Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application. 15th Apr., 1889
Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
I, EDWARD SHAILER SEABS of 337 Mansion House Chambers Queen Victoria
Street in the City of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to an improved embossed material to be used for decorative
and other purposes.
The material manufactured or constructed according to these Improvements consists
of a layer or layers of comparatively soft and yielding material, the layer or film
forming the outer or exposed surface being of comparatively hard and smooth chemical
wood fibre. The material is embossed while damp in the ordinary or in any suitable
manner and may thereafter be painted, stained, tinted, or otherwise further decorated
as may be desired.
The layers or thicknesses of which the material is composed are united in the process
of manufacture by facing a layer or layers of soft and yielding fabric tissue or pulp
with a comparatively thin film or layer of fine wood pulp. The layers may be con-
solidated in the ordinary known process of manufacture or they may be united in the
damp state by a felting action and rolling. It is preferred to form the outer layer or
film of "sulphite pulp" which is produced by boiling divided wood in a digester with
bisulphite of lime, or by an analogous process. This pulp is particularly adapted for
the purpose of this Invention because when supported by the more yielding and softer
under layer or foundation, it is less likely to break in the embossing process; and
because when embossed, it presents a very pleasing appearance and is not likely to be
accidentally injured by pressure or otherwise. The surface moreover, possesses a clear
colour and the sheeny effect of highly wrought timber and it is therefore peculiarly
well adapted for the reception of delicate and transparent tints and colours.

page_text: The inner layer or layers of softer or more yielding material may consist of paper,
wood, asbestos, or other similar and suitable fibre alone or in combination with a
woven fabric. The softer layers, which preferably form the bulk of the material,
yield readily to the form of the die in the embossing process and protect and preserve
the finer outer layer. It further gives the required degree of flexibility which the
finer material alone would not afford and thus enables it to be more easily rolled and
applied to walls and ceilings.
The compound material so manufactured or produced is, whilst the facing layer of
fine chemical wood pulp is still in a damp condition, embossed in a suitable machine
such for example as that described and illustrated in the Specification to Letters Patent
No. 10104 dated the 19th day of July A.D. 1887.
Having now 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 :
An embossed decorative material for covering walls, ceilings, and other surfaces,
consisting of a foundation of soft or yielding material and an outer film, layer or facing
of fine wood fibre, substantially as hereinbefore described.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.