Improved Polishing Composition.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Polishing Composition.
I, HERBERT EDWARD HICKOx, of No. 51, Waddon New Road, West Croydon,
in the County of Surrey, Billiard Marker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to improvements in polishing compositions, and its object is
to provide a substitute for black lead as ordinarily used.
In carrying the invention into effect, I mix lb. of best old size with pint of
water and after they have become amalgamated, 1 lb. of plumbago is added and
stirred in. The mixture is then set on one side to set. This process of setting will
take about a week. When the mixture is dry, it is powdered and a little
water mixed up with it. 6 drops of spirit of camphor and 6 drops of aqua
ammonia sp. gr. 880 are next added and stirred in. The moulding process is next
proceeded with.
The above proportions and quantities may be varied to some extent and the
ingredients themselves may be replaced by others possessed of equivalent relative
properties. For instance, the ammonia is to remove any grease spots, therefore
any other equivalent alkali may be substituted.
The composition prepared as above described is mixed with water as ordinary
black lead is and rubbed on to the grate with flannel and polished with a dry
duster.
Dated this 29th day of July 1891.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Polishing Composition.
I, HERBERT EDWARD HICKOx, of No. 51, Waddon New Road, West Croydon,
in the County of Surrey, Billiard Marker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in polishing compositions, and its object
is to provide a substitute for black lead.
In carrying the invention into effect, I dissolve lb. of best old size with pint
of water, and after the two have become or been amalgamated, 1 lb. of plumbago is
stirred into the compound.
The next step is to dry the compound prepared as described in the preceding
paragraph; and this may be satisfactorily effected either by natural or spontaneous
evaporation, or by artificial desiccation.
When natural or spontaneous evaporation is relied on, the compound is simply
set on one side and exposed to the air in the usual way. It will be set and dry in
about a week, or more rather than less, say a fortnight. For the purpose of saving
this time and effecting the setting or drying of the compound forthwith, I make use
of what is commonly known as a drier, and further I subject the compound, after
the drier has been added to it, to the desiccating influence of dry heat, e.g., in an
oven or kiln. With reference to the drier to be employed, it must be pointed out
that not every drier known at the present time meets the requirements of my
invention. No drier is proper to be used unless such drier is incapable of affecting
the other ingredients which I make use of, as well as capable of drying up the size,
Price 4d.l

page_text: 80 as to cause the plumbago to remain suspended in the size during the drying
process. Provided that these two requirements are satisfied, I do not confine
myself to the use of any particular drier, but at the same time, I prefer vinegar in
this instance, as a drier. The proportion which I find gives satisfactory results is
pint to each pound of plumbago. The quantity of size may also be reduced by
one half, i.e., from lb. to lb.
The process of oven or kiln drying is too well known to require specifying here.
I make use of any suitable type or size of oven or kiln or other source of dry heat,
and generally conduct this portion of the artificial desiccation process in any
convenient way.
It must be distinctly understood that unless vinegar be used as
above described, any attempt at desiccation in an oven or kiln or by dry heat will
be unsuccessful.
The advantage in point of time of the above described method of artificial
desiccation over natural or spontaneous evaporation is about a fortnight, that is to
say, whereas the process of natural or spontaneous evaporation will take more than
a week, and may take a fortnight, the artificial desiccation can be carried through
in a few hours.
When the compound is dry, it is powdered and a little water is mixed up with it.
6 drops of spirit of camphor and 6 drops of ammonia aqua sp. gr. 880 are then
added and stirred in, and this last step completes the composition which is the
subject of my invention. It is, therefore, then ready for being moulded into blocks
of a convenient size for sale and use.
The proportions and quantities hereinbefore specified may be varied to some
extent without departing from the scope of my invention, although those specified
are to be taken as typical and as the best adapted to achieve the purpose of the
invention.
The ingredients themselves may be replaced by others possessed of equivalent
relative properties. For instance, the ammonia is to remove grease spots. That
being so, the use of any other alkali is within the scope of my invention.
When the composition prepared as hereinbefore described comes into the user's
hands, it is to be mixed with water as in the case of ordinary black lead, but the
application of it to the surface to be polished is peculiar. The wet composition is
to be rubbed on to the surface, e.g., a stove grate, with a piece of flannel or its
equivalent, and rubbed dry with a soft duster. The polish will then appear.
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 :
1. The herein before described composition consisting of size, water, plumbago,
and ammonia.
2. The hereinbefore described composition consisting of size, vinegar, water,
plumbago, camphor, and ammonia.
3. The hereinbefore described composition consisting of the specified ingredients
or of any other ingredients relatively the equivalent of those which they
respectively replace.
Dated this 12th day of October 1891.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.