Improvements in Making Building Blocks.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Making Building Blocks.
I, MICHAEL ROWAND MC HAFFIE, of Eastwood, Thornliebank, in the County
of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object the making of building blocks in an
improved and economical manner.
In carrying out my invention I employ fireclay or similar material which can
be moulded in a plastic state, and be subsequently hardened by firing or kilning.
I shape the material by means of suitable moulds into blocks of various forms, and
on the surfaces of such blocks, or on the surface or surfaces intended to be external
in any building formed with the blocks, I produce surface variegations or textures
resembling the finished ornamental or other surfaces produced by masons on stone
blocks by means of hand tools or otherwise. I may produce such surfaces by
having the moulds or parts thereof made so as to impress the desired forms or
configurations on the plastic material. I however prefer to mould the blocks with
plain surfaces, and subsequently when the blocks have become dried to a greater or
less extent, but prior to firing or kilning them, I produce the desired surfaces by
means of hand tools of various kinds depending on the kind of surface to be
produced; or simple apparatus may be used for the purpose such apparatus being
arranged to produce impressions or indentations with rollers or stamps.
In this way roughened or ornamental surfaces commonly seen in stone buildings,
and which are felt to be lacking in buildings of brick or plain surfaced blocks, can
be produced in any variety in a satisfactory and economical manner.
Dated this First day of September 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Making Building Blocks.
I, MICHAEL ROWAND MCHAFFIE, of Eastwood, Thornliebank in the County
of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object the making of building blocks in an improved
and economical manner, and so as to be more or less ornamental.
In carrying out my invention I employ fireclay or similar material which can
be moulded in a plastic state, and be subsequently hardened by firing or kilning.
I shape the material by means of suitable moulds into blocks of various forms, and
on the surfaces of such blocks, or on the surface or surfaces intended to be external
in any building formed with the blocks, I produce surface variegations or textures
resembling the finished ornamental or other surfaces produced by masons on stone
blocks by means of hand tools or otherwise. I may produce such surfaces, in
some cases, by having the moulds or parts thereof made so as to impress the
desired forms or configurations on the plastic material. I however prefer to mould
the blocks with plain surfaces, and subsequently, when the blocks have become
dried to a greater or less extent, but prior to firing or kilning them, I produce the
CD 027

page_text: desired surfaces by means of hand tools of various kinds depending on the kind of
surface to be produced; or simple apparatus may be used for the purpose, such
apparatus being arranged to produce impressions or indentations with rollers or
stamps.
When hand tools are used upon the dried or partly dried blocks such tools may
be like what are used by masons upon stone, it will however be obvious that the
effects will be produced much more easily and with labor of a less severe character
"hammer dressed" (when
than upon stone. For example the surface known as
on stone) may be produced with a diamond-pointed tool or chisel or with a small
scabbler or pick. "Finely dabbed " work may be produced with similar tools of a
"Droved "
finer or smaller make, or with a tool having a number of pointed teeth.
or grooved work which presents parallel lines in any desired direction is produced
with chisel-like tools of various breadths. "Stroked work with comparatively
coarse grooves and rough surfaces between is produced with diamond pointed tools.
"Rock-faced work is produced with various tools applied so as to imitate the
rough surface of broken stone. And other surfaces may be produced in a similar
manner.
In this way roughened or ornamental surfaces commonly seen in stone buildings,
and which are felt to be lacking in buildings of brick or plain surfaced blocks, can
be produced in any variety, in a satisfactory and economical manner.
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 :-
1. Producing building blocks with surface variegations or textures resembling
the finished ornamental or other surfaces imparted to stone, by suitably moulding
plastic fireclay or like materials and subsequently firing or kilning the same,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Producing on building blocks of plastic material in a more or less dried
condition and prior to firing or kilning, variegated surfaces or textures, by means of
rollers, stamps, or equivalent apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. Producing on building blocks of plastic material in a more or less dried
condition and prior to firing or kilning, variegated surfaces or textures by means of
hand tools, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of May 1894.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.