IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Askew Jones, of 45, Gunter Grove, Brompton, in the
County of Middlesex, Builder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS."
Sealed the 29th June 1877, and dated the 13th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Askew Jones at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1877.
ASKEW JONES, of 45, Gunter Grove, Brompton, in the County of Middlesex,
Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS."
The object of my Invention is to produce a brick of the ordinary size commonly
in use in the United Kingdom, for building and all other purposes for which bricks
are now used, and I propose to designate it as "The Patent Paragon Brick."
The material I use is principally burnt clay or ballast, which is first ground or
crushed, to which is added a proportion of Portland or other cement, water being
added in sufficient quantity to produce, after mixing, the required consistency. A
suitable series of moulds being conveniently arranged on portable trays are then
filled with the mixture. These moulds are allowed to stand for a few days for the
moisture to evaporate and the mixture to set, when the bricks are taken out and
are allowed a short time further to complete the process of drying. No kiln burning
or pressure is required, and they can be made all the year round. Bricks made in
this manner can be cut or worked as easily as the best cutting bricks now in use
for architectural purposes.
When desired to be tinted or colored, the coloring inatter can, by this process, be
more equally and intimately mixed with the compound, and a greater uniformity of
tint throughout the whole brick attained than by any other coloring process now
in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Askew Jones in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th October 1877.
ASKEW JONES, of 45, Gunter Grove, Brompton, in the County of Middlesex,
Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS."
The object of my Invention is to produce a brick of the size commonly used for
building purposes in the United Kingdom or of any special shape, as may be desired,
which can be colored or tinted for ornamental purposes to any required tint or color.
Can be made either as hard as the best stock brick or soft enough to be easily
worked, cut, or rubbed, require no kiln burning nor heavy pressure, and can be
made all the year round at a less expense than ordinary bricks, in less time, and in
a less space.
The principal ingredient or material I use is burnt clay ballast, either by itself or
crushed up together with broken brick or other hard rubbish reduced to powder in
an ordinary mortar mill. To this is added a proportion of Portland or other cement
or lime, according to the nature of the material above described, together with
sufficient water to cause the whole, when thoroughly mixed together, to be of a
semi-plastic consistency, so that it can be readily filled into the moulds.
The mould consists of a series of longitudinal and cross strips, either of wood or
metal, set up edgeways on a tray, table, or platform. The longitudinal strips have
at regular intervals on both sides, slots or grooves cut or formed across them, so that
when set upon their edges paralel to one another, on the table or platform, the slots
or grooves in one longitudinal shall bo opposite to and correspond with the one next
to it. The cross strips are then inserted in the slots or grooves and the whole
locked together by wedges, cramps, or otherwise. A series of moulds is thus mado
which can at any time be readily taken to picces and put together again. These
moulds are filled with the plastic mixture above described, and are allowed to stand
a few days, when the moulds are taken to pieces and the bricks are taken out and
stacked. In from ten to fourteen days afterwards, according to the time of year,
the bricks will be ready for use, no kiln burning being necessary. When it is
required to produce bricks of any special color the coloring matter is introduced at
the time the ingredients are being mixed with the water, the compound is therefore
equally and intimately impregnated with it, and an uniform tint will be found
throughout the whole substance of the brick.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the means whereby the
same is to be carried out, I wish it to be understood that what I claim as my
Invention is the method of manufacture of bricks, as herein described, without kiln
burning or heavy pressure, and also the use of the herein-specified ingredients,
without the addition of sulphates or sulphurets of iron or other metallic sulphates.
In witness whereof, I, the said Askew Jones, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the Tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness to the signature of
Askew Jones,
THOMAS DUNCOMBE EAGLES,
Patent Agent,
23, Fenchurch Street,
London, E.C.
ASKEW JONES. (L.S.)