A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD FOR PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL BRICKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Pether, of No. 6, Trigon Road, Clapham Road,
in the County of Surrey, Artist, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
METHOD FOR PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL BRICKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES, AND IN
APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 19th November 1867, and dated the 28th May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Pether at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th May 1867.
I, HENRY PETHER, of No. 6, Trigon Road, Clapham Road, in the County
of Surrey, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD FOR PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL BRICKS FOR BUILDING
PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
My Invention refers to a means of imparting to the faces of bricks a diaper
or ornamental pattern by the following means:-Upon a metallic table is
affixed a vertical frame, the inner edges of which are prepared. to receive.
and guide au ascending and descending horizontal frame, which acting on
wedges attached to the sides of a metallic box hinged and secured, at the
bottom causes the same to collapse when the horizontal frame ascends, and

page_text: Into this box is placed
Upon the lifting of the
resume their open or spread position on its descent.
in a firm state the clay intended to form a brick.
horizontal frame, which is effected by means of a rack and pinion beneath,
the clay is grasped and ready for the next operation. In the mouth of
this box when closed is fitted the die or matrix, having on the upper
surface a flange or rib to attach or unfix by thumbscrews the die to a slot
prepared for it at the bottom of a vertical plunger, which plunger is
supported by means of a guide attached to the vertical frame first mentioned.
Ranging with this plunger and attached to. it is. a vertical screw, the bush
of which is inserted into the head of the strong vertical frame, above which
are balls or a fly wheel to give momentum. Upon the descent of the screw
the die enters the box and imparts the impress to the clay. Reversing
the motion of the screw it is withdrawn, the horizontal frame removed, and
the brick is liberated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filėd
by the said Henry Pether, in the. Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
PETHER, of 6;; Trigon Road, Clapham Road, S., in the County of Surrey,
Artist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Pether, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Pether, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such-others as I, the said Henry Pèther, 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 "A NEW, OR IMPROVED. METHOD FOR PRODUCING
ORNAMENTAL BRICKS. FOR BUILDING PURPOSES; AND IN-APPARATUS THEREPOR,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that 1, the said Henry Pether, 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

page_text: nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immédiately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Pether, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings bereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention refers to a means of imparting to the faces of bricks a diaper
or ornamental pattern by the following means: Upon a metallic table-is
affixed a vertical frame, the inner edges of which are prepared to řeceive-and
guide an ascending and descending horizontal frame, which acting on wedges
attached to the sides of a metallic box hinged and secured at the bottom
causes the same to collapse when this horizontal frame ascends, and resume
their open or spread position on its descent. Into this box is placed in a
firm state the clay intended to form the brick. Upon the lifting of the
horizontal frame (which is effected by means of a rack and, pinion beneath)
the clay is grasped and ready for the next operation. Into the mouth of this
box when closed is fitted the die or matrix, having on the upper surface a
flange or rib to attach or unfix by thumbscrews the die to a slot prepared for it
at the bottom of the plunger, which plunger is supported by means of a guide
attached to the vertical frame first mentioned. Ranging with this plunger
and attached to it is a vertical screw, the bush of which is inserted into the
head of the strong vertical frame first described, above which are balls or a
fly wheel to give momentum. Upon the descent of the screw the die enters
the box, imparts the impress to the clay. Reversing the motion of the
screw it is withdrawn, the horizontal frame is removed, and the brick:
liberated.
Fig. 1 of the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed represents a front view.
of the general contrivance. On a strong iron table A, of which B, B, are the
supports, is affixed the bottom of the collapsable iron box into which the brick
is to be received; this bottom is marked. C, and its upper surface-shown by
the dotted line D. Homogeneous with this bottom projects at the corners
four cylindrical bosses or lugs E, E, E, E, these bosses or lugs are drilled and
tapped to introduce into each a strong steel pivot F, F. The back or fourth
side of the box is permanently fixed in an upright position to the table, and
from this back also projects two like busses in order to give spread to the

page_text: hinging of the narrower sides, as seen in Fig. 2. Pivotted or hinged to this
bottom are three iron sides or flaps G, G, G, having a like but longer cylin-
drical boss on the centre portion of the bottom edge of each equivalent to the
space between the bosses first described, into which the steel pivots.F are
inserted by means of a drilled dimple or recess. By this contrivance a
provision is made against the unavoidable wear incident to brick machinery,
as by a turn of the screws as occasion requires steadiness and maintenance of
position is secured. The four sides of the box correspond horizontally with
the dimensions of the brick to be impressed; homogeneous with these flaps as
_well as the stationary--back project on the outer side of each two wedges
H, H, H, H, the use of which will be explained hereafter. The inner faces
of these three flaps as well as the fourth side or back, and also from the
bottom project to within about an inch all round a raised panel, the object of
which is to impart to the brick a recess or kick on all but the ornamented
face, thereby providing a space for the mortar or cement, and ensuring a
close joint in the process of laying in the ordinary manner. Beneath the
table A, and with bearings attached to a convenient part of the framework of
the table, is a crank or winch I, on the spindle of which is a pinion J acting
on the rack K. On the top of this rack is secured another horizontal table L,
at the corner of which are affixed four upright rods; these rods M, M, pass
through the holes in the table A, and support a strong iron frame N, N, a
plan of which is shown on Fig. 3. At the ends of this frame are secured two
guides O, O, to slide on a V edge provided upon the turning of the winch
this frame rises and meeting the reclining wedges closes the sides of the box
and firmly grasps the whole. This Figure shows the box spread open to
receive the brick intended to be so enclosed and impressed. Surrounding the
box is a strong perpendicular frame P, P, firmly attached to the iron table A,
a portion of which frame Qis planed to a V edge corresponding with the
guides O, allowing the frame, &c. to slide up and down in obedience to the
motion of the crank. These V.edges may be of detached hardened steel, and
a provision made against wear by the addition of screws forcing them forward
when needed; next above fixed, or parcel of the perpendicular frame P, P,
a horizontal bar R, R, supports the main guide, a plan of which is shown on
Fig. 6. Into this guide is fitted a square plunger S retained by the bearing T.
At the lower end of this plunger is attached a square projection, in which a
slot is provided for the reception the flange connected with the die or
matrix next described. The die U is of metal and is fitted to the exact size
of the mouth of the box, when shut. On the under surface is cast the
.
i

page_text: obverse or reverse device intended to impress the pattern on the stiff clay
brick. These dies may be as numerous as required and employed in the
formation of a pattern either singly or in combination. On the upper surface
is an intact flange or rib fitted into the slot, and readily fixed or unfixed by
means of a thumbscrew passing through the first side into a dimple on the
flange, as shown in Fig. 7, which is a side view of the same.
At the upper
portion of the square plunger a circular recess is provided to receive the end
of a screw rotating therein, and held by two steel pins inserted into the holes
drilled through the plunger, and lodging in a groove turned in the bottom of
the screw shown at V. Into the head of the perpendicular frame before
described is inserted and fixed the bush nut X, through which the main
screw W rises or falls. Affixed to the main screw is a fly wheel or balls to
give momentum or force.
Fig. 2 is a side view showing the position of the flaps and frà.,
containing the clay, denoted by dotted cross lines, ready for the impreto
be imparted.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the moveable frame N; the inner edges of this frame.
and opposite to the iron wedges H are drilled and tapped to receive strong
hardened steel screws with somewhat spherical heads to catch the slightly
grooved edges of the wedges H. This is also a precaution against wear, as
by a turn of the screw any deficiency occasioned by friction can be supplied..
Fig. 4 is an isometrical and corner view of the box when open, showing
the method of stopping or preventing the sides getting beyond their proper
position; this is effected by means of a projection Z, one raised above or
beyond the other. The homogeneous portions of the box are repeated here,
and expressed by E, E, E, E, and G, G, G, G, the lug or boss Y being. part
of the back. The advantages of constructing the box. or mould with the
edges only coming in contact is that no clogging or wear can ensue.
i
Fig. 5 is an underneath plan of the table L described in Fig. 1. K is the
pinion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; J, the section of the rack, at the back of
which is fixed to the framework of the table a friction roller with flanges at
the edges to guide and support the rack.
Fig. 8 is an adaptation of the stretcher box to the purpose of producing
segmental bricks for the formation of columns, &c.; this is effected by the
temporary introduction of two cheeks a, a, to curtail the length to the required
size, and the further introduction of two wedge-like blocks of wood to the
angle desired, indicated by b, b, having thereon the same projection to
impart the kick before described. On the concave die c being used and

page_text: removed as before described a little superfluous clay is left at the points d, d;
which is removed by hand.
Fig. 9 is a modification of the application of the main screw.
In this case
the main guide is supported on a continuation up of the back side of the
box G. The plunger together with its bearings and mode of connecting the
die are the same as before described, but internally the plunger receives the
bush nut X into its upper portion, and beneath which is a circular chamber f
to receive the screw on the ascent of the die. The screw is centred and
secured in the head of the perpendicular frame and remains stationary while
the plunger traverses the required distance. I prefer the screw in this case
to be reversed in the thread in order to give the stroke more handily.
Fig. 10 is a section at the dotted line e, e, on Fig. 9.
In the working of this machine it is necessary first to produce by any
ordinary means the bricks to be operated upon; it is desirable that they
should be adjusted to the capacity of the box, and that they should be allowed
to evaporate to the firmest plastic state, and if dried unequally they require to
be closely stacked together to equalize. An occasional lubrication of the
surfaces of the box as well as the face of the matrix or die with oil or other
greasy matter is essential. When not in use and the hand crank withdraws
the frame Fig. 3, N, the ponderance of the wedges to the flaps cause the
same to spread, and the die being raised it is now ready for operation. Taking
one of the blocks of clay or green bricks by both hands it is lifted into the
box. By the motion of the hand crank the frame rises, causing the box con-
taining the clay to close, a smart setting-in motion of the fly wheel or balls
brings the matrix into the mouth of the box, stamping any required device as
well as the surrounding kicks or panels on the brick. Reversing the motion
of the screw the die quits, and reversing the crank the frame descends and
the flaps fall, and allow as before space for the hands to remove it for the
ordinary completion by burning. The general principle and details of my
Invention are shown in the Drawings hereunto annexed, only on the longer
or stretcher dimensions of a brick, but without departing in any way from the
principle or details here explained, it is only required to frame some of the
parts narrower and higher to produce the narrower or header dimension of
the brick to be ornamented.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
it is to be performed, I would have it understood that what I claim is the
general arrangement or any modification thereof, and especially the peculiar.
cornerless box, and the method of closing and pivotting the same, together.
.

page_text: with the means shown for providing a recessed panel or kick on each face of
the brick except the one ornamented.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Pether, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
HENRY PETHER. (L.S.)