Im- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND BLOCKS FOR BUILDING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James William Sumner, of Vauxhall Bridge Road,.
Marble Merchant, and Clement Augustus Scott, of Brompton, Civil
"
Engineer, both in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND BLOCKS FOR BUILDING AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 16th January 1866, and dated the 9th August 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James William Sumner.
and Clement. Augustus Scott at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 9th August 1865.
We, JAMES WILLIAM SUMNER, of Vauxhall Bridge Road, Marble Merchant,
and CLEMENT AUGUSTUS SCOTT, of Brompton, Civil Engineer; both in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND BLOCKS FOR BUILDING AND
OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved and more economic method of
manufacturing bricks and blocks for building purposes and engineering
works of every description, not only of the ordinary shape and size, but of any
size or shape found convenient for such purposes.
This Invention also includes the use of moulds made of glass, metal, or
wood, by the adoption of which the brick, when formed, presents a much

page_text: smoother and more uniform surface than when made with moulds of the
ordinary description; the moulds are also constructed with hinged or moveable
sides, so that the bricks when dry or nearly so are set free without the
necessity of previously wetting or lubricating the moulds in any way, at the
same time that they are preserved from distortion, twisting, or abrasion of
the edges to which they are always more or less liable with ordinary moulds.
Lubrication may, however, be resorted to in such cases as may be found
désirable.
'
The method of manufacture is as follows:-Stones, broken bricks, sand,
gravel, clinkers, chalk, or other suitable materials are mixed dry with a com-
bination of limes, which may be those obtainable from Dumball, Aberthaw, or
Leicester, or any other limes found to fulfil the same conditions. Water, hot
or cold, is to be then added, and the whole thoroughly stirred and incorporated
either in a suitable mill or by hand labor, and then placed in moulds until set
to a consistent mass; the sides of the moulds are then disengaged, and the
bricks left to dry. The time required for this varies according to the state of
the weather and the materials used, from 24 hours to 14 days; they are then
ready for use. Any mineral color may be applied, either mingled with the
materials or applied to the surface of the bricks when made.
If light weight, greater economy of material, or additional key for mortar be
desired, the Inventors also use a plunger of wood, glass, or metal, with conical
perforators, which being pressed into the substance of the bricks before they
become hard, and then removed, leave corresponding cavities, and at the same
time tend to consolidate the material and press it into every portion of the
mould equally, besides forming the usual frog or indentation for reception of
mortar.
The proportions used vary necessarily with the description of limes to be
combined together, as well as the degree of coarseness of the other materials
employed; a good ordinary proportion being, for example, three parts of
Leicester lime, 1 part of Aberthaw, and twelve parts of gravel by measure,
the last consisting of one-fourth coarse gravel and three-fourths sand.