Improvements in Constructing Parts of Walls, Partitions, and Ceilings.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Constructing Parts of Walls, Partitions, and
Ceilings.
I, WILLIAM SCOTT MORTON, of Albert Works, Tynecastle, Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Decorative Architect, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention consists in substituting for ordinary lath and plaster work as
applied to walls, partitions, and ceilings, an improved system of panelling composed
of panels or slabs made as hereinafter described. With my improved arrangements
the interiors of buildings can be speedily completed in a dry state, and painting and
papering or decorating can be proceeded with without delay.
In carrying out my invention in making panels or slabs I embed in plaster of
suitable composition a framework of wood laths which imparts strength whilst
possessing some degree of pliability sometimes desirable when fixing panels to the
brandering or wall straps. The panels or slabs which are made of sizes to suit
the spacing of the brandering or wall straps, are formed upon a perfectly level table
having on it guards set to the size of the slab. These guards have their inner sides
of convex and concave forms to impart counterpart forms to the edges of the slabs,
two sides meeting at a corner being made with convex parts and the other two sides
with concave parts, an arrangement allowing of the slabs engaging or locking with
each other when fixed in position. When fixing the slabs a slight coating of size
and stucco may be applied to the edges to make the joints tight.
Within the guards a layer of fine plaster or cement is floated on the table to the
thickness of say th inch, and on this is laid a sheet of thin gauze wrung out of
dilute plaster. The lath frame is composed of strips of thin wood about 1 inch
broad and angularly notched on the edges to bond with the plaster, and placed
about #th inch apart. Across the ends of the laths and at intervals of 14 inches
or other suitable intervals, transverse laths are firmly attached. The transverse
laths will lie over the brandering or wall straps and will receive the nails or screws
by means of which the slabs are fixed in position. The lath frame is dipped in hot
stiff size which is allowed to set a little; and the frame is led in its bed and is
floated over with a rough plaster composed of sawdust, fibre such as hair, tow,
teased rags, or cocoa fibre, soaked with stiff size and alum, and mixed with a
sufficient quantity of stucco to form the whole into a quickly setting compound.
The parts of the slab which have to be in contact with the wall brandering or
straps, are floated up to an accurately gauged thickness, whilst the parts between
may be left more or less sunken or they may be ribbed to give strength with
lightness.
Small holes for nails or screws are formed through the slabs at convenient points
for fixing to the framing of the wall, partition, or ceiling. Tinned nails or screws
are used and are driven in so as to be quite below the outer surface, the cavities
thus left being filled up with stucco or cement.
Dated this Sixteenth day of March 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Constructing Parts of Walls, Partitions, and
Ceilings.
I, WILLIAM SCOTT MORTON, of Albert Works, Tynecastle, Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Decorative Architect, 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, that is
to say :-
My said invention consists in substituting for ordinary lath and plaster work as
applied to walls, partitions, and ceilings, an improved system of panelling composed
of panels or slabs made as hereinafter described. With my improved arrangements
the interiors of buildings can be speedily completed in a dry state, and painting and
papering or decorating can be proceeded with without delay.
In carrying out my invention in making panels or slabs I embed in plaster of
suitable composition a framework of wood laths which imparts strength whilst
possessing some degree of pliability sometimes desirable when fixing panels to the
brandering or wall straps. The panels or slabs which are made of any size to suit
the spacing of the brandering or wall straps, a common size being 42 inches by 1
28 inches are formed upon a perfectly level table having on it guards set to the
size of the slab. These guards have their inner sides of convex and concave forms
to impart counterpart forms to the edges of the slabs, two sides meeting at a corner
being made with convex parts and the other two sides with concave parts, an
arrangement allowing of the slabs engaging or locking with each other when fixed
in position. When fixing the slabs a slight coating of size and stucco may be
applied to the edges to make the joints tight.
Within the guards a layer of fine plaster or cement is floated on the table to the
thickness of say th inch, and on this there may be laid a sheet of thin gauze
wrung out of dilute plaster. The lath frame is composed of strips of thin wood
about 1 inch broad and angularly notched on the edges to bond with the plaster,
and placed about th inch apart. Across the ends of the laths and at intervals of
14 inches or other suitable intervals, transverse laths are firmly attached by gluing
or otherwise. The transverse laths will lie over the brandering or wall straps and
will receive the nails or screws by means of which the slabs are fixed in position.
The lengths of the laths may be such as to leave about inch between their ends
and the edges of the slab or panel. The lath frame is dipped in hot stiff size which
is allowed to set a little; and the frame is laid in its bed on the table and is floated
over with simple stucco or with a rough plaster composed of sawdust, fibre such as
hair, tow, teased rags, or cocoa fibre, soaked with stiff size and alum, and mixed
with a sufficient quantity of stucco to form the whole into a quickly setting
compound. The parts of the slab which have to be in contact with the wall
brandering or straps, are floated up to an accurately gauged thickness, whilst the
parts between may be left more or less sunken or they may be ribbed to give
strength with lightness.
At the back of the slabs, that is the upper surface on the table, and at the parts
corresponding to the wall brandering, honeycombed or roughened surfaces are
formed to facilitate the adhesion of any cement or bedding that may be required to
secure contact with the brandering.
Small holes for nails or screws are formed through the slabs at convenient points
for fixing to the framing of the wall, partition, or ceiling. Tinned nails or screws
are used and are driven in so as to be quite below the outer surface, the cavities
thus left being filled up with stucco or cement.
1

page_text: 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 :-
In the construction of walls, partitions, and ceilings, the employing of panels or
slabs made substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Thirteenth day of December 1892.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.