Improvements in the Construction and Production of Slate Mantel- piece Piers or Jambs.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Production of Slate Mantel-
piece Piers or Jambs.
I, WILLIAM JOHN LEWIS, of Highgate Square, Camp Hill, in the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention pertains to slate mantel-pieces and the like, and has distinct
reference to the pier or jamb parts thereof, or, in other words, to the pillars or
supports which constitute the sides to the mantel-pieces.
The invention consists in certain improvements in the construction and pro-
duction of the piers or jambs having for their objects solidity, strength, lightness
in weight, and their more substantial and varied adaptability to ornamentation
and surface design.
Mantel-piece jambs or piers as usually constructed are built up of com-
ponent parts (generally four or more thin slabs or pieces) to comprehend the
front, sides, and the like, and these are fixed or boxed together either by cement,
or plaster-of-Paris, or by screwing or clamps to constitute the finished article.
Such a construction of pier or jamb has many disadvantages, some of which are
that the joints of the component parts are presented to view and frequently
become loosened and the structure out of repair, and also that ornamentation
thereto is limited, especially to the exterior corners or angles of the pier's front
and sides and the piers front itself, as, for instance, the letting into the said
front of such ornamental parts as pillars, ribs or other parts, so as to lie flush
with the exterior face; this latter being impossible in consequence of the thin-
ness of the slabs of which the structure is built up. Further, ornamentations,
such as a truss, a moulding, a rosette, and such like, can only be attached to
the said pier or jamb by plaster-of-Paris, or screws, or clamps, or both, from
the inside or back face of the jamb, and great care requires to be exercised in
setting the loose parts and retaining them prior to their affixment by the devices
and cement set forth.
According to this invention the pier or jamb is made from a solid block of
slate by a shaping or planing process, and either all its decoration or ornamenta-
tion formed as a part thereof or a portion as a part thereof and
another portion attached by serewing.
The slab or block of slate
or the like from which the finished pier or jamb is produced is
of a sufficient size in all directions to comprehend the pier front and
sides and also the columns mouldings, hollows, flutings, or other ornamenta-
tions intended to be shaped from the solid block, and especially the outstanding
parts at the exterior angles of the front and the sides. This block or slab is,
generally speaking, of a rectangular cross sectional figure before being operated
upon. The greater part of its body is first hollowed, scooped, or grooved-out
by a shaping or planing machine from its back side, giving to it a cross sectional
figure of a dwarft-U or W shape for the purpose of lightening it in weight and,

page_text: at the same time leaving the required thickness of material for any hollowings
or set back parts which may be afterwards formed within the pier's face to
receive any ornamental pillar or column and allow it to lie flush or nearly so
with the pier's front side. The faces and the exterior angles of the block are
then operated upon either by hand or machine and (particularly the angles) set
up with columns, ribs, beadings or other outstanding parts shaped from the
solid block; such ornamentations being impossible in existing constructions of
piers.
The piers truss or other ornamental parts can be shaped from the solid block
or attached as may be deemed expedient, the hollowing out of the back of the
solid block forming the latter into a mantel-piece pier-like structure consisting
of solid front and sides and outstanding angle parts or deep face sinkings, which
constitute either the whole or part of the piers decoration.
The presented faces of the solid structure are ground or polished in the
ordinary manner and suitably embellished if necessary; the resultant structure
being a pier or jamb of a solid and imposing appearance and which is practically
indestructible or incapable of falling apart.
The right is reserved to build the pier up longitudinally of two or more solid
shaped pier portions in order to form a more bold design.
It is obvious that by this invention a wide field for outstanding ornamentation
upon piers or jambs is obtained, and that a considerable reduction in the cost of car-
riage of the said hollowed-out blocks to form the piers can be effected by planing these
hollowings at the quarry instead of sawing or dividing up and planing big
slate blocks into thin slabs as is now the case.
T
1
1
1803
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for Applicant.
Improvements in the Construction and Production of Slate Mantel-
piece Piers or Jambs.
I, WILLIAM JOHN LEWIS, of Highgate Square, Camp Hill, in the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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 pertains to slate mantel-pieces and the like and has distinct
reference to the pier or jamb parts thereof, or, in other words, to the pillars or
supports which constitute the sides to the mantel-pieces.
The invention consists in certain improvements in the construction and pro-
duction of the piers or jambs having for their objects solidity, strength lightness
in weight, and their more substantial and varied adaptability to ornamentation
and surface design.
Mantel-piece jambs or piers, as usually constructed, are built up of com-
ponent parts (generally four or more thin slabs or pieces) to comprehend the
front, sides, and the like, and these are fixed or boxed together either by cement
or plaster-of-Paris, or by screwing or clamps, to constitute the finished article.
Such a construction of pier or jamb has many disadvantages, some of which are
that the joints of the component parts are presented to view and frequently
become loosened and the structure out of repair, and also that ornamentation
thereto is limited, especially to the exterior corners or angles of the pier's front

page_text: or
and sides, and the pier's front itself, (as, for instance, the letting into the said
front of such ornamentation as pillars, ribs, or other parts, so as to lie flush
with the exterior face,) by reason of the thinness of the slabs of which the
structure is built up. Further, ornamentation such as a truss, a moulding, a
rosette, and such like can only be attached to the said pier or jamb by plaster-
of-Paris or screws or clamps, or both, from the inside or back face of the jamb,
and great care requires to be exercised in setting the loose parts and retaining
them prior to their affixment by the devices and cement set forth.
According to this invention the pier or jamb is made from a solid block or
slate by a planing or shaping process, and either all its decoration or ornamenta-
tion formed
as a part thereof, or
as
a portion a part thereof and
The slab
another portion attached by screwing.
slate
block of
or
the like from which the finished pier or jamb is produced is
of a sufficient size in all directions to comprehend the pier's front and
sides and also the columns, mouldings, hollows, flutings, or other ornamenta-
tions intended to be shaped from the solid block, and especially the outstanding
parts at the exterior angles of the front and the sides. This block or slab is
generally speaking of a rectangular cross sectional figure before being operated
upon. The greater part of its body is first hollowed, scooped, or grooved-out
by a shaping or planing machine from its back side giving to it a cross sectional
figure of a dwarf U or W shape for the purpose of lightening it in weight and,
at the same time, leaving the required thickness of material for any hollowings
or set back parts which may be afterwards formed within the pier's face to
receive any ornamental pillar or column and allow it to lie flush or nearly so
with the pier's front side. The faces and the exterior angles of the block are
then operated upon either by hand or machine and (particularly the angles) set
up with columns, ribs, beadings, or other outstanding parts, shaped from the
solid block; such ornamentations being impossible in existing constructions of
piers.
The pier's truss or other ornamental parts can be shaped from the solid block
or attached, as may be deemed expedient, the hollowing out of the back of the
solid block forming the latter into a mantel-piece pier-like structure consisting
of solid front and sides and outstanding angle parts or deep face sinkings, which
constitute either the whole or part of the piers decoration.
The presented faces of the solid structure are ground or polished in the
ordinary manner and suitably embellished if necessary, the resultant structure
being a pier or jamb of a solid and imposing appearance and which is practically
indestructible or incapable of falling apart.
It is obvious that by this invention a wide field for outstanding ornamentation
upon piers or jambs is obtained, and that a considerable reduction in the cost of car-
riage of the said hollowed-out blocks to form the piers can be effected by planing the
hollowings at the quarries instead of sending the solid blocks whole by rail to
be worked.
Another important and valuable feature of my invention is that slate block
that will not split into thin slabs or are otherwise unsuitable can be utilised for
making these solid piers or jambs.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 shows a complete mantel-piece
built up with solid piers or jambs according to my invention, Fig. 2 being a side
elevation of one of the solid piers or jambs, and Fig. 3 a horizontal section of the
same. This latter view shows clearly the bold and effective design that can be
produced by shaping the exterior face of a solid hollowed-out slate slab or block
by planing, according to my invention. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are hori-
zontal sections of piers or jambs showing the infinite variety of designs in which
they can be produced and fashioned from a solid slab or slate either with or
without let-in pillars or the like.
In Figs. 1 to 3 the mantel-piece a is built up of solid piers or jambs a³, a
mantel top a³. and frieze at, the latter being let into the jambs or piers in the

page_text: ordinary way; the bases a³ of the same being separate pieces of solid hollowed-
out slate rigidly attached to the said piers or jambs.
These solid piers or jambs a² have hollowed-out backs for the purpose of
lightness in construction and economy in carriage, the hollowing out being
effected at the quarries. The exterior faces 3, 4, of these solid hollowed-out
piers or jambs are ornamented in the manner shown, outstanding piliars c³, c6,
and trusses c7, 8, being fashioned out of the same by planing or attached thereto.
Figs. 4, 6, 7, and 8 show the different designs or shapes into which the exterior
faces of the solid hollowed-out jambs or piers can be formed, the same all being
shaped by planing from their respective slabs or blocks of slate.
Figs. 5 9, and 10 show designs of solid hollowed-out jambs or piers having
their exterior or presented faces d hollowed out for the reception of circular,
square, or rectangular pillars or columns d³, which are secured to their respective
piers or jambs by plaster-of-Paris or screwing. These separate columns or pillars
may be arranged in any desired form or number to combine with the design of
the solid hollowed-out jambs or piers to form an effective appearance but as
will be seen from the drawings, a very effective and bold design in any variety
can be produced by shaping the exterior faces of the solid hollowed-out jambs
alone without the aid of any attached columns, pillars, or pieces. Solid sup-
porting pieces or tops may be affixed to the said jambs where necessary.
Instead of hollowing out the backs of the solid piers or jambs right along, the
same may be hollowed-out at either side, as shown in Fig. 9, leaving the middle
part intact for purposes of strength and to suit any shape that may be fashioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is—
First. In slate mantel-pieces, building the piers or jambs thereof out of solid
blocks of slate and hollowing, planing, and ornamenting the same for the pur-
pose as described and set forth.
Second. In slate mantel-pieces, the combination of solid hollowed-out and
fashioned piers or jambs a², solid attached supports as mantel top a³, and frieze a*,
for the purpose substantially as described and set forth.
Third. In slate mantel-pieces, the combination of solid hollowed-out and
fashioned piers or jambs with attached and separate columns pillars or pieces d³,
for the purpose substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this lat day of Wantamhan 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also of Liverpool, London, and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.