IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF SLABS OR BLOCKS TO BE APPLIED TO WALLS AND OTHER SURFACES FOR DECORATIVE AND USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Russell, Bookbinder's Manager, and
William Charles Straker, Bookbinder, both of New Court, Farringdon Street,
in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF SLABS OR BLOCKS TO BE APPLIED TO WALLS AND OTHER SURFACES
FOR DECORATIVE AND USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 6th February 1880, and dated the 21st November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Russell and
William Charles Straker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 21st November 1879.
"
WILLIAM HENRY RUSSELL, Bookbinder's Manager, and WILLIAM CHARLES
STRAKER, Bookbinder, both of New Court, Farringdon Street, in the City of
London. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SLABS OR BLOCKS TO BE
APPLIED TO WALLS AND OTHER SURFACES FOR DECORATIVE AND USEFUL
PURPOSES."
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of wall and
other decorations, whereby various ornamental effects can be obtained combined
with cheapness, lightness, durability, and facility of application.
For this purpose we take millboard or other similar material, and on the surface
to be ornamented we apply paper, leather, imitation leather, veneer, or other
suitable material which is cemented thereto. This surface is ornamented as desired
with various colours and designs, and with gold, silver, and bronze applied thereto,
preferably by means of blocks pressed thereon by the bookbinder's press, and such
surface may be varnished or not as desired.
The millboard or other similar material previous to the ornamentation thereof
is cut into blocks, preferably of similar sizes and forms to those employed for pottery
tiles, and when complete such decorations may be applied to walls and to various
articles by cementing the same thereto in a similar manner to tiles, except that a
different cement is employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Henry Russell and William Charles Straker in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 21st May 1880.
WILLIAM HENRY RUSSELL, Bookbinder's Manager, and WILLIAM CHARLES
STRAKER, Bookbinder, both of New Court, Farringdon Street, in the City of
London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SLABS OR BLOCKS TO BE
APPLIED TO WALLS AND OTHER SURFACES FOR DECORATIVE AND USEFUL
PURPOSES."
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of wall and
other decorations, whereby various ornamental effects can be obtained combined
with cheapness, lightness, durability, and facility of application.
For this purpose we take millboard or other similar material composed of pulped
fibrous material, and on the surface to be ornamented we apply paper, leather,
imitation leather, veneer, or other suitable material which is cemented thereto.
This surface is ornamented as desired with various colours and designs, and with
gold, silver, and bronze applied thereto, preferably by means of blocks pressed
thereon by the bookbinder's press in a similar manner to that employed in orna-
mental bookbinding, and such surface may be varnished or not as desired.
The surface of the slabs or blocks may be entirely of one colour, or it may be
ornamented with any one or a combination of the means above described.
Each slab or block can have applied thereto one or more letters, or a design, or
part of a design to form part of an inscription, name, motto, announcement, or
design, which is completed by fixing a number of such slabs or blocks in correct
juxtaposition with each other.
The millboard or other similar material previous to the ornamentation thereof
is cut into blocks, preferably of similar sizes and forms to those employed for pottery
tiles, and when complete such decorations may be applied to walls and to various
articles by cementing the same thereto in a similar manner to tiles, except that a
different cement, such as glue or other adhesive cement, is employed.
We would here remark that we do not claim the use of millboard and other
similar material treated as above described, except when such is employed in the
form of slabs or blocks and used in a similar manner to pottery tiles.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the mode in which
we carry the same into effect, we would have it understood that what we claim
is, the manufacture and employment of slabs or blocks, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Charles Straker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty first day of May, in the year of our Lord One
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