Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 19th Oct., 1888
I, ERNST TEPPER, of 4 Tempelhofer-Ufer, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Painter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Many attempts have been made to lessen the liability of ordinary painted canvas
scenery for theatres to take fire, but they have been found to be useless and
impracticable.
For example it has been proposed to impregnate scenery with Fudlin's liquid which
will undoubtedly render it uninflammable for about four weeks, after which time the
impregnation loses its power and has to be renewed, besides which the impregnating
liquid spoils the colour and destroys the canvas, so that the scenery if often
impregnated will quickly perish; if on the other hand the scenery be only once
impregnated after the expiration of about four weeks it will become frayed or
unravelled and will then be more liable to take fire.
It has also been proposed to employ a mixture of oxide of zine and asbestos over
wire network for the manufacture of scenery for theatres, in place of the usual
combustible canvas but this was found to be impracticable because by reason of the
pasty nature of the material the scenery cracked when shifted, besides which it could
not be fitted together in strips without producing thick seams, otherwise the pasty
character of the material caused the seams to open by the necessary tension on the
scenery moreover it is inconvenient to use the said material by reason of its
weight.
According to my invention I manufacture incombustible scenery, curtains, soffits
and projecting pieces of all kinds by substituting for ordinary canvas an incombustible,
light and flexible material which, when compared with canvas, is more durable and
more suitable for the purpose.
This material is wire-gauze which, as is well known can easily be sewn or pieced
together to form large flexible surfaces without visible seams. This wire-gauze which
advantageously consists of woven galvanized iron is stretched on light iron frames

page_text: and covered with a coat of paint which completely fills up the small holes in the
material and renders it completely opaque. The composition of the said paint can
vary, but materials of a combustible nature must be excluded from the mixture.
Practically it has been found advisable to use 25 per cent. of white cheese (curds) with
25 per cent. of slaked lime, and 50 per cent. of whitening mixed with water.
Two or three coatings of the said mixture in a very thin condition are sufficient to
obtain a surface especially suitable for painting upon with the usual distemper colours,
the substance so prepared is flexible, elastic and very durable, and is colourless and
presents a like surface on both sides so that it can be painted on the front side as well
as on the back and is moreover incombustible.
For the light and fine projections of soffits and wings, as for example for branches
and leaves, wire material is more suitable than canvas and the openings for doors
and windows can be made with fewer, supports and in other, respects better and more
conveniently.
As the lofts of stages for scenical machinery of all modern theatres are all arranged
or have to be arranged so as to allow of smoothly raising the scenes without damaging
them in any manner no difficulties are presented by the use of my wire-gauze
scenery.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ERNST TEPPER, of 4, Tempelhofer-Ufer, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Painter, 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:-
Many attempts have been made to lessen the liability of ordinary painted canvas
scenery for theatres to take fire, but they have been found to be useless and
impracticable.
For example it has been proposed to impregnate scenery with Fudlin's liquid which
will undoubtedly render it uninflammable for about four weeks, after which time the
impregnation loses its power and has to be renewed, besides which the impregnating
liquid spoils the colour and destroys the canvas, so that the scenery if often
impregnated will quickly perish; if on the other hand the scenery be only once
impregnated after the expiration of about four weeks it will become frayed or
unravelled and will then be more liable to take fire.
It has also been proposed to employ a mixture of oxide of zinc and asbestos over
wire network for the manufacture of scenery for theatres, in place of the usual
combustible canvas but this was found to be impracticable because by reason of the
pasty nature of the material the scenery cracked when shifted, besides which it could
not be fitted together in strips without producing thick seanis, otherwise the pasty
character of the material causes the seams to open by the necessary tension on
the scenery; moreover it is inconvenient to use the said material by reason of its
weight.
According to my invention I manufacture incombustible scenery, curtains, soffits
and projecting pieces of all kinds by substituting for ordinary canvas an incombustible,
light and flexible material which, when compared with canvas, is more durable and
more suitable for the purpose.
This material is wire-gauze which, as is well known, can easily be sewn or pieced
together to form large flexible surfaces without visible seams. This wire-gauze which
advantageously consists of woven galvanized iron is stretched on light iron frames
and covered with a coat of paint which completely fills up the small holes in the
material and renders it completely opaque.
For large back grounds or curtains to be rolled I prefer to use a fabric or tissue
having a galvanized iron warp and a wool yarn weft, the wool yarn being impregnated
with the hereinafter described paint or paste whereby such backgrounds or curtains
are rendered completely fireproof.
The composition of the said paint can vary, but materials of a combustible nature
must be excluded from the mixture. The compound which I have found to answer
best in practice is composed as follows:-78 per cent. of white cheese (curds),

page_text: 8
per
cent. of slaked lime, 5 per cent. of phenol and 8 per cent. of alum; the whole
is strained through a fine sieve and is then ready for use in coating the wire gauze
or the fabric having a galvanized iron warp and wool yarn weft hereinbefore
described.
Two or three coatings of the said mixture in a very thin condition are sufficient to
obtain a surface especially suitable for painting upon with the usual distemper colours,
the substance so prepared is flexible, elastic and very durable, and is colourless and
presents a like surface on both sides so that it can be painted on the front side as well
as on the back and is moreover incombustible.
For the light and fine projections of soffits and wings, as for example for branches
and leaves, wire material is more suitable than canvas and the openings for doors and
windows can be made with fewer supports and in other respects better and more
conveniently.
As the lofts of stages for scenical machinery of all modern theatres are all arranged
or have to be arranged so as to allow of smoothly raising the scenes without
damaging them in any manner no difficulties are presented by the use of my wire-
gauze scenery.
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. In the manufacture of incombustible scenery for theatres, the use of wire gauze
or of a fabric having a warp of galvanized iron and a weft of wool yarn rendered
opaque by being coated with incombustible paint, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved incombustible scenery for theatres
substantially as hereinbefore described.