IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL MARBLES, AND RENDERING THE SAME WATERPROOF
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Guelton, of 7, Union Street, Berkeley Square,.
Architect, and David George Sandeman, of 94, Piccadilly, late Captain, 16th
Lancers, both in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL MARBLES, AND RENDERING
THE SAME WATERPROOF,"
Sealed the 8th October 1878, and dated the 20th April 1878..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Guelton and David
George Sandeman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th
April 1878.
RICHARD GUELTON, of 7, Union Street, Berkeley Square, Architect, and DAVID.
GEORGE SANDEMAN, of 94, Piccadilly, late Captain, 16th Lancers, both in the.
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFI-
CIAL MARBLES, AND RENDERING THE SAME WATERPROof."
Our Invention mainly consists as follows:-
1st. We produce this artificial marble in slabs (flat or curved) in mouldings,
sculptures, chimney pieces, columns, pedestals, and so forth, with a cement. called
"Keen's cement," or other suitable material, and mineral or vegetable colours
ground with water.
2nd. To reproduce any marble whatever in slabs we use a smooth surface made
in glass or in polished cast iron, and even in plaster or cement, and such like,
resting horizontally on a frame padded with flannel. This frame is carried on
tressels about 3 feet high.
3rd. To form slabs of great dimensions the surface on which the marble is done.
rests on a frame fitted with a spindle at each of its ends, which rest on bearings
fixed on similar tressels to those described above, in order that whenever it is
required to remove this large slab from the said surface frame, glass and slab can..
be put in an upright position.

page_text: 4th. To form objects moulded or curved, such as chimney pieces, niches, archways,
brackets, columns, and such like, we make use of a mould made in plaster or
cement, or even in wood or iron.
5th. When the surface or the mould is ready we dilute in a pan with pure water
a certain quantity of cement, according to the size of the slab or object to be pro-
duced; this cement is to form the grained coat of marble. Then we tint this
cement in several shades, according to the marble to be imitated. We tint all
these shades separately in basins; then we trace the veins on the flat surface or on
the face of the mould with nets made with fibres or fibre of silk or other material,
or a single fibre may be used. We arrange these nets according to the geological
formation of the marble to be imitated. We soak these nets in water or cement,
tinted according to the shades of the veins of the said marble; then we spread
these nets and lay them on the surface or mould on which the marble is to be
formed in order to reproduce the different variations of the marble which we wish
to imitate; then we remove these nets from the said surface as soon as they have
printed or traced the veins. On these veins, which form the first plan of the
marble, we form the other parts of the marble with the tinted cement prepared as
before described, with which we cover all the surface, and give to this grained coat
of marble a thickness of about 3/10 of an inch; then with a trowel or any other
tool we smooth this coat of marble, and to prevent the bubbles of air we shake the
surface by knocking the frame all round; then we lay on this coat of marble a
piece of very open canvas, on which we spread a coat of dry cement half an inch
thick in order to draw off the superfluous water used to dilute the tinted cement.
We remove this dry cement as soon as it has soaked off the superfluous water
contained in this tinted cement; then with a polished trowel we rub for a few
minutes this coat of marble in order to press it on the surface.
6th. Afterwards, to strengthen this coat of marble and render it waterproof, we
use fibres of raw hemp or canvas or any other fibrous material, which we soak in a
solution of a kind of asphaltos in fusion; then we stick them on the said coat of
marble with asphaltos, which we level by the use of a roller adapted to the frame,
which carries the surface on which the marble is made, or simply with wet
cement.
7th. When all the cement is set we remove the slab or other object from the said
surface or from the mould.
8th. Then with cement tinted according to the ground of the marble we stop the
pores in same, if there be any, and afterwards we polish the marble in the same
way or in similar manner as in polishing real marble.
9th. We also trace or print the veins with a piece of cloth (silk being preferred),
which we plaster with soft wax or a kind of grease, and any other material; then
we trace the veins on this cloth by taking off the wax, grease, or other material
where the veins are to be formed by suitable means, according to the size of the
veins to be traced; then we soak these traces with tinted cement or coloured
water; afterwards we turn this cloth over and press it either on a flat surface or
on the face of the mould. We remove this cloth as soon as the veins are traced or
printed. We trace by the means just described any kind of designs used in the
decoration of buildings.
10th. To reproduce marble formed with bréche, such as bréches violette suran-
colin, and such like, we form in pasteboard or other material pieces of different
sizes and shapes, according to the breaches to be formed; then we lay these pieces
on the surface or on the face of the mould where the marble is to be formed. In
the intervals between these pieces we form the running parts of the marble with
cement tinted according to the marble which is to be reproduced; then we remove
carefully these pieces of pasteboard, and on the empty places left by their removal
we form the breaches, which are varied in shades and shapes according to the
geological formation of the marble which we wish to reproduce; then we finish
this marble as before described.
.f
- r

page_text: To produce columns of any dimension we form a shaft by making first a
skeleton with pieces of wood and laths, which skeleton we cover with coarse
cement. This coarse cement must be levelled according to the shape of the column
required, but rough, in order to permit the coat of marble to stick on it; then we
use this coat of marble to cover this rough shaft on a thin piece of oilcloth or on a
piece of paper (glazed paper being preferred). We spread this piece of oilcloth or
paper on a smooth and level surface. When this coat of marble is done of the
thickness required (about 3/8 of an inch), and while still in its moist or plastic state
we roll or stick it on the shaft prepared; then afterwards, when this coat of marble
is set hard we level it on a lathe with chisels; then we stone and polish it as before
described.
To form bold views, as found in several kinds of marbles, we produce them by
tinted cement prepared on a pallet of the shade required; then by a stick or
suitable means the veins are traced or formed on the surface or on the mould.
We also render the marble waterproof by simply applying on tlie back of slabs
or mouldings a coat of a liquid solution of tar or other suitable material; or with
tinfoil or other adhesive material we effect the same object.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Guelton and David George Sandeman in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th October 1878.
RICHARD GUELTON, of 7, Union Street, Berkeley Square, Architect, and DAVID
GEORGE SANDEMAN, of 94, Piccadilly, late Captain, 16th Lancers, both in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFI-
CIAL MARBLES, AND RENDERING THE SAME WATERPROOF."
Our Invention consists substantially as follows:-
1st. We produce this artificial marble in slabs (flat or curved), as mouldings;
sculptures, chimney pieces, columns, pedestals, and so forth, with a cement called
"Keen's cement," or other suitable material, and mineral or vegetable colours
ground with water.
2nd. To reproduce any marble whatever in slabs we use a smooth surface made
in glass or in polished cast iron, and even in plaster or cement, and such like,
resting horizontally on a frame padded with flannel. This frame is carried on
tressels about 3 1/2 feet high.
3rd. To form slabs of great dimensions the surface on which the marble is made
rests on a frame fitted with a spindle at each of its ends, which rest on bearings
fixed on similar tressels to those described above, in order that whenever it is
required to remove this large slab from the said surface the frame, glass, and slab
can be put in an upright position.
4th. To form objects moulded or curved, such as chimney pieces, niches, archways;
brackets, columns, and such like, we make use of a mould made in plaster.or
cement, or even.in wood or.iron...

page_text: 5th. When the surface or the mould is ready we dilute in a pan with pure water
a certain quantity of cement, according to the size of the slab or object to be pro-
duced; this cement is to form the grained coat of marble. Then we tint this
cement in several shades, according to the marble to be imitated. We tint all
these shades separately in basins; we then trace the veins on the surface or on
the face of the mould with nets made with fibre or fibres of silk or other material,
or a single fibre may be used. We arrange these nets according to the geological
formation of the marble to be imitated. We soak these nets in water or cement,
tinted according to the shades of the veins of the said marble; then we spread
these nets and lay them on the surface or mould on which the marble is to be
formed, in order to reproduce the different variations of the marble which we wish
to imitate; then we remove these nets from the said surface as soon as they have
painted or traced the veins. On these veins, which form the first plan of the
marble, we form the other parts of the marble with the tinted cement prepared as
before described, with which we coat all the surface, and give to this grained coat
of marble a thickness of about 3/16 of an inch; then with a trowel or any other
tool we smooth this coat of marble, and to prevent the bubbles of air we shake the
surface by knocking the frame all round; then we lay on this coat of marble a
piece of very open canvas, on which we spread a coat of dry cement half an inch
thick, in order to draw off the superfluous water and to dilute the tinted cement.
We remove this dry cement as soon as it has soaked of the superfluous water
contained in this tinted cement; then with a polished trowel we rub for a few
minutes this coat of marble in order to press it on the surface.
6th. Afterwards, to strengthen this coat of marble and render it waterproof, we
use fibres of raw hemp, canvas, or any other fibrous material, which we soak in a
solution of a kind of asphaltos in fusion; then we stick them on the said coat of
marble with asphaltos, which we bevel by the use of a roller adapted to the frame
which carries the surface on which the marble is made, or simply with wet cement;
or we stick on the coat of asphalte with wet cement.
7th. When all the cement is set we remove the slab or other object from the
said surface or from the mould.
8th. Then with cement tinted according to the ground of the marble we stop the
pores in same, if there be any, and afterwards we polish the marble in the same
way, or in similar manner as in polishing real marble.
9th. We also trace or paint the veins with a piece of cloth (silk being preferred),
which we plaster with soft wax or a kind of grease, and any other material; then
we trace the veins on this cloth by taking off the wax, grease, or other material
where the veins are to be formed by suitable means, according to the size of the
veins to be traced; we soak these traces or veins with tinted cement or colored
water, and afterwards we turn the cloth over, and press it either on a flat surface
or on the face of the mould. We remove this cloth as soon as the veins are traced
or painted. We trace by the means just described any kind of designs used in the
decoration of buildings.
10th. To reproduce marbles formed with breche or breccia, such as "breches
violette," "sarancolin," and such like, we form in pasteboard or other material
pieces of different sizes or shapes, according to the "bréches" to be formed; then
we lay these pieces on the surface or on the face of the mould where the marble
is to be formed. In the intervals between these pieces we form the running parts
of the marble with cement tinted according to the marble which is to be reproduced.
Then we remove carefully these pieces of pasteboard, and on the empty places left
by their removal we form the "breches," which are varied in shades and shapes
according to the geological formation of the marble which we wish to reproduce;
then we finish this marble as before described.
To produce columns of any dimensions we form a shaft by making first a skeleton
with pieces of wood and laths, which skeleton we cover with coarse cement. This
coarse cement must be levelled according to the shape of the column required, but
rough, in order to permit the coat of marble to stick on it; then we use this coat

page_text: of marble to cover this rough shaft on a thin piece of oilcloth or on a piece of
paper (glazed paper being preferred). We spread this piece of oilcloth or paper on
a suitable or level surface. When this coat of marble is done of the thickness
required (about 3/8 of an inch), and while still in its moist or plastic state, we roll
or stick it on the shaft prepared; then afterwards, when the coat of marble is set
hard we level it on a lathe with chisels; then we stone and polish it as before
described.
.
To form bold and sharp veins as found in several kinds of marble (as black and
gold), we produce them by tinted cement prepared on a pallet of the shade required;
then by a stick or suitable means the veins are traced or formed on the surface or
on the mould.
We also render the marble waterproof by simply applying on the back of slabs
or mouldings a coat of a liquid solution of tar or other suitable material; or with
tinfoil or other adhesive material we effect the same object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, we hereby declare that we claim the said Invention of "Improvements in
the Process for Producing Artificial Marbles, and Rendering the same Waterproof,"
wherein the following are peculiar and important points or features:-
1. Sticking on the coat of marble raw hemp, canvas, or other fibrous material
soaked in a solution of asphaltos in fusion to strengthen and also render the marble
waterproof, substantially as described.
2. Tracing the veins on cloth or silk by first applying wax, grease, or other
material to the surface, and then taking off the wax or material where the veins
are to be formed, substantially as herein-before set forth and described.
3. Forming artificial bréche or breccia, as herein-before set forth and described.
4. Constructing columns of artificial marbles, substantially as herein-before set
forth and described.
5. Forming bold or sharp veins by tinted cement, and applying same by suitable
means, either on the surface or on the mould, substantially as described.
6. Applying solution of tar or other suitable material, or tinfoil, or adhesive
material, to render the marble waterproof, substantially as herein-before set forth
and described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Richard Guelton and David George Sande-
man, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
(L.S.)
R. GUELTON.
DAVID G. SANDEMAN. (L.S.)