of the stones.
The peculiar chamfer of the blocks prevents the porcelain faces from coming in
contact, and obviates all danger of them being broken or chipped as the weight is
sustained wholly by the body of the stone.
It is obvious that as the only exposed surface of the stone is glazed the ordinary
effects of the action of moisture are not to be feared, and the stone is not liable to
become rough or disintegrated.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent,
I claim,
Firstly. A block, slab, or other article of artificial stone, consisting of a face plate
or shell of porcelain or its equivalent, and a backing or body of a suitable com-
position united thereunto, as herein before set forth.
Secondly. An artificial stone, consisting of a body composed of sand and lime or
cement set with a solution of shellac, glue, borax, alum, and sal-soda, an aving a
facing of porcelain or the equivalent, as herein before set forth.
Thirdly. An artificial stone slab or other article having a chamfered or dished
face-plate of porcelain or its equivalent, as herein before set forth.
Fourthly. An artificial stone having one or more wires embedded therein, as
hereinbefore set forth.
Fifthly. In combination with an artificial or natural stone a partition plate D
adapted as described, for insertion between the tiers of stones to prevent the
entrance of moisture, as hereinbefore set forth.
Sixthly. As a new article of manufacture a face-plate for artificial stones, con-
sisting of a shell of porcelain or its equivalent having a glazed exterior and
unglazed or ronghened interior face adapted for the adhesion thereto of the plastic
composition, as hereinbefore set forth.
Seventhly. The chainfered or dished plate A having glazed exterior and lugs or
pins on its inner face for holding the body B, wires C, or both, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
('Qu)
W. E. GEDGE.