IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF A WHITE METAL OR ALLOY AND A LAMINABLE OR MALLEABLE BRONZE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clayton Mewburn, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF A WHITE METAL OR ALLOY AND
A LAMINABLE OR MALLEABLE BRONZE." A communication from abroad by
La Société Raynaud, Bechade Gire et Compagnie, Manufacturers, of 1, Boulevard
St. Denis, Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clayton Mewburn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July 1881.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 109, Flect Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF A
WHITE METAL OR ALLOY AND A LAMINABLE OR MALLEABLE BRONZE." [A com-
munication from abroad by La Société Raynaud, Bechade Gire et Compagnie,
Manufacturers, of 1, Boulevard St. Denis, Paris, France.]
This Invention consists in the manufacture of a white metal and a laminable or
malleable bronze by the decoloration of copper by means of ferro-manganese of high
standard without the aid of nickel.
For the manufacture of this metal I proceed as follows:-I commence by
reducing binoxide or protoxide of manganese in a blast, reverberatory, or other
furnace, and when I have obtained ferro-manganese very rich in manganese of a
composition of,—

page_text: melted on the hearth I run it into ingots. The composition gives a metal as white
as silver, and as malleable as German silver generally obtained with nickel.
The
In order to obtain a laminable white metal in plates, I again melt the metal
obtained as above, and add about 20 to 25 per cent. of zinc and brass. I run it
into ingots, and after reheating, I laminate it in the ordinary manner.
reheating is effected is follows:-I heat the metal to cherry red and then submit it
to a current of carbonic acid which removes the slight impurities which may
remain in the metal. This metal is inoxidizable with the fatty acids and stearic
acid.
When I wish to obtain a malleable or laminable bronze, I proceed differently.
I take protoxide of manganese (Mn O) and protoxide of iron (Fe O) with the
necessary amount of fuel to reduce these two oxides to the metallic state, and I add
the necessary amount of copper in the proportions above indicated. When the two
metals are inelted I obtain a malleable bronze resembling aluminium bronze.
All the alloys of copper and manganese are ductile; these two metals have much
affinity for cach other; without the presence of copper only a small quantity of
manganese is reduced; when on the contrary I operate with ferro-manganese of
the nature or quality above described, I can add any quantities that may be
desired, and I obtain a metal which is very white and very ductile. This ferro-
manganese perfectly decolorizes the copper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Clayton Mewburn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st December 1881.
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF A
WHITE METAL OR ALLOY AND A LAMINABLE OR MALLEABLE BRONZE." (A com-
munication from abroad by La Société Raynaud, Béchade Gire et Compagnie,
Manufacturers, of 1, Boulevard St. Denis, Paris, France.)
This Invention consists in the manufacture of a white metal and a laminable or
malleable bronze by the decoloration of copper by means of ferro-manganese of high
standard without the aid of nickel.
For the manufacture of this metal I proceed as follows:-I commence by reducing
binoxide or protoxide of manganese in a blast, reverberatory, or other furnace, and
when I have obtained ferro-manganese very rich in manganese of a composition
of,-
ML11
make the first melting in a reverberatory furnace; I mix together about
60 per cent. of ferro manganese of the nature or quality above described, and
40 per cent. of copper, adding the necessary and ordinary fluxes. When the
mixture is perfectly melted on the hearth I run it into ingots. The composition
gives a metal as white as silver, and as malleable as German silver generally
obtained with nickel.
In order to obtain a laminable white metal in plates, I again melt the metal
obtained as above, and add about 20 to 25 per cent. of zinc and brass. I run it
into ingots, and after reheating, I laminate it in the ordinary manner. The
reheating is effected as follows:-I heat the metal to cherry red and then submit
it to a current of carbonic acid which removes the slight impurities which may
remain in the metal. This metal is inoxidizable with the fatty acids and stearic
acid.
Experiments which have been made have shown that armour plates can be made
with the first metal (from the first melting). A plate of the metal cast and rolled
to a thickness of two inches has been tried against a two inch plate of steel similar
to that which forms the armour plates of ships. These plates have been fired at
with a Gras gun at an equal distance, with the result that the steel plate was
broken into several pieces, while that made according to this Invention was hardly
dented.
It would be superfluous to enumerate the numerous applications of this white
metal, whether for mechanical articles, or for saddlery, or railway or other carriage
handles; it may also be employed to make forks, spoons, and other rolled and
stamped articles.
When I wish to obtain a malleable or laminable bronze, I proceed differently.
I take protoxide of manganese (Mn O) and protoxide of iron (Fe O) with the
necessary amount of fuel to reduce these two oxides to the metallic state, and I add
the necessary amount of copper in the proportions above indicated. When the two
metals are melted I obtain a malleable bronze resembling aluminium bronze.
All the alloys of copper and manganese are ductile; these two metals have much

page_text: affinity for each other; without the presence of copper only a small quantity of
manganese is reduced; when on the contrary I operate with ferro manganese of
the nature and quality above described, I can add any quantities that may be
desired, and I obtain a metal which is very white and very ductile. This ferro-
manganese perfectly decolorizes the copper.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention as communicated to me,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,--
First. The manufacture of a white metal and a laminable or malleable bronze by
the decoloration of copper by means of ferro manganese, substantially as herein-
before described.
Second. The decoloration of copper by ferro manganese, and the employment of
the latter in manufacturing alloys of white metal, substantially as herein before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty first day of December, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty one.
J. C. MEWBURN. (L.S.)