CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CUPELO FURNACES FOR MELTING METALS
Year: 1839

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Yates, of the Effingham Works, Rotherham,
in the County of York, Iron Founder and Earthenware Manufacturer, for his
invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CUPELO FURNACES
FOR MELTING METALS."
6 months.
Dated 13th July 1889.

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
YATES, of the Effingham Works, Rotherham, in the County of York, Iron-
founder and Earthenware Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Third day of July, in the third year of Her reign,
and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Yates, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said James Yates, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said James Yates, my executors, administrators, or
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING,
FORMING, OR PRODUCING RAISED OR PROJECTING LETTERS, MOULDINGS, FIGURES, OR
OTHER ORNAMENTAL WORK FOR EXTERNAL DECORATIONS OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER
PURPOSES; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me,
the said James Yates, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the
same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Yates, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of Certain Improvements in Making, Forming, or Producing
Raised or Projecting Letters, Mouldings, Figures, or other Ornamental Work
for External Decorations of Buildings and other Purposes, applies, in the first
instance, to a novel or improved mode, manner or method of making, forming,
or producing separate, raised, or projecting letters or figures, as also what are
commonly called "block letters," for the external decorations in writings
on shop fronts, signboards, tablets, direction boards, or names of streets and
other places, as well as for internal tablets, shewboards, names of proprietors,
and various other purposes, for instance, types or reversed letters for printing,
and for many other purposes wherein wooden or metal letters or types are now
used.
And, in the second instance, an improved manner, mode, or method of making,
forming, or manufacturing other figures or devices or mouldings, as rosettes,
or other such ornamental work, which can be made of the materials herein-
after named, and consists, in the first place, in the making, manufacturing, or
forming, by means of pressure, such separate raised or projecting letters,
figures, or types, of a new material, and in a novel and peculiar manner; (that
is to say,) in earthenware, clay, or porcelain ware, or stoneware, or glass, or
other mixtures of earthy materials, in contra-distinction to those usually made
or formed in metal, by casting it in a fluid state into moulds, or by raising or
depressing the form of the letters, or mouldings, or figures out of plates
or sheets of metal by dies and matrixes; or by cutting the shapes or forms of
such letters, figures, or types out of wood, and carving them into the shape
required for the character or figure. And, in the second place, in the
making, forming, or producing mouldings, rosettes, slabs, tablets, or other
ornamental work, in a novel manner, that is, by means of great or extra-
.ordinary pressure.
And I would here remark, as regards the first part of my improvements, that
I am aware earthenware letters may have heretofore been made by cutting
them out of sheets of soft clay or earthy materials, but such letters are imper-

page_text: fect from many causes (viz³), the roughness of the edges where they have been
separated from the sheet, the imperfect drying, shrinking, and cracking of the
material, the difficulty of keeping them in the required shape previous to.
baking, and other causes. Also the earthenware letters so cut out have neces-
sarily (from the mode of making) their sides straight, or at right angles to the
plane or front thereof; whereas, by my improvements, my novel or improved
letters, figures, or characters may have their sides formed at any angle to the
plane or front surface of the letter, and be formed perfect on all the edges, so
as to ensure the correct form of the letter or figure; and moreover, the front
surfaces of the letters or characters may have an indented, corrugated, or raised
pattern or design formed thereon, for the purpose of producing prismatic
colours, different effects of light or shade in colours, or gold and silver, in order
to heighten or improve the effect or appearance; also they may be ornamented
with patterns or devices painted thereon, such designs being enamelled or burnt
into the earthenware or china while the letters are being heated, as in the
ordinary process of manufacturing earthenware or china articles. It will be
evident that these letters, whether made of earthenware, china, or glass,
or other mixtures of earthy materials, will not be liable to injury by exposure
to the weather or the changes of temperature, as is the case with metal or
wooden letters with painted, colored, and varnished surfaces.
And I would further remark, as regards the second part of my improve-
ments, that I am aware mouldings, rosettes, and other ornamental work has
been heretofore formed of carthenware or earthy materials, but such orna-
mental work has only been formed out of such materials when in a wet, or
damp, or soft state, as it is commonly used in pottery, earthenware, or artificial
stone manufacture, which articles, when so made, are subject to all the disad-
vantages above named as regards the earthenware letters or figures when cut
out of sheets or layers of the materials; whereas, by my improved method of
preparing and acting upon the earthy materials, I am enabled to produce a
much better article, not subject to such disadvantages. And, therefore, the im-.
provements contemplated and claimed by me in the above-named Letters Patent
consist in making, or manufacturing, or forming such earthenware or glass let-
ters, and earthenware mouldings, rosettes, and other ornamental work, by means
of pressure and suitable dies or matrixes, or countersunk tools made of metal
or other suitable substances or materials, and shaped of the required figure,
into which moulds, matrixes, or dies the soft or damp clay or other earthy
materials (or fluid mixtures thereof, when glass is used,) is forced by means of
the pressure, and made to take the required form of the letters or figures,
levice or pattern, formed or countersunk therein.

page_text: The tools, dies, and matrixes may be worked by hand or by machinery, and
I will therefore proceed to describe the process and method I pursue in making
or manufacturing the improved articles, and some modifications and arrange-
ments of machinery by which the same may be carried into effect. The
mixtures of earthy materials or matters may be prepared after the usual
manner of potters' clay, and then used in the manner herein-after described;
but in order to obtain a more compact body I prefer to use the earthy matters
or mixtures of materials in a much dryer state than the usual consistency of
potters' clay, or than has heretofore been used in the usual process of making
pottery ware. And moreover, in order still further to prevent the shrinking,
the warping and cracking by contraction, I take ground baked clay, "biscuit,"
or potsherds," and flint and other siliceous powder, slightly moistened by
clay-slip," or by "clay-slip" mixed with "rice water," which material is put
under immense pressure in the process of manufacturing the articles, in order
to bring all the particles in close contact with each other. The material, after
being properly prepared, is placed in a convenient situation where the work-
man can readily supply a sufficient quantity to the moulds ready to be passed
under the press in order to force the material into the die or matrix.
66
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one description of press adapted for this
purpose; Fig. 2 is a side view, and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, the top part
of the framework being removed to expose the revolving table.
a, a, is the
frame, which may be made in wood or metal, and affixed by screws or bolts in
any convenient situation. 6 is the shaft of the follower or presser, which may
be raised and lowered by a male and female screw, or by a lever or other means,
according to whatever agent is used to give the required pressure. c is the
table, having an interrupted rotary motion given to it in any convenient manner.
This table moves upon the cross piece or bed d, and may be divided into
several compartments, each of which carries a receptacle for a die or mould.
The interrupted rotary motion of the table must be so arranged that the dies
or moulds shall be made to stop at the required intervals and proper position
under the presser k a sufficient time for the forcing of the material into the
mould to take place. The table is shewn in the Drawings as having four recep-
tacles e, e, e, e, for the dies, one of which is supplied with a mould in it at f;
the receptacles in this instance are countersunk dovetailed recesses formed in
the table, the moulds having a corresponding dovetailed piece fitting into the
recesses, so that they may be readily applied and removed each time a letter or
figure has been pressed or formed.
.
The manner of giving the interrupted rotary motion, as represented in the
Drawings, is as follows:-Around the table is formed a toothed wheel g, g,

page_text: taking into gear with a toothed segment or half wheel h, mounted upon a
shaft i, turning in suitable bearings. This shaft is turned with a continuous
motion by a strap or toothed gear from any convenient first mover. The
wheel h is of only half the diameter of the wheel g, and by having only half its
periphery furnished with teeth it consequently will give as it revolves to the
table the interrupted rotary motion required, the table resting at each interval
with a die or mould under the presser or follower k, while it is made to descend
by the action of the press and force the material into the mould, which operation
will take place while the blank part of the wheel his revolving next the table; and
in order to ensure the table stopping and remaining with the die in the precise
position required to bring the mould directly under the presser the following con-
trivance is adopted:- is a bolt or pin sliding in bearings on the cross piece d of
the frame; the upper end of this bolt projects upwards into shallow holes or re-
cesses formed in the under side of the table beneath the receptacles e, e, and is
forced upwards into these holes by means of the weighted lever m whenever the
mould arrives at the proper position, and thus stops and retains the table. In order
to release the table after a letter or figure has been formed the following contri-
vance is used: Upon the depression of the follower ka tappet n on the shaft 6 will
have passed the end of the lever o, which it is allowed to do by means of its joint to
the stop-piece resting on the frame. This lever is connected by a rod p to the
weighted lever m, and as the shaft 6 moves upwards the tappet n will come
into contact with the end of the lever, and consequently raise it and the stop-
piece, and by the connection with the lever m withdraw the bolt 7 and thereby
release the table, which is now free to turn round, the toothed segment h at
this time coming into contact with the wheel g. The table being moved
a portion of a revolution brings the next receptacle and mould under the
action of the presser, the attendant having placed a mould containing the
proper quantity of material in a receptacle on the one side, ready to pass
under the presser, removing that which has undergone the operation on the
other; it is then taken away, another applied, and so on.
Having described the several Figures in the Drawing, I would remark that I
do not intend to confine myself to the description of press therein shewn, nor
to the use of a revolving table, as an oblong table, having an interrupted
horizontal reciprocating motion given to it, may do equally well; the motion
being such as to bring the receptacles and moulds or dies alternately under
the action of a presser, the moulds being supplied with the material on
the one side of the follower, and removed on the other after the operation
has taken place. The letters and figures made of glass are formed in
as those of earthenware (videlicet), by pressing the
the same manner

page_text: materials in moulds, with this difference only, that the glassy material is
first to be heated into a melted state and then placed into the dies or matrixes
the follower or presser being brought down into operation, so as to force
the material into the recess of the mould or matrix and drive away the
superfluous parts, the proportions of the different matters in the glassy
materials being varied according to the colour intended to be given to the
letters or figures. After the letters or figures or other articles with flat
faces have been formed in the press, and dried and baked in the ordinary
kiln, I rub or grind their faces upon flat slabs of stone or metal, supplied
with sand, emery, or other grinding materials, and thereby reduce any
unevenness of surface and produce a smooth flat surface on the letters, fit
to receive the colouring matter, gilding, or other ornamental material, and
also the glazing; and, when the reversed letters are used for types for printing
from, they may be left with the smooth ground surface, without any glazing
or other preparation thereon. The moulds, dies, or matrixes, in which the
letters, figures, types, mouldings, or other ornamental work is formed, may
be of any suitable metal or mixture of metals, as in Figs. 3 and 4; or they
may be formed of earthenware or other earthy materials, bardened and
baked; or they may be formed of plaster of Paris, or other plastic matters
er compositions; but these latter materials must be secured and supported
within metal boxes or frames, to prevent the moulds bursting under the
pressure required to force the material into the die. The letters, figures,
mouldings, or other ornamental work, after being completed, may be fastened
in the required situations by cement, or by metal pins driven through holes
formed in a slanting direction in the sides, previous to the letters being
baked or hardened, or they may have small ledges or ears left upon their
top and bottom ends in order to slide into grooves in a frame; or they may
be fixed and applied in any other convenient manner.
Having now described and ascertained my improvements, I would in con-
clusion remark that what I claim as my Invention, secured to me by the above
in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
The making, forming, or producing of raised or projecting letters, mould-
ings, figures, devices, tablets, slabs, or other ornamental work for external
decorations of buildings, and other purposes, in the manner herein-before
described, out of the earthy matters or materials commonly used in pottery or
earthenware manufacture, or from any mixture of earthy materials which will
allow of the articles being pressed, dried, baked, ground, painted, glazed, and
otherwise ornamented and treated according to the purpose for which they are
required.

page_text: And I also claim the making of reversed letters, figures, or types for printers'
use, from earthenware or potters' clay.
And I also claim the making, forming, or producing separate letters,
figures, devices, or characters, in glass, or mixtures of glass and other
materials, either opaque or coloured, as desired, all such earthy or glassy
materials being prepared and forced into suitable moulds by means of pres-
sure, in order to give the required form or figure, which is afterwards to be
furnished or completed, as herein-before set forth and described.
And lastly, I claim the application of such raised or projecting letters,
mouldings, figures, or other ornamental work for the external decorations of
buildings and other purposes to which they are applicable.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Yates, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the First day of January, in the
third year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said James
Yates came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknow-
ledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained
and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid
was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year
of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Third day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
forty.