THE MANUFACTURE OF AN ARMOUR OR ARMOUR PLATING MATERIAL APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Domenico Geraci, of Florence, in the Kingdom
of Italy, for the Invention of "THE MANUFACTURE OF AN ARMOUR OR
ARMOUR PLATING MATERIAL APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 9th October 1868, and dated the 27th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Domenico Geraci at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents with his Petition, on the
27th April 1868. .
AN
I, DOMENICO GERACI, of Florence, in the Kingdom of Italy, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "THE MANUFACTURE
ARMOUR OR ARMOUR PLATING MATERIAL APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be
as follows, that is to say:-
The Invention consists in the employment of fibrous or textile
materials either in the raw or manufactured state to form a fabric
which will resist shot, bayonet points, sword cuts, and other offensive
weapons, which is obtained by submitting them to the modes of

page_text: treatment herein-after described. This material I call the muratori
armour or armour plating.
I operate as follows:-When a raw material is used I prepare a
kind of liquid paste formed either with potato fecula or other feculous
or adhesive substance, by dissolving about a quarter of a pound of
sulphate of allumina in solution per two and a quarter pounds of
farina. I form a pasty mixture with these substances by mixing the
whole in a large mortar, and I then submit the mixture thus made
to great pressure under an hydraulic press. This being done, and
before the piece. thus prepared is quite dry, I well sew it in order that
the particles which hold the parts together shall not lose the cohesion
acquired by the great pressure. This second operation being com-
pleted the piece is rolled by iron or steel rollers. Then to give the
piece the desired form I submit it to pressure in a cast-iron mould and
leave it to dry.
On fabrics or raw textile materials instead of the liquid paste I place
on them layers of the aforesaid preparation or liquid paste in pro-
portion to the strength or resistance required, and then submit them
to the same operations as before described for non-textile materials.
By these means I obtain a material capable of resisting shot, bayonet
points, and sword cuts better than other hitherto known substances
used as armour, and better comparatively than steel.
Spun materials can also be treated in the same manner by weaving
them on a strong loom after immersing them in the said liquid.
If it is desired to make this material waterproof to suit it for certain
applications its surface is covered with a waterproof substance, such
as gum or india-rubber, and if required it may be covered with wood,
iron, copper, or other suitable metal. This material can be used as
armour or armour plating as a defence for men, vessels of war,
fortresses, trenches, or for other defences, and for all purposes where a
resistance equal to that of steel is required, and where an elasticity
superior to that of steel is desirable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Domenico Geraci in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DOMENICO
GERACI, of Florence, in the Kingdom of Italy, send greeting.
WHEREAS He most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Domenico Geraci, Her special
licence that I, the said Domenico Geraci, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Domenico Geraci,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, an Invention for
"THE MANUFACTURE OF AN ARMOUR OR ARMOUR PLATING MATERIAL APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PURPOSES." upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Domenico Geraci, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calender months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Domenico Geraci, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
The Invention consists in the employment of fibrous or textile
materials either in the raw or manufactured state to form a fabric which
will resist shot, bayonet thrusts, sword cuts, and the action of other
offensive weapons, which is obtained by submitting them to the modes
of treatment herein-after described. This material I call the "muratori
armour or armour plating material." All fibrous or textile materials
can be employed either in the raw or manufactured state to prepare the

page_text: material which I call the muratori armour or armour plating material "
by the processes herein-after described.
To operate on raw fibrous materials I first prepare a kind of liquid
paste with potatoe fecula or other feculous substance or substances having
adhesive properties, by dissolving about a quarter of a pound of sulphate
of alumina in solution per two and a quarter pounds of farina, which
I mix to a pasty consistence with a raw fibrous or textile material in
a large mortar by means of a pestle by beating, and I afterwards submit
the mixture thus made to a great pressure under an hydraulic press.
Before the piece thus prepared is quite dry I well sew it up in order that
it may retain the cohesion acquired by the pressure.
This second
operation being completed the piece is rolled between iron or steel
rollers. To give the piece the desired form I place it in a cast-iron
inould and again submit it to pressure, then leave it to dry. .
In operating on woven fabrics instead of using the liquid paste as
before described I place on them layers of the aforesaid preparation or
liquid paste in quantities proportionate to the strength required, and
then submit them to the same operations as herein-before described for
the raw fibrous materials. By these processes I obtain a material
capable of resisting shot, bayonet thrusts, and sword cuts. This material
has the advantages of presenting great elasticity and allowing the per-
speration to pass off (when used as a defence for men), and durability.
Spun materials can also be treated by the same process after being
wove on a loom under strong pressure having previously been immersed
in the said liquid which by means of the pressure produces greater com-
pactness and strength; they are then superposed in layers and pressed
between rollers.
When required to make this material waterproof I cover its surface
with a known waterproof substance, such as gum or india-rubber, and if
required it may be covered with wood, iron, copper, or other suitable
material. This armour or armour plating material can be used to form
a defence for men, for ships of war, fortresses, trenches, or other like
defences, and for purposes where the strength and greater flexibility
than that of steel is desirable. This material is also applicable to the
manufacture of articles of common and industrial uses, such as those
at present made of leather, viz., boots and shoes, portmanteaus, harness,
and for other industrial purposes, or articles made of hemp, such as rope.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner

page_text: of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein laid down; but what I claim
is, the manufacture of a material applicable as a defence for men, ships,
and other warlike uses, and for industrial purposes, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Domenico Geraci, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
GERACI DOMEUICO. (L.S.)