A NEW METHOD OF INTERMIXING AND INPUSING CERTAIN METALLIC SUBSTANCES INTO THE BODY AND PORES OF ALL SORTS OF IRON AND STEEL AND OTHER METALS, WHICH PREVENTS THE PERNICIOUS EFFECTS OF AIR AND MOISTURE
Year: 1786

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
KERR, of the King's Meuse, Charing Cross, Bit Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
the Third day of August, in the twenty-sixth year of His reign, give and
grant unto me, the said William Kerr, His especial licence, that I, the said
William Kerr, during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A NEW METHOD OF INTERMIXING AND
INPUSING CERTAIN METALLIC SUBSTANCES INTO THE BODY AND PORES OF ALL SORTS OF
IRON AND STEEL AND OTHER METALS, WHICH PREVENTS THE PERNICIOUS EFFECTS OF
AIR AND MOISTURE;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso, obliging me, the said William Kerr, under my hand and seal, to
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and how
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesties High Court of
Chancery within one calendar month after the date of the said recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto had, may more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Kerr, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described in manner
following, that is to say :-
1st. The metal intended to be prepared is put into a large cistern of hot
water, with such a sufficient quantity of spirits of salts as will make it bright;

page_text: when taken out it is necessary to file it for the best work, such as musquet
barrels, &c., but for rough work there is no occasion.
2d. The composition to be infused into the metal consists of one third of
of grain tin and two-thirds of block tin, a small quantity of quicksilver and
brass filings are added, for the purpose of giving the metal a fine silver colour,
which is necessary in fine work, but for ship bolts and other course work need
not be used.
3d. Pans of cast iron of different dimensions are fixed in brick work, and
filled with this composition, one hundred weight of which is used to a foot of
iron, and which composition, when melted to a proper medium of heat, the
metal intended to imbibe it is covered with rosin and immerged therein, and
after remaining there till it has fully received the composition, which is generally
about ten minutes, more or less, according to the porous quality of the metal,
it is taken out and well shaken to keep the composition smooth on the metal,
then sprinkled all over with sal ammonica, which forces the composition into
the
pores of the metal, and is there fixed by afterwards throwing the metal so
prepared into cold water, and immediately taken out to cool, when the whole
process is perfect.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Kerr, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty-sixth day of August. One thousand seven
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Thirtieth day of August, in
the year of our Lord 1786, the aforesaid William Kerr came before our
said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt, according to the
tenor of the Statutes made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and eighty-six.