A New or Improved Composition for Forming Lawn-tennis Courts, Walks, Floors, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Composition for Forming Lawn-tennis Courts,
Walks, Floors, and the like.
I, JOHN COOKE of Folly Hall, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Asphalter, 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 has reference to a new or improved composition for forming or
laying lawn tennis courts walks, drives, floors, and other like open or enclosed
grounds or places, the object thereof being to provide a composition, which, when
properly laid and allowed to solidify, will present a much warmer appearance, be
much more pliable, elastic or yielding, and wear considerably longer than the courts
walks etc. laid or formed with common tar and ashes, or clay and ashes; my improved
composition will also be proof against damp or moisture which is an objection
to the present clay and ash or turf courts or beds as they cannot be used until
dried.
In order to carry out my invention I make the composition, preferably, of a
combination of spent logwood chips, and tar obtained by destructive distillation from
the roots of coniferous trees, of the kind known as Stockholm tar or Archangel tar,
but for some kinds of work ordinary coal or gas tar may be used instead of Stockholm
or Archangel tar, and instead of, or in addition to, logwood chips, I may use wood or
cork chippings or other waste materials possessing like qualities which can be
used separately, or combinations of any two or more of said materials may be
employed.
The tar is first boiled in an ordinary tank or boiler and then poured onto a heap of
chips which are repeatedly turned over until the two substances are thoroughly mixed
and the required consistency obtained. The composition is now laid, so as to form the
court or bed, in the ordinary way of laying asphalte, and a little sawdust or corkdust,
sprinkled over the surface so as to prevent the composition adhering to the roller with
which it is subsequently rolled. After the composition has been allowed to harden
or set" the surface thereof is covered with a coat of paint made of Stockholm or
Archangel tar to which is added a little rosin to give body to it and make it
repellent of water or moisture which cannot therefore remain on the court or ground
covered with the composition, thereby enabling such court to be used immediately
after rain, which is not the case with clay, ash or turf courts.
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After coating or painting the surface of the court, walk, etc., as above described, it
is rolled to complete the work, a little sawdust or corkdust being first sprinkled over
the paint to prevent it adhering to the roller. Whenever the paint or surface of
the court, etc., shews signs of wear it may be renewed again and again by applying
a fresh coat of the paint herein described.
The proportion of chips to tar to form the composition is as or 6 of the former
to 1 of the latter, but these proportions may be varied according to individual require-
ments or to the class of work to be done.
As coal or gas tar is liable to soil the clothes or hands and to "boil up" under
the influence of the heat of the sun, it will be understood that its use, in lieu of
the better class of tar mentioned herein, is only intended for that kind of work
where cheapness is desired and the objectionable features named are not detrimental
to its use.
The Stockholm or Archangel tar, or tar procured by distillation from the roots
of coniferous trees, being of a brown-black colour and the logwood chips mostly
red, the court, walk, etc., formed or laid with the composition made by mixing the
two together presents a much warmer appearance, is yielding or elastic to the
tread, will not soil or dirty the hands or clothes, and will wear much longer than

page_text: asphalte, clay, or turf beds or courts, and being made repellent of water or moisture,
can be used immediately after a shower.
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 :-
Firstly. A composition made by the admixture of spent logwood chips, cork, wood
or other like chippings with the better kinds of tar such as Stockholm or Archangel
tar, for forming or laying lawn tennis courts, walks, floors or other open or enclosed
spaces or grounds substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Secondly. A composition made by the admixture of spent logwood, cork, wood, or
other like chippings with coal or gas tar for forming or laying walks, floors or other
spaces or grounds where the qualities of such composition are required and the
objectionable features of gas or coal tar will not be detrimental thereto, substantially
as herein set forth.
Dated this 17th day of September 1890.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Market Place, Huddersfield, Agents for the Applicant.