AN IMPROVED MODE OF OBTAINING CASTINGS IN GOLD, SILVER, AND ALBATA
Year: 1838

page_text: BECKHAM'S SPECIFICATION.
I
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
BECKHAM, of 22, Sussex Place, Old Kent Road, in the County of Surrey,
Stereotype Founder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty's Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of June, in the second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Daniel Beckham, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Daniel Beckham, my exors, adññiors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Daniel Beckham, my exors, adñors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE OF OBTAINING
CASTINGS IN GOLD, SILVER, AND ALBATA;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, that I, the said Daniel Beckham, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being.
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the salu
Daniel Beckham, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):-
-
According to the ordinary modes pursued for obtaining castings of gold,
silver, and albata, the moulds are made of sand in the following manner :-
A composition of sand and loam, as is well understood, is pressed close into
frames; one side of the model of which castings in gold, silver, and albata
is desired to be obtained is imbedded in one frame, and the other side is
imbedded in another frame. The mould being properly dried, the parts are
fastened together, and the melted gold, silver, or albata is poured into the
mould so formed through a suitable orifice. By these means only one cast
can be obtained for each mould prepared, and such casting will require much
working with files, gravers, and other instruments in order to give the casting
the degree of character desired; and in making such moulds much care and
skill is requisite in the moulder making good any defect in the mould on
withdrawing the model.
Now the object of my Invention is, the application of metal moulds in the
processes of obtaining castings of gold, silver, and albata, whereby I am enabled
to obtain a number of castings from the same mould; and in order to give
the best information in my power, I will describe the means pursued by me for
carrying out my Invention.
..
The metal of which the moulds may be made. are copper, iron, steel, or
other metal or alloy of metals which will not be injuriously acted on by the
heat of gold, silver, or albata in a melted state. I usually employ, bell-metal,
and in making the moulds therefrom I either. employ cast moulds, or cut or
sunk moulds, or stamped metal moulds. For most purposes I prefer cast
moulds, which I produce in two or more parts, according to the nature of
the casting to be obtained. Having produced a model of the casting required,
.I cast therefrom moulds in iron; copper, or other metal, by the aid of,sand or
other means, and having obtained such concave castings of the figure or
article which become the mould, I, by means of gravers or other suitable
instruments, make such parts smooth, and other parts rough, as the case may
be, and according to the nature of the surfaces to be produced by such
moulds; and having once so prepared the moulds; they will last many years, and
by them castings may be obtained requiring but little after working to produce
the finish desired. Or, in place of using cast metal, moulds may be made by
sinking, similar to the practice of die-sinking; but whatever be the mode of

page_text: preparing metal moulds, there are to be suitable holes or ways made for the
passage of the melted gold, silver, or albata, and for the air to pass away.
The parts of the moulds should be suitably formed for being fastened together
securely; and be so held during the time of casting and whilst the castings are
cooling; and to facilitate and ensure the parts of the moulds going correctly
together, I affix suitable pins to enter into corresponding holes in the other
parts of the mould, and by screws, clamps, or by binding with wire, I secure
the parts correctly and fast together.
Having thus described my Invention, I would remark that I lay no claim
to the modes of forming moulds of metal, though I believe the modes above
given to be the best; but I do not confine myself thereto, nor do I claim the
application or use of metal moulds to the obtaining castings in any other
metal than gold, silver, and albata. And it is evident that the nature of. each
mould will vary with the difference of the article to be cast; and in case of the
article to be cast requiring a core, the same may be of metal or sand, depending
on the object to be accomplished.
I would remark that in using of the moulds I prefer that they should be
heated before pouring in the melted gold, silver, or albata; and it is only
desirable further to state that in making the moulds, that care should be
observed that the castings made therein shall part freely therefrom.
In conclusion, I would have it understood that what I claim as the Invention
secured by the present Letters Patent is, the mode herein described of obtaining
castings in gold, silver, and albata by the application of metal moulds in
substitution of the moulds heretofore employed in the process of obtaining
castings from such metals.
In witness whereof, I, the said Daniel Beckham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the above-
named Daniel Beckham (being first duly
stamped), in the presence of,
Grones D
DANIEL BECKHAM. (L.S.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1838, the aforesaid Daniel Beckham came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose."
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1838, the aforesaid Daniel Beckham came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose."
Inrolled the Twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.