A NEW on IMPROVED MODE OF FLOORING
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 18, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 6, Piccadilly,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "A NEW on
IMPROVED MODE OF FLOORING," A communication from Edouard Maitre,
residing at Veuxaulles, France aforesaid, Gentleman.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1876.
HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE. of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 18, Rue
de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 6, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF FLOORING." Communicated to me
by Edouard Maitre, a person resident at Veuxaulles, France aforesaid, Gentleman.
These new floors, called the "lost groove" or
English," constitute an especial
manufacture altogether unused or unknown up to the present day; they differ
essentially from everything that has been made of the same kind. This difference
consists in the small size of the friezes of which they are made, and also in the
preparation of the latter and in their laying down.
"
The friezes, while keeping their usual thickness of about one inch, are reduced
to a very narrow width, about 2 inches, ready worked, a little more or less, and
entirely finished in every sense on coming out of the workshop. It only remains
afterwards to lay them in position, like pieces of paving made of brick or marble,
without any retouching. The smallest pieces, measuring at most a few inches, can
then be inserted between two principal friezes, not at the workshop, but in laying
them down, and almost without expense; and by this means a considerable economy
may be obtained in the waste of material.
As has been already said a fixed or positive width cannot be laid down for
the friezes made according to the improved system, but in principle they ought to
be cut so small and in such a manner that on leaving the saw, where they have just
been quartered in green wood, they can be exposed immediately to the open air in
all seasons, and to every possible inclemency of weather, and even by reason of
their narrowness of width without any kind of disadvantage, that is to say, without
their turning up, cracking, or splitting at the ends. In less than ten months they
arrive naturally and principally by the effect of the draught and the surrounding
air at the highest possible degree of dryness. Such is one of the greatest advan-

page_text: tages of the new or improved mode of manufacturing the said floor, and in this case
it is not necessary to groove or join the friezes endwise; they are only placed in
juxtaposition. They cannot always be prevented, any more than all long wood,
from twisting and warping in drying; but by giving them a suitably reduced
width these effects or disadvantages in no way produce bad consequences.
A narrow frieze, like a supple wand, lends itself and yields to the slightest effort;
and in fact however twisted or warped they may be they can be put right again,
and jointed firmly together by ineans of a gentle blow with a hammer and
a nail.
When the wood is entirely dry, if the area of the flooring happens to swell by the
action of a prolonged dampness, the very great division of the wood and the multi-
plicity of the joints cause it to be wonderfully adapted to this purpose.
By the new or improved mode of flooring economy, solidity, beauty, and every
possible advantage is obtained.
A panel of the flooring made according to the improved mode of manufacture
above described is composed of long friezes and small pieces inserted between
them:
Each frieze has a width of about 1/2 inches by an indefinite length; they are
joined laterally in the usual way with rabbets and tongues, but they are only placed
in juxtaposition endwise. By reason of the narrowness of their width they can
neither turn up, warp, nor shrink at the ends.
All endwise joining is unnecessary, especially if it has to be performed on the
spot, as is the ordinary and clumsy custom..
These new floors are laid on beams or joists in the usual manner.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying it into effect, what I claim is, a new or improved mode of flooring con-
sisting of narrow friezes of indefinite length, and small pieces inserted and joined
between them, substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
DON
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.S.)