IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PARQUETRIE FLOORING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Ker, of No. 43, Mansfield Road, in the Parish of
Saint Pancras, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PARQUETRIE FLOORING."
Sealed the 7th August 1877, and dated the 24th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Ker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April 1877.
.
MATTHEW KER, of No. 43, Mansfield Road, in the Parish of Saint Pancras, in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PARQUETRIE
FLOORING."
My improvement on the usual method of making parquetrie floors, which have
hitherto been composed of various pieces of wood fastened together and secured to
a backing of clamped, framed, or laminated grounds of wood, or skrim canvas, or
other fabric, by means of ordinary glue, consists in the use of a composition, herein-
after mentioned, for joining the pieces to each other and to a backing of wood,
which will not cause the wood to swell or warp to any injurious extent in the
process of making, and which, when thoroughly set, will make, especially in the
case of thin parquetrie, a much more rigid, strong, and damp-resisting parquetrie
than any now in use. By this means a thin veneer of the commonest wood will
form a sound backing.
The parquetrie can be thoroughly cleaned off and polished before laying it on the
floor; it can be handled without risk of breaking, and will suffer little injury from
damp when stored, in transit, and during the time of laying, and when laid will be
less liable to injury from damp and the imperfections of the sub-floor upon which
it is laid than any now in use.
In carrying out my Invention I use a composition of linseed or other quick
drying oil, white lead, and glue, in suitable proportions, to join the pieces of wood
forming the parquetrie to each other and to a wood backing; and also, in the case
of thick parquetrie, to join the parts of the grounds together.
In making thin parquetrie I lay upon a table or bench a veneer of any suitable
wood, and proceed to fix the pieces of wood forming the parquetrie, piece by piece,
to the veneer with the composition, taking care that the grain of the veneer does
not run in a continuous line with any of the longer joints of the parquetrie. When
CD

page_text: the whole is dry it can be cleaned off and polished, and for better security against
damp a thin coat of varnish can be applied to the back. In laying it the above-
mentioned composition is used with a few pins. On a perfectly level floor pins or
screws alone can be used, by which means it can be easily taken up.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Matthew Ker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd October
1877.
MATTHEW KER, of No. 43, Mansfield Road, in the Parish of Saint Pancras, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PARQUETRIE
FLOORING."
My improvement on the usual method of making parquetrie floors, which have
hitherto been composed of various pieces of wood fastened together and secured to
a backing of clamped, framed, or laminated grounds of wood, or skrim canvas, or
other fabric, by means of ordinary glue, consists in the use of a composition, herein-
after mentioned, for joining the pieces to each other and to a backing of wood,
which will not cause the wood to swell or warp to any injurious extent in the
process of making, and which, when thoroughly set, will make, especially in the
case of thin parquetrie, a much more rigid, strong, and damp-resisting parquetric
than any now in use. By this means a thin veneer of the commonest wood will
form a sound backing.
The parquetric can be thoroughly cleaned off and polished before laying it on the
floor; it can be handled without risk of breaking, and will suffer little injury from
damp when stored, in transit, and during the time of laying, and when laid will be
less liable to injury from damp and the imperfections of the sub-floor upon which
it is laid than any now in use.
In carrying out my Invention I use a composition of linseed or other quick
drying oil, white lead, and glue, in suitable proportions, to join the pieces of wood
forming the parquetrie to each other and to a wood backing, and also in the case
of thick parquetrie to join the parts of the grounds together.
In making thin parquetrie I lay upon a table or bench a veneer of any suitable
wood, and proceed to fix the pieces of wood forming the parquetrie piece by piece
⚫on to the veneer with the composition, taking care that the grain of the veneer does
not run in a continuous line with any of the longer joints in the parquetrie. When
the whole is dry it can be cleaned off and polished, and for better security against
damp a thin coat of varnish can be applied to the back. In laying it, the above-
mentioned composition, or a strong varnish, is used with a few pins. On a
perfectly level floor pins or screws alone can be used, by which means it can be
easily taken up.
The way in which I prepare the cement is as follows:-I dissolve two parts of
the best glue in an equal weight of water, and whilst the glue solution is hot I
stir into it one part of boiled linseed oil and one part of dry white lead. The pro-
portion of the ingredients may however be varied to some extent, and the better
the glue the more oil and white lead it will carry, and the better the resulting
coment for my purpose.
Having prepared the cement and the pieces of ornamental wood to form the
parquetrie pattern. I lay upon a flat table the material which is to form the backing.
I employ by preference veneers of deal or other cheap wood; and supposing that I
desire to produce a rectangular piece of parquetrie I place these veneers in such a
position that they may cross the work in a diagonal direction. I then take the
ornamental pieces one at a time and coat them on the back and edges with the
cement, and I lay each piece down on the backing in its proper position. The
cement should be only at a moderate heat, and it can be worked very much cooler

page_text: than glue as ordinarily used, which renders it less liable to warp the wood. When
the work is set the face may be cleaned off and varnished; and to preserve it from
damp, the back also may be varnished. In laying down the parquetrie work in the
place where it is required for use I prefer to employ the same cement, and if the
back of the work has been varnished I first clean off the varnish in order that the
cement may obtain a better hold.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim the manufacture of
parquetrie flooring by attaching the parts of which the flooring is composed with a
cement composed of oil, white lead, and glue, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Ker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
MATTHEW KER. (LS.)