A COMPOSITION FOR RENDERING UNINFLAMMABLE LINEN, COTTON, SILK, OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE FABRICS AND
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Rowbotham, of Putney, in the County
of Surrey, Doctor of Medicine, and Thomas Gratton, of Derby, in the
County of Derby, for the Invention of "A COMPOSITION FOR RENDERING
UNINFLAMMABLE LINEN, COTTON, SILK, OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE FABRICS AND
"
Sealed the 29th June 1860, and dated the 2nd January 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Rowbotham and
Thomas Gratton, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 2nd January 1860.
We, SAMUEL ROWBOTHAM, of Putney, in the County of Surrey, Doctor of
Medicine, and THOMAS GRATTON, of Derby, in the County of Derby, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A COMPOSITION FOR RENDERING
UNINFLAMMABLE LINEN, COTTON, SILK, OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE FABRICS AND SUB-
STANCES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application of a composition formed of
chemical products to fabrics and substances for the purpose of rendering the
same uninflammable.
We propose using bi-borate or borate of soda, or of potash, magnesia,
or other base, which is to be mixed with the mucilage or jelly of quince,
marsh-mallow, linseed, tapioca, dextrine or gum of any kind, or of any animal
or vegetable substance; to this may be added as required a portion of car-
bonate of soda, potash, or magnesia (according to the base used) to form the
bi-borate or borate, and which tends to neutralize any excess of acid, rendering
the whole mass more easily combinable. This is thoroughly incorporated
with starch, and well dried and ground, when it may be used as starch is

page_text: ordinarily used, which will have the effect of rendering the fabrics uninflammable;
or it may be used as a varnish to coat paper and other inflammable substances;
and to render it suitable as a rinsing or dipping fluid it may be used in a more
diluted state
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Rowbotham and Thomas Gratton in the Great Seal
- Patent Office on the 2nd July 1860.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SAMUEL
ROWBOTHAN, of Putney, in the County of Surrey, Docter of Medicine, and
THOMAS GRATTON, of Derby, in the County of Derby, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Samuel Rowbotham and Thomas Gratton, Her special licence that
we, the said Samuel Rowbotham and Thomas Gratton, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said and Samuel Rowbotham
and Thomas Gratton, our executors, 'administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"A COMPOSITION FOR RENDERING UNINFLAMMABLE LINEN, COTTON, SILK, OR OTHER
INFLAMMABLE FABRICS AND SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Samuel Rowbotham and Thomas Gratton, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Samuel Rowbotham and Thomas
Gratton, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in the application of a composition formed of certain
chemical products to fabrics and substances, for the purpose of rendering the
same uniuflammable.

page_text: In order to explain our said Invention as completely as possible we will
now proceed to describe the best means we are acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect as follows:-
We use bi-borate or borate of soda, or of potash, magnesia or other base,
which is to be mixed with the mucilage or jelly of quince, marsh-mallow,
linseed, tapioca, dextrine or gum of any kind, or of any animal or vegetable
substance; to this may be added as required a portion of carbonate of soda,
potash, or magnesia (according to the base used) which tends to neutralize
any excess of boracic acid, and thereby destroy corrosive quality and render
the whole mass more easily combinable. This is thoroughly incorporated with
starch and well dried and ground, when it may be used as starch is ordinarily
used, which will have the effect of rendering the fabrics uninflammable; or it
may be used as a varnish to coat paper, and other inflammable substances; and
to render it suitable as a rincing or dipping fluid it may be used in a diluted
state; or the boracic acid compounds may be used for this purpose without
admixture with the starch or mucilage.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention of
"A Composition for Rendering Uninflammable Linen, Cotton, Silk, or other
Inflammable Fabrics and Substances," together with the manner in which the
same is to be performed, we would remark in conclusion that we do not claim
any particular proportions of the various materials used, as in many cases they
may be varied, and those acquainted with chemistry will readily judge of the
required proportions to suit the different fabrics to be treated; but what we
claim as our Invention intended to be secured to us by the herein in part recited
Letters Patent is, the rendering of fabrics and substances uninflammable in
the manner herein described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Rowbotham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
ALEXR. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
SAMUEL ROWBOTHAM. (L.S.)
4 Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.