IMPROVEMENTS IN AMALGAMATING METALS OR PRODUCING ALLOYS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of
No. 4, Wellington Street South, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agents, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AMALGAMATING
METALS OR PRODUCING ALLOYS."-A communication from abroad by Johann
Aich, Officer in the I. R. Marine, Venice.
Sealed the 4th May 1860, and dated the 3rd February 1860.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gedge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 3rd February 1860, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 4, Wellington Street South,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AMAL-
GAMATING METALS OR PRODUCING ALLOYS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn declaration that the same is a

page_text: communication to me from abroad from Jonann Aich, Umcer in the 1. K.
Marine, Venice.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Gedge, do hereby declare the
following complete Specification under my hand and seal, fully describes and
ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, that is to say:-
The metal or alloy, the subject of the present Invention, is composed of
copper, zinc, and iron, and if the amalgamation of parts be perfect, the
product may be worked both in a hot and cold state. At red heat it is
malleable like the best wrought iron, and is beaten, rolled, stamped, or drawn,
or formed into any shape or figure, or into wire, or cast in moulds when desi-
rable. As copper is the basis of my amalgam, and the introduction of iron into
the mixture a feature, I would here observe that if copper be not well smelted or
refined, a small portion of iron will often be found incorporated with the metal,
but never in such quantity as I require for my alloy. And, again, in the relative
proportions of metals given to produce my amalgam, it must be understood
that the component metals denote the quantities to be found in the alloy after
fusion, for, in order to obtain my alloy or amalgam it must be understood that
an overplus of one or other of the metals (and especially of zinc,) must be added
as, through oxidation and sublimation, certain portions thereof will inevitably
be lost during the process of fusion. The result of all experiment and practice
proves that the ratio of the three metals in the compound which answers best
of all is, for sixty pounds (in weight) of copper, thirty-eight pounds and two
ounces of zinc, and one pound and eight ounces of iron, making one hundred
pounds in all of the amalgam metal or alloy. But, taking sixty pounds of
copper as a standard, the proportion of zinc may be increased, even as far as
forty-four pounds, and that of iron diminished to half a pound or increased to
three pounds, without interfering with the property of the product so far as to
render it totally unfit for being worked in the manner herein-before indicated.
This metal or alloy, the produce of copper, zinc, and iron, being considerably
cheaper than brass, and in greater proportion cheaper than copper, will be
advantageously substituted for both, and particularly in ship building and
sheathing, as it possesses greater strength than copper, and resists the action
of sea water satisfactorily.
Having now described the nature of the Invention, and the means by which
it is carried into effect, I would state that I do not confine myself to the exact
proportions of parts herein first given for making the amalgam, but vary them
if desirable, as above mentioned; but I claim the exclusive manufacture and

page_text: use of the metal alloy or amalgam produced by the fusion of copper, zinc, and
iron, as herein-before described or set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gedge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
W. E. GEDGE,
4, Wellington St. South, Strand,
London.
JOHN GEDGE. (L.S.)