PROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING LETTERS, FIGURES, AND ORNAMENTAL WORK, AND IN THE MODE OF ATTACHING THE SAME TO WOOD, STONE, IRON, AND CERTAIN OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Jeffs, of Hulme, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Painter, for the Invention of "IM
PROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING LETTERS, FIGURES, AND ORNAMENTAL
WORK, AND IN THE MODE OF ATTACHING THE SAME TO WOOD, STONE,
IRON, AND CERTAIN OTHER MATERIALS."
Scaled the 28th May 1853, and dated the 30th November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Jeffs at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th November 1852.
I, WILLIAM JEFFS, of Hulme, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Painter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING LETTERS, FIGURES, AND ORNA-
MENTAL WORK, AND IN THE MODE OF ATTACHING THE SAME TO WOOD,
STONE, IRON, AND CERTAIN OTHER MATERIALS" to be as follows:-
First, in manufacturing letters, figures, and ornaments of cast
iron or other cheap material, and in coating the same with brass or
other more expensive material, the operation of coating being per-
formed by soldering or cementing in the ordinary manner.

page_text: Secondly, in manufacturing letters, figures, and ornaments with
spikes or nails projecting from the back of the same, whereby the
letters, figures, or ornaments may be attached to wood or other
yielding material.
Thirdly, in fixing letters, figures, or ornaments of porcelain or other
materials on to sign boards, or other objects liable to expand or con-
tract, in such wise that the expansion or contraction will not break
the letters, figures, or ornaments. This is effected by attaching to the
letters, figures, or ornaments, thin plates of metal with a slot hole
through them, and fixing in the sign board or other object pins with
projecting flat heads, on to which the slot plates are hooked; by this
means any expansion or contraction can take place without produc-
ing injurious effects.
And fourthly, in making letters and figures of papier maché or
gutta percha, and attaching such letters and figures to woodwork
or other materials by nails or tacks projecting from the backs of
the letters or figures.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said William Jeffs in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM JEFFS, of Hulme, near Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Painter, send greeting.
the
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in
the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Jeffs, Her special
licence that I, the said William Jeffs, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Jeffs, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter

page_text: during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully night make
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING LETTERS, FIGURES, AND ORNAMENTAL WORK'
AND IN THE MODE OF ATTACHING THE SAME TO WOOD, STONE, IRON, AND CER-
TAIN OTHER MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Jeffs, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the saine was to be perforined, 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 William Jeffs, do hereby de-
clare 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 (that is to say):-
My.Invention consists,-First, in manufacturing letters or figures
for the names of streets, shop windows, and doors, or other purposes
of cast iron or other metal, and in coating such letters or figures
with brass or other metal that will not corrode by exposure to the
atmosphere. The cast iron or other metal letters or figures are
coated with sheet brass or other metal by soldering or cementing in
the same way as is now customary in coating or plating articles of
sadlery or by electro-plating. In some cases the cast iron or other
inetal letters or figures may be coated with porcelain or cement.
By this mode of manufacturing letters and figures, they can be pro-
duced at less cost, and are more durable than those in general usc.
The second part of my Invention consists in several improved
modes of manufacturing letters, figures, or ornaments, so as to facili-
tate the fixing of them to doors, sign boards, and other articles; and
in order that this part of my Invention may be fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pur-
sued by me, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon.

page_text: Figure 1, represents a front elevation, and Figure 2, a side view,
of a figure supposed to be made of cast iron, and suitable for being
fastened to a strect door to indicate the number. In this instance the
figure is provided with two wrought iron spikes a, a, by which it
is fastened to the door or other article. These spikes are attached to
the cast metal in the following manner: each spike is furnished with
a head, as shewn in Figure 2, and after the pattern of the figure has
been withdrawn from the sand in which it is moulded, the spikes are
pressed into the sand by the moulder, leaving the heads to project
somewhat above the sand; when the moulding box is closed, and
the hot metal is poured in, it surrounds the heads of the spikes and
holds them firmly. In some cases it will sufficient to have only
one of the spikes a, and to have projections cast on the letters or
figures which, by entering into the article against which they are
fixed, will retain them in their places. It is evident that letters and
ornaments made of cast iron or other metal, or of papier maché, or
gutta percha, can in like manner be furnished with projecting spikes,
by which they are to be secured to woodwork or other articles. In
Figures 3, and 4, I have shewn how letters, figures, or ornaments
may be fixed on to sign boards or other articles, in such wise that
the expansion or contraction of such sign boards or other articles
shall not crack or break the said letters, figures, or ornaments. The
mode of effecting this, supposing a large porcelain or cement letter
is to be affixed to a board, is by attaching thin metal slot plates, as
nt b, b, to the letter. These metal plates are laid in the mould in
which the porcelain or cement is run, and become embedded in the
porcelain or cement. When the letters, figures, or ornaments are
made of metal, the slot plates can be attached to or formn part of
them; and in some cases the slots can be formed of the porcelain,
but I prefer detached metal plates as shewn. The board to which
the letter is to be affixed, is provided with flat-headed nails or screws
driven into it, in such positions that the slot plates b, b, shall cach

page_text: correspond with one of the nails. In order to attach the letter to the
board, it is only necessary to hook each slot plate on one of the nails,
as seen in Figure 4; and it is evident that the letter will be firmly.
secured in its place, although the shrinking or expanding of the board
in which the flat-headed nails are driven may take place without in-
juring the letter attached to it. In Figures 5, and 6, I have shewn
another modification of this part of my Invention; in these views
I have represented the flat-headed nails as being cast into.or other-
wise affixed to the letter, figure, or ornainent, and the slot plates
as being affixed to the sign board or other article on which the letters,
figures, or ornainents are to be attached. This may be more conve-
nient in some cases, and it is apparent that the effect produced is the
same as in Figures 3, and 4; namely, that each letter, figure, or orna-
inent requiring one, two, or more points of support being affixed to the
sign-board or other article by nails fitting in slot holes, the expan-
sion or contraction of the sign board or other article can take place
without cracking or breaking the letters, figures, or ornaments, as is
the case in the ordinary mode of affixing them. I wish to remark,
that letters, figures, and ornaments may in like manner be attached
to stone, iron, and other materials.
The third part of my Invention consists in the application of gutta
percha and papier maché to the manufacture of letters and figures
for shop fronts and other similar purposes; also in the mode of at-
taching such letters and figures of gutta percha and papier maché
to boards or other articles by nails or spikes, as explained in refer-
ence to Figures 1, and 2.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be carried into effect, I wish it to be under-
stood that what I claim as of my Invention is,
First, the improved mode of manufacturing letters and figures of
cast iron or other metal, coated with sheet brass or other metal, as
herein-before described.
Secondly, the improved modes herein-before described, and shewn
in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, for attaching letters, figures, and
ornamental work to wood, stone, iron, and certain other materials.

page_text: Thirdly, the application of gutta percha and papier naché to the.
manufacture of letters and figures for shop fronts, and other similar
purposes; and,
Lastly, the improved mode of fixing letters, figures, or ornaments
of gutta percha and papier maché to boards or other articles, as
above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Jeffs, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.