IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING ARTICLES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING ARTICLES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
August 1854.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING
ARTICLES OF VULCANIZED CAOUTCHOUC," a communication from abroad, to be as
follows
This Invention relates to the moulding or shaping snuff boxes, and articles
of a generally similar nature in vulcanized caoutchouc. Vulcanized caoutchouc,
a material peculiarly well adapted for being moulded to any shape, is formed
to the required coutour in metallic moulds; such moulds are heated with the
caoutchouc inside to such an extent as will give the material under treatment
the necessary moulding softness. In this condition the heated mould is placed
in or under a press, and the requisite amount of moulding pressure is then
imparted to it. If the caoutchouc is in two or more pieces when deposited in
Price S17

page_text: the mould, the contiguous surfaces of the pieces must be scraped clean, so as
to ensure accuracy of junction under the moulding pressure. After pressure
the charged moulds are plunged into cold water, and this completes the
operation; the moulded articles then only requiring to be disengaged from the
moulds, and, if necessary, dressed up for use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th February 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, and of
Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Johnson, Her special license that I, the said William Johnson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term thereinexpressed,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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MOULDING OR SHAPING
ARTICLES OF VULCANIZED CAOUTCHOUC," a communication from abroad, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Johnson, by an instrument
in writing under 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 William Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:
The said Invention relates to the moulding or shaping snuff boxes and
articles of a generally similar nature in vulcanized caoutchouc. Vulcanized

page_text: caoutchouc, a material peculiarly well adapted for being moulded to any shape,
is formed to the required contour in metallic moulds; such moulds are heated
with the caoutchouc inside to such an extent as will give the material under
treatment the necessary moulding softness. In this condition the heated mould
is placed in or under a press, and the requisite amount of moulding pressure is
then imparted to it. If the caoutchouc is in two or more pieces or sheets
when deposited in the mould, the contiguous surfaces of the pieces must be
scraped clean, so as to ensure accuracy of junction under the moulding pressure.
After
pressure the charged moulds are plunged into cold water, and this com
pletes the operation; the moulded articles then only requiring to be disengaged
from the moulds, and, if necessary, dressed up for use.
And in order that the said Invention may be more readily understood, I
shall now proceed to describe more particularly and in detail the mode of
carrying out the process herein-before referred to.
In making snuff boxes, knife handles, combs, or similar articles, in which
the hard vulcanized india-rubber may be substituted for the materials hitherto
used in the manufacture of such articles, a metal mould is employed, which
is filled with sheets of vulcanized caoutchouc, or with scraps or filings, being
the refuse or residue from the manufactures of the like material; thus
utilising such scraps and filings which have hitherto been considered as utterly
useless.
The moulds are previously prepared by having their interior surfaces slightly
coated with tallow, or other similar fatty or oily matter, in order to prevent the
adhesion of the material to the sides thereof. When a sufficient quantity of
material has been placed in the mould to give the required thickness to the
article to be shaped, the mould is closed and placed in or under a powerful
press. When sheets of the hard vulcanized india-rubber are used, such sheets
are formed to the size of the article to be made in the mould, the contiguous
surfaces being first scraped clean, as herein before described, to ensure accuracy
of junction. The mould, having been sufficiently pressed, is removed from the
press and placed between two two thick plates of red-hot iron, and the mould
between these red-hot plates is then again introduced into the press, and the
pressure is increased in proportion as the mould gets heated. When these
red-hot plates have imparted sufficient heat to the mould, it is withdrawn from
the press and plunged into cold water, and allowed to remain there until cool;
the article is then taken out of the mould, perfectly shaped to the form and
contour of the mould, and having a high degree of compactness, solidity,
and polish.
To manufacture articles of variegated colors, veined, striped, or marbled,

page_text: scraps or figures cut out of colored india-rubber are first introduced into the
mould, or mineral colors or other colored substances may be employed, and
the filings or waste scraps to form the body of the article are then introduced
above them. Over this second layer a third layer, composed of colored figures
scraps, or mineral colors, is introduced; and over these again a fresh supply
of the body material is added, and so on, until the required thickness or bulk
is obtained, the layers of coloring matter or colored scraps being alternated
by layers or sheets of the material composing the body of the article. The
articles may be variegated with one or several colors, and when polished present
a highly ornamental appearance. It is proposed to apply this process of
moulding to the joining or soldering of articles composed of hard vulcanized
india-rubber. For this purpose the broken parts are first scraped off, and dust
or powder of hard vulcanized india-rubber is introduced between the scraped
surfaces. The whole is then submitted to a high degree of heat and pressure,
as herein-before described, whereby the broken parts are so beautifully and
effectively united that it is impossible to detect the junction.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
The system or mode of forming or moulding sheets, scrapings, filings, dust,
or powder of hard vulcanized india-rubber into a compact and solid mass of
any desired form, by means of a high degree of heat and pressure in moulds or
matrices, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Seven-
teenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.