IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS SIMILAR TO GUNPOWDER FOR BLASTING, FOR USE IN ORDNANCE AND FIRE-ARMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Spicer, of No. 19, New Bridge Street,
Blackfriars, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMPOSITIONS SIMILAR TO GUNPOWDER FOR BLASTING, FOR USE IN ORDNANCE
AND FIRE-ARMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."-A communication from abroad
by Pedro Nisser, residing at Melbourne, Australia.
Sealed the 19th January 1866, and dated the 26th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Spicer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
July 1865.
I, EDWARD SPICER, of 19, New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMPOSITIONS SIMILAR TO GUNPOWDER FOR BLASTING, FOR USE IN ORDNANCE AND
FIRE-AHMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in compc.itions similar to
gunpowder for blasting, for use in ordnance and fire-arms, and for other
purposes. These improved compositions are made from combinations of salts
and preparations of potassa and soda,inineral and vegetable substances. in such
proportion as to increase the explosive effect with less cost. The ingredients
and the proportion in which they are applied being for the improved explosive
composition for blasting purposes,―

page_text: the proportions of the above-mentioned ingredients as here given, I reserve
to myself any alteration of the aforesaid proportions, as well as any alteration
in the application of the herein-specified eleven ingredients.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Spicer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
SPICER, of 19, New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, in the City of London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edward Spicer, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Spicer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as J, the
said Edward Spicer, 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 Isle of Man, an Invention for "Ix.
PROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS SIMILAR TO GUNPOWDER FOR BLASTING, FOR USE IN
ORDNANCE AND FIRE-ARMS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES," a communication to me
from abroad by Pedro Nisser, a person resident at Melbourne, Australia, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Spicer, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, 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
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Spicer, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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 :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in compositions similar to
gunpowder for blasting, for use in ordnance, and fire-arms, and for other
purposes. These improved compositions are made from combinations of salts

page_text: and preparations of potassa and soda, mineral and vegetable substances in
such proportion as to increase the explosive effect with less cost. The
ingredients and the proportion in which they are applied being by preference
for the improved explosive composition for blasting purposes,―

page_text: or otherwise) being applied to the triturating mill during the operation of
producing a perfectly homogeneous compound. d, the composition is then to
be treated in the usual manner for preparing gunpowder, viz., pressure being
applied, after which drying and granulation is attended to. The heat applied
during the trituration facilitates and improves the operation. As regards the
proportions of the above-mentioned ingredients as here given I reserve to
myself any alteration of the aforesaid proportions, as well as any alteration in
the application of the herein specified eleven ingredients.
The advantages obtained from these improved compounds for blasting
purposes and ordnance, &c., may thus be succinctly stated, viz., whatever may
prove to be the difference in a lessened cost for the manufacture of the article
as here described (which I believe to be about 30 per cent. or more), the
improvements as regards its explosive effect for blasting and all other purposes
for which powder is applied is not less than 20 to 25 per cent. With regard
to the compound No. 2, its superiority for use in fire-arms is not less than
30 per cent. in comparison with ordinary gunpowder. Repeated and well
attested experiments made by the Inventor have proved, that the two salts of
chlorate and perchlorate of potassa, per se, or in a mixture of both, when in
combination with the bichromate, the ferro or ferri cyanide, and the nitrates
of soda or potassa, with the admixture of mineral carbon in a given proportion,
may without risk be used when applied as in this composition, and that with
or without the vegetable matter being added. The first-named salts "the
chlorates," hitherto looked upon as practically unfit for use in explosive com-
pounds from their dangerous qualities are now brought to profitable account
without any risk. The prevention of the obnoxious smoke produced by
ordinary powder, in this composition converted into expansiblegas, which thus
adds to the explosive effect, is a further improvement, the utility of which
will be found of great advantage for blasting under ground as well as on the
battle field. I would remark that although the proportions above stated are
those which are preferred, they may be varied without departing from the
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Spicer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our
EDWARD SPICER. (L.S.)