IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OIL CLOTH OR FLOOR CLOTH
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London, Fellow
of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OIL CLOTH OR FLOOR CLOTH to be as
follows:-
This invention consists of improvements in the manufacture of oil cloth or floor
cloth and is chiefly characterized by the successive laying on or spreading upon the
cloth of a first foundation or ground coat and the immediate printing upon this
coat and while it is still fresh of the pattern or design which is intended to
harmonize with the foundation. The combination of these two immediately
successive processes allows of the pattern becoming incrustated in an indestructible
manner which gives great solidity to the oil cloth or floor cloth. According to the
length of the cloth or fabric to be manufactured, I spread the first coat for a
surface corresponding to one or two rows of print so that the printing can always
proceed while the first coat is fresh.
Having stated the nature of this invention I will now describe more fully the
process of manufacture. I mount the fabric in a suitable frame and I apply on the
side which is to be the underside a first coat composed of linseed oil and ferruginous
earths or ochres. The next day I apply on the same side another analogous coat,
and I stove-dry the two coats. When they are well dry, I remove the asperities
from the cloth by means of a scraper or otherwise; then I apply a third coat
conformable to the first two and I afterwards remove the fabric from the frame
in order that it may be printed. The above is for the under or wrong side of
the cloth.
I then apply on the other side, that is to say, the side which is to form the right
side, a coat of the same color as those of the blocks which are to print the pattern.
I then immediately apply while the coat is still fresh all the blocks for forming the
colors of the pattern. I dry this first print until it will bear pumicing to remove
the asperities. I next apply an intermediate coat which may be called the marrying
coat, to receive the second print; this coat softens the first print and forms a body

page_text: which is quite homogeneous with the second; without this marrying coat certain
colors of the first print (as they all have an iron base) are so hardened by the
action of the stove that the second print does not unite with them, and therefore
they are apt to scale off. As soon as this second print is dry, I varnish the cloth
with hard copal varnish. In order to give still greater durability to the floor cloth
made as above described I apply to the coats on the under side by means of oil
varnish a soft fabric formed of coarse downy cotton, wool, or other suitable
material.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Oil Cloth or Floor Cloth.
I JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow
of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of this 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 of improvements in the manufacture of oil cloth or floor
cloth and is chiefly characterized by the laying on or spreading upon the cloth of a
first foundation or ground cont and the immediate printing upon this coat and
while it is still fresh of the pattern or design which is intended to harmonize with
the foundation. The combination of these two immediately successive processes
allows of the pattern becoming incrustated in an indestructible manner whereby
great solidity or durability is imparted to the oil cloth or floor cloth. According
to the length of the cloth or fabric to be manufactured I spread the first coat for
a surface corresponding to one or two rows of print so that the printing can always
proceed while the first coat is fresh.
Having stated the nature of this invention I will now describe more fully the
process of manufacture. I mount the fabric in a suitable frame and I apply on the
side which is to be the underside a first coat composed of linseed oil and ferruginous
earths or ochres. The next day I apply on the same side another analogous coat
and I stove-dry the two coats. When they are well dry I remove the asperities
from the cloth by means of a scraper or otherwise; then I apply a third coat
conformable to the first two and I afterwards remove the fabric from the frame
in order that it may be printed. The above is for the under or wrong side of
the cloth.
I then apply on the other side, that is to say the side which is to form the right
side, a foundation or ground coat in any ordinary manner and of a color that will

page_text: harmonize with the colors of the pattern or design. I then immediately apply the
pattern or design upon this coat while the coat is still fresh by means of printing
blocks in any usual manner. I dry this first print until it will bear pumicing to
remove the asperities. I next apply an intermediate coat, which may be called the
marrying coat, to receive the second print; this coat softens the first print and
forms a body which is quite homogeneous with the second; without this marrying
coat certain colors of the first print (as they all have an iron base) are so hardened
by the action of the stove that the second print does not unite with them and
therefore they are apt to scale off. As soon as this second print is dry I varnish
the cloth with hard copal varnish. In order to give still greater durability to the
floor cloth made as above described I apply to the coats on the under side by means
of oil varnish a soft fabric formed of coarse downy cotton, wool or other suitable
material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me, I declare that what I claim is
The manufacture of oil cloth or floor cloth substantially in the manner herein
before described.