IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Basford at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
November 1872.
I, WILLIAM BASFORD, of Burslem, County of Stafford, Tile Maker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS AND TILES," to be as follows, that is to
say:
My Invention relates more especially to the mode of. manufacture of
face front bricks and roof and floor tiles.
The first part consists in the treatment of the material used in the
making of the bricks and tiles. I mix with the clay or marl about 5 or
10 per cent. of powdered rotch rottenstone, such as is found lying on
the top of clay or marl, or between the layers of the same. I also mix
with this a portion of vitrious stone.
The second part relates to the method of forming floor tiles from
plastic clays: At present when the workman has made the floor tile
within the mould, by shaking it the tile is dropped out upon a palet
board; this often puts the tile out of shape; to obviate which and form

page_text: a more perfect tile, either square, octagonal, or otherwise, I make use of
a wooden ribbed bottom, partly. fixed and partly movable within the
mould, so that when the tile is formed the movable portion of the bottom
is raised by means of a frame with projecting studs, which pushes up
the movable bottom to the upper edge of the mould, carrying upon it
the tile, which is then removed by a two-tongued fork and placed on.
the palet board to be taken by the assistant to the shelf or drying flat to
stiffen preparatory to being baked and polished for the kiln.
My next improvement relates to the method of forming plain or flat
roof tiles. At present the tiles are made on a block fitted upon the
workman's table, the mould being prepared by throwing dust on
the block as each tile is made. The powder being injurious to the
health of the workman causes a dislike to making roof tiles. To obviate
this and make a more perfect tile without the dust flying about as at
present, I make a tile mould of sufficient depth, and screw or pin it to
the workman's table. This mould has a plunger within it with a loose
wooden bottom, having holes at one end to form nobs or projections to
grip the laths; this bottom is placed upon the plunger. If required
two or three strips may be attached on the bottom to form grooves to
lighten the tiles. Under the plunger is a treadle or lever to raise the
tile when made to the upper surface of the mould. The operator having
removed the bottom with the tile on it the assistant supplies a fresh
bottom previously rubbed in dust for the workman to put in the mould,
the assistant taking the new made tile to the shelf or drying flat to
harden. The tile is then finished, baked, and set for the kiln in the
usual way.
My Invention further relates to the form of the ordinary down-draught
oven or kiln, whether of a circular, square, or other form. I propose to
construct within the oven or kiln about its centre a separate chamber,
either circular, square, or oblong, about a quarter the area of the whole
oven or kiln to burn the better class goods, but chiefly red or buff
colored front facing bricks and floor tiles. Whether they are placed in
saggers in the chamber or set in the open hollow chamber, a steadier
heat is obtained than when they are near to the casing of the oven
kiln.
or
The next part of my Invention relates to an improved mode of
forming the floor in rectangular kilns, and is as follows:-I propose
that the fires of cach flue and fire draught shall be alternately on

page_text: opposite sides of the kiln; thus, if the fire mouth of the first flue is
on the east side of the wall of the kiln the second fire mouth shall be
on the west side. My object in so doing is to form chambers between
the fire draughts to burn front facing bricks, roof tiles, and especially
floor tiles, red or buff colours, these chambers having flues underneath,
and their walls built with bricks on edge set with fire-clay cement. On
the top of this sort of kiln I prefer an arch, and when in or near towns,
I construct a second arch over the lower one, with a flue or flues
between the two to convey the smoke to the shaft.