IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER, AND FLASKS TO CONTAIN THE SAME
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, of Richmond Road,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER, AND FLASKS TO CONTAIN THE
SAME."
Sealed the 20th January 1865, and dated the 20th October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Henry Gustavus
Ehrhardt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th October 1864.
I, LOUIS HENRY GUSTAVUS EHRHARDT, of Richmond Road, Bayswater, in
the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER, AND FLASKS TO CONTAIN
THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the use of tannic acid or tannin rosin obtained
from turpentine, or other resinous substances, also artificial tannin, any one or
more of the above ingredients, in combination with either chlorate or nitrate
of potash, or both, in and for the manufacture of an improved gunpowder or
explosive compound.
The following is an example of the mode of manufacturing gunpowder
according to this Invention:-Take about 25 parts, more or less, of tannic

page_text: acid, or tannin rosin or resinous substances, either separately or combined, and
mix with about 75 parts of chlorate or nitrate of potash, either separately or
combined, all in a finely powdered state; these ingredients when intimately
mixed together form a highly explosive compound, but taken separately are
perfectly inexplosive and harmless, that is to say, if the chlorate or nitrate of
potash be placed in one vessel, and the tannin rosin or other resinous
substances be placed in another vessel, and fire be applied thereto, they will
not explode.
I am aware that various attempts have heretofore been made to employ
the chlorate of potash in the manufacture of gunpowder, which attempts have
proved unsuccessful in practice in consequence of the tendency to explosion in
grinding this salt-with-such-other-ingredients-as-have-been employed there-
with to manufacture the gunpowder.
By the use of the above ingredients combined together as above stated,
the chlorate of potash may be ground without this risk, but I propose as a
further security to prepare and grind the chlorate or nitrate of potash
separately from the tannin, rosin, or other resinous substances, and to mix them
together when required. for use, adopting such means as involve no dangerous
friction; and for convenience of effecting this mixture when using small
quantities, I propose to employ a powder flask of the following construction :-
I form a vessel or flask of any suitable shape, and fix a division therein so as
to make two separate chambers. Upon the top of this vessel I adapt a loose
cover of small size open at the top and taper. Within this cover, and across
same, at the depth of about one inch more or less (according to the size of
the flask). I fix a piece of wire, gauze, which rests, upon the division_in_ the
vessel or flask. In using this flask it is turned upside down, and slightly
shaken, so that suppose the tannic acid or tannin rosin or other resinous
substances to be placed in one compartment in the flask, and the chlorate or
nitrate of potash to be placed in the other compartment, these two powders
when poured out of the flask will become, mixed together in the cover-of-the
flask in small quantities at a time, and are thus rendered explosive, as before
stated, the powder remaining in the body of the flask being inexplosive and
free from danger.
This powder may be used prepared as above described if placed in cartridges,
or it may be granulated by the means commonly-employed in the manufacture
of gunpowder, and used without cartridges.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I, LOUIS
HENRY GUSTAVUS EHRHARDT, of Richmond Road, Bayswater, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, Her special licence that I,
the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ebrhardt, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED GUNPOWDER," upon
the condition. (amongst others) that I, the said Louis Henry Gustavus
Ehrhardt, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
-
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
.same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in, and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in the use of tannic acid, or tannin, rosin obtained:
from turpentine, or other resinous substances, also artificial tannin; any one or
more of the above ingredients in combination with either chlorate or nitrate
of potash, or both, in in and for the manufacture of an improved gunpowder
or explosive compound.
The following is the mode of manufacturing gunpowder according to this.
Invention Take' about 25 parts, more or less, of tannic acid, or tannin rosin,.
or resinous substances, either separately or combined, and mix with about 7.5
parts of chlorate or nitrate of potash, either separately or combined, all in a

page_text: finely powdered state; these ingredients when intimately mixed together
.form a highly explosive compound, but taken separately are perfectly inex-
plosive and harmless, that is to say, if the chlorate or nitrate of potash be
placed in one vessel, and the tannin rosin or other resinous substance be placed
in another vessel, and fire be applied thereto, they will not explode.
I am aware that various attempts have heretofore been made to employ
the chlorate of potash in the manufacture of gunpowder, which attempts have
proved unsuccessful in practice in consequence of the tendency to explosion in
grinding this salt with such other ingredients as have been employed there-
with to manufacture the gunpowder.
By the use of the above ingredients combined together, as above stated,
the chlorate of potash may-be-ground without this risk, but I propose as a
further security to prepare and grind the chlorate or nitrate of potash
separately from the tannin rosin or other resinous substances, and to mix
them together when required for use, adopting such means as involve no
dangerous friction; and for convenience of effecting this mixture when using
small quantities, I propose to employ a powder flask of the following con-
struction:-I form a vessel or flask of any suitable shape, and fix a division
therein, so as to make two separate chambers; upon the top of this vessel
I adapt a loose, cover, of small size, open at the top, and taper. Within this
cover and across same at the depth of about one inch, more or less (according
to the size of the flask,) I fix a piece of wire gauze, which rests upon the
division in the vessel or flask. In using this flask it is turned upside down,
and slightly shaken, so that suppose the tannic acid, tannin rosin, or other
resinous substances to be placed in one compartment in the flask, and the
chlorate or nitrate of potash to be placed in the other compartment, these
two powders when poured out of the flask will become mixed in the cover of
the flask in small quantities at a time, and are thus rendered explosive, as
before stated, the powder remaining in the body of the flask being inexplosive
and free from danger.
This powder may be used prepared, as above described, if placed in cartridges,"
or it may be granulated by the means commonly employed in the manu-
facture of gunpowder, and used without cartridges.
;
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention for "An Improved Gunpowder," together with the best means
I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical-effect; I would
remark, in conclusion, that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in, an
I claim, the use of tannic acid or tannin rosin obtained from turpentine, or
other resinous substances, also artificial tannin, any one or more of the above

page_text: ingredients in combination with either chlorate or nitrate of potash, or both,
in and for the manufacture of gunpowder, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
L. H. G. EHRHARDT. (L.s.)

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, of Richmond Road,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER, AND FLASKS TO CONTAIN THE
GAMB
"
Sealed the 20th January 1865, and dated the 20th October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Henry Gustavus
Ehrhardt at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th October 1864.
I, LOUIS HENRY GUSTAVUS EHRHARDT, of Richmond Road, Bayswater, in
5. the County. of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.
,for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER, AND FLASKS TO CONTAIN
THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the use of tannic acid or tannin, rosin obtained
from turpentine, or other resinous substances, also artificial tannin, any one or
D; more of the above ingredients, in combination with either chlorate or nitrate
of potash, or both, in and for the manufacture of an improved gunpowder or
explosive compound.
The following is an example of the mode of manufacturing gunpowder
according to this Invention:-Take about 25 parts, more or less, of tannic

page_text: acid or tannin, rosin or resinous substances, either separately or combined, and
mix with about 75 parts of chlorate or nitrate of potash, either separately or
combined, all in a finely powdered state; these ingredients when intimately
mixed together form a highly explosive compound, but taken separately are
perfectly inexplosive and harmless, that is to say, if the chlorate or nitrate of
potash be placed in one vessel, and the tannin, rosin, or other resinous
substances be placed in another vessel, and fire be applied thereto, they will
not explode.
I am aware that various attempts have heretofore been made to employ
the chlorate of potash in the manufacture of gunpowder, which attempts have
proved unsuccessful in practice in consequence of the tendency to explosion in
grinding this salt with such other ingredients as have been employed there-
with to manufacture the gunpowder.
By the use of the above ingredients combined together, as above stated,
the chlorate of potash may be ground without this risk, but I propose as a
further security to prepare and grind the chlorate or nitrate of potash
separately from the tannin, rosin, or other resinous substances, and to mix them
together when required for use, adopting such means as involve no dangerous
friction; and for convenience of effecting this mixture when using small
quantities, I propose to employ a powder flask of the following construction :-
I form a vessel or flask of any suitable shape, and fix a division therein so as
to make two separate chambers. Upon the top of this vessel I adapt.a loose.
cover of small size, open at the top and taper. Within this cover, and across
same, at the depth of about one inch, more or less (according to the size of
the flask), I fix a piece of wire gauze, which rests upon the division in the
vessel or flask. In using this flask it is, turned upside down, and slightly
shaken, so that suppose the tannic acid or tannin, rosin, or other resinous
substances to be placed in one compartment in the flask, and the chlorate or
nitrate of potash to be placed in the other compartment, these two. powders
when poured out of the flask will become mixed together in the cover of the.
flask in small quantities at a time, and are thus rendered explosive, as before
stated, the powder remaining in the body of the flask being inexplosive. and
free from danger.
This powder may be used prepared as above described if placed in cartridges;
or it may be granulated by the means commonly employed in the manufacture
of gunpowder, and used without cartridges.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th April 1865. [Title amended by an Order of the Lord
Chancellor, dated the 13th March 1866.].
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
HENRY GUSTAVUS EHRHARDT, of Richmond Road, Bayswater, in the County
of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, Her special licence that I,
the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, my 'exécutors, adminstrators, and
assigns, or such others as I; the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with; and
no others, from time to 'tinie and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for An Improved-Gunpowder,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNPOWDER, AND FLASKS TO CONTAIN THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louis Henry
Gustavus.Ehrhardt, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in, the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in the use of tannic acid or tannin, rosin obtained
from turpentine or other resinous substances, also artificial tannin, any one or
more of the above ingredients, in combination with either chlorate or nitrate
of potash, or both, in in and for the manufacture of an improved gunpowder
or explosive compound.
The following is the mode of manufacturing gunpowder according to this
Invention: Take about 25 parts, more or less, of tannic acid or tannin, rosin

page_text: or resinous substances, either separately or combined, and mix with about 75
parts of chlorate or nitrate of potash, either separately or combined, all in a
finely powdered state; these ingredients when intimately mixed together
form a highly explosive compound, but taken separately are perfectly inex-
plosive and harmless, that is to say, if the chlorate or nitrate of potash be
placed in one vessel, and the tannin, rosin, or other resinous substance be placed
in another vessel, and fire be applied thereto, they will not explode.
I am aware that various attempts have heretofore been made to employ
the chlorate of potash in the manufacture of gunpowder, which attempts have
proved unsuccessful in practice in consequence of the tendency to explosion in
grinding this salt with such other ingredients as have been employed there-
with to manufacture-the-gunpowder...
:
By the use of the above ingredients combined together, as above stated,
the chlorate of potash may be ground without this risk, but I, propose as a
further security to prepare and grind the chlorate or nitrate of potash
separately from the tannin, rosin, or other resinous substances; and to mix
them together when required for use, adopting such means as involve no
dangerous friction; and for convenience of effecting this mixture when using
small quantities, I propose to employ a powder flask of the following con
struction: I form a vessel or flask of any suitable shape, and fix a division
therein, so as to make two separate chambers. Upon the top of this vessel
I adapt a loose cover of small size, open at the top and taper. Within this
cover and across same at the depth of about one inch, more or less (according
to the size of the flask), I fix a piece of wire gauze; which rests upon the
division in the vessel or flask. In using this flask it is turned upside down,
and slightly shaken, so that suppose the tannic acid, tannin, rosin, or other
resinous substances to be placed in one compartment in the flask, and the
chlorate or nitrate of potash to be placed in the other compartment, these
two powders when poured out of the flask will become mixed in the cover of
the flask in small quantities at a time, and are thus rendered explosive, as
before stated, the powder remaining in the body of the flask being inexplosive
and free from danger.
.
This powder may be used prepared as above described if placed in cartridges,
or it may be granulated-by-the-means commonly employed in the manu
facture of gunpowder, and used without cartridges.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention for "Improvements in the Manufacture of Gunpowder and Flasks
to contain the same," An Improved-Gunpowder," together with the best means
I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I would
"

page_text: remark in conclusion, that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in, an
I claim, the use of tannic acid or tannin, rosin obtained from turpentine or
other resinous substances, also artificial tannin, any one or more of the above
ingredients in combination with either chlorate or nitrate of potash, or both,
in and for the manufacture of gunpowder, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Henry Gustavus Ehrhardt, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
L. H. G. EHRHARDT. (L.S.)