New or Improved Covering for Walls, Ceilings, Floors; also applicable for other purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Covering for Walls, Ceilings, Floors; also
applicable for other purposes.
I, JAMES WARD MOSELEY of Sunny Bank, Victoria Drive, Sale, near
Manchester, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be
as follows:-
My invention has for its object the manufacture of a cheap, light and durable
non-inflammable and damp-proof covering for walls, ceilings, floors etcetera, which
shall form a convenient substitute for the present plastic and wooden coverings and
which will lend itself to decorative purposes.
In accordance with my invention I first take, by preference two sheets of straw
pulp boarding of the same thickness and of equal size. I then fasten these two
sheets together by means of glue, strong size or other adhesive material, previously
interposing however between said sheets of straw board a layer of waterproof
material.
On the face sides of this combination I apply woven or textile material, such as
cotton, flax, hemp, or silk or any combination thereof, the said materials being fixed
to the straw board by glue or size with a slight admixture of linseed oil.
The article so produced is next introduced into a press between heated plates of
metal, (preferably zinc), the heat causing the glue or size to penetrate the straw
board and the pressure producing an effectual union of the parts.
To render the material non-inflammable I now apply asbestos paint or asbestos:
powder sprinkled on a coating of glue and oil, or glue only.
I thus produce a material which is extremely light, very strong and highly
adapted for use as a covering for walls, ceilings, roofs, etcetera, the water-proof
insertion rendering it damp-proof and the coating of asbestos rendering it
non-inflammable.
The material may be made of three or more thicknesses with a layer of water
proof material between each thickness. The material is of such a character that
it can be planed on the edges or cut with a saw.
To give it a particularly hard and fine surface the material may be treated with
ivory dust or similar substances at the time of applying the asbestos.
To make the material non-infectious and render the same more or less vermiu
proof, I treat the surfaces of the straw boards with a preparation of carbolic acid
and coal tar; this treatment also rendering the material more durable and less
liable to decay. The new material may be made in small sections suitable for
parquet flooring or mosaic work. The surface of the material lends itself to
decorative purposes.
It may also be embossed, the embossing taking place before the thicknesses of
the straw board are put together.
Dated this 17th day of January 1894.
:

page_text: A New or Improved Covering for Walls, Ceilings, Floors; also
applicable for other purposes.
I, JAMES WARD MOSELEY of Sunny Bank, Victoria Drive, Sale, near
Manchester, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object the manufacture of a cheap, light and durable
non-inflammable and damp proof covering for walls, ceilings, floors, etcetera, which
shall form a convenient substitute for the present plaster and wooden coverings
and which will lend itself to decorative purposes. Such covering is also designed
for other useful purposes.
In accordance with my invention I first take, by preference two sheets of straw-
pulp boarding, of the same shape and thickness and of equal size. I then fasten
these two sheets-together by means of glue, strong size or other adhesive material,
previously interposing however between said sheets of straw boarding a layer of
waterproof material.
On the face sides of this combination I apply woven or textile material, such as
cotton, flax, hemp or silk or any combination thereof, the said materials being
fixed to the straw boarding by glue or size, with a slight admixture of by
preference boiled linseed oil to give a damp resisting property.
The article so produced is next introduced into a press between heated plates of
metal (preferably zinc) or between calendering rollers or equivalent heating and
pressing media, the heat causing the glue or size to penetrate the straw boarding
and the pressure producing an effectual union of the parts.
To render the material non-inflammable I apply asbestos paint, or asbestos
powder sprinkled on a coating of glue and oil or glue only, to the face sides of
the same.
I thus produce a material which is extremely light, very strong and highly
adapted for use as a covering for walls, ceilings, floors, roofs, etcetera ; the water-
proof insertion rendering it damp-proof and the coating of asbestos rendering it
non-inflammable.
The material may be made of three or more thicknesses with a layer of water-
proof material between each thickness. The material is of such a character that
it can be planed on the edges, or cut with a saw, or be worked by similar
instruments.
To give a particularly hard and fine surface the material may be treated with
ivory dust, plaster-of-paris, or similar hard substances at the time of applying the
asbestos preferably.
To make the material non-infectious and render the same more or less vermin
proof, I treat the surfaces nearest the waterproof insertion with a preparation of
carbolic acid and coal-tar; this treatment also rendering the material more durable
or less liable to decay.
This new material may be made in small sections suitable for parquet flooring,
or mosaic work, or may be made in large sections for screens or partitions. It
may be embossed to any design or pattern, the embossing taking place, by
preference before the thicknesses of straw boarding are put together.
In some cases where the wall or object to be covered is not likely to come in
contact with damp the waterproof insertion may be dispensed with, and in such
cases one layer of straw boarding may be used, but to get a more rigid and
substantial material two layers or thicknesses are preferred. As a modification of
my invention I may apply the waterproof material on one of the outside surfaces
in addition to the textile material on that particular surface.

page_text: To prevent dampness affecting the glue or size used in the making up of my
improved material may add small quantities of alum and bi-carbonate of potash
to the glue or size in or about the proportions of one of alum, one of potash and
fifteen of glue.
As an equivalent for the coal-tar aforesaid I may use silicate of soda, or similar
damp-proof substances.
It will be readily seen that in its application as a covering for walls my invention
has great advantages over plaster coverings as it permits of immediate painting or
decorating, plaster coverings requiring to wait twelve months or longer before
being in a fit state to paint upon. The improved material is further advantageous
in that it will not crack, blister, or fall away like plaster, nor shrink, split or
expand like wood. The textile material on either face gives strength to the
covering and resists all tendency to bend or warp and to all intents and purposes
acts as a canvas surface to receive paints, colors or varnishes.
The improved material may be affixed on the wall or object to be covered by
nailing, cementing, or by other means suited to the purpose.
Although described more particularly as a covering for walls the improved
material applicable for other purposes, my invention being the "material" itself.
In lieu of straw-pulp boarding, wood or paper-pulp boarding may be employed.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The manufacture of a material or covering for walls, etc., composed of straw-
pulp boarding or the like, treated and made up in the manner substantially as set
forth.
Dated thin 17th Jan 1804
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.