IMPROVED METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLORED PATTERNS OR DESIGNS UPON, OR IN, OR OTHERWISE DECORATING WOOD, MARBLE, LEATHER, PAPER, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS, WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES MEANS FOR SECURING DECORATED OR OTHER PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Chalk Webb, of the City of Worcester, Manu
facturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVED METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCING COLORED PATTERNS OR DESIGNS UPON, OR IN, OR OTHERWISE
DECORATING WOOD, MARBLE, LEATHER, PAPER, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS,
WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES MEANS FOR SECURING DECORATED OR OTHER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Chalk Webb at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th October 1880.
HENRY CHALK WEBB, of the City of Worcester; Manufacturer. "IMPROVED
METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLORED PATTERNS OR DESIGNS
UPON, OR IN, OR OTHERWISE DECORATING WOOD, MARBLE, LEATHER, PAPER, AND
SIMILAR MATERIALS, WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES MEANS FOR SECURING
DECORATED OR OTHER PIECES OF SUCH MATERIALS UPON WALLS, FLOORS, OR
THE LIKE.
"
My Invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for decorating or
ornamenting porous substances, such as wood, paper, or the like, by colouring or
staining them in such a manner that any desired pattern will be produced in one
or many colours, not only upon the surface of but completely through the said
substance, or to such a depth therein as may be desired, and it is an important
result of my Invention that the outlines and body of the pattern are preserved as
far as the colour, dye, or stain extends without the separate divisions or part of the
said pattern being intermixed, that is to say, the clearness of the same is maintained
throughout the substance operated upon, so that if any portion be shaved or taken
off the latter the pattern will be found intact below such portion as far as the
stain has penetrated; and with regard to paper I may superpose a large number of
sheets thereof, and cause the pattern to penetrate through the whole number at one
operation, so that great economy of manufacture is obtained.
My said Invention also relates to improved means for embossing or raising the
patterns, or portions thereof, produced according to the said improvements, and will
be hereinafter described.
My Invention further relates to means for attaching the blocks of wood or other
material, ornamented as above described, to floors, walls, or the like, this part of

page_text: the said Invention being also applicable in the paving of streets or other places
with wood.
The said Invention also relates to apparatus hereinafter described for carrying
advantageously into practice various parts of the Invention above indicated.
According to the first part of my Invention I impregnate wood, leather, paper,
papier mâché, marble, and many other substances with a color or colors in the form
of a pattern in the following manner, that is to say, taking wood as an example:-
I first cut a piece of wood (by preference white or yellow pine) from a log on what
in the timber trade is called "the quarter," which method of cutting leaves the heart
out of the section I require to use. I prefer to cut this wood the entire length of
the log, and in square section to any size the log will admit of. I then season in
the usual manner, and when perfectly dry I cross-cut sections to the thickness
suitable, and afterwards plane up one side of the section either by machinery or
hand; it is then ready for the staining, to form decorated squares or tiles for paving
purposes, and for walls, ceilings, and many other uses. I then bring into operation
my apparatus for staining. This apparatus consists of, first, an air-pump for com-
pressing air, to which is attached an air-reservoir provided with a pressure-gauge
or safety-valve to register any required pressure. To this reservoir is attached a
tube communicating with the upper part of a series of cans or tanks containing
liquid dyes or stains which are to be forced forward. Attached to the bottoms of
the cans are other tubes which communicate with a pattern-plate fixed on the bed
of a suitable press, such tubes coming into or through the said plate either from
the under side or at the edge, the sizes of the tubes or holes being varied according
to the surface or area of each portion of the design, pattern, or ornament to be
produced. In some instances I may use channels on the back of the pattern-plate,
the walls of such channels being pressed upon another plate having india-rubber
on its surface, and into which the supply tubes are fixed. The pattern-plate has
on its upper surface divisions or partitions to form the required pattern, the upper
edges of which divisions are sometimes square or flat, and sometimes what are termed
"knife edges," and all these edges must be perfectly true and level, so that any object
placed on the plate would be simultaneously marked by all of such edges. I also
introduce into or through the pattern-plate, or through the supply-tubes connected
with the color-reservoirs at any convenient portion thereof, a series of tubes for con-
veying air into the various compartments in order that the liquid stains or dies may
at the proper time be released from the surface of the object which has been stained,
such object, until the air is admitted, having a sucking power on the liquids, and
thus preventing their flowing back to the reservoirs. These air-tubes are connected
with a main tube which is connected at a convenient point to the tube coming
from the air-reservoir, so that by means of taps or cocks a complete circuit of air
can be obtained flowing from the reservoir on to the liquids in the cans for com-
pression and afterwards through the air-tubes and pattern-plate and back through
the liquid in the cans, when it escapes. The return air thus answers the double
purpose of releasing the liquid from the surface of the stained object, and mixing,
by agitating the same, the stains or dyes, which by gravity have a tendency to
settle in the cans. The mode of operating for the staining, say, a piece of wood, is
to place it end wise of the grain on the knife-edges of the plate, bringing the top
plate of a screw-press down upon it and compressing the knife-edges slightly into
it when knife-edges are employed. The cans of stain or dye, which are placed on
a hinged table or a rising and falling bed, are firstly low enough for the upper
surface of the liquid they contain to be below the under side of the staining plate.
When the wood is properly pressed on the knife-edges the cans are lifted above
the plate when the liquid travels along the tubes to the surface of the wood, but
the separate colors or portions to form the different parts of the pattern are kept
from mixing by the walls of the pattern-plate and the knife-edges thereof.
Immediately the liquid color or dye has arrived in this position the compressed
air is admitted to the cans containing the same and presses upon its surface, thus
forcing such liquid forward along the supply-tubes and through the wood. The

page_text: air is then released and a further supply is brought back through the air-tubes for
releasing the liquids from the surface of the wood, as before described, and the air
also acts for drying the wood. Then the cans are lowered and the stained wood is
taken off the pattern-plate, which is then ready for a further operation. It should
be understood that I prefer to use flexible tubes with unions thereon where
practicable, for the purpose of interchanging the colors when desired. The wood
thus stained is planed on its upper surface to remove the raised fibres or pile which
have been caused by its coming in contact with the liquids.
When this is done the
surface is ready for "bodying in" with resinous or gummy matters, and polishing
or otherwise preparing for the different uses required.
When square-edged or flat instead of knife-edged divisions in the pattern-plate
are used the wood is pressed sufficiently upon them to form a series of hollows
entirely around the stained portions, and into such hollows (after placing a
transparent paper on the surface of the wood and repressing the edges into the
hollows to clear them of the paper), I force colored bodies composed of ground saw
dust or whiting or other similar material, and when dry remove all such
superfluous material and paper by means of a revolving disc covered with sand-
paper or by other suitable means, leaving the surface of the wood a true level
and ready for "bodying in "and polishing. By this latter method I can effect deep
inlays in the wood to represent the fibres of leaves, or for strongly marking the
lines of any design. For the purpose of staining, as above described, I use either
spirit or water, or other liquid as may be found desirable, for the conveying of the
stain into or through objects, and for fixing and making permanent the stains so
injected.
Each color or dye is held in a separate can or vessel, and it is an essential feature
of my Invention that the pressure upon all should be perfectly equal, otherwise the
pattern would not be accurate and well defined throughout the wood.
I do not confine myself to the use of compressed air as a means for forcing the
dye or color forward through the wood; I may instead thereof take advantage of
the gravity of liquids by carrying supply-tubes to a sufficient height to give the
required pressure, as also of air-pressure by means of a vacuum-pump; or I may
employ hydraulic or other pressure so regulated that the force shall be equal on the
entire area of the stained article.
When I require any portion or portions of the design or pattern not to be
stained, but to remain the natural color of the wood, I fill the can or cans supplying
the said portion or portions with a colourless liquid, and this prevents the color
from running from the neighbouring compartments into such portions. I also
adopt this method for the outside line of a design, which would otherwise be
irregular. In some instances I fill the hollows of the pattern-plate with a
spongy material to the level of the knife or other edges of the divisions, thus
preventing the back suction of the liquid and the blurring of the colors, when the
object stained is taken off the plate.
For staining paper I prefer to place a card on the knife-edges forming the design,
which card takes the cut caused by the pressure of the top plate of the press, and
on this card I place from thirty to one hundred sheets of paper according to the
substance thereof, with a further block of wood or other porous article on the top of
the paper to receive the surplus stain passing through the papers.
I treat leather, papier mâché, and similar materials in the same manner, sometimes
first pressing the various layers or sheets by great pressure into a compact mass or
slab which can after staining be separated. Marble and similar substances will be
treated substantially in the same manner as wood, excepting that I interpose a card
or other suitable material between the knife-edges of the plate and the hard
surface of the marble.
In some cases, where the stain is not required to be deep, I may modify my
Invention as follows, that is to say:-I employ a compound tube, the edges of the
divisions thereof forming the design. Into the various chambers of the tube, one
end of which is closed and the other open, I pour my dyes, colors, or stains; I then

page_text: press the wood or other substance on to such edges and turn the tube over, thus
causing the liquids by gravity to come into contact with the wood. When the
stain has remained in contact long enough for the desired effect the tube is turned
over with the closed end or bottom downward, and the wood or other substance is
withdrawn from the edges. I introduce a supply of air into the chambers of this
tube through the closed bottom or otherwise by means of small tubes.
Papers stained with spirit dyes are found to be transparent, and these may be
used between two pieces of clear glass, or othewise, for window-blinds, advertising,
or other purposes; by bringing them in front of a strong light the beauty of the
colors is fully brought out. I also make this method of paper-staining available for
walls, posters, book-illustrations and the like, by printing in a lithographic or
other machine the necessary fine lines in black or other inks, to clearly mark the
various forms and to shade them if necessary.
For embossing wood or other materials stained as above described, I employ a
plate (preferably of metal), with hollows or depressions therein of the required
depth, such hollows being exactly formed to the outlines of the portions of the
wood to be embossed. The plate being placed on the surface of the wood is subjected
to pressure until the required relief in the ornament is obtained.
For attaching wood-slabs ornamented according to my Invention or other wood
slabs to floors, walls, and ceilings, I proceed as follows:-For floors I lay down
rough boards upon joists transversely; I then pour upon their surface any suitable
bituminous compound, into which I bed the slabs, first brushing upon the necessary
sides of the wood sufficient of the compound to form a tight and water proof joint.
Another method is to brush the compound on to the back of the wood-slab and
press the latter upon plates of iron stabbed or pierced with a number of holes in
such a manner that the iron pressed up and forming the holes make a roughened
surface, the pressure being continued until the wood, end grain, comes through the
holes in the iron and forms rivets on the under-side, thus rendering wood and iron
inseparable and quite impervious to moisture. Slabs treated in this manner can
be laid directly upon joists without boards. They are also applicable for the paving
of streets, footways, and other places, girders of section bedded on cement being
used transversely, and the spaces between the girders being filled preferably with
sand, which being confined forms a firm bed for the slabs, the edges of which rest
on the bottom members of the girder. For walls and ceilings I fasten wood to
iron in the same manner, the iron having on one side two or more tongues, and on
the opposite side hollows corresponding with the tongues, and into which the
tongues fit. The tongues have holes in them, and the slabs are by this means
nailed to wood strips or plugs placed horizontally or in other suitable position into
or on the wall, and locked into each other by means of the tongues and hollows.
Occasionally I nail the slabs directly on to the walls without any wood strips or
plugs by using a cast iron nail, which is hard enough to enter a brick. The method
above described of rivetting wood and iron is applicable to the rivetting of many
other articles other than wood to iron.
For the manufacture of pattern-plates for the purposes above described, one
method is to twist strips of thin sheet brass or other metal, and solder up to the
outline of the design on a strong metal bed plate. Another method is to first take
a plaster slab of perfectly level surface, and spread upon it a thin layer of clay.
The design, being drawn in soft pencil on tracing paper, is then transferred on to
the clay and thin lines are cut out of the clay. A casting in plaster is then taken
from this and well dried and heated up, when suitable metal is poured upon it, and
an impression thereby obtained from which an electrotype is taken. Another method
is to stab lines into wood, end grain, and cast in these lines fusible metal, afterwards
filing up the partitions to a knife edge. The pattern on the plate must when
finished be the reverse of what is intended to be shewn on and in the stained
article.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Chalk Webb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
April 1881.
HENRY CHALK WEBB, of the City of Worcester, Manufacturer. "IMPROVED
METHODS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING COLOURED PATTERNS OR DESIGNS
UPON, OR IN, OR OTHERWISE DECORATING WOOD, MARBLE, LEATHER, PAPER, and
SIMILAR MATERIALS, WHICH INVENTION COMPRISES MEANS FOR SECURING
DECORATED OR OTHER PIECES OF SUCH MATERIALS UPON WALLS, FLOORS, OR
THE LIKE."
My Invention relates to improved methods of and apparatus for decorating or
ornamenting porous substances such as wood, paper, or the like, by colouring
or staining them in such a manner that any desired pattern will be produced at
one operation in one or many colours, not only upon the surface of but completely
through the said substance, or to such a depth therein as may be desired, and an
important result of my Invention is the accurate preservation of the outlines and
body of the pattern as far as the colour or dye penetrates, that is to say, the separate
divisions or parts of the said pattern do not intermix or run together, and the
clearness of the same will be maintained throughout the material operated upon,
so that if any portion be shaved or planed off of the latter, the pattern will be
found intact below such portion as far as the colour or dye has penetrated; and
with regard to paper I may superpose a large number of sheets thereof, and cause
the stain or dye to penetrate through the whole number at one operation, so that
great economy of manufacture is obtained.
My said Invention also relates to embossing or raising the patterns (or portions
thereof). produced according to the said improvements, as will be hereinafter
described.
My Invention further relates to means for attaching the blocks of wood or other
material ornamented, as above described, to floors, walls, or the like.
The said Invention also relates to apparatus, hereinafter described, for advan-
tageously carrying into practice various parts of the Inventions above specified.
Figure 1 is a plan partly in horizontal section of my improved staining apparatus,
including a screw press, hereinafter described, portions of which are removed,
and
Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section of the said screw-press and adjacent
parts.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of cans, tanks, or receptacles for containing the
dye or staining material mounted in their supporting frame.
Figure 4 is a central vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an underside view of the platen or follower of the screw-press shewn
in Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a front view, and
Figure 7 a side view of a modified form of staining apparatus hereinafter
described.
Figure 7 is a central section of a compound tube hereinafter described.
Figures 8 and 9 are sectional views illustrating one method of securing my
improved ornamental blocks to a floor, ceiling, or the like.
Figure 10 is a face view of a metal plate hereinafter described for securing my
improved ornamented blocks to a wall or other surface.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.

page_text: To this
According to the first part of my Invention I impregnate wood, leather, paper,
papier mâché, marble, and many other substances with a color or colors, and thereby
produce any desired pattern or design in the following manner, that is to say,
taking wood as an example:-I first cut the heart from a log of, by preference,
white or yellow pine, and then divide the remaining pieces into sections of con-
venient size. I prefer to cut these pieces the entire length of the log, and of square,
hexagonal, or other suitable shape in transverse section; I then season the wood
in the usual manner, and when perfectly dry I cross cut from the same blocks or
pieces of the desired thickness; I then plane up one side of each block or piece of
wood either by machinery or by hand; the wood is then ready for the staining
operation to form decorated squares or tiles, which may be used for paving and for
walls, ceilings, and many other purposes. To effect this staining I prefer to employ
In connection with this
the apparatus shewn in Figures 1 to 5 of the Drawings.
apparatus I employ a suitable pump (not shewn in the Drawings) for compressing
air, to which pump is attached an air-reservoir provided with a pressure-gauge and
safety-valve to register and regulate the pressure of the air therein.
reservoir is connected a tube a communicating through the tube b with the upper
part of a series of cans, tanks, or receptacles c containing the liquid dies or colours
which are to be forced forward into contact with the wood-block to be decorated.
These receptacles c are supported in a frame d, and are so arranged therein that
any of them may be readily removed and replaced by other receptacles containing
dyes of different colors. I prefer for this purpose to employ set-screws e passing
through tapped holes in the lower part of the frame d, and designed to enter or
come in contact with bosses on the lower ends of the said receptacles. To make
the joints between the upper ends of the receptacles c and the pipe or tube b I
prefer to form the said receptacles with a projecting rim or flange c¹, within which
is placed an india-rubber or other elastic ring or packing, which when brought into
contact with the extensions 6' of the pipe b, as shewn in Figure 4, by the adjust-
ment of the screws e, will make the joint between the said receptacles and tube b
sufficiently tight to prevent any escape of the compressed air admitted to the said
receptacles, as hereinafter described. The frame dis hinged by a rod or shaft d*
to the table or stand supporting the screw-press, and its outer end which supports
the colour or dye receptacles c is adapted to be raised and lowered by means of a
lever dupon the said shaft d*. When the apparatus is out of action this lever d¹
is so adjusted as to cause the outer end of the frame d with the receptacles c
carried thereby to descend to such an extent that the level of the liquid or dye in
the latter will be below the level of the underside of a pattern-plate g hereinafter
described. By turning the lever d¹ in a direction opposite to that necessary to
effect the depression of the outer end of the frame d the said frame and the
receptacles c may be elevated so that the level of the dye or colour in the latter
will be brought above the plane of the upper surface of the knife-edges of
partitions i, and such dye will then consequently descend through pipes f by
gravity into contact with the piece j of wood or other material, and will impregnate
the same, the impregnation or saturation of the wood being aided by the admission
of compressed air to the upper portions of the receptacles c.
Instead of arranging
the dye-receptacles upon a hinged frame they may if desired be placed upon a
hinged table or upon a rising and falling bed. Attached to the lower portion of
the said cans or receptacles c are the tubes or pipes which communicate with the
plate g fixed on the bed h of a suitable screw-press.
The ends of these tubes enter
apertures g passing through the said plate g either from the under side or at the
edge thereof, the sizes of the said tubes or holes being varied according to the
surface or area of each portion of the design, pattern, or ornament to be produced.
In some instances I may use channels in the under surface of the pattern-plate g,
in which case the latter is pressed upon another plate having india-rubber on its
surface, and into which the supply tubes are fixed.
The pattern-plate g has on its upper surface the divisions or partitions i, which

page_text: conform to the outline of each of the differently colored portions of the required
pattern; the upper edges of these partitions or divisions are sometimes square or
Hat and sometimes have "knife edges." All of these edges must be perfectly true
or level, so that any object placed on the plate will be simultaneously marked by
all of such edges. I also introduce into or through the pattern-plate g or through
the supply-tubes connected with the color-reservoirs at any convenient portion
thereof a series of tubes for conveying air to the lower surface of the wood and into
the various compartments enclosed by the partitions i, in order that the liquid
dyes may at the proper time be released from the surface of the object which has
been stained, such object until the air is thus admitted tending to retain or draw up
the liquids and thus prevent their flowing back to the reservoirs c. These air-tubes
are connected with a main tube, which is joined at a convenient point to the tube a,
extending from the compressed air reservoir, so that by means of suitable taps or
cocks a current of compressed air can be caused to flow from the reservoir to the
liquids in the cans c, or can be caused to pass through the aforesaid air-tubes and
pattern-plate into the tubes f and the liquid in the receptacles c, whence it escapes.
The air when thus caused to pass through the tubes f and into the receptacles c
answers the double purpose of releasing the liquid from the surface of the stained
object or block j and mixing or agitating the colours or dyes, which by gravity have
a tendency to settle in the said receptacles.
Instead however of arranging the series of air-pipes from the compressed air
reservoir to enter directly into the compartments between the partitions and below
the under surface only of the wood or other material resting upon the said par-
titious, I prefer to conduct the compressed air from the reservoir to the upper
surface of the block of wood or other material, and allow such air to pass completely
through the mass of material under treatment, and thence through the pipes f to
the receptacles c. For this purpose I make the platen or follower of the screw
press hollow, and provide the under surface of the same with a series of flat or
knife edges, as shewn in Figure 5. These edges are pressed firmly upon the
block and prevent any escape of air between them and the said block; they may
be made to extend in any desired direction, and the channels between the same
serve to evenly distribute the compressed air passing through the pipe from the
air reservoir or the pipe a and entering the hollow platen or follower k at k¹. The air
thus supplied to the upper surface of the block or piece in passing through the
same carries with it into the pipes f and tanks c any excess of dye or moisture
remaining in the said block, and thus serves to dry the latter as well as the
partitions i.
To effect the automatic opening and closing of the valves which control the
supply of air to the dye-receptacles c and the escape of air therefrom, I prefer to
connect the levers or arms c* of the said valves to a rod co, which, as the frame d
and receptacles c are caused to rise and fall, opens and closes the said cocks
alternately the said rod cº, being forced in one direction by the contact of the collar
or nut c with the swivelling bearing c³, and being retracted or drawn back in the
other direction by the spring c¹.
To effect the staining of a piece of wood I proceed substantially as follows, that
is to say: I place the piece, "end grain," that is to say, with its cross-cut surface
upon the knife edges of the partitions i of the plate g, and bring the top plate or
follower of the screw-press down upon the said piece so as to compress or force
the knife edges slightly into the wood. When the wood is properly pressed upon
these knife-edges the cans c are lifted by means of the lever d' above the level of
the plate g, as shewn in Figure 4; the liquid then travels along the tubes f to the
surface of the wood, but the separate colors or portions to form the different parts
of the pattern are prevented from mixing or running together by the walls or
partitions of the pattern-plate and the knife edges thereof.
Prior to or
immediately after the arrival of the liquid color or dye in contact with the wood
the compressed air is admitted to the said cans c and presses upon the surface of the

page_text: liquid contained therein, thus forcing such liquid along the supply-tubes ƒ and into
the wood. The pressure of air upon the liquid in the receptacles c is then cut off
as the latter are lowered; a supply of compressed air then passes in the opposite
direction, that is to say, air is admitted to and passes through the aforesaid air-
tubes or into the hollow follower for releasing the liquids from the surface of the
wood as before described and drying the latter and also the partitions. The stained
wood may then be removed from the pattern-plate g, which is then ready to receive
another block or piece of wood for a further operation.
I prefer to employ tubes of flexible material, provided with suitable unions to
connect the aforesaid die-receptacles with the plate g, so that they may be readily
interchanged to suit the various colors to be used in the production of different
patterns. After the wood has been stained as above described, its upper surface is
planed to remove the raised fibres or pile which may have been caused by the con-
tact of the dyes or liquids therewith. When this is done, the surface is ready for
bodying in" with resinous or gummy matters, and polishing or otherwise pre-
paring for the different purposes for which it is required. If desired, this "bodying
may be effected in one operation by forcing shellac or other material into the
pores of the wood in the same manner as the dyes or colours are forced into such
wood, that is to say, by the aid of compressed air.
"
in
When square edged or flat instead of knife-edged divisions i on the pattern
plate are employed, the wood is pressed with sufficient force upon them to form a
series of hollows or sunken lines on any portion or portions of the surface of the
block, and into such hollows (after placing a sheet of paper or other material on
the surface of the wood and re-pressing the edges of the said divisions or partitions
i into the hollows) I force colored bodies, composed of ground sawdust, whiting,
When the
or similar material, mixed with suitable colouring or staining matter.
stained piece and the filling material are dry, I remove all superfluous material and
paper by the aid of a revolving disc covered with sand paper, or by other suitable
means, leaving the surface of the wood accurately level and ready for "bodying in'
and polishing. By this latter method I can effect deep inlaying of the wood to
represent the fibres of leaves, or to strongly mark the lines of any design.
"
For the purposes of staining as above described I use with the dye or colour either
spirit, water, or other liquid, with or without shellac, size, or other suitable
material combined therewith, as may be found desirable, for conveying the dye into
or through the inaterials or objects, and for fixing and making permanent the dyes
so injected.
Each color or dye is held in a separate can or vessel c, and it is essential for the
purpose of my Invention that the pressure upon the contents of all of the vessels or
receptacles c should be perfectly equal, otherwise the pattern will not be accurate
and well defined throughout the wood or to the depth of the same to which the
dye or color penetrates.
I do not confine myself to the use of compressed air for forcing the dye or color
forward into or through the wood, as I may instead thereof take advantage of the
gravity of liquids by carrying supply tubes to a sufficient height to give the
required pressure. I also in some cases use a vacuum-pump to ensure the proper
penetration of the color or dye into the wood or other material; or I may employ
hydraulic or other pressure, so regulated that the force shall be equal on the entire
area of the stained article.
When I require any portion or portions of the design or pattern to be left
unstained, that is to say, to retain the natural colour of the wood, I fill the can or
cans supplying the said portion or portions with a colourless liquid, which prevents
the colour from running from the adjacent compartments into such portions. I also
employ this colourless liquid when it is desired to have an unstained portion sur-
rounding the outside line of the design by adding to the staining plate an
additional partition outside the partition constituting the boundary of the said
design. In some instances I fill the hollows of the pattern-plate with a spongy

page_text: material to the level of the knife or other edges of the divisions, thus preventing
the back suction of the liquid and the blurring of the colors when the object
stained is taken from the plate.
For staining paper I prefer to place a card on the knife edges forming the design,
which card receives the cut or indentation caused by the pressure of the top plate
or follower of the press, and on this card I place any desired number of sheets of
paper (preferably unsized) according to the substance thereof, with a block of wood
or other porous material on the top of such paper to receive any surplus stain
passing through the same.
I treat leather, papier mâché, and similar materials, in the same manner,
sometimes first forming the various layers or sheets by great pressure into a
compact mass or slab, which layers or sheets can after staining be separated.
Marble and similar substances will be treated in substantially the same manner
as wood, excepting that I interpose a card, or other suitable material, between the
knife edges of the plate and the hard surface of the marble.
pour
In some cases, where the staining is not required to be deep, I may modify my
Invention as follows, that is to say-I employ a compound tube, as shewn in
Figure 7, the edges of the divisions * thereof forming the design. Into the
various chambers of this tube, one end of which is closed and the other open,
the dyes or colours. I then press the wood or other substance on to such edges
and turn the tube over, thus causing the liquids by gravity to come in contact with
the wood. When the stain has remained in contact with the material long enough
for the desired effect to be produced the tube is turned over with the closed end or
bottom downward, and the wood or other substance is withdrawn from the
edges. I introduce a supply of air into the chambers of this tube through the
closed bottom or otherwise by means of small tubes 22 provided with suitable
cocks.
Papers stained with spirit dyes are found to be transparent, and may be used
between two pieces of clear glass or otherwise for window-blinds, advertizing, or
other purposes; by bringing them in front of a strong light the beauty of the colors
is fully brought out. I also inake this method of paper-staining available for walls,
posters, book-illustrations, and the like, by printing in a lithographic or other
machine the necessary fine lines in black or other inks to clearly mark the various
forins and to shade them if necessary.
Variations in the intensity of the colours produced in any one part of the pattern
upon the wooden or other block to be stained might arise (providing the exit ends
of the pipe fentering the plate g were left uncovered) by reason of the stain or
dye being projected with greater force against that part of the block directly in
line with such exit end of a pipe than at the other parts. I obviate this difficulty
preferably by forming grooves in the said plate g extending to the said exit end of
the pipe, and place over the latter a spreader or plate which tends to distribute the
liquid or dye evenly over all parts of that portion of the pattern supplied with dye
by the said pipe.
I will now proceed to describe the modification of my Invention illustrated in
Figures 6 and 7, in which I have shewn a staining apparatus for producing the
desired pattern upon the wood or other material without the employment of
compressed air for facilitating the penetration of the dye or color into such material,
that is to say, in this modified apparatus 1 depend upon gravity alone to ensure
the entrance of the dye or colour into the pores of the object or material to be
decorated. In this apparatus I employ a skeleton-frame m, one edge of which has
knife-edges; this frame has compartments of the same configuration as the
differently colored parts contained in the pattern. The block of material to be
stained is placed upon a table n, which may be raised by means of the rod n' and
treadle o. Above this table, and supported upon a suitable bracket, I arrange the
tanks or receptacles c containing the necessary colours for the design. These
receptacles c communicate by the pipes p with other pipes or tubes q, the interior

page_text: capacity of each of which is suited to the area or surface of the particular
compartment of the skeleton frame m it is designed to supply with dye or colour.
At the ends of the said pipes q I provide taps or cocks 7, so that in staining a
piece of wood or other material the cocks at the upper ends of the said pipes will
be first opened to allow the latter to be filled with liquid dye and then closed. The
lower cocks will then be opened, air being admitted to the upper surface of the
liquid in the pipes q, and the whole of the contents of each reservoir or pipe q will
be allowed to run or descend into its particular compartment in the skeleton
frame m and to soak into the wood, the said frame being then removed.
By the employment of the aforesaid treadle the block to be stained with the
skeleton frame upon it may be so raised that the nozzles of the pipes q will just
dip into the various compartments of the latter to discharge the contents of the
said pipes in a uniform manner. I prefer to form the said pipes q of india-rubber,
or other suitable flexible material, and to so connect them with the pipes p that
they may be readily removed therefrom to permit the connection thereto of pipes
of different capacity to suit the particular area of the compartment in the skeleton
frame m which they are designed to supply with stain or dye.
For embossing wood or other materials stained as above described I employ a
plate (preferably of metal) with hollows or depressions therein of the required
depth, such hollows being accurately formed to the outlines of the portions of the
wood to be embossed. The plate being placed on the surface of the wood is
subjected to pressure until the required relief in the pattern is obtained.
For attaching wood slabs ornamented according to my Invention or other wood
slabs to floors, walls, and ceilings I proceed as follows:-For floors I lay down
rough boards upon joists transversely; I then pour upon their surface any suitable
bituminous compound into which I bed the slabs, first brushing upon the necessary
sides of the wood sufficient of the compound to form a tight and waterproof joint,
and in some cases I nail the blocks to the said boards. Another method, which is
illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the Drawings, is to brush the compound on to the
back of the wood slab j, and to press the latter upon plates s of iron punched or
pierced with holes s*, as shewn in Figure 8, in such a manner that the iron punched
or pressed up in forming the holes makes a roughened surface; upon this roughened
Burface of the plates s the wood block is placed, and pressure is exerted upon the
same until the wood, "end grain," comes through the holes in the iron and forms
rivets on the underside, as shewn in Figure 9, thus rendering the wood and iron
inseparable and quite impervious to moisture. Slabs treated in this manner can
be laid directly upon joists without boards. They are also applicable for the
paving of footways and other places, girders of 1 section bedded on cement being
used transverseley, and the spaces between the said girders being filled preferably
with sand, which being confined forms a firm bed for the slabs, the edges of which
rest on the bottom flanges or members of the girder. For walls and ceilings I
fasten wood to iron in the same manner; each of the iron plates or pieces having
on one side two or more tongues t, t, as shewn in Figure 10, and on the opposite
side hollows t¹, t', into which the correspondingly-shaped tongues on the adjacent
plate fit. The tongues have holes in them, as shewn, and the slabs are by this
means nailed to wood strips or plugs placed horizontally or in any other suitable
position in or on the wall, and locked into cach other by means of the tongues and
hollows. Occasionally I nail the slabs directly on to the walls without any wood
strips or plugs by using a cast iron nail, which is hard enough to enter a brick.
The method above described of rivetting wood and iron is applicable to the
rivetting of many articles other than wood to iron.
For the manufacture of pattern-plates, for the purposes above described, one
*method is to bend or twist strips of thin sheet brass or other metal to the outline
of the design, and attach this bent or twisted metal to a strong metal bed-plate.
Another method is to stab lines in wood, "end grain," and cast in these lines fusible
metal, afterwards filing up the partitions to a knife edge. The pattern on the plate

page_text: must when finished be the reverse of what is intended to be shewn on and in the
stained article.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. For the decoration or ornamentation of wood or other porous material
with coloured patterns or designs, the method or process consisting in applying
the colours or dyes to the surface of the material or object to be decorated by the
aid of a device whereby all of the colours are separately arranged and held in the
proper relative position to produce the required pattern or design on the said
surface, which colours or dyes by the aid of pneumatic or other pressure are forced
into or through the wood or other material in such a manner that the different
colours or portions of the pattern or design will maintain or preserve their correct
outline or configuration to the full depth of their penetration.
Second. In the said method or process the utilization of pneumatic or other
pressure for releasing the dyes or stains from the surface of the wood or other porous
material, and carrying off any excess of moisture therefrom after the colouring or
staining operation is firnished.
Third. The pattern plate g provided with divisions or partitions i having knife-
edges, in combination with the pipes f, or other suitable means for conducting or
supplying the different colored dyes or stains to the compartments enclosed by such
knife edges, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. A series of dye or colour reservoirs c adapted to receive a supply of
compressed air, and mounted upon a rocking frame or otherwise adjustable to cause
the dyes or colours to flow to or from the surface of the wood or other material to
be decorated, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The modification of my Invention wherein I employ a compound tube
provided with air inlets at its closed end, and adapted to contain in its various
compartments different dyes or colours and to be inverted when the decoration or
staining of the wood or other material is to be effected, such staining being effected
by the aid of the gravity or weight of the liquid without other pressure, as above
set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the receptacles c of the measuring pipes or
reservoirs whose capacity is varied according to the area of the surface to be stained,
substantially as above set forth with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings,
and for the purposes specified.
Seventh. In the process of inlaying in the decoration or ornamentation of wood
or other material the employinent in combination with the partitions or divisions i,
having flat edges, of a sheet of paper or other material interposed between the said
edges and the block of wood or other substance to be decorated, substantially as
above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Eighth. In the decoration of wood or other porous material by my process the
employment of a colorless liquid so applied as to enter those portions of the pattern
which are to retain the natural color of the wood or other material, or to prevent
the spreading of the dyes or colours from one to another portion of the said pattern,
substantially as above set forth.
Ninth. A metal plate pierced or perforated, as above described, and adapted to
receive a block or piece of wood or other material which is combined with and
secured to the same, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes
specified
Tenth. The adaptation of my Invention to the formation of walls, ceilings, or
the like by the use of metal plates (provided with tongues and grooves) to receive.
the blocks of wood or other material (which may be embossed or plain), sub-
stantially as above set forth.
Eleventh. An apparatus for staining wood or other porous material, consisting
of the parts constructed, combined, and operating substantially as above set forth

page_text: with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings, and for the
purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Chalk Webb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ITANDA
WERR
HENDY C. WEBB. (L.S.)