Improved Methods of Decorating or Ornamenting the Surfaces of Tiles and other Articles of Earthenware
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1893
Complete Specification Lelt, 8th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 30th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Methods of Decorating or Ornamenting the Surfaces of
Tiles and other Articles of Earthenware.
I, THOMAS HILL STUBBS 23 West Brampton Newcastle-under-Lyme Stafford-
shire, Earthenware and Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This my invention relates to improved methods of decorating or ornamenting the
surfaces of tiles and other ceramic-ware by blowing or spraying pottery colours or
slips" on to the surfaces of such articles."
66
or
To carry my said invention into practice I pour a requisite amount of suitable
colour or 66
slip" into any suitably shaped receptacle, into and through the
cover or stopper of which receptacle 1 fit or fix in a vertical position a tube of
suitable shape, size and material, the lower part of the tube extending a suitable
distance downwards into the interior of the said receptacle, the upper part of
the tube projecting a suitable distance above the top surface of the cover
stopper, to the said vertical tube I attach by a bracket or other suitable means
a pipe or tubes of suitable shape, size and material, the outlet ends of which
tubes are a suitable distance apart at right angles or at about right angles to
each other, the distance between the outlet ends of which tubes can be increased
or diminished by suitable means, so as to regulate the quantity of colour caused to
issue from the top end of the vertical tube by the forced draught or compressed-
air issuing from the nozzle or outlet end of the air-tube, where it comes into
contact with, and is carried or thrown by the said forced draught through a
"stencil" plate having a suitable pattern cut therefrom, and against the surface or
surfaces of a tile or tiles in a "biscuit" state fitted or fixed in a wood, metallic or
other suitable framing fitted or fixed at a convenient distance in front of the
nozzles of the said colour and air tubes, or any suitable number of "stencils"
having different portions of a pattern cut therefrom may be successively used at
the same or different distances apart from the front surface of such tiles or other
earthenware article, and similar or variegated colours may be used with each
" stencil" as desired. It will be understood that pottery colours or "slips" when
blown or sprayed by air or forced draught from the upper end of the vertical tube
will only pass through the cut out portions of such "stencils on to the surface of
the tile or other earthenware article, after which process such earthenware articles
are glazed and fired in the usual manner. The air and colour pipes I prefer to
mount or support so that the outlet or nozzle end of the air-pipe of such apparatus
can be fixed nearer to or further from, and readily directed and fixed opposite to any
desired portion of the surface of the article being decorated. Another method of
applying my invention is to place the pottery colour or slip in an inverted cone
shaped or other suitable receptacle made of any suitable size and material, to the
bottom or smallest end of such receptacle I attach or fix a suitable cock or taps
through which a jet or jets of air are forced upward into the colour contained in
the receptacle by a fan, blower or other means, for the purpose of preventing
sediment accumulating at the lower portion of such receptacles. When a colour is
permitted to flow in a regulated quantity through a tap or cock fitted a suitable
distance from the lower end of such receptacles, such colour is blown by compressed
air, forced draught or other suitable means through a suitable pipe or tube fitted
at right angles or at about right angles to the said colour tap on to the surface
"

page_text: of the earthenware article to be decorated through a suitable "stencil'
"stencils."
Dated this 29th day of May 1892
"
or
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Staffs, Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Methods of Decorating or Ornamenting the Surfaces of
Tiles and other Articles of Earthenware.
I, THOMAS HILL STUBBS, 23 West Brampton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stafford-
shire, Earthenware and Tile Manufacturer, 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:-
This my invention relates to improved methods of decorating or ornamenting the
surfaces of tiles and other earthenware articles, the object of my invention being
to decorate such articles by blowing or spraying pottery colours, glazes or slips
through the cut out portions of a stencil or stencils securely held or fitted near to
or against the surfaces of such articles.
I will now describe my invention, and the method of using same when decorating
the surfaces of tiles.
I arrange and fit or fix in any suitable position a metallic or wood framing of
suitable shape and size, on the upper parc of such framing I arrange, mount or fix
at any suitable angle or angles a gauge or gauges of suitable size made of or from
metal or wood, or metal and wood for use in ensuring the correct alignment or
adjustment of the tiles, and the stencil, or series of stencils in successive order
which form the design, pattern or picture, upon or within each of such gauges I
place a metallic or other suitable sheet stencil baving a pattern or portion of a
pattern cut therein, and against or upon such stencil I place or lay a "dust" tile
whilst in its biscuit state, then I blow or spray one or more colours, glazes or slips
in a liquid form from an adjustable or swivel nozzle fitted or mounted about twelve
inches from such stencil on the face of the tile through the cut out portions of the
stencil used, the superfluous colour, glaze or "slip" which gets blown or sprayed
on to the stencil, flowing or returning into the receptacle from whence it was used,
and may be re-used.
Any suitable number of stencils having different portions of a design, pattern or
picture cut therein may be successively used at the same or different distances from
the face of the stencil or tile, so as to produce the required design or effect, and
similar or various colours may be used with each stencil.
The faces of tiles made of or from clay I cover or spray with any suitable
"slip" whilst such tiles are in a clay or green state, and I have found that such
tiles and the "slip" with which they are covered or coloured when fired in a
biscuit oven will contract simultaneously; but if such clay tiles are sprayed or
covered with "slip" whilst in a biscuit state and afterwards fired in a glost oven,
it will be invariably found after firing that the "slip" will have blistered and
chipped on account of the unequal contraction of the clay tile and "slip."
Now the apparatus or appliance I use for decorating the surfaces of tiles, slabs
or the like articles consists of two suitably shaped brass nozzles fitted or fixed at a
suitable distance apart, the quantity of colour, glaze or "slip" caused to issue in
the form of spray from the outlet end of the lower or fixed vertical nozzle being
regulated by the compressed air or forced draught issuing from the outlet end of
the adjustable air nozzle, one end of a flexible, metallic or other suitable tube of
a suitable length or lengths being connected by suitable means to each of the said
nozzles, the free end of the tube (inch bore) one end of which is connected to
the vertical or nearly vertical fixed nozzle being placed and retained in a receptacle

page_text: containing colour, glaze or "slip" in a liquid state, the free end of the air tube
inch bore) being fixed or attached by suitable means to a blast or air conducting
tube, air being forced through such tube by means of bellows worked or operated
by foot-power or pressure.
It will be understood that when the nozzles are opened and the bellows worked
or operated, air of about the ordinary temperature, that is between 40 degrees and
70 degrees Fahrenheit will be forced through the blast pipe and its adjustable or
movable nozzle (inch bore) and by suction cause colour, glaze or "slip" to flow
from the receptacle containing same through the vertical or colour tube, which
colour, glaze or "slip" on issuing from the outlet end of its nozzle (inch bore)
will be blown in the form of spray by the air blast issuing from the air nozzle on
to the face of a tile through the cut out portions of the stencil being used.
I would have it understood that such air blast may be generated by means of
bellows, fans or other suitable appliance operated or worked by manual power, air,
gas, hydraulic, oil, steam engines or other suitable motive power, the stencils, and
the pipes and nozzles made of metal or metallic alloy, and the sizes of the said
pipes and nozzles may be modified to suit the tiles, and earthenware to be
decorated. An automatic governor may be fitted or fixed to the air or blast pipe
of such appliances to regulate or equalize the pressure of air issuing from the
outlet end of the air nozzle.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings on which letters of
reference are marked on corresponding parts on all the figures alike.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of one form of framing, with apparatus attached
thereto for carrying my said invention into practice.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view of one of the divisions or compartments of such framing.
Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the colour receptacle, a portion of the air or
forced blast conducting pipe, the vertically fixed colour nozzle, and the movable
or adjustable air or blast conducting nozzle.
b
In these figures a represents the wood framing of such an apparatus, & represents
steps to permit the changers and layers of the stencils and tiles to the platform b',
the metallic pipe c conducting air or forced blast from the bellows d to the nozzles e
and cause colour, glaze or slip to rise from the earthenware receptacles, and
be blown from the nozzles g in the form of spray on to the face of tiles through the
cut out portions of the stencil or stencils i beneath the tiles, each division or
compartment is covered or lined internally with zinc or other material having a
vitreous surface so that any colour, glaze or slip which may be blown on to same
will flow to the bottom of such compartments, and flow out through a hole or
aperture formed therein back into the receptacles and re-used, or the said super-
fluous colour, glaze or slip may be conducted into receptacles provided to receive
the said superfluous colour. It will be understood that a stencil plate is first
placed over each aperture j in each division or compartment, a tile to be coloured
or decorated is then placed face downwards upon the stencil i, a tap or cock k is
then turned on, and the bellows d worked by foot, the air forced through the
pipes c causing colour, glaze or slip to rise from the receptacles through the
pipes, and be blown from the outlet end of nozzles g in the form of spray on to
the face of the tiles through the cut out portion of the metallic stencils.
each tile has had a portion of a pattern formed upon its face, such tile is laid
aside to permit the colour on its face to dry, and other tiles are treated in the same
manner, using the same stencil or a different stencil. When the colour on the
face of such tiles is sufficiently dry, the said tiles are again placed face downwards
on to a different stencil until the series of stencils forming a pattern, picture or
design have been used, the same or a different colour being used with each
After

page_text: successive stencil. A moveable or adjustable gauge m of metal or wood is fixed or
attached to the lower edge of each aperture j, so that the stencils and tiles may be
readily and accurately placed in position.
The tiles having a complete pattern, picture or design formed upon their surfaces
are when sufficiently dry fired in the usual manner, or such tiles may be first glazed
and then fired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is,
1st. The decoration of the surface or surfaces of tiles and slabs of any suitable
shape and size made of or from clay or "dust" by fitting or fixing a tile or slab
whilst in a biscuit state in or upon a suitable metallic or wood framing, at any
suitable incline or angle, or in an upright position, and placing or fixing a
metallic or other stencil, or a series of stencils successively having a design,
pattern or picture cut therein, or a portion of a design pattern or picture near to or
against the face of such tiles or slabs, and causing an air blast to issue by any
suitable means from an adjustable or movable nozzle mounted at a suitable distance
from the face of such tiles or slabs and adjacent to a vertically mounted nozzle,
the said air blast causing a pottery colour, glaze or slip to issue from the upper
end of the said vertically mounted nozzle, and be blown from the upper or outlet
end of such vertical nozzle in the form of spray on to or against the face or
surfaces of such tiles or slabs through the cut out portion or portions of the
stencil or stencils used as herein substantially described and set forth.
2nd. The decoration of the surfaces of various articles of ceramic ware by means
of an air-blast nozzle, a colour nozzle, and a stencil, or a series of stencils
operated and used in a similar manner to that described when used for decorating
tiles and slabs, as substantially set forth in the first claim and the foregoing
Specification.
Dated this 1st day of March 1894.