AN IMPROVED METHOD OR MEANS FOR FIXING OR SECURING ENCAUSTIC TILES AND OTHER SIMILAR CERAMIC PRODUCTIONS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Godwin, of Lugwardine, in the County of
Hereford, Encaustic Tile Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OR MEANS FOR FIXING OR SECURING ENCAUSTIC TILES AND OTHER
SIMILAR CERAMIC PRODUCTIONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Godwin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1878.
WILLIAM GODWIN, of Lugwardine, in the County of Hereford, Encaustic Tile
Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR MEANS FOR FIXING OR SECURING
ENCAUSTIC TILES AND OTHER SIMILAR CERAMIC PRODUCTIONS."
This Invention relates to an improved method or means for fixing or securing
encaustic tiles and other similar ceramic productions, the object of the Invention
being to provide an effectual method or means of fixing such tiles or other similarly
produced articles firmly and securely to each other, and to walls, floors, fire-places,
furniture, mouldings, "dados," cornices, or other places where tiles or other ceramic
productions are required.
In carrying this object into effect I prepare or make the tiles, mouldings, bricks,
or other ceramic articles with grooves or slots, which are dovetail or wedge shape
in section on their backs, edges, sides, or ends, and are made either longitudinally
or transversely, as may be required. Into these grooves or slots the cement (when
the tiles or other articles are bedded therein in the usual way while the cement is
in a liquid state) enters, and when set retains a firm hold on cach tile or article,
rendering displacement by any ordinary means or loosening almost impossible.
Price 6d 1

page_text: For other purposes, such as in the construction of chimney pieces, fenders,
mouldings, furniture, and the like, and attaching the tiles or other ceramic articles
to other substances I use small metal bolts, the heads of which are accurately fitted
to and inserted in the aforesaid grooves or cavities; the bolts are then passed
through the substance to which the tile or other article is to be attached, and are
securely fastened thereto with a screw and nut, by which means the tiles or other
articles can be securely fastened to any substance, such as metal, wood, terra cotta,
stone, marble, or the like, thus opening up a wide field for the application of
ceramic productions to the useful and ornamental or decorative arts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Godwin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th January
1879.
WILLIAM GODWIN, of Lugwardine, in the County of Hereford, Encaustic Tile
Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR MEANS FOR FIXING OR SECURING
ENCAUSTIC TILES AND OTHER SIMILAR CERAMIC PRODUCTIONS."
This Invention relates to an improved method or means of fixing or securing
encaustic tiles and other similar ceramic productions to walls, floors, or other large
surfaces or to each other, or to suitable adjacent parts in the construction of fire-
places, furniture, mouldings, dados, cornices, chimney pieces, fenders, skirtings, or
in other places or to other objects, in or to which such tiles or other ceramic pro-
ductions or imitations thereof are required to be adapted.
In order to obtain this object I make or form the tiles, mouldings, bricks, or
other ceramic articles during the manufacture thereof with grooves, slots, or cavities
of a dovetail, wedge, or other equivalent shape in the backs, sides, or ends, and
either longitudinally or transversely thereof, as may be required, depending upon
the use to which they are to be put. These slots or grooves allow of the tiles being
fitted to any desired object, or adapted to any use, either by the use of cement, as
usual, or by the use of bolts and nuts or other means of fastening.
In the former case, which is most applicable for walls, floors, or other similar
large surfaces the cement, into which the tiles are bedded in the usual way, enters
while in its semi-liquid state into the slots or grooves, and when set retains a firm
hold of each tile or article, rendering any loosening or displacement thereof by any
ordinary means almost impossible.
In the latter case the bolt heads are formed to fit accurately within the grooves
or slots in the backs of the tiles, the bolts being passed through the substance to
which the tiles or other articles are required to be affixed, and securely fastened by
nuts at the opposite side thereof, or being embedded in and retained by the cement;
and if necessary the combination of tiles may be strengthened by bars of metal or
other substance imbedded in the cement.
Or in cases where it is desired to obtain greater security without the use of bolts
and nuts metal fasteners may be used, the heads of which fit in grooves formed in
the ends or sides of the tiles, and are formed with wings, which are bent back and
embedded in the cement. I make the heads of these fasteners hollow, and obtain
even greater security where necessary by fitting bars of metal or any appropriate
substance through a series of these heads, thus binding them all together. This
arrangement is particularly useful in tiling large surfaces of wall where there a great
height, and consequent tendency of the tiles to bulge. Thus in either case the
object of the Invention fully attained, and the tiles or other similar ceramic
productions can be thus adapted to metal, wood, terra cotta, stone, marble, or any
other desired substance, thus opening up a wide field for the application of ceramic
productions to the useful and ornamental or decorative arts.
In order that my Invention may be completely understood, I have annexed
hereunto 2 Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same
with figures of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation
thereof:-
On the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1 represents on a reduced scale a chimney piece with back, hearth, and
fender wholly of tiles, with mirror frame of walnut wood framing with tile panels
and other insertions, and a dado of oak framing with alternate oak and tile
panelling.
Figure 2 represents a one-half full size sectional isometrical perspective view of
a portion of the mantle shelf illustrated in Figure 1, and is intended to illustrate
the manner of its construction according to my Invention.

page_text: 1 represents angle irons of any required width and length, to which the tile
mouldings 2 are bolted by the small bolts 3, the heads 4 of which are inserted in
the grooves or slots 5 in the tiles, and secured in position by the nuts 6. Other
bolt heads or squares rivetted at 7 allow of the two angle irons or flanges being
connected by bolts 3*, and a small tongue inserted in grooves at 8 prevents dis-
placement of the shelf tiles.
.
Figure 3 represents a similar view (not however in section) of a portion of the
jambs of the chimney piece illustrated in Figure 1. 9. represents iron studs, which
are rivetted to the flanges 1, and are inserted into the floor or tile, stone, or marble
plinth, which is morticed to receive them.
Figure 4 represents a similar view of the fender illustrated in Figure 1. 10
represents an iron flange with screw 11 for securing the fender to the floor.
Figure 5 represents a similar view of an alternative design as to the construction
for the fender.
Figure represents a similar view of another design as to the construction for
the fender, shewing the bolts and nuts 6 embedded in cement 12, the whole con-
struction being strengthened by a bar 13, also embedded in the cement.
Figure 7 represents a similar view, and illustrates the method of fixing a glazed
brick fender. A flange 1* is fitted to one end of each brick, and to the floor by a
screw 11, and the unflanged end of the adjoining brick is retained and secured by
means of the dowel 14.
Figures 8 illustrate two methods of grooving the tiles, and shew how the
cement 12 enters thereinto and lays hold of the tiles, and retains them in the
desired position against the wall 15 or other surface.
Figure 9 represents a detached view of the fastening bolt 3 and the method of
inserting its head 4 into the dovetail slot, groove, or cavity 5 in the tile
mouldings 2.
And Figure 10 represents the method of using the wing fasteners 16, the
heads 17 of which are inserted in the groove formed by opposite recesses in the
ends or sides of two adjoining tiles, the wings 18 being embedded in the cement 12,
and a rod 19 being passed through the heads of the fasteners to ensure the rigidity
of the whole combination.
Having now described the nature and object of iny said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the above-described
improved method or means of fixing or securing encaustic tiles and other similar
ceramic productions to walls or other surfaces, or in the construction of fire-places
and to other objects, substantially as described, and as illustrated on the accom-
panying Sheets of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Godwin, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
above-named William Godwin in
the presence of
W. J. HUMFRYS,
Sol.,
Hereford.
WILLIAM GODWIN. (L.S.)