AN IMPROVED METHOD OF INDURATING MARBLE AND STONE, AND OF: PERMANENTLY FIXING COLORS THEREIN WHEN COLORING MATTERS ARE APPLIED THERETO FOR PRODUCING A VARIEGATED PATTERN OR DEVICE ON THE SURFACE. THEREOF
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Clinton Page, of No. 1, Commercial, Road
South, Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Sculptor, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF INDURATING MARBLE AND STONE, AND OF:
PERMANENTLY FIXING COLORS THEREIN WHEN COLORING MATTERS ARE APPLIED
THERETO FOR PRODUCING A VARIEGATED PATTERN OR DEVICE ON THE SURFACE.
THEREOF."
Sealed the 2nd May 1856, and dated the 5th November 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Clinton Page at.
'the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th November 1855.
I, HENRY CLINTON PAGE, of No. 1, Commercial Road South, Pimlico, in
the County of Middlesex, Sculptor, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF INDURATING MARBLE AND STONE, AND OF
PERMANENTLY FIXING. COLORS THEREIN WHEN COLORING MATTERS ARE APPLIED
THERETO FOR PRODUCING A VARIEGATED PATTERN OR DEVICE ON THE SURFACE
THEREOF," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in an improved method of indurating marble
and stone, so as to render them impervious to atmospheric changes, the action,
of smoke, grease, and such liquids as usually stain marble and stone, and less
quickly acted upon by acids than marble or stone, as heretofore generally pre-

page_text: pared; the object of this Invention being to perpetuate the beauty, color,
and value of marble and stone, and preserve the sharpness thereof when
sculptured.
Secondly, the adapting of the induṛating, or preparing process, above men-
tioned and hereafter described, to the fixing of coloring matters applied
to marble or stone for ornamenting the same with a variegated pattern or
device.
Thirdly, marble or stone prepared according to this Invention is better
adapted for writing upon, i. e., cutting letters therein and afterwards gilding
⚫or coloring the same, as the colouring matter will not spread or become
absorbed by the stone as heretofore, and is more durable. The nature of this
Invention will, however, be better understood by the following description of
the means by which it may be effected, that is to say:-To prepare marble or
stone, I pour upon the surface thereof-a solution, composed of two parts lime
and one of pearlash, which is left to dry, and then gradually heated to about
165 degrees Fahrenheit: .1 .then besmear the surface thereof.-with pure white-
wax, until it has penetrated into the stone about one quarter or three-eighths
of an inch in depth; the stone is then fit for use. : .
In preparing stone so as to permanently fix còloring matters therein, I
proceed as follows: I take marble or stone in its natural state, and when
dressed I apply to certain parts of the surface thereof, according to the orna-
mental device, pattern, or variegation desired, certain well-known coloring
matters, which become absorbed by the pores of the stone, and when I have
produced the desired effect, I then operate upon the surface of the stone in a
precisely similar manner to that lastly above described, by which I permanently
fix and render unchangeable the aforesaid colouring matters.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Clinton Page in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th May 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CLINTON PAGE, of No. 1, Commercial Road South, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, Sculptor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said

page_text: "
Henry Clinton Page, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Clinton
Pagé, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Clinton Page, my 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 "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF INDURATING MARBLE AND STONE, AND OF PERMANENTLY FIXING COLORS THEREIN
WHEN, COLORING, MATTERS ARE, APPLIED THERETO FOR PRODUCING A VARIEGATED
PATTERN OR DEVICE ON THE SURFACE THEREOF," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry Clinton Page, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, 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, I, the said Henry Clinton Page,,,do, hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
My Invention consists, firstly, in an improved method. of indurating marble
and stone, so as to render them impervious to atmospheric changes, the action
of smoke, grease, and, such liquids: as usually stain marble and stone, and also
to render them less quickly, acted upon by acids than marble or stone, as here-
5 tofore generally prepared; the object of my said Invention being to perpetuate
the beauty, color, and value of marble and stone, and to preserve the sharpness
thereof when sculptured.
Secondly, in adapting the indurating or preparing process, above mentioned
and hereafter. described, to the fixing of coloring matters applied to marble or
stone for: ornamenting the same with a variegated pattern or device. I would
here remark, that: marble or stone prepared according to my said Invention I
have found in practice better adapted for writing upon than heretofore." By
writing I mean cutting letters in marble; and stone and afterwards gilding or
coloring the same; as by my improved method of preparing the marble or
5 stone:the: coloring matters employed will neither spread nor become absorbed
by the stone, as is the case with stone as heretofore prepared, and this mode
of writing is considerably cheaper and more durable than the ordinary mode
of writing on marble and stone.
. In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now pro-

page_text: MODE OF OPERATING:
To indurate light-colored stone and marble I proceed as follows:-With
a clean soft brush or sponge I wet the surface of the marble or stone with a
solution composed of two parts of lime and one part pearlash; I then exposé
the stone to a gradual heat until it is perfectly dried through, and until it has
become sufficiently hot to melt white bees-wax, which I next pass quickly
over the surface thereof, using either lump wax or flake wax, as in practice
may be found most desirable.
Should the stone or marble be very porous, it
may then be necessary to pass the wax two, three, or more times over the
surface thereof, and if such surface be polished it should be cleaned off by rub-
bing with a dry soft rag while the stone is warm, until the surface is perfectly
clean and free from dirt and surplus wax. The stone is then cooled by pouring
cold water thereon, and when cold is finished; and marble and stone prepared
or indurated by the above process I have found resist the most penetrable oils
or stainable liquids. I would observe that great care should be taken when the
solution is first applied to have the surface of the marble or stone perfectly
clean and free from dirt and dust; at the same time it is immaterial whether
or not the stone be perfectly dry. Care should also be taken while heating the
stone for the second or waxing process, above mentioned, that no soot, smoke,
or grease come near it. The operator should also avoid touching the surface
with his hands, as even the moisture therefrom would leave an indelible mark
or stain. Care should also be taken to have the wax as pure as possible,
otherwise the stone will be liable to change color after a time.
I now proceed to describe the process practised by me for producing a
variegated pattern or device in colors on marble and stone, as follows:-The
surface of the marble or stone to be operated upon should be clean and fine,
but not polished. The coloring matters are applied to the surface thereof; and
are disposed and arranged according to the taste and skill of the artist, in
imitation of coloured marble, or any particular pattern or device; after which
the stone is subjected to a sufficient degree of heat to melt wax when applied
thereto, as before stated, and when so applied the coloring matters will become
perfectly fixed, and remain so for an indefinite period of time; without fear of
spreading or intermixing of the colors one with the other. When it is desired
to preserve the natural color of any part of the surface of the marble or stone'in
the production of a variegated pattern or device, I then proceed as follows:-

page_text: I apply to the entire surface of the marble or stone a solution of potash and
lime, as before described, and afterwards apply heat to the marble or stone, as
before stated; I then apply white wax to those parts of the surface of the
marble or stone which it is desired to preserve in its original color, and to the
other parts of the surface of the marble or stone, and while warm, I apply
the coloring matters necessary to produce the desired design, pattern, or device.
In operating with such colors as would be prejudicially affected by heat, it will
be necessary that the marble or stone should be allowed to become cold before
applying such colors thereto; after which, the stone is again heated, more wax
is passed over the entire surface thereof, the surface cleaned, and the process
is finished.
pores
I now proceed to describe the method practised by me of indurating common
stone' work generally: I dissolve one pound of calcined bees-wax in one gallon
of coal tar naphtha, and with an ordinary painter's brush pass the above solution
repeatedly over the surface of the stone so long as the stone will absorb it, and
until the thereof are filled therewith. Should the stone be unusually porous,
it will then require the solution to be run quickly over the surface thereof three
or four times in succession, using the solution proportionately thicker for coarse
stone than for fine stone.. I then clean the surface with pumice stone or other
fine grit and clean water, and the process is finished: When it is desired to
preserve the natural color of any particular part of the surface of common
stone in operating thereon to produce a variegated pattern or device, I apply
to those parts of the surface the solutions of coal tar naphtha and wax, before
mentioned; the coloring matters are then applied to the other desired parts of
the surface of the stone, and finally the solution of coal tar naphtha and wax is
again poured over the surface; the surface is afterwards cleaned off, and the
process is then finished, the process in this instance being conducted without
the aid of heat. I would here remark that the above method of indurating
stone will not apply to marble or limestone, or any other description of stone
that contains a large quantity of lime for its basis. In operating upon these
qualities of stone when very delicate in color, the indurating process requires
to substitute double-distilled camphine in place of the coal tar naphtha, above
mentioned, said camphine being mixed with the wax, in the proportion of one
gallon of camphine to each pound of white wax; when the color of the stone
is not delicate, then the ordinary camphine of commerce will answer the
purpose.
Lastly, stone and marble indurated by the above processes is well adapted
for all kinds of ornamental carving and letter cutting; the stone is less liable
to chip than heretofore; and further, in lieu of requiring to use a delicate

page_text: camel's hair brush and spirit varnish; to fill in the letters; with the coloring
matters employed, by my improved; method of indurating I am enabled to
employ oil colors, which may be dashed, indiscriminately over the stone, and
the surface afterwards: simply cleaned, thus rendering the operation of letter
writing or coloring on stone and marble more simple, expeditious, and durable
than heretofore: .
Having now described the nature and object of₁my, said Invention of "An
improved Method of indurating Marble and, Stone, and, of permanently fixing
Colors, therein, when, Coloring Matters are applied thereto for producing a
variegated Pattern; or Device on the Surface thereof," together, with the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark, in conclusion; that what I, claim-as my Invention is,-
Firstly, the mode set forth and above described of indurating marble, and
stone.
.. Secondly, the mode set forth and above, described of, permanently fixing
colors in marble, and.stone. ⚫
And, thirdly, the, mode set forth and, above described of; indurating all kinds
of common stone work, substantially, as set forth and described in this my said
Specification...
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Clinton Page, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
HENRY CLINTON PAGE. (LS.)
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.