Improvements in the Manufacture of Letters and Numerals for Address, Advertising.. Name-plates, and Children's Toys.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Letters and Numerals for
Address, Advertising.. Name-plates, and Children's Toys.
FRANCIS CHARLES CLARE, Cotterells Lane, Alum Rock, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
In the usual way letters & numerals are made of wood or metal stamped cut
out or cast in either case being expensive and usually made still more costly by the
application of a vitreous glaze. Now my invention has for its object the production
of letters & numerals very much cheaper than those usually made but at the same
time equally effectual for this purpose I employ clay or terra cotta or like
inexpensive material using same in a plastic state and moulding pressing or cutting
the letters and numerals out of the material employed and afterwards baking them
in a kiln or oven the letters or numerals are then (in the biscuit state) ready for use
(suitable arrangement being made for affixing them when required as is hereafter
described. After being used they can be left their natural color or can be stained,
painted varnished gilded or coloured as may be desired from time to time or before
they are used a non vitreous glaze (instead of the more expensive vitreous glaze)
can be applied such as Japan varnish lacquer, or even paint gold silver or bronze
leaf a powder or similar material to give lustre & durable surface but in this case
I prefer coating the letters or numerals with Japan & then subjecting them to
400 or 600 degrees of heat to dry & harden same though this is not essential to
the nature of my invention.
Letters or numerals for signs have holes made in them when or after they are
moulded in a plastic state and a screw can be tapped to enable them to be screwed
on or for a plate to be screwed on or some similar arrangement. For affixing to
glass the back of the letters are made perfectly smooth by rubbing or grinding to
enable them to adhere more firmly.
For childrens toys I prefer to make a firm base to the letters or numerals so that
they will stand vertically thus giving the child a more perfect view of the letters or
figures & enabling them to build with them but in all cases I claim the manufacture
of numerals and letters in clay or terra cotta for use in the biscuit state either
natural color or stained or with the application of a non vitreous glaze such as
Japan varnish or paint &c. and for childrens toys with a base forming a foot or
stand to give the letters or numerals a vertical position.
Dated this Twelfth dow of Aril 1900.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Letters and Numerals for
Address, Advertising, Name-plates, and Children's Toys.
FRANCIS CHARLES CLARE, Cotterells Lane, Alum Rock, Saltley, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists of the manufacture of letters and numerals from clay terra
cotta or like materials which I use in a plastic or dry state forming them from moulds
of plaster of paris or metal or pressing or cutting them out with dies having the
desired letters or numerals sunk in them.
Letters and numerals for signs have holes in them (either through or partly
rn '

page_text: through either plain or tapped for a screw these being made at the time the letters
or numerals are moulded or immediately afterwards) for the purpose of screwing or
nailing them in any desired position or for affixing a plate or plates for the same
purpose.
Letters or numerals for fixing to glass would be made to adhere more firmly by
having the backs ground or rubbed down perfectly smooth and those for childrens
toys I prefer to make with a firm base to so that they will stand vertically thus
giving the child a more perfect view of the letter-and for moulding purposes the
letters or numerals have bevelled sides to enable them to leave the sand easily.
The articles when thus manufactured are fired in å kiln or oven until they acquire
the state commonly known as biscuit. They are then coated with a non-vitreous glaze
(to give a durable and glossy surface) under which designation I include-Japan-
namely any tar varnish commonly used to coat iron goods varnishes-such as copal
varnish made from various gums paints made from various metal oxides mixed with
oils and dryers and including the enamel paints well known in the trade as Aspinall's
enamels or the various metal powders and leafs. I innumerate these coating
materials as being suitable but I do not confine myself to any particular varnish
Japan, or paint my invention relating exclusively to all the usual varities of these
articles suitable for painting signs or wood or metal letters or numerals. The
methods of coating the letters and numerals is by dipping brushing or the fingers
or some such suitable way. This can be done before or after they are fixed in
position but if before I prefer to use a Japan made from tar varnish when a
black is required the article after being coated being subjected to some hundreds
degrees of heat F. for lighter colors and shades I coat the biscuit with a stain
composed of aneline or other suitable dye of the desired color and afterwards apply
a coat of clear varnish such as copal varnish which may or may not be stoved
according to the nature of the material used-or if after they. are fixed in position
any of the oxide paints or enamels such as are used for sign painting will be best
employed.
t
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The manufacture of letters and numerals made from clay terra cotta or like
material the same being fired to the biscuit state and coated with a non-vitreous
glaze as herein described.
2nd. The mode of affixing letters and numerals made of clay or terra cotta by
making plain or tapped holes through or partly through same for fastening them to
a base or for affixing a plate for a like purpose.
Dated this Sixteenth day of December 1890.