AN IMPROVEMENT IN VENEERING AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF, FOR THE ORNAMENTATION IN IMITATION OF MARQUETRY OF FURNITURE OR VARIOUS OTHER MATTERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Waterman Spurr and Louis Prang, of the State
of Massachusetts, of the United States of America, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN VENEERING AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF, FOR THE
ORNAMENTATION IN IMITATION OF MARQUETRY OF FURNITURE OR VARIOUS
OTHER MATTERS."
Scaled the 7th April 1876, and dated the 4th February 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Charles Waterman Spurr and
Louis Prang at the Office of the Cominissioners of Patents on the 4th February
1876.
CHARLES WATERMAN SPURR and LOUIS PRANG, of the State of Massachusetts, of
the United States of America. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN VENEERING AND IN THE
MANUFACTURE THEREOF, FOR THE ORNAMENTATION IN IMITATION OF MARQUETRY OF
FURNITURE OR VARIOUS OTHER MATTERS."
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a transverse section of a specimen of the
new or improved article resulting from our mode or process of manufacture, as
described.
In carrying out our Invention we take a thin veneer a of light or white wood,
and fix on one side of it by a paste or cement a backing b of paper. The thin
wooden veneer we previously subject to the action of an acid solution (which may
be composed of one part oxalic acid to nine parts water or thereabout) by dipping
the wood therein or thoroughly washing its surface or surfaces therewith, after
which the wood should be slowly dried. Next we wash with a solution of
glycerine (which may consist of one part glycerine to four parts water) that surface
of the veneer which is to be printed or to receive the design in imitation of
marquetry or inlaid work, which having done we subject the veneer to a process of
slow desiccation, after which we rub the surface down with sand paper or pumice
to smooth it or remove from it all extraneous fibres or matters, and next print or
paint upon it a black or colored background, and the figure or figures to represent
inlaid work, such being as shown in Figure 1, or in accordance with any suitable
design.
After the ink color or colors so applied to the wood may have become set or dry
we cover the surface with a weak alcoholic solution of shellac or a thin varnish, to
prevent the colors from being rubbed off in the process of fixing by glue the

page_text: sheet to a piece of furniture. The article is then ready for use. In using it it is
to be fixed to a surface as a sheet of veneer usually is by means of glue.
With the article so produced an excellent and remarkably close imitation of
marquetry or inlaid work, especially of wood, ivory, or bone, may be accomplished
at a trifling expense in comparison to that required to produce the real work, of
which the article may be an imitation.
In making veneering, the wood being damp when cut is very liable to become
and usually is stained, more or less particularly by the knife.
By employing an acid solution, as herein-before set forth, the natural as well as
the artificial stains are mostly if not entirely removed.
When the wood has to be rendered whiter a bleaching material, such a chloride
of lime may be applied to it, but generally speaking the acid solution will suffice.
The wood after as well as before such treatment is more or less wrinkled or
cockled.
In order to remove the wrinkles or cockles or unevenness, and prepare the
surface for receiving the imprint or colors we make use of glycerine, as herein-
before mentioned.
The backing of paper not only prevents the wood from splitting, but enables the
fortified veneer to be strongly affixed to a surface by glue, without the latter
striking through the wood to the injury of the design or figure thereon.
We claim as our Invention the process or mode substantially as described of
preparing for decorative purposes wood veneering combined or to be combined with
a backing as set forth.
We also claim the new or improved article of manufacture, viz., a wood veneer
reinforced by. a backing, and otherwise treated substantially as herein-before
explained.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Waterman Spurr and Louis Prang,
have hereunto set our hands and seals this Eighteenth day of January,