NEW AND IMPROVED METHODS OF ATTACHING OR FIXING WOODWORK, IRONWORK FITTINGS OR FURNITURE TO WALLS OR BUILDINGS
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Wilton Rix, at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th Sep-
tember 1861. A communication from abroad by John Ackrill, Charles
Mapleston, and Frederic Kaiveran, of Melbourne, in the County of
Bourke, in the Colony of Victoria.
I, SAMUEL WILTON RIX, of Beccles, in the County of Suffolk, Gentleman,.
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "NEW AND IMPROVED
METHODS OF ATTACHING OR FIXING WOODWORK, IRONWORK FITTINGS OR FURNITURE
TO WALLS OR BUILDINGS," to be as follows, reference being had to the accom-
panying Diagrams, and to the numbers or reference marked thereon.
The nature of the Invention consists in the introduction of pieces of wood
into cavities of appropriate forms, constructed in certain of the bricks, stones,
artificial stone, or composition material of any kind that may be suitable for
the purpose used in the formation of a wall in such a manner that the said.
pieces of wood are firmly and securely fixed therein, appearing upon the sur-
face of the brickwork or masonry, to which pieces of wood is given the name
of "keys," and it is deemed desirable to prepare the said keys by one of the
known processes which will render them proof against dry rot, or any species
of decay, and prevent them from either shrinking or swelling; to these keys.
either woodwork, ironwork, or other work, can be firmly affixed by means
of nails, screws, or otherwise, in a perfectly firm and durable manner, and.
at the same time rather adding to than diminishing the strength and solidity:

page_text: of the wall destined to support the work aforesaid. The keys may be made
of various forms, the cavities of course being modified to suit each form of
key, but the simple dovetail as the best, and wood as the most suitable
material are preferred, the principle being the same in all cases.
By reference to the Diagrams, the simplicity of the Patent fixing brick
and key will be apparent, and their adaptability demonstrated for securely
fixing every possible description of joiners' work, ironwork fittings, or furniture
that can be required to be firmly and securely attached to a wall, and yet so
attached as to be capable of being removed without injury, and it will be seen
that the bricks are so formed as to work in perfect bond either with horizontal
or vertical keys.
The bricks Nos. 1 and 2, and also Nos. 9 and 10 with the flush keys, are
adapted for jamb linings, sash frames, and similar things to walls of any thick-
ness, and also for any other work requiring to be fixed directly on the face of
the wall, jamb, or reveal, the same bricks with projecting keys if used on the
face of the wall will in most cases supersede the necessity for door and window
grounds, affording a key for the plaster, a correct guide for the plasterer, and
leaving a solid and true face for the architraves, (bricks No. 1 and 2 have
thicker keys than those for Nos. 9 and 10, are reccommended in preference
except for light work). The bricks Nos. 3 and 4 admitting keys in a vertical
direction are intended for skirtings or other work requiring to be fixed hori-
zontally, and being header and stretcher are adapted for nine-inch or thicker
walls, but when required for four-inch walls, No. 5 must be used. The pro-
jecting key being inserted in the dovetail cavity, becomes securely fixed, the
portion which projects being also dovetailed forms a key for the plaster, and the
faces of the keys, (the work being built straight and plump), form the best
possible guide for the float rule, and leave a solid face upon which to affix the
skirting, dado, or other work.
The bricks Nos. 5 and 8 respectively are intended for four-inch and three-
inch walls, where the saving of space is an object, four-inch brick walls may
be built very strong by using the brick No. 5 at moderate distances in the
whole height of the wall, the wall will thus be keyed together, the bond pre-
served be better than brick nogging, and less expensive. By using projecting
keys to one or both sides, a four-inch wall may also be built and plastered, 'with
air spaces between so as to prevent the transmission of sound as effectually as
would a four-inch wall, partition walls may also be built three inches thick with
brick on edge, using the brick No. 8 at moderate distances with the projecting.
vertical key, on one side making a very strong wall, and which might safely
be built on a joist. For facility in execution for three-inch and four-inch

page_text: walls, the keys may be used in about three feet lengths, breaking joint alter-
nately.
Stone or brick outside walls may be effectually preserved from damp
appearing through the plaster, and be rendered warm and dry in winter, and
cool in summer, by using the bricks Nos. I and 2 or Nos. 9 and 10 with
projecting in courses spaced to suit the lengths of laths, which being plastered
upon would have an air space between the laths, and the wall superior in
every respect to the old method of battening. Or as a cheaper method the
bricks Nos. 1 and 2, 9 and 10, or 3 and 4 with short flush keys may be used
at such intervals as may be considered necessary to which battens may be
secured more firmly than with plugs, and without shattering the wall.
For picture galleries, libraries, school rooms, lecture rooms, and rooms of a
similar description by using the bricks Nos. 1 and 2, or 9 and 10, with either
flush or projecting keys as the case may require) the best possible fixing
will be afforded for hanging pictures, maps, and similar articles, the same
bricks and keys are also admirably adapted for securely fixing bookcases,
shelving, brackets, and similar fixtures, and also bracketting for large cor-
nices.
The economy of the adoption of the Patent will be evident, the use of
grounds being altogether superseded for skirtings, and generally for linings
or architraves the thickness of plaster on the face of walls may also be
reduced to the minimum, the keys for architraves, and skirtings being only
required to project just sufficiently for good sound work.
Besides the almost unlimited applicability of the Patent fixing brick for
inside work it affords the most secure fixing for shop fronts, wood cornices,
friezes, and similar things, and also for fixing trelliswork to garden and
ornamental walls.
The Patent fixing bricks may or should be made of the usual thickness
for ordinary brickwork and of double thickness, as Nos. 6 and 7 for stone-
work, the thick bricks however may be used for brick walls if preferred.
The Patent fixing brick may also be made specially if required to suit
the carrying out of any particular design.
I do not claim the introduction of plugs, wedges, or wood bricks, of what-
ever form they may be made, into a wall.
I do not claim the preservation of wood used as keys, but what I claim
as an Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the application of
bricks, stone, artificial stone, or composition material of any kind, in the
construction of walls or masonry made with cavities of such forms as to
grasp and lay hold of keys of wood, (or some other material in which a

page_text: nail or screw will hold) prepared to fit such cavities, whereby any woodwork,
ironwork, fittings, or furniture may be firmly attached in the manner and
for the purposes before described, and the manufacture of such keys, and
to which Invention I give the style or title of "Ackrill and Company's Patent
fixing bricks with wood keys."