A NEW OR IMPROVED WATERPROOF PAPER
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Billing, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Stationer, and Walter George Whitehead, of Birmingham
aforesaid, Accountant Clerk, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
WATERPROOF PAPER."
Sealed the 2nd March 1855, and dated the 20th September 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Billing and Walter
George Whitehead at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 20th September 1854.
We, MARTIN BILLING, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Stationer,
and WALTER GEORGE WHITEHEAD, of Birmingham aforesaid, Accountant
Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR
IMPROVED WATERPROOF PAPER " to be as follows:-
Our said Invention consists in spreading on paper or impregnating paper
with the compound or composition called marine glue, whereby the said paper
is made waterproof, and adapted for the lining or covering of packages in
which goods are packed which are liable to be injured by moisture. We do
not think it necessary here to describe the composition and method of making
marine glue, as the same are well known, and constitute no part of our Inven-
tion; neither do we think it necessary to describe the various methods whereby
marine glue may be spread on paper. The essence of our Invention con-
sists in making a waterproof paper, by spreading or otherwise treating paper
with the composition called marine glue.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Martin Billing and Walter George Whitehead in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 19th March 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, MARTIN
BILLING, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Stationer, and WALTER
GEORGE WHITEHEAD, of Birmingham aforesaid, Accountant Clerk, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Martin Billing and Walter George Whitehead, IIer special licence
that we, the said Martin Billing and Walter George Whitehead, our exc-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, tho said Martin
Billing and Walter George Whitehead, our 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, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "A NEW OR IMPROVED WATERPROOF PAPER,"
upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Martin Billing and Walter George Whitehead, by an
instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal
of one of us, 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, tho said Walter George Whitehead, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our Invention consists of a new or improved waterproof paper, made by
spreading on paper or impregnating paper with the compound or composition
called marine glue, whereby the said paper is made waterproof, and adapted
for the lining or covering of packages in which goeds liable to be injured by
moisture arc packed. We do not think it necessary to describe the method of
making and the composition of marine glue, as the same are well known, and
constitute no part of our Invention; we remark, however, that by marine gluc
we mean a composition composed mainly of gumlac or shellac dissolved in

page_text: naptha, to which solution a portion of caoutchouc or india-rubber may be
added, in various proportions, according as a greater or less degree of flexibility
and elasticity is required. Although we do not confine ourselves to any par-
ticular method of spreading marine glue on paper or impregnating paper
therewith, yet the machine represented in the accompanying Drawing may be
employed for carrying our Invention into effect.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, and Figure 2 a plan,
of the said machine. a is a chamber or reservoir in which the marine glue is
placed; b, b', are steam chambers on either side of the reservoir a; the bottom
of the reservoir a is closed or nearly closed by the roller c. d is a drum or
roller, which bears against the roller c; the said rollers c, d, are hollow, for the
purpose of receiving steam, as herein-after explained. is a slide, which may
be raised or lowered by the screw f, and thereby made to close more or less
the passage g, through which the melted marine glue passes. In using the
machine, steam is introduced into the steam chamber b'; the said steam passes
by the pipe h into the roller c, from thence by the pipe i into the roller d, from
thence into the steam chamber b; or steam may be introduced into the said
chambers and rollers in any other convenient manner. The paper to be coated
passes over the roller 7, and between the heated rollers c, d. The fused marine
glue in the reservoir a is carried in a thin layer through the channel g, and is
spread upon the paper as the said paper passes between the said rollers c, d.
m, m, are tapes passing over the rollers n, n, for the purpose of holding tho
paper. The said paper, after coating, falls down vertically from between the
rollers c, d; the tapes m, m, only holding the paper on the roller d until it has
been coated.
Having now described the naturo of our said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to the precise details herein described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of our said Invention; but we claim as our
Invention, a new or improved waterproof paper, made by spreading upon paper
or impregnating paper with the composition called marine glue.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter George Whitehead, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
WALTER GEORGE WHITEHEAD. (L.S.)
Witness, GEORGE SHAW.