IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ECONOMICAL CONSTRUCTION AND ORNAMENTATION OF BUILDINGS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Nicoll, of Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ECONOMICAL
CONSTRUCTION AND ORNAMENTATION OF BUILDINGS."
Sealed the 3rd November 1866, and dated the 11th May 1866.
11th May 1860.
I, BENJAMIN NICOLL. of Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
ECONOMICAL CONSTRUCTION AND ORNAMENTATION OF BUILDINGS," to be a
follows:-
This Irvention relates to a peculiar construction of buildings, and also to
the fittings and appurtenances forming part of the same, the essential object to
be attained being cheapness of construction,strength, and durabilitycombined
with simplicity and portability and improved sanitary arrangement..
In carrying out this Invention the walls of the building are coustructed of
straw or other fibrous material, or any other inaterial that can be stretched
inatted, or felted together, such material being compressed together and
united so as to form large sheets or webs by lines of stitching or otherwise.
In the interior of these webs are placed a number of parallel metal or other
wires or rods, the object of which will be hereafter explained. 'The sheet or
web of compressed fibrous material having been thus obtained iscut or shaped

page_text: to the desired form or dimensions to serve as the outer or inner walls or par-
titions of the building. The framework of the building consists of a series of
upright wooden or metal posts let into the ground or otherwise on a concrete
or metal foundation, say, one at each corner or angle of the building and at
each intersection of a division wall. On to the upper end of these posts are
fitted cast-iron Tor elbow-shaped sockets for receiving the ends of horizontal
wooden or metal ties which serve to frame together or connect the several
uprights. A portion of the sheet or web above described, with the wires or
rods running through it and protruding beyond itsedges,is now inserted within
the enclosed spaces between the uprights, the wires or rods being passed
through the postsand tightened up so as to put a considerable tension thereon
by tightening nuts or screws, or they may be riveted or otherwise secured if
preferred. The inner and outer surfaces of the straw or other fibrous com-
pressed or felted material are now plastered or coated with asphalt, mortar.
or other cement so as to increase their stability, and when dry one or more
other coats may be added according to the thickness of wall required, the
finishing coat consisting, by preference, of Portland or Roman cement, to
exclude damp. The roof is composed of the same material as the walls with
the addition of iron cross bars to increase the strength and of a layer of
asphalt slabs outside to render it waterproof. When cross bars are used to
support the large sheets for the roof it is preferred to put on the asphalt
afterwards, and when asphalted before being put up it is made in narrow
strips or sheets, T-iron bars being used for the strips or sheets to drop into,
with cross pieces or bars of iron dropped in for supporting the strained wire.
Asphalt slabs with iron inserted may be dropped into the T-iron frame in the
same way. The floor or pavement is composed of slabs or tiles of asphalt
more or less ornamented with colored inlaid designs in metal, plaster of Paris,
or different colored cements, such slabs being produced by casting in suitable
moulds or matrices. When used for the upper floors these slabs are strength-
ened by casting therein metal plates or rods. Slabs so strengthened will also
.be used as panels for doors and for forming the sides of the water tank, which
it is proposed to construct specially for these buildings with a view to cheap-
ness. These tanks or cisterns are built into and form part of the wall, and
consist of metal or angle-iron frames having panels of asphalt cast therein
- with metal inside to increase their strength; they are divided, moreover, into
two chambers by a central partition having an opening near the botton into
which a sponge or filtering medium is inserted. The water is run into one of
these chambers and is allowed to filter into the other through the sponge and
rise therein until it attains its level; in this way the water is always kept

page_text: clean in that portion of the cistern from which the house supply is drawn.
The skirting and cornices of the building are all concrete or metal castings,
easily portable so as to be readily removed and replaced again. In order to
improve the ventilation of the building an air.gutter is made in the castings
which form the water gutters and the inside cornices, and at each external
angle of the building an opening is made into the air gutter which passes
entirely, round the building, so that in whatever direction the wind may be
blowing there will always be a current of fresh air entering the gutter, and
this is caused to enter the chamber through perforations made in the cornice
near the ceiling. The fire-grate is specially adapted for the purpose, being
fitted loosely inside a concrete casting or brickwork which for the sake of
economy extends through the wall into the adjoining apartinent and forms a
portion of such division wall, and being heated warms by radiation the second
chamber, one fire thus serving to warm two apartments. In the top of the
casting or setting there is formed a metal chamber provided with a hinged lid,.
which will answer either as a boiler for heating water or as an oven or hot
chamber it being situate above the fire. Above this hot chamber there is
formed in the wall a cupboard provided with doors which being warmed by
the fire answers as a hot closet. The closet is constructed with a view to the
preservation of the fecal matters intact and free from the waste water from
the sink. For this purpose no water is used in the closet, but its contents are
discharged on opening the valve into a moveable closed tank beneath. The
valye or the rim of the basin is faced with india-rubber and fits tight against
the bottom of the pan, it being made to open and close with a sliding motion
on a centre by means of a vertical spindle and lever handle, a spring closing
the valve again when released. The opening to the tank is water trapped, as
is well understood, and when the tank is removed for emptying a tight-fitting
lid or cover is placed over the mouth. The ceilings and walls of the best
rooms may be ornamented in an economical manuer by means of rough or
ground glass having transparent patterns therein and gilt paper cemented on
the back to show through as well as colored pigments to form various designs.
This ornamented glass is used in sheets of any desired size and shape which
are to be secured to the ceiling and walls by means of screws or similar
fastenings driven into wooden supports let into or attached to the ceiling or
wall, such screws or fastenings being inserted between the junction edges or
corners of the glass sheets, and provided with heads to retain the said sheets
in their places.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
:
by the said Benjamin Nicoll in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th November 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
NICOLL, of Regent Street, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Benjamin Nicoll, Her special license that I, the said Benjamin
Nicoll, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the
said Benjamin Nicoll, my executors, administrators, or 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ECONOMICAL CONSTRUCTION AND ORNAMENTATION OF BUILD-
INGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin Nicoll,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, 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 Benjamin Nicoll, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction of buildings, the chief
object to be obtained being cheapness combined with requisite strength and
durability.
The essential feature of my Invention consists in the application and use to
and in the construction of the walls, floors, ceilings, and roof of straw or
other like fibrous material, or any other material that can be stitched, matted,
telted, woven, or otherwise connected together, such material being compressed
together and united so as to form large sheets or webs by lines of stitching or
otherwise. The straw, when being laid in readiness for stitching, should, by

page_text: preference, be disposed in two or more layers, the stems or fibres in one layer
crossing those of the adjoining layers at a greater or less angle. so as to break
joint and reader the mass more compact and less liable to be opened or
separated when stitched together. During the operation of stitching the
several layers of straw are compressed firmly together by placing a weighted
frame thereon having longitudinal openings made therein to allow of the due
operation of the stitching appliances, which may be similar to those of a chain
stitch or other simple form of sewing machine, but of dimensions proportionate
to the work. In the interior of these sheets or webs I place, whilst depositing
and arranging the layers of straw, a number of parallel metal wires or rods or
other equivalent contrivances for the purpose of enabling such sheets or webs
to be strained or maintained in a state of tension when forming part of the
building, as herein-after explained. The sheet or web of compressed and
stitched straw having been thus obtained is cut or shaped to the desired form
or dimensions according as it is intended to be used as slabs, large sheets, or
long webs, and either before applying the same to the building or after they
have been fitted in their places I apply to one or both sides thereof one or
more coats or layers of pitch or other bituminous substance, plaster, cement,
or concrete, using such coatings or layers either alone or in various com-
binations according to the parts of the building to which they are to be
applied; and I impart additional strength to such slabs, sheets, or webs by
combining therewith iron bars of various forms or ribs of concrete, which
may be inserted into and combined with the stitched strawatsuitableinterval<,
according to the strength or resistance required. I further propose to orna-
ment certain portions of buildings, such, for example, as the ceilings, inner
walls, and cornices, by the employment of sheets of ground glass of a any size
and shape having transparent patterns or designs left therein, over which
patterns or designs I cement on the back of the glass pieces of colored metal,
foil, or gold or silver paper, or colored papers which have been stamped or
punched out of sheets to the forms required for the pattern, the result being
a cheap and highly ornamental effect. These ornamented sheets of glass may
be secured in the required positions by inserting screws and similar fastenings
between the sheets into the walls or ceilings, the heads of the screws or
fastenings by overlapping the sheets of glass serving to hold them in their
places.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.

page_text: Figure 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents so much of a building
in sectional elevation as is required to illustrate the mode of practically
carrying out my said Invention, the rest of the Figures are various sectional
details of the parts which I shall herein-after more particularly describe and
refer to.
.
A, A, and B, B, are wooden uprights and cross bars which may either
form the frames of panels or sections of the walls, or may constitute the main
framing or skeleton of the building, as shown in the Drawings. The uprights
A are driven or embedded in the ground, one at each corner of the building,
or at as many intermediate points as may be found requisite, as, for example,
at the places where internal partition walls will join the outer walls C of the
building. The cross bars B are connected with the uprights by means of
cast-iron or other socket pieces or shoes I), D', shewn in detail plan respec-
tively at Figures 2 and 3. The lower socket pieces D, when an upper floor:
is required, are each formed with four sockets a, a, b, b, the sockets a, a'
being vertical and fitting the upper ends of the lower uprights A and the lower
ends of the uprights A' for the floor above, whilst the sockets b, b', serve to
support the ends of the horizontal cross bars B, B', of the framing. The socket
pieces D for the roof supports need only be provided with three sockets, as
shewn, the vertical one a¹ fitted on to the top of the upright A', whilst the
sockets b, b', receive the ends of the top cross bars B', as shown in Figure 3.
In lieu of having separate uprights for each floor the uprights may be carried
up entire from the basement to the roof, in which case they will pass through
the intermediate socket piece. The general skeleton or frame having been
thus constructed I take the compressed and stitched slab, sheet, or web
herein-before described and shown at E in my Drawings, with the straining
wires or rods F running through it and protuding beyond its edges, and
attach it (if constructing a wall) to the uprights A, A', by passing the straining
wires or rods Ę through such uprights and tightening up each individual wire
or rod by means of nuts G, which may be countersunk or recessed into the
uprights, as shewn in my Drawings, so as not to present any external pro-
jection or obstruction; or these wires or rods may be screwed, rivetted, or
otherwise secured to the frame; but I prefer to use nuts, as shewn, which
afford ready facility for putting any amount of tension on the rods or wires.
Partitions constructed according to my Invention may be fitted into ordinary.
brick or cement buildings, in which case I secure the straining rods or wires F
to staples built into or otherwise firmly secured to the walls; or if cement
walls are employed, then holes may be left in the walls during the course of
building or may be made thereinafterwards, through which holes the straining

page_text: wires are passed. At E,E, in my Drawings, I have represented the stitched
straw. laid bare or denuded of its outer coats of plaster, and have also shewn
at E¹ the different angles of the superposed layers of straw. I prefer to cover
the string or twine employed in stitching together the straw or other fibrous
materials with tar, pitch, or other adhesive substance after the stitching has
been effected in order that it may have a more secure hold upon the edges of
the stitched materials when cut, and prevent the stitches from giving way.
The webofstitched straw may either extend uninterruptedly from one upright
to another, or the straw may be cut away or parted at intervals, both vertically
and horizontally, the vertical intervals being filled in with concrete, as shewn
at G, so as to enclose or surround the wire F and form strengthening ribs
for imparting additional strength to the web, or the horizontal spaces may be
filled in with blocks of cement or concrete laid end to end, as shown at G",
and extending horizontally from one upright to the other, thereby serving as
a stay or strut to the frame. In conjunction with these blocks G" I some-
times propose to employ a flat irou bar c which extends between and is secured
to the uprights; the bar and one of the concrete blocks G" are
shewn in the detail transverse section of this portion of the wall at Figure 4.
In all cases, however, I leave the straining wires or rods F intact, so as to
ensure a due amount of tension being imparted to the body of the wall or
partition. When extra strength is required I propose to place, either ver-
tically or horizontally, a bar of angle iron H on each side of the straw web,
such bars extending from sile to side or from top to bottom of the main
frame supporting the web, and I connect these bars to the main framing or
joists and to each other by bolts, at suitable intervals, passing through the
straw and into the bars, as shown clearly in elevation in Figure 1 of my
Drawings, and in detail sectional plan in Figure 5. The lower edge of the
web next to the ground may be inserted into grooved blocks of moulded
cement or cast iron I, I, (Figure 1) which form the footing to the wall, such
blocks being laid on concrete and having pitch or asphalt poured into the
grooves and applied to the bottom and sides of the blocks to prevent any
moisture from rising into the straw. Figure 6 represents a transverse section
of one of these blocks with the lower edge of the web embedded therein; and
Figure 7 is a plan of the same blocks showing the mode of adjusting or fitting
them round the uprights at the angles of the building by means of mitre
joints. As the webs of compressed and stitched straw or other fibrous material
may be made of any dimensions it is obvious that a wall or panel may be
composed of one sheet or of several strips or webs placed with their edges
upon each other, and in this latter case I insert along such joints the concrete

page_text: blocks G1 or blocks and bar c in the manner herein-before described. The
basis or foundation of the wall having been thus prepared and erected I
proceed. to coat or cover the same with one or more layers of plaster or
cement, as shewn at K in the Drawings, and for the finishing coats I prefer to
employ the cement known as "Scott's cement," which is capable of receiving
a fine polish. The finished walls may, however, be painted or papered in the
usual manner. The corners or outer angles of the building may be finished
off by cementing thereto moulded corner pieces L,L, (Figure 1) or otherwise
finished, according to taste. In buildings or internal partitions where great
strength is not required I sometimes construct the walls solely of the com-
pressed stitched straw or fibrous material, plastered or cemented over and
strained by the wires F between the uprights or other parts of the containing
frame, dispensing with the use of the concrete ribs or blocks and iron stiffening
bars herein-before mentioned. . :
Having described the mode of constructing the walls of my improved
buildings I shall now proceed to describe the means I adopt for constructing
the floors, ceilings, and roofs of the same. The ground or basement floor may
be constructed of concrete or any hard-setting cement, or it may be composed
of slabs of asphalt or otherwise constructed. The ceilings may be composed
of strained webs or sheets of the compressed stitched straw or fibrous material
M nailed to the under side of the ordinary flooring joists N, as shewn in the
detail, Figure 8, the said straw or fibrous material being well covered with
pitch to render it waterproof, and plastered and whitewashed on the under
side as in ordinary ceilings; but I prefer to adopt the mode of construction
illustrated in Figure 1 of my Drawings. From side to side of the apartment
I place Land T iron bars, as shewn at O and P respectively, the angle iron
bars being situate nearest the wall, whilst the T-iron bars support the inter-
mediate portion of the ceiling or floor; these bars may be let into metal
sockets or shoes in the main cross beams B and secured in their places by
bolts or otherwise. Between and parallel to each pair of bars I strain a web
Qof the berein-before described compressed stitched straw or fibrous material,
-the straining wires or rods F being parallel to such bars. I leave a space
-between the edges of the strained web Q and the bars O and P, and I cut
away or remove the straw to the extent of a few inches transversely at suitable
-intervals of, say, one foot, so as to leave transverse spaces G¹ (see plan of
-portion of floor at Figure 9) exposing the straining wires or rods F, which
spaces, as well as the spaces round the web next to the bars O and P, I fill
in with concrete, as herein-before described and illustrated (in reference to
the walls) at Gin Figure 1; a board or boards being temporarily placed

page_text: beneath until the concrete has set or hardened to prevent it from falling
through. The wires or rods F are strained asalready described, and if desired
the web Q may be left intact in place of having transverse bars or ribs or
concrete formed therein. The entire surface of the upper and under sides of
the strained web or sheet Q, or of the upper side only, if preferred, is covered
by a layer of concrete or cement, as shown at R in Figure 1, and forms the
floor above. The ceiling of the chamber below may be finished and orna-
mented by attaching places S of the ornamented glass herein-before described
by the aid of broad-headed screws inserted into the metal bars O, P, and
passing between the adjoining edges of the sheets of glass. In some cases,
where found expedient, I propose to employ additional supports for the com-
bined strained web or sheet Q and concrete by placing short iron bars trans-
versely across the said web or sheet and extending between the several L and
T iron bars O, P, uupon the flanges of which these bearers or short bars rest.
The roofs of my improved buildings may be either flat or more or less raised
in the centre to allow of the ready discharge of rain water, and are composed
of the same description of slabs, sheets, or webs of compressed or stitched
straw or other like fibrous materials as those employed for the walls and upper
floors already described, combined or not with concrete or cement, and sup-
ported by iron bars and having asphalt laid over all. The asphalt may be
applied to the slabs,sheets, or webs either before putting them in their places,
in which case a finishing layer or coating will have to be applied to render
the joints water-tight, or the asphalt may be applied bodily over the entire
roof after the slabs, sheets, or webs of compressed and stitched straw or other
similar fibrous materials have been strained in their proper positions. In my
Drawing, Figure 1, I have illustrated what I call my cheaper form of roof;
it consists of sheets or webs of compressed stitched straw strained by the
straining wires F between the opposite bearers B of the main framing, as
herein-before described, and supported upon flat or other shaped iron cross
bars T running transversely to the straining wires F, these bars are partly
sunk or imbedded into the straw by making grooves or channels therein to
receive them,so that the straining wires themselves rest upon the tops of these
bars. Above the sheets or webs of stitched straw I apply a layer of asphalt U
if for cheap buildings; but if a stronger roof be required, then I adopt the
mode of construction described for the upper floors with the addition of a
layer of asphalt. A sufficient pitch or slope may be imparted to the roof
downwards from the centre by making the iron cross bars T slightly arched
in lieu of being flat. In Figure 1, however, I have shewn a flat or nearly
flat roof. The roof may be formed with a raised ledge all round and be pro-

page_text: vided with a spout at each corner to carry off the water, or a gutter V, as
shown in Figure 1, may be made all round the roof communicating with a
spout at one or more corners of the building. All windows and doors may be
constructed in the usual manner, suitable frames or supports, forming part
of the skeleton or main framing of the building, serving as the attachments.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the general system or mode of effecting the economical construction
of buildings, substantially in the manner herein before described.
Second, the application and use to and in the construction of the walls.
floors, ceilings, and roofs of buildings of slabs, sheets, or webs of compressed
straworother similar fibrous material stitched or otherwise connected together
and strained or maintained in a state of tension when in position by the aid of
rods or wires contained therein, substantially as herein-before described.
Third, the application of one or more coats or layers of concrete, cement,
asphalt, or pitch to strained slabs, sheets, or webs of compressed stitched
straw or other similar fibrous material, and the strengthening or supporting
the same when in position by the aid of metal bars, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth, the peculiar mode of ornamenting the ceilings and other parts of
buildings, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Nicoll, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.