Improved, Composition for Use in the Plastic Arts.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved, Composition for Use in the Plastic Arts.
We JOSEPH LOXTON RAWBON of No. 39 Clitheroe Street, Hamilton Road,
Manchester, Artist and Modeller and THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN PATENT
SYNDICATE LIMITED of No. 9 Albert Square, Manchester, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
com-
Our said invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of clay or
position to be used for modelling by sculptors artists students and other workers in
the plastic arts.
Our object is to produce a clay or composition which in its moist state may be
shaped or worked upon and which when left to itself will dry very slowly and
harden without disintegrating or cracking and which may if required be fired or
baked. By the use of such a composition the original work of the modeller or
sculptor may be easily preserved in permanent shape and the necessity is avoided of
having to take a cast from the clay model.
According to our said invention we mix clay such as kaolin with soluble alkaline
silicate and chloride of calcium. In lieu of chloride of calcium in some cases we
may use calcium or lime in other forms. With such a mixture we may incorporate
borax or other salts or deliquescent or lubrificant substances with the object of
neutralising or minimising the caustic effect of the alkaline silicate on the hands
of the modeller, and for modifying the plasticity of the composition.
Colouring materials chosen according to the purpose for which the composition
is intended may be incorporated therewith.
Such a composition may be moulded carved or operated upon in any of the usual
well known ways and may be used for a variety of purposes other than as modelling
clay either in a simply dried state or alter kiln firing.
Dated this 13th day of June 1895.
E. T. WHITELOW, A.M. Inst. C.E.,
70 Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Composition for Use in the Plastic Arts.
We JOSEPH LOXTON RAWBON of No. 39 Clitheroe Street, Hamilton Road,
Manchester, Artist and Modeller and THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN PATENT
SYNDICATE LIMITED of No. 9 Albert Square, Manchester, 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 :-
.
Our said invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of clay or com-
position to be used for modelling by sculptors artists students and other workers
in the plastic and other arts and manufacturing processes.
Our object is to produce a clay or composition which in its moist state may
1

page_text: be shaped or worked upon and which when left to itself will dry very slowly and
harden without disintegrating or cracking and which may if required be fired or
baked. By the use of such a composition the original work of the modeller or
sculptor may be easily preserved in permanent shape and the necessity is avoided
of having to take a cast from the clay model.
According to our said invention we mix clay as for example kaolin or potter's
clay with soluble alkaline silicate and chloride of calcium. In some cases lime may
be substituted for part of the chloride of calcium.
After numerous experiments we have found the following proportions and mode
of mixing to give the most generally useful results.
Take one pound of solution of silicate of soda of the ordinary commercial.
quality. Add to this one ounce of finely comminuted and desiccated chloride of
calcium and agitate until it forms an intimate mixture or emulsion with the
solution to which then add three-quarters of an ounce of very fine powder of slaked
lime and again agitate until the whole is thoroughly incorporated or taken up by
the solution.
The
To cne pound of pipe or potters clay which has been previously finely pulverized
and sifted add twelve ounces of the above described solution or mixture.
whole is then mixed and ground in a mill until the clay compound works freely
and without sticking to the fingers. We find that if ground for about one hour in
a clay mill running at one hundred and fifty revolutions per minute the clay
compound will have attained about the proper consistency.
•
Much depends on the nature of the clay and it will be advisable to take a little
of the compound out of the mill while the grinding operation is proceeding and to
test it by rolling between the finger and thumb.
Multiples of the above quantities are taken to produce larger quantities of the
compound. The exact proportions may be varied according to the kind of clay
used.
When using some kinds of clay borax or other salts or deliquescent or lubrificant
substances may be incorporated with the mass with the object of neutralising or
minimising the caustic effect of the alkaline silicate on the hands of the modeller
and for modifying the plasticity of the composition. The nature of such additions
will depend on the chemical and physical properties of the clay which is used.
For instance with kaolin we find an addition of a small quantity of borax to be
beneficial. With pipe or potter's clay we find however that such additions are not
necessary.
Colouring materials chosen according to the purpose for which the composition
is intended to be used may be mixed with the clay.
Solution of silicate of potash may be substituted for silicate of soda and with
some clays may perhaps be more suitable but with such clays as we have hitherto
tried we prefer the results obtained by the use of silicate of soda.
Such a composition as described may be moulded carved or operated upon in
any of the usual well known ways and may be used for a variety of purposes other
than as modelling clay either in a simply dried state or after kiln firing.
An important use of the composition is as a substitute for sand in making
moulds for casting metals. Several articles may be cast consecutively in a mould
made from such composition before the mould becomes unfit for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is,-
1. Moulding or modelling clay or composition consisting of clay soluble alkaline
silicate and chloride of calcium with or without other ingredients substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
2. The process of manufacturing silicated moulding composition substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. The process of treating pipe or potter's clay by incorporating therewith a
solution of alkaline silicate containing chloride of calcium and lime substantially as.
and for the purpose set forth and described.
Dated this 12th day of March 1896.
E. T. WHITELOW, A.M. Inst. C.E.,
70 Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.