IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS ORNAMENTS AND BUTTONS OR STUDS, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE SETTING OF GLASS STONES IN FLEXIBLE JEWELLERY
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Sonnenthal at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1880.
RICHARD SONNENTHAL, of No. 34, Aldermanbury, in the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS ORNAMENTS AND BUTTONS OR
STUDS, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE SETTING OF GLASS STONES IN
FLEXIBLE JEWELLERY."
This Invention relates to an improved method of securing glass ornaments or
stones on to the metal plates which serve for their attachment, more particularly
in flexible glass jewellery or buttons, whereby such ornaments or stones are
afforded a firm hold on the plates and are prevented from becoming detached as is
the case when they are merely cemented on.
For this purpose the plates or pieces of metal may either be prepared by having
holes or projections or rims formed in or on them in any convenient manner, or
they may be perfectly flat, or in place of plates one or more pieces of wire may be
employed which may be bent into any desired form. These plates, pieces, or wires
are, according to one method, placed in that part of the tongs used for forming the
glass ornaments or stones which forms the bottom or back thereof, and when the
plates have projections formed upon them, as described, they are so placed that
The melted
these projections are presented upwards from such bottom or back.
glass is then dropped into the tongs, and these are pressed together, whereupon the
plates or pieces or wires become firmly bedded in the back surface of the glass, the
holes or projections of the plates serving to key them more firmly therein, but
with the back surface of the plate, piece, or wire remaining sufficiently exposed to
serve for subsequent attachment to the metal ornament or foundation.
The
In order to cause the glass to adhere still more perfectly to the metal, if
necessary, the finished stones may be then subjected to further fire heat.
stones may afterwards be cut or polished, in the usual manner if desired.
In applying this process to the manufacture of glass buttons or ornaments
requiring to have a hole formed through them, the one part of the tongs has a
projecting pin or stud which fits into a recess in the other part, so that when the
tongs are closed upon the melted glass inserted therein, the pin passes through the
glass and thus forms the hole.

page_text: According to another method a slab of fire clay or other suitable refractory
material has recesses or moulds formed in it corresponding to the shape of the
stones it is desired to produce, and the metal plates, pieces, or wires are placed in
these moulds and upon these are placed the pieces of glass required for forming
the stones. The slab is then introduced into the melting furnace, whereby the
glass is melted so as to assume the shape of the mould and at the same time
The stones are after-
become firmly attached to the metal plate, piece, or wire.
wards cut and polished.
For attaching the stones or ornaments so prepared to a metal foundation or to
metal ornaments, such as crosses, brooches, or bracelets of which they are to form
part, the plates, pieces, or wires, which are by preference of iron, are first cleaned
with nitric acid and are then soldered on to the foundation or metal, the soldering
being effected either by means of a flame, or the metal ornaments prepared for
soldering, and having the prepared glass stones placed in position upon them, are
placed upon a fireclay slab and introduced into a muffle furnace where they are
subjected to a regulated heat for effecting the soldering.