IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF REED FABRICS FOR CEILINGS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Ambrose Brydges of the firm of Brydges and
Co Engineers and Patent Solicitors of 107 Königgrätzer Str in the City of
Berlin and German Empire and of 6 St. Leonards Terrace Upton in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF REED FABRICS FOR CEILINGS
"
"
Communicated to him by the
firm of P. Stauss and H. Ruff of the town of Cottbus in the Kingdom of
Prussia
T.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August 1882.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES of the firm of Brydges and Co Engineers and Patent
Solicitors of 107 Königgrätzer Str in city of Berlin and German Empire and
of 6 St Leonards Terrace Upton in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF REED FABRICS FOR CEILINGS, a communication to me
from the firm of P. Stauss and H Ruff of the town of Cottbus in the Kingdom of
Prussia.
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of ceilings whereby
fabrics of reeds and wire are employed instead of laths.
The employment of reeds for ceilings is known, and reed ceilings were previously
made by nailing rows of closely packed reeds on to rows of laths.
These laths were placed at right angles to the joists and the reeds were placed at
right angles to the laths.
Over this row of laths another row of reeds was nailed parallel to the first row.
This row consisted of strong reeds, which were placed a certain distance apart and
nailed to the same, laths.
When a ceiling was prepared in this manner, of two separate reed fabrics, or
rows of reeds connected together by wire, a bulging out or breaking of the ceiling
could easily take place as the reeds could not be properly attached; much time
and labor also were lost by the double operation of nailing.
When my double reed fabric is employed, a large amount of time and money is
saved as the whole ceiling can be fixed at one time.

page_text: As the reeds of the double row or fabric of reeds are attached across the joists
and as the wires of the same are drawn up tightly, it is impossible for the ceiling
to give way or to present an uneven surface; but on the contrary the row of reeds
and the manner in which the same are fixed cause the ceiling to remain always
perfectly even and regular
My reed ceilings are manufactured in a loom in such a manner that the top
layer and lower layer are woven tightly on to an intermediate wire and thus it is
rendered impossible for the reeds to shift.
The double reed sheet, reed fabric or rows of reeds connected by wires are
arranged that on one side the lower layer projects, and on the other side the upper
layer projects in order to prevent the ends of the different pieces of fabric of like
thickness butting against one another when a ceiling is being put together, id est,
the ends of the various pieces of fabric lap over each other
The following is the method of manufacture of a reed ceiling with double rows
of reeds.
The rows of reeds or reed fabric are nailed by means of hooked nails to the joists
or the strips at the side of the same in such a manner that the closely woven side
of the reed fabric is next to the joist.
For supporting or carrying the reeds one or more strips of wood are nailed in
each space between the joists on to the partition between floor and ceiling.
After the ceiling has been fitted to the room, it is attached to the joists or to the
joists and strips by means of hook-nails which grip the wires arranged across the
reeds parellel to the joists.
After the ceiling has been fixed in the above manner, the plastering of the reeds
take places similarly to ordinary plastering.
Another advantage of an intermediate partition according to my principle is that
heavy pieces of stucco or stucco ornaments can be screwed to the same; it being
very difficult to fix them when single reed fabrics are employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th February 1883.
EDWIN AMBROSE BRYDGES of the firm of Brydges & Co Engineers and Patent
Solicitors of 107 Königgrätzer Str in the City of Berlin and German Empire and
of 6 St Leonards Terrace Upton in the County of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF REED FABRICS FOR CEILINGS a communication to me
by the firm of P. Stauss and H. Ruff of the town of Cottbus in the Kingdom
of Prussia.
"
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of ceilings whereby
fabrics of reeds and wire are employed instead of laths.
The employment of reeds for ceilings is known and reed ceilings were previously
made by nailing rows of closely packed reeds on to rows of laths.
These laths were placed at right angles to the joists and the reeds were placed at
right angles to the laths.
Over this row of laths another row of reeds was nailed parellel to the first row.
This row consisted of strong reeds which were placed a certain distance apart and
nailed to the same laths.
When a ceiling was prepared in this manner of two separate reed fabrics or
rows of reeds connected together by wire a bulging out or breaking of the ceiling
could easily take place as the reeds could not be properly attached; much time and
labor also were lost by the double operation of nailing.
When our double reed fabric is employed a large amount of time and money is
saved as the whole ceiling can be fixed at one time.
As the reeds of the double row or fabric of reeds are attached across the joists
and as the wires of the same are drawn up tightly it is impossible for the ceiling
to give way or to present an uneven surface; but on the contrary the row of reeds
and the manner in which the same are fixed cause the ceiling to remain always
perfectly even and regular.
Figure 1 to 3 show the said double reed fabric with one connecting wire between
the two rows of reeds, whereas Figures 1º, 2º 3* show the said double reed fabric
whereby the attaching wire is woven direct onto the large reeds in one operation.
A A are the joists, B B are strips or ledges on which the false ceiling rests.
D. D are ledges which can be employed to serve as extra support for the reed
fabric which said fabric consists of two layers of reeds E' E' and one or two layers
of wire F. G.
These reed ceilings are manufactured in a loom in such manner that the top
layer E' and lower layer E are woven tightly on to an intermediate wire F and
thus it is rendered impossible for the reeds to shift, or as shown in Figure 1° to 3*
with a second wire G.
The double reed sheet, reed fabric or rows of reeds E' E' connected by wires F
or F. G are so arranged that on one side the lower layer projects, and on the
other side the upper layer projects in order to prevent the ends of the different
pieces of fabric of like thickness butting against one another when a ceiling is
being put together id est the ends of the various pieces of fabric lap over each
other.
The following is the method of manufacture of a reed ceiling with double rows
of reeds.
The rows of reeds or reed fabric are nailed by means of hooked nails H to the
joists A or the strips or ledges B at the side of the same in such manner that the
closely woven side E¹ of the reed fabric is next to the joist A.
For supporting or carrying the reeds one or more strips of wood D are nailed in

page_text: each space between the joists on to the partition between the upper floor and
ceiling.
After the reed ceiling has been cut to fit the room, it is attached to the joists A
or to the joists A and strips B and D by means of hooked nails H which grip the
wires G arranged across the reeds parellel to the said joists.
After the ceiling has been fixed in the above manner, the plastering of the reeds
take place similarly to ordinary plastering.
Another advantage of an intermediate partition according to this system is that
heavy pieces of stucco or stucco ornaments can be screwed to the same, it being
very difficult to fix them when single reed fabrics are employed.
It is evident that this improved fabric can be employed to like advantage for
making the walls of sheds and other buildings.
Having now described my said invention and the manner in which the same is
to or may be carried into effect I desire it to be understood that what I claim and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is -
1. The manufacture application and employment of a double reed fabric E¹ E
F G whereby such said fabric can be attached to the joists or frame-work of a
building in one operation substantially as described in the foregoing specification
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2-The application and employment of the double reed fabric in such manner
that the reeds run in an opposite direction to the joists in order to prevent all
loosening of the same substantially as described in the foregoing specification and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
3. The employment of the intermediate ceiling C in combination with the
double reed fabric which said fabric is applied to the ceiling in one operation sub-
stantially as described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Edwin Ambrose Brydges have hereunto set
my hand and seal this third day of February in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witnesses
ANTHONY STEFFEN
ARTHUR BAERMANN
EDWIN A. BRYDGES (L.S.)