IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PREPARATION AND UTILIZATION OF A SUBSTANCE OR CLay of a SUITABLE NATURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF VARIOUS ARTICLES OF UTILITY OR OF ORNAMENT."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward John Theodoro Digby, of Hammersmith, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING
TO THE PREPARATION AND UTILIZATION OF A SUBSTANCE OR CLay of a
SUITABLE NATURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF VARIOUS ARTICLES OF UTILITY
OR OF ORNAMENT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward John Theodore
Digby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1881.
EDWARD JOHN THEODORE DIGBY, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PREPARATION AND UTILIZATION OF A
SUBSTANCE OR CLAY OF A SUITABLE NATURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF
VARIOUS ARTICLES OF UTILITY OR OF ORNAMENT."
This Invention which relates to improvements in or relating to the preparation
and utilization of a substance or clay of a suitable nature for the manufacture of
various articles of utility or of ornament, has referenco to further improvements
upon or in relation to part of the Invention for which Provisional Protection has
been recently granted to me in respect of my application for Letters Patent,
No. 2377/8, for "Improvements in the Manufacture of 'Finings' for Refining or
Clarifying and Preserving Ales and other Liquids," and the improvements have for
their object the utilization of the precipitate which is deposited from the treatment
of well washed and powdered oyster shells by sulphuric or acetic acid, and the
subsequent admixture therewith of an equal weight of water (as described in the
fifth paragraph of the Provisional Specification lodged in respect of the said
application), as a clay, which by itself or by the admixture therewith of any
suitable cementing or adhesive material or substance or by the aid of pressure
obtained by any suitable mould or press, may be used for the making or moulding
of various articles of ornament or of utility, such as busts, pottery, buttons, pipes,
and for various other purposes for which ordinary or refined clay is at present
used.

page_text: The treatment to which I find it most advantageous to submit the oyster shells
according to the present improvements slightly varies from that described in my
said Provisional Specification, and is as follows:-
I well wash the oyster shells in water and then leave them therein for several
hours, say, about 24. I then grind them to a fine powder and place the same in a
large vat covering the powder preferably with sulphuric acid; it may be however
with acetic acid or any other acid which will have a similar dissolving action upon
the powdered shells. I leave this admixture about 24 hours, the vat being closed.
I then add about the same quantity of water and leave for a similar time. I then
remove whatever dirt or scum floats on the top, and filter the remaining admixture,
firstly, through a coarse filter to eliminate the grosser undissolved particles, and
then through a finer filter, and the residue remaining in this filter is the improved
compound or clay.
The improved clay may according to the present improvements be combined
with jute, plumbago, liquid gum, or with various other materials, as herein before
referred to, or be used by itself, and moulded, pressed, or stamped, or otherwise
made into any desired articles according to the manner in which ordinary or refined
clay is at present manipulated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward John Theodore Digby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1881.
EDWARD JOHN THEODORE DIGBY, of Hammersmith, in tho County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE PREPARATION AND UTILIZATION OF ▲
SUBSTANCE OR CLAY OF A SUITABLE NATURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE
VARIOUS ARTICLES OF UTILITY OR OF ORNAMENT."
OF
This Invention which relates to improvements in or relating to the preparation
and utilization of a substance or clay of a suitable nature for the manufacturo of
various articles of utility or of ornament, has reference to further improvements
upon or in relation to part of the Invention for which Letters Patent, No. 2377/1,
have recently been granted to me for "Improvements in the Manufacture of
'Finings' for Refining or Clarifying and Preserving Ales and other Liquids," and
the improvements have for their object the utilization of the precipitate which is
deposited from the treatment of well washed and powdered oyster shells by
sulphuric or acetic acid, and the subsequent admixture therewith of an equal
weight of water (as described in the fourth paragraph of the Final Specification
lodged in respect of the said Letters Patent), as a clay, which by itself or by the
admixture therewith of any suitable cementing or adhesive material or substance
or by the aid of pressure obtained by any suitable mould or press, may be used for
the making or moulding of various articles of ornament or of utility, such as busts,
pottery, buttons, pipes, and for various other purposes for which ordinary or refined
clay is at present used.
The treatment to which I find it most advantageous to submit the oyster shells
according to the present improvements slightly varies from that described in my
said Specification, and is as follows:-
I well wash the oyster shells in water and then leave them therein for several
hours, say, about 24. I then grind them to a fine powder and place the same in a
large vat, covering the powder preferably with sulphuric acid; it may be however
with acetic acid or any other acid which will have a similar dissolving action upon
the powdered shells. I leave this admixture for about 24 hours, the vat being
closed. I then add about the same quantity of water and leave for a similar time.
I then remove whatever dirt or scum floats on the top, and filter the remaining
admixture, firstly, through a coarse filter to eliminate the grosser undissolved
particles, and then through a finer filter, and the residuo remaining in this filter is
the improved compound or clay.
The improved clay may according to the present improvements be combined or
admixed with jute, plumbago, liquid gum, or with various other materials, as
herein before referred to, or be used by itself, and moulded, pressed, or stamped, or
otherwise made into any desired articles according to the manner in which ordinary
or refined clay is at present manipulated.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me under the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is,-

page_text: The preparation and utilization of a substance or clay, as and for the purposes
herein before described and referred to.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward John Theodore Digby, havo hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
GEO. W. WEBB,
Office for Patents, Trade Marks, & Designs,
1, North Buildings, South Place,
Finsbury,
London, E.C.
EDWD. J. T. DIGBY. (L.S.)