AN IMPROVED ALLOY, TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES IN THE ARTS IN PLACE OF BRASS OR OTHER ALLOYS OF COPPER
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Fox, of Old Change, in the City of London, Gentle -
man, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ALLOY, TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES IN THE ARTS IN PLACE OF BRASS OR OTHER ALLOYS OF COPPER."
A communication from abroad by William A. Hopkins, of Paris, in the
Republic of France.
Sealed the 21st December 1876, and dated the 16th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Fox at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1876.
CHARLES Fox, of Old Change, in the City of London, Gentleman. "AN IM-
PROVED ALLOY, TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES IN THE ARTS IN PLACE OF
BRASS OR OTHER ALLOYS OF COPPER."
This Invention relates to the composition of an alloy to be used in the place of
brass or other alloys of copper for various purposes in the arts.
The alloy is composed of copper, tin, spelter, and lead in about the following
proportions, say copper 89·11 per cent.; tin, 6-27 per cent.; spelter, 2.78 per cent.;
and lead, 1.84 per cent. By this means an alloy is obtained of great strength and
of a very beautiful appearance, and which is particularly suitable for small work,
such, for instance, as window and door furniture and other house furniture usually
made in brass or other alloy of copper, though it is not intended to confine its use
to such articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
"AN IM
the said Charles Fox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th April 1877.
CHARLES FOX, of Old Change, in the City of London, Gentleman.
PROVED ALLOY, TO BE USED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES IN THE ARTS IN PLACE OF
BRASS OR OTHER ALLOYS OF COPPER." A communication from abroad by William A.
Hopkins, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to the composition of an alloy to be used in the place of
brass or other alloys of copper for various purposes in the arts.

page_text: 2
The alloy is composed of copper, tin, spelter, or zinc, and lead, which metals are
manipulated in the following manner, that is to say, a crucible is placed in the
furnace and fired to red heat, and into the crucible thus heated the following
metals are placed in the proportions hereafter-mentioned, tin, 11/8 (say) ounce, spelter
or zinc ounce, lead 5/16 ounce. These are the proportions I prefer to use, as I
have found them to give excellent and satisfactory results, but I do not intend to
confine myself rigidly to the precise proportions named, as they may, perhaps, be
slightly varied in some particulars without materially detracting from the beautiful
colour of the alloy, which it is intended to produce. The molten metals are kept
well stirred, and any impurities therein should be removed. When thoroughly
mixed this alloy, which is termed the first alloy, is poured off into ingot moulds and
left to cool.
Copper in the proportion of eight parts to one of this first alloy is then placed in
the crucible and brought to melting heat, when the tin or first alloy above described
is added and intimately mixed with the copper, for which purpose the molten mass
must be well stirred for several minutes; it is then poured into ingot moulds for
sale in the form of ingots, or it may be poured into pattern moulds so as to produce
the articles required.
The above is the mode of manipulation, which it is preferred to employ, as an
opportunity is thus afforded of removing any impurities from the first alloy before
mixing it with the copper, but all the metals may, if preferred, be mixed together
in the proportions given and melted at one operation. By this means an alloy
is obtained of great strength and of a very beautiful appearance, and which is
particularly suitable for small work, such, for instance, as window and door
furniture and other house furniture which is usually made in brass or other alloy of
copper, though it is not intended to confine its use to such articles.
Having now described the nature of the Invention as communicated to me from
abroad, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it
to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim the
manufacture of an alloy to be used in the place of brass or other alloys of copper for
various purposes in the arts, such alloy being composed of copper, with the addition
of tin, spelter, or zinc and lead, in about the proportions herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Fox, have hereunto set my hand and
seal the Sixteenth day of April, in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
CHARLES FOX. (L.S.)