AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION TO BE USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD BALLS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for an
Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION TO BE USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF BILLIARD BALLS." A communication from Heinrich Ainmiller, of Salzburg,
in the Empire of Austria.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1880.
.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION
TO BE USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD BALLS." [A communication
from Heinrich Ainmiller, of Salzburg, in the Empire of Austria.]
A composition, according to this Invention, to be used for the manufacture of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank wirth at the Umice
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1880.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION
TO BE USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD BALLS." [A communication
from Heinrich Ainmiller, of Salzburg, in the Empire of Austria.]
A composition, according to this Invention, to be used for the manufacture of
billliard balls, consists of
Bone-gellatine (called Russian glue) 80 parts.
Cologne glue
-
10 parts.
Heavy spar (carbonate of barytes) 5 parts.
Carbonate of lime
Boiled linseed oil-
-
4 parts.
1 part.
The first two parts, or glues, are soaked in water until they have absorbed
110 per cent of the original weight. They are then boiled in a water bath, and
the barytes, chalk, and linseed oil added. When the mixture has cooled down to
about 30 degrees Réaumur, the skin which has formed on the top, and which
contains the air bubbles, has to be carefully taken off.
As the material is not suited to be poured into moulds on account of its liability
to shrink when drying, the following method is adopted:-The composition is
formed into small sticks or bars, about 20 centimetres long and about 1 centimetre
thick. These bars are provided with a hole at one end. The other end is plunged
into the composition about 3 centimetres deep, and the bar or stick is then kept in
motion, being passed up and down and round and round until the mass is
sufficiently dried not to drop off. This requires about half a minute. The stick is
then hung up to dry. When this has been thoroughly accomplished, the stick is
dipped again and again until it has reached the required size.

page_text: The proportion of the composition is altered for the last three or four dips, and
85 parts instead of 80 parts of bone gellatine (or Russian glue) are used, and
5 parts instead of 10 parts of Cologne glue are taken.
For producing red balls, analino red is mixed with the composition. For yellow
balls, chromo yellow is used in the same manner. In like manner with other
colours.
The stick upon which the ball was made is now cut off and slightly hollowed
out, the holes thus formed being filled in with the composition before named.
The balls are now finished in the rough, and are then left for some three to four
months to acquire the elasticity and sound of ivory balls. After this time they
aro turned in a lathe and ground smooth. They are then placed in a bath of
concentrated solution of acetate of alumina. When the ball has again become dry
the waterproof surface can be polished with pummice stone and lime.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st December
1880.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION
TO BE USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD BALLS" A communication
from Heinrich Ainmiller, of Salzburg, in the Empire of Austria.
A composition, according to this Invention, to be used for the manufacture of
1880.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION
TO BE USED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BILLIARD BALLS." A communication
from Heinrich Ainmiller, of Salzburg, in the Empire of Austria.
A composition, according to this Invention, to be used for the manufacture of
billiard balls, consists of
Bone gellatine (called Russian glue) 80 parta.
'
Cologno glue
Heavy spar (barytes)
Carbonate of lime
Boiled linseed oil-
10 parts.
5 parts.
4 parts.
1-part
The first two parts, or glues, are soaked in water until they have absorbed
110 per cent of their original weight. They are then boiled in a water bath, and
the barytes, chalk, and linseed oil added. When the mixture has cooled down to
about 30 degrees Réaumur, the skin, which has formed on the top and which
contains the air bubbles, has to be carefully taken off.
As the material is not suited to be poured into moulds on account of its liability
to shrink when drying, the following method is adopted-The composition is
formed into small sticks or bars, about 20 centimetres long and about 1 centimetre
thick. These bars are provided with a hole at one end. The other end is plunged
into the composition about 3 centimetres deep, and the bar or stick is then kept
in motion, being passed up and down and round and round until the mass is
sufficiently dried not to drop off. This requires about half a minute. The stick is
then hung up to dry. When this has been thoroughly accomplished, the stick is
dipped again and again until it has reached the required size.
The proportion of the composition is altered for the last three to four dips, and
85 parts instead of 80 parts of bone gellatine (or Russian glue) are, used, and
5 parts instead of 10 parts of Cologne glue are taken.
For producing red balls, analine red is mixed with the composition. For yellow
balls, chrome yellow is used in the same manner. In like manner with other colours.
The stick upon which the ball was made is now cut off and slighty hollowed
out, the holes thus formed being filled in with the composition beforo named.
The balls are now finished in the rough, and are then left for some three to four
-months to acquire the elasticity and sound of ivory balls. After this time they are
turned in a lathe and ground smooth. They are then placed in a bath of
concentrated solution of acetate of alumina. When the ball has again become dry
the waterproof surface can be polished with pummice stone and limo.
The beforegoing being the nature, object, and purposes of this Invention, what I
claim as the Invention communicated to me by the said Heinrich Ainmiller, and
secured by Letters Patent, as aforesaid, is,―
First. The construction and manufacture of billiard balls from the materials
within described in or about the proportions set forth.
Second. The method of forming billiard balls by dipping and rotating, in the
mass or composition, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.