A COMPOSITION FOR PROTECTING WOOD FROM FLAME
Year: 1838

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
DAVIES, of Nelson Square, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria the First, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the Thirtieth
day of August, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, and in the
second year of Her said Majesty's reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Joseph Davies, Her especial
license, and full power, sole privilege and authority, for me, the said Joseph
Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every of them, by
myself and themselves; or by my and their deputy or deputies, servants or
agents, or such other's as I; the said Joseph Davies, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, to make,
use, and vend, my Invention of "A COMPOSITION FOR PROTECTING WOOD FROM
FLAME," within England and Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and
in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in such Letters
Patent is contained a proviso requiring me, the said Joseph Davies, to describe
and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
and to cause such instrument to be enrolled in Her Majesty's Court of
Chancery within four calendar months next after the date of the said Letters
Patent, as by the said Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more
fully appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Davies, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is described and ascertained
as follows (that is to say):-
My Invention is a composition of the substances herein-after mentioned
combined with glue or size or other animal gelatinous matter in manner
herein-after stated.. The substances used are slate, slate dust, stones, sand,
clay, and earth; any of these substances may be used separately, or any or all
of them may be used together. Any article made and consisting of any of
these substances, such as earthenware or bricks, may be used, but I prefer
slate or slate dust, and when I use clay or earth I mix sand or slate dust with
it, as I find a composition binds better when so mixed. Before using any of
the above substances which are not already in a state of powder, I reduce
them to powder by grinding in a mill or otherwise; I boil the substance or
substances with the glue or size or other animal gelatinous matter in a boiler,
pot, or pan, frequently stirring the composition until the whole becomes
thoroughly amalgamated and of a proper consistency for use.
I find that the
proportion of one-twentieth of the gelatinous matter to the quantity of the
substance or substances used produces the best and most effectual composition,
but an inferior composition may be made with a less proportion of gelatinous
matter. I apply my composition to the wood with a trowell or other suitable
instrument, in the same manner as common stucco or plaster, in such thickness
as may be deemed necessary. In ordinary cases for ceilings and flooring I
make it from half an inch to an inch in thickness, and thinner in places less
exposed to danger. The composition may be applied immediately in the state
in which it is taken from the boiler, but if it is not required for immediate use
it should be suffered to cool and dry, and it should be again reduced to
powder by grinding or otherwise before it is used; it is then to be mixed with
water, as in making common mortar..
I do not claim the mode of applying the composition; but I claim as my
Invention the above-mentioned composition, formed of the above-mentioned
substances combined with glue or size or other animal gelatinous matter, in
manner herein-before mentioned.
In witness whereof; I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the Seven-
teenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-eight.
JOSEPH (L.S.) DAVIES.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventeenth day of December,
in the second year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said
Joseph Davies came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery,
and acknowledged the instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Twenty-seventh day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-eight.