IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS FOR COVERING AND DECORATING WALL AND OTHER SURFACES AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Scott Morton, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid-Lothian, North Britain, Decorative Architect, for an invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF MATERIALS FOR COVERING AND
DECORATING WALL AND OTHER SURFACES AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Scott Morton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1882.
OF
WILLIAM SCOTT MORTON, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Decorative Architect, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
MATERIALS FOR COVERING AND DECORATING WALL AND OTHER SURFACES AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
This Invention has for its object the manufacture, in improved modes and by
means of improved apparatus, of materials for covering and decorating wall and
other surfaces. It is intended to carry out the Invention principally in producing
what is known as Scott-Morton's modelled canvas, a material having a woven
fabric or canvas as its principal constituent; but the improvements or some of
them are also advantageously applicable when leather or paper or other sheet
material is employed instead of the canvas.
The canvas is first saturated with size applied in a heated condition; and when
the size has set but whilst it is still in a moist or soft state, the sized canvas is
From the roller
wound loosely on a roller on which it is placed in the machine.
the canvas is passed round a modelling cylinder or roller by means of which aided
by a number of stampers ornamental devices are embossed upon it. A backing of
paper or other suitable material is next applied and the modelled canvas is finally
delivered from the machine.
The ornamental devices are formed in intaglio on the surface of the cylinder;
and provision is made in the machine for receiving cylinders of different sizes to
suit patterns having different lengths of repeat. The canvas or material is forced
into the intaglio cavities by the stampers of which there are a considerable number
I

page_text: arranged in one, two, or more rows, and of which the acting faces are small and
provided with elastic padding. The stampers are pressed towards the cylinder by
separately adjustable springs, and they are moved away from the cylinder at short
intervals by wipers or cams on one or more rotating shafts, the wipers or cams
being arranged to act on the several stampers at different times. The sides of the
stamper faces are shaped obliquely in order to avoid the production of ridges along
the material.
The face of the material is in contact with the cylinder, and the paper is applied
to the back which is then outwards after the material has been acted on by the
stampers. The backing paper is drawn off a drum or roller and first passed through
a trough containing water heated by steam which softens the paper. The paper is
then led into the machine by an endless blanket which carries it between a pair of
rollers the upper one applying paste to the paper from a trough or feeder arranged
in a usual manner. The pasted paper is carried by the blanket between the
cylinder and a roller which is pressed towards the cylinder so as to cause the paper
to adhere to the back of the modelled canvas. The blanket is passed round rollers
which can be adjusted to keep it tight, and it is also passed round a steam drum
which heats it and removes superfluous moisture. After the modelled canvas has
received its backing paper it passes between another roller and the cylinder, this
roller carrying one end loop of an endless cloth or apron upon which the modelled
canvas is delivered from the machine.
After leaving the machine the modelled canvas is hung up to dry and is finally
completed by painting, which may be done either before or after the material is
fixed on the wall or other surface which it is intended to decorate.
When the modelled canvas or similar material is to be applied to walls or
surfaces which are liable to be damp a backing of tinfoil is put on it either instead
of or in addition to the paper backing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Scott Morton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd November 1882.
WILLIAM SCOTT MORTON, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Decorative Architect "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF
MATERIALS FOR COVERING AND DECORATING WALL AND OTHER SURFACES AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
My said Invention has for its object the manufacture, in improved modes and
by means of improved apparatus, of materials for covering and decorating wall
and other surfaces. I intend to carry out my Invention. principally in producing
what is known as Scott-Morton's modelled canvas, a material having a woven
fabric or canvas as its principal constituent; but my improvements or some of
them are also advantageously applicable when leather or paper or other sheet
material is employed instead of the canvas.
The canvas is first saturated with size applied in a heated condition; and when
the size has set but whilst it is still in a moist or soft state, the sized canvas is
wound loosely on a roller on which it is placed in the machine. From the roller
the canvas is passed round a modelling cylinder or roller by means of which aided
by a number of stampers ornamental devices are embossed upon it. A backing of
paper or other suitable material is next applied, and the modelled canvas is finally
delivered from the machine.
The ornamental devices are formed in intaglio on the surface of the cylinder;
and provision is made in the machine for receiving cylinders of different sizes to
suit patterns having different lengths of repeat.
And in order that my said. Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and representing the embossing machine which I use in
making the modelled canvas.
Figure 1, on the accompanying sheet of drawings is an end elevation of the
machine and figure 2, is a longitudinal vertical section. In these figures the same
reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are
repeated.
The framing consists of two parallel vertical side frames, 3, which are connected.
by transverse frame pieces, 4, at the lower part, and by two inclined frames, 5, at
the upper part; and these inclined frames, 5, carry a number of stampers, 6, which
are formed with heavy bottom ends faced with toothed rubber or with other
suitable material and fixed on rods, 7, guided in eyes formed in the cross bars of.
the frames 5. The stampers, 6, are pressed downwards by springs, 8, and are
raised in rotation by cams 9, on two transverse shafts, 10, which are geared
together, the cams acting on pins fixed in the stamper rods, 7. The stampers, 6,
are shaped with inclined sides so as not to form ridges along the fabric, and they
move in directions converging to the centre of the embossing cylinder, 11. This
embossing cylinder which may have a surface of metal or other suitable material
has the intended ornamental devices formed on it in intaglio in order to produce
the devices in relievo on the canvas, the face of the canvas intended to be the
front being that which is in contact with the embossing cylinder, 11, when passing
through the machine. The embossing cylinder, 11. is carried in bearings 12,

page_text: י
which are adjustable vertically in guides in the side frames, 3, to allow of cylinders
of different sizes being properly placed in the machine.
•
One of the cam shafts, 10, is used as the first-motion shaft of the machine and
has on it fast and loose pulleys, 13, for a driving belt; and the embossing
cylinder, 11, is driven from one of the cam shafts, 10, by means of a worm, 14,
thereon gearing with a worm wheel on a short vertical shaft, 15, which is geared
by a bevil pinion and wheel, 16, to the shaft of the cylinder, 11.
The canvas having been prepared as hereinbefore described, and placed on a
roller, 17, at the entering side of the machine, passes thence round the embossing
cylinder, 11. The canvas or material is first forced into the intaglio cavities of
the embossing cylinder, 11, by the stampers, 6, and then passes on to receive a
backing of paper which is applied to the surface which is then outwards. The
backing paper is drawn off a drum or roller, 18, and is first passed through a
trough, 19, containing water which may be heated by steam to soften the paper,
which is depressed into the water by passing under a loose roller, 20. The paper
is next led into the machine by an endless blanket, 21, which carries it between
a pair of rollers, 22, 23, the upper one, 22, supplying paste to the surface of the
paper which goes into contact with the embossed canvas. The blanket, 21, is
distended by the lower, 23, of the two rollers last mentioned and by another
roller 24, which last is pressed towards the embossing cylinder 11, and the blanket
carries the pasted paper between the roller, 24; and the embossed canvas and
causes it to adhere to the latter. A box or chest, 25, to which steam is admitted
is placed within the endless blanket, 21, for the purpose of heating the pasted paper
and removing superfluous moisture. The roller, 24, which presses the blanket
with the pasted paper towards the embossing cylinder is covered with rubber or
other suitable material which may be formed with a toothed surface to press the.
paper well into the embossed parts of the canvas. After the modelled canvas has
thus received its backing paper it passes between another roller, 26, and the
cylinder, 11, this roller, 26, carrying one end loop of an endless cloth or apron, 27,
upon which the modelled canvas is delivered from the machine; and this roller, 26,
may also be covered with rubber and serve to press the paper still more closely to
the modelled canvas. A rotating brush, 28, driven by means of pulleys and a
belt, 29, from one of the cam shafts, 10, is placed so as to act on the embossing
cylinder, 11, between the position at which the canvas enters upon it and that at
which it leaves it for the purpose of cleansing the cylinder from paste, size, or fluff*
left upon it by the canvas.
After leaving the machine the modelled canvas is hung up to dry, and is finally
completed by painting which may be done either before or after the material is
fixed on the wall or other surface which it is intended to decorate.
When the modelled canvas or similar material is to be applied to walls or surfaces
which are liable to be damp a backing of tinfoil is put on it either instead of or in
addition to the paper backing.
It is an important advantage of my machine and modelling process, that the
embossing of woven fabrics or leather or paper or other material is effected without
puckering or creasing but so as to retain for artistic effect the texture of the
material embossed.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The manufacturing of modelled canvas or embossed materials for covering and
decorating wall and other surfaces substantially in the improved manner herein-
before described.
2. The combination of parts constituting the embossing and backing machine
hereinbefore described.

page_text: 3. The application of tinfoil for the purpose of resisting damp to modelled canvas
or embossed materials used for covering and decorating wall and other surfaces as
hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof I, the said William Scott Morton have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twentieth day of November in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-two.
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
W SCOTT MORTON (L.s.)