Improvements in Material for the Construction and Decoration of Buildings."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
' Improvements in Material for the Construction and Decoration of
Buildings."
I, DAVID HISLOP FERGUSON, of No. 314 Board of Trade Building, in the City
of Montreal, in the District of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Dominion of
Canada, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention has for its objects to provide a material in imitation of marble
and other decorative stone which is both fire and water-proof, lighter than stone,
a good non-conductor of heat or sound and an imitation so perfect that on a build-
ing it is indistinguishable from genuine marble. The marble like material may
be sawed into veneers and jointed to form regular patterns on both sides, the varie-
gations and markings being alike throughout the material and on its surfaces.
Many imitations of marble have already been made, but these have been mostly
surface paintings on paper and on slabs built up of marble dust, plaster of paris,
or such pulverulent materials. These substances are not well suited for the pur-
pose, as it is practically impossible to make the different colours run into one
another, as in genuine marble. This difficulty is overcome by employing a
fibrous or floculent material, and different colours can be freely mixed and made
to run into one another, each colour nevertheless standing out clear and distinct
as in the natural marble.
In carrying out my invention I use a suitable mineral fibrous material, prefer-
ably asbestos, which, after having been separated into fibres by the usual process,
and while dry, is divided into portions each of which is separately and distinctly
coloured by the addition of dry pigment of the tints and in quantity required
to imitate the markings of the natural stone In some cases it is necessary to mix
two or more of the separately coloured portions to produce graining; this result is
easily obtained, as the floculent character of the material admits of the coloured
fibres mixing freely while retaining their distinctive tints and the effects of small
or large grain can be produced by the use of shorter or longer fibre. I introduce
the mixture of fibres and pigments into a mould through suitable apertures in suc-
cessive portions of the several colours necessary to produce the variegations of the
marble to be imitated, packing them compactly down. When the mould is thus
packed, I remove one of its sides and moisten the contents with a weak solution of
silicate of soda. I then remove the contents from the mould and leave them t
dry. When the mass is dry, I immerse it in a solution of calcium chloride which
converts it into artificial stone. This is again dried and finished by polishing, or
the slab may be divided by a saw into veneers which can be backed up to any re-
quired thickness with Portland or other cement or can be cemented to slabs of slate,
plates of metal, or wood or asbestos- boards.
Sometimes for large slabs or other articles it is necessary to reinforce the cement
backing, by embedding in the cement a wire netting or coarse fabric or the like
in order to strengthen it and permit of its safe carriage and handling.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention;
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
A decorative material in imitation of marble or other ornamental stone capable
of being sawn into veneers, composed of separately and distinctly coloured mineral
fibrous portions packed together and treated with silicate of soda and calcium,
chloride, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1897.
ABEL & IMRAY.
Agents for the Applicant.