IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR PROTECTING OR PRESERVING SHIPS' BOTTOMS AND OTHER SUBMERGED SURFACES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO STONE AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Straker Falck Edwards, of South Shields, in
the County of Durham, Dock Owner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMPOSITIONS FOR PROTECTING OR PRESERVING SHIPS' BOTTOMS AND
OTHER SUBMERGED SURFACES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO STONE AND OTHER
BUILDING MATERIALS."
Sealed the 2nd July 1880, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
dated the 15th Sontember 1970
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Straker Falck
Edwards at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th
September 1879.
.
"
GEORGE STRAKER FALCK EDWARDS, of South Shields, in the County of Durham, .
Dock Owner. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR PROTECTING OR PRESERVING
SHIPS BOTTOMS AND OTHER SUBMERGED SURFACES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO STONE
AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS."
Hitherto paints used for coloring and preserving ships' bottoms have been found
to have many objectionable qualities; they are either injurious to the material to
which they are applied to preserve it from the ravages of animalcula and the
growth of vegetable life, or the paint undergoing the repeated change of climate to
which most ships are exposed scales off and becomes almost useless for its original
purpose. To remedy these and many other concomitant evils is the object of my
Invention, to attain which I manufacture the paint or composition with which I
intend to coat the surface of the material to be protected of the ingredients and in
the manner following so far as is at present known by me, that is to say:-For the
first coat or composition No. 1, I dissolve a quantity of finely pulverised resin in a'
certain quantity of benzoline spirit (specially refined); in a separate mixer to that
used for mixing or dissolving the resin as above, I place a quantity of pure oxide of
zinc and best (pure) Indian red, and mix them into a paste by the addition of pine
oil and best thin Stockholm tar, to this I add sufficient of the above dissolved
resin and intimately incorporate the whole.
The surface treated with the above composition quickly dries, and is ready without
further preparation to receive the second coat or composition No. 2, which is

page_text: composed of the ingredients and in the manner following, for the special purpose of
protecting the material from the ravages of animalculæ and the growth of vegetable
life-I dissolve as before a certain quantity of resin in specially refined benzoline
spirit, and in a separate mixer I mix up into a paste by the addition of pine oil and
Stockholm tar some pure oxide of zinc and best red oxide of iron (the strongest and
best I can obtain), to this mixture or paste I add six pounds in weight of arsenic to
the cwt., the whole is then well incorporated together and with a sufficient quantity
of the dissolved resin to reduce it to the required consistency.
Paints or compositions made up as above described and applied for experimental
purposes to a proper surface have been found by me to dry almost instantaneously,
and to present an exterior equal in appearance to enamel, consequently exercising,
when the ship is in motion, less surface friction, the result being an increase of
speed. The exterior is also harder and more durable than ordinary paint and less
liable to suffer from friction.
The two mixtures or compositions are of different colours, it can therefore be
readily ascertained whether the surface treated has been once or twice coated with
my improved compositions, thus preventing frauds, mistakes, or omissions.
For commercial transit I stow each paint or composition in a separate cask, and
add to each a small quantity of ordinary washing soda to prevent any sedimentary
deposits.
My Invention may be used for coating or painting buildings or marine works,
for instance, the submerged ironwork of piers and lighthouses.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said George Straker Falck.
Edwards in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th July 1880.
GEORGE STRAKER FALCK EDWARDS, of South Shields, in the County of Durham,
Dock Owner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR PROTECTING OR PRESERVING
SHIPS BOTTOMS AND OTHER SUBMERGED SURFACES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO STONE
AND OTHER BUILDING MATERIALS."
This Invention relates to improvements in composition for protecting and
preserving ships' bottoms and other submerged surfaces.
Hitherto paints used for coloring and preserving ships' bottoms have been found
to have many objectionable qualities. They are either injurious to the material to
which they are applied to preserve it from the ravages of animalcula and the growth of
vegetable life, or the paint undergoing the repeated change of climate to which most
ships are exposed scales off and becomes almost useless for its original purpose.
To remedy these and many other concomitant evils is the object of my Invention,
to attain which I manufacture the paint or composition with which I intend to coat
the surface of the material to be protected of the ingredients and in the manner
following, that is to say:-
For the first coat the composition or paint consists of the following ingredients
in the proportions shewn by the figures set opposite thereto, which proportions are
calculated in weight, and are those which I find to answer best in most cases, that
is to say:
-
רד

page_text: For the second coat the above ingredients are mixed together as follows, that is
to say:-
I dissolve ingredient No. 2 in ingredient No. 1, and in a separate vessel I mix
ingredients Nos. 3 and 4 into a paste with ingredients Nos. 5 and 6, and I add to
this mixture ingredient No. 7, I then add to ingredients No. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, when
so mixed together, the solution obtained by dissolving ingredient No. 2 in
ingredient No. 1, and thoroughly mix and incorporate the whole together.
In the case both of the 1st and 2nd coats Archangel tar may be substituted for
Stockholm tar.
As a variation for both the first and second coats of my said composition or paint,
I have found it advantageous to use in addition to the ingredients herein-before
specified of the several parts by weight herein before mentioned shellac or gum and
tallow.
When I use shellac and gum for either the first or second coat of my composition
I use 17 parts by weight of shellac and 17 parts by weight of gum in substitution
for 34 parts of resin, using only 26 parts of resin instead of 60, and I dissolve the
shellac either together with the resin or separately therefrom in the benzoline, in
which case I use an additional 20 parts of benzoline.
I melt the gum together with 8 parts by weight of tallow with a portion of the
resin, and allow it when so mixed to cool for a few minutes, and then add it to the
other ingredients when mixed together as herein before directed.
My said composition or paint may also be applied in one coat or in more than
one coat of the same ingredients and made in the same manner. When intended to
be applied in one coat, or in two or more coats not differing from one another, my
said composition or paint is made of the ingredients following, in the proportions
(calculated in weight) shewn by the figures opposite thereto, that is to say:-
No. 1. Benzoline or other spirit specially refined as aforesaid 110 parts.
2. Resin (pulverized)
3. Shellac
4. Gum
5. Oxide of zinc
6. Oxide of iron
7. Pine oil
8. Tar (Archangel or Stockholm)
9. Arsenic (pulverized)
10. Tallow or grease
-
26
17
"
"
17
"
30
"
29
"
"
20
"
00
"
"
I mix the above ingredients in manner following, that is to say :-
With ingredient No. 1, I dissolve ingredients Nos. 2 and 3, and in a separate
vessel I mix ingredients Nos. 5 and 6 with ingredient No. 7, I then add to this
mixture the solution obtained by dissolving an ingredient No. 1, ingredients
Nos. 2 and 3, and thoroughly stir and incorporate the whole together, after which
I add ingredients Nos. 8 and 9; Nos. 4 and 10 ingredients are then melted with a
portion, which in that case I reserve, of ingredient No. 2, and, after allowing it to
cool for a few minutes, add it to the ingredients mixed together as herein before
directed.
I prefer to make the first and second coats of my said composition or paint when
used in different coats of different colors, in order to ascertain more readily whether
the surface treated has been once or twice coated, thus preventing frauds, omissions,
or mistakes, but both coats can be made of the same colour if that be preferred.
The composition can be made any color that may be desired by the addition of a
quantity of coloring matter according to the color required.
Paints or compositions made up as above described and applied for experimental
purposes to a proper surface have been found by me to dry almost instantaneously,
and to present an exterior equal in appearance to enamel, and consequently when

page_text: applied to a vessel exercises less surface friction when the vessel is in motion, the
result being an increase of speed. The exterior is also tougher and more durable
than ordinary paint, and less liable to suffer from friction.
My Invention may be used for coating or painting buildings or marine works, for
instance, the submerged iron work of piers & lighthouses.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I would wish it to be
understood that I do not confine myself precisely to the quantity of the ingredients
herein set forth, but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the above in.
part recited Letters Patent is, the Invention for "Improvements in Compositions
for Protecting or Preserving Ships' Bottoms and other Submerged Surfaces, also
Applicable to Stone and other Building Materials," substantially as herein set forth
or any modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Straker Falck Edwards, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
GEO. S. F. EDWARDS. (L.S.)