IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE OR MARBLE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE OR MARBLE."
A communication from abroad by William Haines Hoopes, of Baltimore,
Maryland, in the United States of America, Dentist.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1880.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ARTIFICIAL STONE OR MARBLE." A communication from abroad by William
Haines Hoopes, of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States of America, Dentist.
This Invention has for its object to produce an article of artificial stone which
shall possess great strength, hardness, and durability, and be susceptible of receiving
a high polish.
In carrying out this Invention I proceed as follows:-To a solution of about five
pounds of pearlash in one hundred gallons of water I add about two quarts of a
composition consisting of silica, such as sand or other form, seventy nine parts;
water, thirteen parts; ferric oxide, three parts; alumina in the form of clay, kaolin,
or the liko, four parts; and magnesia, one part, which composition after being
formed is calcined and ground fine. To the solution I next add three pounds of
tungstate of soda, and after thoroughly mixing the same I add a mixture of tartaric
acid, twenty five drams; bicarbonate of soda, six troy ounces; tartrate of potassium
and sodium, twelve troy ounces.
The basis of the stone consists of Portland, Rosendale, or other cement and silica
in any desired proportions, about ten of silica to one of cement answering for all
ordinary purposes, and to it is added the solution prepared as above described until
the mass has the desired consistency, which will vary according to the intended
manner of using the cement.
In making an imitation marble I take gypsum instead of cement, and coloring
matters may be added to produce an artificial stone of any desired tint.
In order to produce the effect of veins I immerse hair in the coloring-matter and
spread the hair so colored on the surface upon which the slab of stone is to be
formed. A layer of the stone composition being spread on the colored fibres, the

page_text: latter are drawn up through it when they part with their coloring-matter to the
composition, and produce the appearance of veins in natural stone.
Instead of forming the stone from ready made cement, as described, I may
combine selinite, rotten-stone, chalk, or other common ingredient of cement with
fino sand or other form of silica, and mix them, when properly comminuted, with
the ingredients herein before named. Water is added to the whole until it is about
as thin as milk of lime, when the matters in suspension are allowed to settle, and,
being drawn off, constitute a most excellent body for paint. To prepare it for
making stone this sediment is subjected, in any convenient form of apparatus, to a
red heat. When cool it is sifted through a fine wire gauze sieve, the finer portions
..being used for outside work, the coarser for backing up or for the interior of stones.
For these purposes it is mixed with water in the proportions of four quarts of
sediment to fifty gallons of water, and the mixture is used to properly dampen a
composition of one part of cement to five parts of pure sand. The mass is tamped
or pressed, as usual, in suitable moulds, when it forms a cheap, hard, and
durable stone.
Instead of making the material into massive stones it may be thinned so as to
admit of its being applied with a trowel to walls, floors, &c., or it may be even thinned
to an extent admitting of its being applied with a brush as an ordinary paint. In
either case, when dry, it constitutes a hard, durable, waterproof finish, not liable to
crack or peel off, and resisting the disintegrating effects of changes of temperature
and weather in a remarkable manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
August 1880.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of
ARTIFICIAL STONE OR MARBLE." A conimunication from abroad by William
Haines Hoopes, of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States of America, Dentist.
This Invention has for its object to produce an article of artificial stone which
shall possess great strength, hardness, and durability, and be susceptible of receiving
a high polish.
In carrying out this Invention I proceed as follows:-To a solution of about five
pounds of pearlash in one hundred gallons of water I add about two quarts of a
composition consisting of silica, such as sand or other form, seventy-nine parts;
water, thirteen parts; ferric oxide, three parts; alumina in the form of clay, kaolin,
or the like, four parts; and magnesia, one part, which composition after being
formed is calcined and ground fine. To the solution I next add three pounds of
tungstate of soda, and, after thoroughly mixing the same, I add a mixture of
tartaric acid, twenty five drams; bicarbonate of soda, six troy ounces; tartrate of
possium and sodium, twelve troy ounces.
The basis of the stone consists of Portland, Rosendale, or other cement and silica
in any desired proportions, about ten of silica to one of cement answering for all
ordinary purposes, and to it is added the solution prepared as above described until
the mass has the desired consistency, which will vary according to the intended
manner of using the cement,
In making an imitation marble I take gypsum instead of cement, and coloring
matters may be added to produce an artificial stone of any desired tint.
In order to produce the effect of veins I immerse hair in the coloring matter and
spread the hair so colored on the surface upon which the slab of stone is to be formed.
A layer of the stone composition being spread on the colored fibres, the latter are
drawn up through it, when they part with their coloring matter to the
composition, and produce the appearance of veins in natural stone.
Instead of forming the stone from ready made cement as described, I may
combine selenite, rotten-stone, chalk, or other common ingredient of cement with
fine sand or other form of silica and mix them when properly comminuted with
the ingredients hereinbefore named. Water is added to the wholo until it is about
as thin as milk of lime, when the matters in suspension are allowed to settle, and,
being drawn off, constitute a most excellent body for paint. To prepare it for
making stone this sediment is subjected, in any convenient form of apparatus, to a
red heat. When cool it is sifted through a fine wire gauze siove, the finer portions
being used for outside work, the coarser for backing up or for the interior of the
stones. For these purposes it is mixed with water in the proportions of four quarts
of sediment to fifty gallons of water, and the mixture is used to properly dampen
a composition of one part of cement to five parts of pure sand. The mass is tamped
or pressed, as usual, in suitable molds, when it forms a cheap, hard, and durable
stone.
Instead of making the material into massive stones it may be thinned so as to
admit of its being applied with a trowel to walls, floors, etc., or it may be even
thinned to an extent admitting of its being applied with a brush as an ordinary
paint. In either case, when dry, it constitutes a hard, durable, water-proof finish,
not liable to crack or peel off, and resisting the disintegrating effects of changes of
temperature and weather in a remarkable manner.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed,

page_text: What I claim as secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
Firstly. The composition herein described consisting of cement, gypsum, or
analogous material as a base, combined with silica, ferric oxide, alumina, magnesia,
pearlash, tungstate of soda, tartaric acid, bicarbonate of soda, tartrate of sodium,
and potassium, and water, as set forth.
Secondly. The hardening or solidifying composition for making artificial. stone
or marble herein described, consisting of silica, ferric oxide, alumina, inagnesia,
pearlash, tungstate of soda, tartaric acid, bicarbonate of soda, tartrate of sodium
and potassium, and water, as described.
Thirdly. The process of veining artificial marble or stone, as set forth, consisting
in drawing through it while in the plastic state, hairs, carrying a coloring material,
as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TH T