IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTATION OF ARTICLES OF GLASS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas George Webb, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Glass Manufacturer, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTATION OF ARTICLES OF
GLASS."
Sealed the 15th November 1870, and dated the 17th May 1870..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas George Webb
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th May 1870.
I, THOMAS GEORGE WEBB, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Glass Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention'
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTATION OF ARTICLES OF
GLASS," to be as follows:
My Invention relates firstly to articles of glass in which a hole is
pierced or partially so by a plug, and consists in an arrangement whereby
such operation is more effectually accomplished. For this purpose I use'
a hollow plug for punching the said hole, such hollow plug being so

page_text: formed as to admit the greater part of the metal, leaving only a slight
ring to be subsequently removed. Or instead of this I reverse the
arrangement and cause the superfluous metal to pass downward through
a cavity.
Secondly. My Invention relates to a method of finishing such edges,
and other parts of articles of glass as are sometimes glazed or ground.
For this purpose I use a revolving surface and any of the usual grinding
and polishing substances, and against this surface I place the article to
-be ground in such manner that its periphery is concentric to the centre
of motion. The revolving surface may be flat for some purposes, such
as grinding the edges of tumblers, or may be curved to suit the shape of
the article.
Thirdly. My Invention relates to ornamenting dishes, vases, and other
articles of capacity on which it is desired to obtain effect from a raised
pattern. To produce this I form the said pattern by pressing in moulds,
but as this method leaves a bright surface which is not effective I protect
the ground with wax or other suitable substance, and then apply hydro-
fluoric acid to the raised parts, by which means they become dimmed.
Or I reverse this operation and in like manner treat the ground with the
acid.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas George Webb in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th November 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
GEORGE WEBB, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Glass
Manufacturer, send greeting.
+
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas George Webb, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas George Webb, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas George Webb,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during

page_text: tr
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Iк-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND ORNAMENTATION OF ARTICLES OF GLASS,"
upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Thomas George
Webb, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas George Webb, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to
say:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to articles of glass in which a hole is
pierced or partially so by a plug, and consists in an arrangement whereby
such operation is more effectually accomplished.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents one method of
carrying out this part of my Invention. The mould for the intended
article is shown at a resting upon a base b, and at c is the usual
"scollop." The plug is at d, and which also constitutes the top mould.
or die according to the ordinary arrangement; but by my Invention I
form in the said plug a central hollow part e, the use of which I will
now describe. Suppose the plug to be formed solid like those in
ordinary use, it is well known that when it descends upon the "metal"
to form the intended moulded article, that the superfluous "metal" not
being able to escape gives rise to unequal thicknesses, especially at that
part at which it is subsequently to be severed.
"
In the Drawing the moulding is represented as finished, and it will be
observed that the superfluous "metal" m, or the greater part of it, rises
through the hollow part e, leaving a thin ring only at the line f to be.
severed, which severance is effected in the usual manner.
At Fig. 2 I have shewn a modification of this part of my Invention,
the difference being that in this instance the superfluous "metal" m is
caused to pass through a hollow extending downward. The mould is.

page_text: at a resting upon a base band the "scollop" at c; at d is the plug with
its top mould or dic. Through the mould a is an aperture e, which also
extends through the base b. When the plug descends into the position
shewn and the article is moulded, the superfluous "metal" m passes
down the aperture e, leaving as before a thin ring only at f to be
severed.
In reference to this part of my Invention I will state I am aware that
hollow plugs have been used in some cases for pressing articles of glass,
but in such cases the said hollows have themselves been moulds to fashion
a permanent part of the said article, whereas according to my Invention
the hollow is to take superfluous "metal" to be subsequently removed.
The next part of my Invention relates to a method of finishing such
edges and other parts of glass articles as are sometimes ground or
glazed, and is shewn at Figs. 3 and 4. At g is an axle driven by
pullies or other convenient means, and carrying at one end a revolving
surface i. Upon this surface made of iron, stone, wood, or other suitable
substance I place any of the well known grinding or polishing
materials and the article to be operated upon is then placed against
the said surface concentric to its centre of motion, as seen at Fig. 4,
and held there by hand or by any suitable apparatus, while the said
surface revolves, and effects the grinding or polishing. The surface i
may be grooved to suit the shape of the article of glass, or may be
plain.
Another part of my Invention relates to ornamenting dishes, vases,
and other articles of capacity in pressed glass, and on which it is desired
to obtain effect from a raised pattern. To produce this I form the said
pattern in moulds, but as this method leaves a bright surface which is
not effective, I protect the ground with wax or other suitable substance,
and then apply bydrofluoric acid to the raised parts, by which means
they become dimmed. Or I reverse this operation, and in like manner
treat the ground with the acid.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I
desire it to be understood that I claim as secured to me under the above
in part recited Letters Patent, and for the purposes above set forth,-
Firstly. And in reference to. Figs. 1 and 2, the use of the hollowed
parts for receiving superfluous metal.

page_text: Secondly. In reference to Figs. 3 and 4, grinding the article by.
placing them concentric to the centre of motion of the grinding
surface.
Thirdly. Ornamenting such articles of glass as aforesaid, in the
manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas George Webb, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
THOMAS GEORGE WEBB. (L.S.)