A NEW OR IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL STONE AND THE MODES AND MEANS OF MANU
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Bennett McGrigor, of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain, Solicitor, for the Invention of "A
NEW OR IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL STONE AND THE MODES AND MEANS OF MANU-
ealed the 21st August 1874, and dated the 12th June 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Bennett
McGrigor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 12th June 1874.
I, ALEXANDER BENNETT MCGRIGOR, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL STONE AND THE MODES
AND MEANS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME," (a communication to me from
abroad by James Moeller Robertson, of Melbourne, in the Colony of
Victoria, Architect), to be as follows:-
This said Invention has reference to new or improved modes and

page_text: -
means of manufacturing artificial stone of an equal or superior quality,
and in a simpler and cheaper manner than heretofore.
1
The nature and novelty of this Invention consists all as follows :-
First, in taking any hard materials, either in a fine or in a coarse state,
such as that of sand, gravel, shingle, and stones, glass, and burnt clay
in a broken state, and other such-like materials, either separately by
themselves or a mixture of two or more of these materials are taken or
selected to be cemented as a base or "matrix" to form the artificial
stone to be made. This base or matrix is then triturated with water,
having either a chloride, a bromide, an iodide, or a fluoride in saturated
solution, although a weaker solution will answer the purpose, the stone
in that case taking longer to harden. But it is preferred to use chloride
of calcium on account of its cheapness compared with the others. Any
of these "halogens" or "salt radicals" act as agents of transformation
or carriers during the setting of the materials, but only so much of the
solution must be added to the matrix. Whilst the mixing of the
solution and matrix is progressing a cementing medium is added to
the mixture, and any hydraulic limes or cements will answer added in a
dry powder whilst the trituration or mixing is proceeding. After the
material is so treated and thoroughly mixed it is placed into suitable
moulds, when it then subjected to high pressure in screw, hydraulic, or
other presses. The blocks so formed are then placed on wet sand beds
where they set or harden in a short time, increasing in hardness until
they form a perfectly hard artificial stone. The setting is accelerated
by leaving the blocks or stone for a short time in the chloride of calcium
solution before placing the same on the wet sand beds.
It is to be distinctly understood that any such-like base or matrix or
mode of mixing and pressing may be employed, and that what is desired
to be claimed is the use of hydraulic limes or cements with chloride of
calcium or any of the other salt radicals as a cementing medium for
such a base or matrix, substantially as herein-before described; nor is
it desired to confine the Invention to any particular proportions between
the matrix and cement, or any particular strength of solution, these
depending considerably on the character of the matrix, the hydraulicity
of the limes or cements used, and also on the hardness and strength of
the material aimed at.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Bennett McGrigor in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
BENNETT MCGRIGOR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North.
Britain, Solicitor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year of our.
Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Bennett McGrigor,
Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Bennett McGrigor,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Bennett McGrigor, 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 Cannel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL STONE AND THE
MODES AND MEANS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME," the same being a commu-
nication to me from abroad by James Moeller Robertson, of Melbourne,
in the Colony of Victoria, Architect, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alexander Bennett M Grigor, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and scals, 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 Alexander Bennett M'Grigor, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
4
My said Invention has reference to new or improved modes and
~autificial stone of an
Or Sunosion anality.

page_text: and in a simpler. and cheaper manner than heretofore produced or
practised.
And in order that the nature and novelty of my said Invention and
the manner of performing the same may be fully and properly under-
stood, I shall now proceed to describe the best modes and means I am
at present aware of for carrying the same into effect or practice.
'
I take any hard materials, either in a fine or coarse state, such as that
of sand, gravel, shingle, stones, glass, and burnt clay in a broken or
pulverized state, or other such-like materials to be cemented as a base
or "matrix" for the artificial stone to be made. These materials may
either be used separately, or two or more of them may be mixed or
combined together to form this base, as circumstances may require, or
according to the quality of the stone desired. The base or "matrix" so
formed, and conveniently and suitably placed in or on liquid-tight
receptacles or surfaces, is then triturated with water, having either a
chloride, a bromide, an iodide, or a fluoride in saturated solution, although
a weaker solution will answer the purpose, the stone in that case taking
longer to harden, the duration of the hardening process depending on
the strength of solution used. But it is preferred to use chloride of
calcium on account of its cheapness as compared with the others named.
Any of these "halogens" or "salt radicals" act as agents of trans-
formation or carriers during the setting of the materials, but only so
much of the solution must be added to the base or matrix as will be
sufficient to moisten the whole surface of the parts or particles thereof.
Whilst the trituration or mixing of the solution and base or matrix
is progressing a cementing medium is added thereto, and any hydraulic
limes or cements, either separately or combined, will answer as this
cementing medium, which is preferably added in the form of a dry or
nearly dry powder. These materials after being so treated and
thoroughly mixed are then placed in suitable moulds or boxes and then
formed into blocks by being subjected to great pressure in any ordinary
screw, hydraulic, or other press. The blocks so formed to the desired
shape and size are then placed on wet sand beds where they set or
harden in a short time, increasing in hardness and density until they
form a perfectly hard and durable artificial stone, well adapted for
building or other structural purposes. The hardening or solidifying is
accelerated by placing the blocks or stone for a short time in a solution
of chloride of calcium after they are sufficiently set for that purpose.

page_text: When adapting this Invention for the purpose of coating walls,
ceilings, floors, pavements, or other surfaces or structures the sand or
other base or matrix used should be treated in the manner herein-before
described with reference to the stone, but as hand labour will be required
to form and prepare such coatings and surfaces the materials should be
mixed and used in a moist state, similar to that of ordinary mortar, and
the surfaces to be coated should also be moistened before the mixture or
coating is applied thereto.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be dis-
tinctly understood that I do not confine or restrict myself to the particular
materials named for forming the base or "matrix," nor to the precise
mode of mixing and pressing herein described; neither do I restrict
myself to any particular proportions of the base or "matrix" and
cement relatively to each other, nor to any particular strength of the
solution used, all these depending very much upon the nature of the base
or matrix, the hydraulicity of the limes or cements used, and also upon
the hardness and strength or quality of the material or product desired,
but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the application and use of hydraulic limes or cements, in
combination with chloride of calcium or any other "halogens" or "salt
radicals as a cementing medium for the base or matrix for forming
artificial stone or stone coating, as herein described, or any mere modi-
fication thereof.
"