IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF DESIGNS ON WOOD IN IMITATION OF CARVED WORK
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PRODUCTION OF DESIGNS ON WOOD IN IMITATION OF CARVED
WORK." A communication from abroad by Augusto Guattari, of Paris,
France
Sealed the 23rd August 1878, and dated the 1st March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF DESIGNS ON WOOD IN
IMITATION OF CARVED WORK." [A communication from abroad by Augusto
Guattari, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to an improved process of producing designs on wood,
either in alto or basso relievo, or in flat open work, in imitation of wood carving,
such as mouldings, brackets, or caryotides, borderings or beadings, capitals, columns,
cornices, and other similar work, as well as foliage, arabesques, and other fine orna-
mental work; the process consisting in the employment of heat and pressure com-
bined and applied repeatedly in the following manner :-A plaster model is first
made of the subject to be reproduced in wood, from which a cast-iron mould is
obtained. The plaster model should be carefully finished off, in order that a perfect
casting with the necessary sharpness of outline may be obtained.
The cast-iron moulds which are to be used for the reproduction of the pattern by
charring wood, are then made red hot in a furnace, having several apertures, and
which may be provided with a mechanical arrangement for drawing out the moulds
and delivering them to the press.
The furnace may be disposed beneath the press, or many other convenient position,
and may be provided with a thermometer to indicate the heat of the moulds, and
enable the charring of the wood to be regulated.

page_text: The press employed is preferably double-acting, and operated either by steam,
hand-power, hydraulic pressure, or by a gas engine or other motor.
The distance between the follower and the bed of the press should be such as to
allow room between them; 1st, for the heated metal mould or die; 2nd, for the
block of wood on which the design is to be produced to be placed upon said die;
and 3rd, for a cushion of wood placed upon the wood block and upon which the
follower of the press acts.
The pressure should be gradual, and increase from a minimum of three-horse
power up to six-horse power, and more if required; and the speed should be such
that the pressure will go on increasing for about two minutes, and then diminish to
zero during a space of about half a minute. Immediately on the pressure being
applied the mould which is beated commences to burn away or char the wood
black. After being thus pressed, the mould and block are removed, in order to
clean them and get rid of the charred and waste portions, which would hinder the
perfect execution of the work, after which they are replaced in position, and
similarly subjected to pressure a second, third, and fourth time, until the desired
result is obtained.
Upon one of the columns of the press upon which the follower slides is fixed a
graduated scale, provided with a series of movable indices, which show the varying
pressures to be applied at the different stages of the operation.
For producing a statue or other object in alto-relievo, two or more moulds or
sections of moulds or dies would be employed, and in this case the press would be
so arranged as to enable the pressure and charring action to be applied in all
directions normal to the moulds or sections of moulds simultaneously.
In carrying out the Invention, hard woods, such as walnut, ebony, or pear tree
wood are preferably employed, although softer woods may be hardened for the
purpose by removing the sap, gum, and other matters from the cellulose by steaming
or otherwise, and substituting therefor, either by absorption or pressure, a glue or
other matter capable of hardening the wood.
For producing open work, foliage, arabesques, and similar designs of any desired
degree of richness or fineness, the process may be modified to suit the nature of the
work to be produced.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st August 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF DESIGNS ON WOOD IN
A communication from abroad by Augusto
IMITATION OF CARVED WORK."
Guattari, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved process of producing designs on wood,
either in alto or basso relievo, in imitation of wood carving, such as mouldings,
brackets or caryotides, borderings or beadings, capitals, columns, cornices, and other
similar work, as well as flat, open, or fretwork, such as foliage, arabesques, and other
fine ornamental work; the process consisting in the employment of heat and
pressure combined in the following manner:-A plaster model is first made of the
subject to be reproduced in wood from which a cast-iron mould is obtained. The
plaster model should be carefully finished off by a good carver, in order that a per-
fect casting with the necessary sharpness of outline may be obtained, and to enable
it to draw well from the mould.
The cast-iron moulds, which are to be used for the reproduction of the pattern
by charring the wood, are then made red-hot in a furnace having several apertures,
and which may also be provided with a mechanical arrangement for drawing out
the moulds and delivering them to the press.
The furnace may be disposed beneath the press, or in any other convenient
position, and may be provided with a thermometer or pyrometer to indicate the
heat of the moulds, and enable the charring of the wood to be regulated.
The moulds are provided in the most suitable positions, so as not to interfere
with the design, with channels through which the smoke produced in the charring
may find an escape.
The press employed is preferably double-acting, and operated either by steam,
hand-power, hydraulic pressure, or by a gas engine or other motor.
The distance between the follower and the bed of the press should be such as to
allow room between them; 1st, for the heated metal mould or die; 2nd, for the
block of wood on which the design is to be produced to be placed upon said die;
and 3rd, for a cushion of wood placed upon the wood block and upon which the
follower of the press acts.
The pressure should be gradual, and increase from a minimum of three-horse
power up to six-horse power, and more if required; and the speed should be such
that the pressure will go on increasing for about two minutes, and then diminish to
zero during the space of about half a minute. Immediately on the pressure being
applied, the heated mould commences to burn away or char the wood block. After
being thus pressed, the mould and block are removed, in order to clean them and
get rid of the charred and waste portions which would hinder the perfect execution
of the work, after which they are replaced in position, and similarly subjected to
pressure a second, third, and fourth time, until the desired result is obtained.
Upon one of the columns of the press upon which the follower slides is fixed a
graduated scale provided with a series of movable indices which show the varying
pressures to be applied at the different stages of the operation.
For producing a statue or other object in alto-relievo, two or more moulds or
sections of moulds or dies would be employed, and in this case the press would be
so arranged as to enable the pressure and charring action to be applied in all direc-
tions normal to the moulds or sections of moulds simultaneously.
In carrying out the Invention, hard woods, such as walnut, ebony, or pear tree
wood, are preferably employed, although softer woods may be hardened for the
purpose of removing the sap, gum, and other matters from the cellulose, by steaming
or otherwise, and substituting therefor, either by absorption or pressure, a glue or
other matter capable of hardening the wood.

page_text: Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved process of producing designs
on wood by the combined action of heat and pressure as herein specified, the process
being characterised by the use of metallic moulds, subjected to gradual pressure
and heat, in order to effect at one operation the roughing out and finishing of the
moulded article.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.