AN IMPROVED DECORATIVE COMPOUND TO BE APPLIED TO WALLS AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Tom Morse, of Taunton, in the County of Somerset,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED DECORATIVE COMPOUND TO BE APPLIED
TO WALLS AND OTHER SURFACES."
Sealed the 11th January 1878, and dated the 20th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Tom Morse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th July 1877.
ALFRED TOM MORSE, of Taunton, in the County of Somerset.
DECORATIVE COMPOUND TO BE APPLIED TO WALLS AND OTHER SURFACES."
"AN IMPROVED
The improved decorative compound of my Invention is intended for use in
walls, ceilings, woodwork, and other inside or outside surfaces in lieu of paint or
whitewash.
The compound imparts a neat finish to the surface, and possesses the important
qualities of hardness and durability, and capability of being cleaned by washing
with water without injury, besides which it is of comparatively low cost and
convenient for use.
The compound consists of hydrate of lime mixed with alum or other alkaline
sulphate, in the proportion of about eight parts of the former to fourteen parts of the
latter (these proportions however being variable according to the kind of lime),
together with a suitable coloring material. The lime and sulphate are thoroughly
mixed and boiled together until the compound is of the consistency of a thin paste,
the colouring material being then added as desired. The compound only requires to be
thinned by the addition of sufficient cold water to bring it to the consistence of milk
when it is ready for use.
This compound is especially valuable for damp walls, as it will stand where other
water and size colors and paper would fail to do so. A coating of this compound

page_text: to work intended to be papered previous to sizing will considerably preserve the
paper from fading. It destroys smoke or other stains; and if the wall is clean when
the compound is laid on, the heat from gases and other causes will not blister it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Tom Morse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
January 1878.
ALFRED TOM MORSE, of Taunton, in the County of Somerset. "AN IMPROVED
DECORATIVE COMPOUND TO BE APPLIED TO WALLS AND OTHER SURFACES."
My Invention consists in an improved decorative compound to be applied to
walls, ceilings, woodwork, and other inside and outside surfaces as a substitute for
paint and whitewash.
This compound can be manufactured in dead white and various colors; it possesses
the desirable qualities of hardness and durability, is cheap, and can be cleaned
without injury by washing with cold water.
This improved compound consists of hydrate of lime mixed with alum, alum cake,
or sulphate of alumina, in the proportion of about 8 parts of the former to 14 parts
of the latter (these proportions being variable however according to the composition
of the lime used), to which a suitable coloring material may be added.
In making the compound I take quicklime, and having added sufficient water_to
bring it to a paste, or what is known as putty lime, I take the alum and dissolve
it by boiling in sufficient water, according to the quality of the alum; I then add the
solution of alum to the putty lime in the proportion of 8 lbs. of alum (estimated in
the dry form) to 1 cwt. of putty lime (but these proportions vary according to the
quality of the lime and the strength of the alum, and can only be determined by
practical experience), and grind the two together if a flake white compound is to be
produced, but if a colored compound is required I add the coloring matter before
grinding, and grind the whole together.
The coloring materials I use are those generally used by decorators for coloring
lime colors, whiting colors, and generally the dry pigments of which oil paints are
made. Before adding the coloring matter I grind it in water to a paste, and add it
in that form to the compound. When extra hardness is required sugar is added to
the compound before grinding, in the proportion of 1 part of loaf sugar to 448 parts
of compound, the sugar being dissolved in water and mixed by stirring in, and the
whole ground together. The compound then only requires to be thinned by the
addition of sufficient cold water to bring it to the consistency of thin cream to be
fit for use.
This improved compound is especially useful for application to damp walls, as it
will withstand the influence of moisture, where other water and size colors and
paper would fail to do so. A coat of this compound applied previous to sizing to
work intended to be papered will preserve the paper from fading for a considerable
time. The compound will not become blistered by heat from gas, &c., provided the
wall is clean when the compound is applied. After applying the first coat of white
compound, let it get hard, and finish with one or two coats, as required, of the desired
tint.
For delicate colors I use one coat of white to two of color, but for general work
two coats of color only, instead of one white and one color as usual.

page_text: Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part Letters Patent is, the improved compound for decorative purposes
made by mixing hydrate of lime with alum or sulphate of alumina, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Tom Morse, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ALFRED T. MORSE. (L.S.)