IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER
Year: 1860

page_text: .LETTERS PATENT to John Davies and George Paine, both of Truro, in
the County of Cornwall, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER."
Sealed the 27th September 1860, and dated the 30th March 1860.
.PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Davies and George
Paine, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 30th March 1860..
We, JOHN DAVIES and GEORGE PAINE, both of Truro, in the County of
Cornwall, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of a white gunpowder by the use
and mixing together of the following ingredients in the proportions stated,
being those which we have found to answer well in practice, viz., yellow
prussiate of potassa lb., chloride of potassium lb., crystallized sugar 2 oz.,
and brimstone 1 oz., the whole to be pounded and mixed together for the
purpose of producing a white gunpowder, which has many advantages over
the gunpowder at present in use, being quicker and more powerful in its
action, the piece from which it is fired never getting foul, as it leaves it
perfectly clean, and does not create any unpleasant smell as with the powder
in ordinary use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Davies and George Paine, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wе, JOHN
DAVIES and GEORGE PAINE, both of Truro, in the County of Cornwall, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said John Davies and George Paine, Her special licence that we, the
said John Davies and George Paine, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Davies and George Paine,
our 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 Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF GUNPOWDER," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said John Davies and George Paine, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
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 we, the said John Davies and George Paine,
do hereby declare the nature of our 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 :-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of a white gunpowder by the use
and mixing together of certain ingredients in proportions which we have found
to answer well in practice.
In order to explain our said Invention as completely as possible, we now
proceed to describe the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, as follows:-
We use the following materials in the proportions attached to each
respectively (videlicet) :-Yellow prussiate of potassa, quarter of a pound;
chloride of potassium, half a pound; loaf sugar, two ounces; crystallized

page_text: sugar, two ounces; and brimstone, one ounce. These materials, when finely
pounded and mixed together, produce a white gunpowder which has many
advantages over the gunpowder at present in use, being quicker and more
powerful in its action, the piece from which it is fired can never get foul, as it
leaves it perfectly clean, and does not create any unpleasant smell, as with the
powder in ordinary use.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention of
"Improvements in the Manufacture of Gunpowder," and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, we would reinark, in conclusion, that we
do not confine ourselves to the exact proportions above stated, as they may be
slightly changed without at all departing from the principle of our Invention,
although those above stated have been found to answer well in practice; but
what we claim as our Invention intended to be secured to us by the herein in
part recited Letters Patent is, the manufacture of a white gunpowder, in the
manner herein-before described for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Davies and George Paine, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
JOHN SHOLL,
Truro.
JOHN DAVIES.
(L.S)
GEORGE PAINE. (L.S.)