Improvements in the Manufacture of Facias, Sign-boards, Adver- tising Tablets and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Facias, Sign-boards, Adver-
tising Tablets and the like.
I, JOSEPH TRENNER, of the Firm of S. Trenner & Son, Manufacturers, of 76 and 78,
Gray's Inn Road, in the County of London, 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:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of facias sign boards advertising tablets
and the like and has for its object to produce effective and artistic decoration of the
same cheaply and expeditiously.
According to this invention the facia tablet or the like shows the inscription,
devices or lettering thereon surrounded by, or set in, a decoration consisting of
leaves, arabesques, a geometrical pattern or the like or a combination of such
ornaments. The whole of the decoration part forms a groundwork for the devices
lettering or inscription.
The groundwork may consist of two parts, a principal pattern, and a second,
smaller, pattern subjacent to the former.
According to this invention I prepare a sheet of metal, a slab of slate or a
suitable piece of wood (a board or plank say) which forms a backing or foundation.
On this backing I may produce the secondary pattern of the groundwork (if
any) by any convenient means.
The production of this secondary pattern forms no part of the present invention.
The substantial part of my invention is the production of the principal pattern of
the groundwork, and this alone is meant when " groundwork" is hereinafter
mentioned.
The groundwork may be a pattern of leaves as illustrated in the accompanying
A mould suitable for
drawings, a geometrical pattern, arabesques, or the like.
the production of such "groundwork" is made and in it branches, sheets, or
other portions of the pattern are formed and then applied to the backing, plate,
slab, or tablet. I may mould the " groundwork" from such composition as is
usually employed in making picture frames, or plaster of Paris, papier maché or
other plastic material may be used for the purpose.
When the "groundwork" has been applied to the backing, tablet, slab, or the
like, I cut away or remove portions of the pattern formed thereby so that letters,
figures or other devices, made in wood, glass, metal, or other material may be
affixed to the underlying metal, wood, slate, or the like and lay flat thereon. I
may so cut away or remove portions of the "groundwork" pattern either before or
after the material from which the same is moulded has "set," as may be most
convenient according to the nature of the material employed.
The letters, devices or the like may also be affixed to the backing (the metal,
slate, wood, or the like) before the "groundwork" has set or hardened, although
generally speaking it will be found preferable to allow the "groundwork" to set
before inserting the letters or the like.
""
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a tablet with the "groundwork
applied thereto and cut away so as to accommodate a letter, a T being chosen for
illustration

page_text: Figure 2 shows the tablet ready that is to say the letter in place.
Figure 3 is a section on line x, x, Figure 2.
In all these figures A is the " backing" B, the moulded "groundwork"; b, b,
Figure 1 showing where it is cut away. C is the letter which may be fixed to the
backing A by screws, nails, glue, cement, or otherwise as may be convenient. Dis
a frame which surrounds the tablet, this frame may be dispensed with if preferred.
Portions of the " groundwork" may be arranged as if passing over, or through
the letter, as shown at b¹, Fig. 2, the letter being cut in those parts if required.
"
In some cases I may first fix the letters to the backing and then apply the
groundwork." The whole may be coloured or gilt, so as to appear like carved or
inlaid work and will be of a highly ornamental appearance although cheap and
easily manufactured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In the manufacture of facias sign boards, advertising tablets, or the like, a
moulded pattern or "groundwork" on a backing of suitable material, said "
"ground-
work" being so applied as to accommodate letters, figures, or devices of wood,
metal, glass or other material substantially as and for the purpose hereinabove
set forth.
Dated this 10th day of February 1898
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.