CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR METHODS OF PREPARING AND WORKING PEARL SHELL INTO VARIOUS FORMS AND DEVICES FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING IT TO ORNAMENTAL USES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF JAPAN WARE AND OF OTHER WARES AND ARTICLES TO WHICH THE SAME CAN BE APPLIED
Year: 1825

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, AARON
JENNENS and JOHN BETTERIDGE, both of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturers and Japanners in Ordinary to His Majesty, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the sixth year of His reign,
did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Aaron Jennens and John Betteridge, His especial licence, that we, the said
Aaron Jennens and John Betteridge, our exors, admors, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Aaron Jennens and John Betteridge, our exors, adñiors,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OR METHODS OF PREPARING AND WORKING PEARL SHELL INTO
VARIOUS FORMS AND DEVICES FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING IT TO ORNAMENTAL
USES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF JAPAN WARE AND OF OTHER WARES AND ARTICLES
TO WHICH THE SAME CAN BE APPLIED;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso obliging us, tho said Aaron Jennens and John Betteridge,
by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and
seal of one of us, particularly to describo and ascertain the nature of our Enid

page_text: Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the
same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
Aaron Jennens and John Betteridge, do hereby declare that the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are
particularly described and ascertained as follows (that is to say) :-
=
Our said Improvements in the Method or Methods of Preparing and Work- 1
ing of Pearl Shell into various Forms and Devices, are, first, by reducing
the shell by fileing, grinding, rubbing, or other proper methods, into flat
plates of about the fortieth part, or in some cases the one hundreth part, of
an inch in thickness; we then draw or pencil upon them with a hair pencil
the forms, shapes, or devices we wish to give the pieces of pearl, either
in a solution of asphaltum made in the essential oil or spirit of turpentine,
resin, dissolved in the same menstruum, wax, varnish, or any fit and proper
material which is calculated to prevent the action of acids upon those parts of
the pearl shell so defended. When the coating thus laid on is dry we then
brush over it repeatedly strong nitrous or other proper acids, until by corrosion,
the forms so drawn or etched are left free; we then clear off or remove the
asphaltum, resin, or other defence by means of spirit of turpentine or other
proper solvent, and the ornament, sprigs, devices, or other figures are then fit
for use.
We can, if necessary, coat or cover the whole surface or surfaces of
the pearl shell with an etching ground, or other proper defensive varnish or
material which will withstand the corrosive action of acids. We then draw
or trace with etching needles the forms or outlines of the devices through the
said etching ground or other defensive varnish. Having thus drawn or etched
the forms of any ornaments, sprigs, devices, or figures upon the pearl shell, we
then brush over it repeatedly strong nitrous or other proper acids, as above
described. We can also, if required, pencil or draw with the asphaltum or
other proper defensive varnish the forms or outlines of any parts of the
surfaces of the thicker ornaments so freed which we wish to relieve or leave
prominent above the other parts of their surfaces, and we then brush over
them the nitrous or other proper acids until the intended effect is produced.
After having reduced the pearl shell into plates of about the eightieth or the
one hundreth part of an inch in thickness, in the manner above described, we
draw the outlines of any figures or ornaments upon them, and place them upon
any flat and smooth hard surface, as iron, tinned plate, slate, marble, &c.;
5

page_text: we then with a penknife, or proper cutting tools made on purpose, or sharp-
pointed instruments, cut them out of the pearl shell for use. Lastly, when we
wish to produce a number of figures, ornaments, or devices, all of an uniform
shape and size, we take from six to twelve of the plates of pearl shell of about
the eightieth or the one hundreth part of an inch in thickness, and we unite or
combine them closely together by means of glue, gum, or other cement into.
When dry and firm we draw the outlines of the figures, ornaments,.
or devices upon one of the outer pieces, and holding the mass in a vice, or by
other proper means, we, by the aid of files, drills, saws, or other proper tools:
or instruments, shape the mass into the required form. This done, by means.
of water, spirit of turpentine, alcohol, or other proper solvent, we dissolve
the glue, gum, or cement, and the pieces become separated and fit for use.
In witness whereof, we, the said Aaron Jennens and John Betteridge,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fourth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-five.
AARON (L.s.) JENNENS..
JOHN (Ls.) BETTRIDGE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fourth day of September,
in the year of our Lord 1825, the aforesaid Aaron Jennens and John Betteridge
came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the-
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.