IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROIECTION OF METALLIC SURFACES, AND IN D PTAIN SUBSTANCES LESS PERVIOUS TO AIR AND MOISTURE
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stenhouse, of 11; Upper Brunswick Terrace,
じ Barnsbury Road, in' the County of Middlesex, Chemist, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROIECTION OF METALLIC SURFACES, AND IN
D
PTAIN SUBSTANCES LESS PERVIOUS TO AIR AND MOISTURE."
Sealed the, 24th June 1862, and dated the 21st January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stenhouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his -Petition, on the 21st
January-1862.
I, JOHN STENHOUSE, of 11, Upper Brunswick Terrace, Barnsbury Road,
in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention. for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROTECTION OF METALLIC SURFACES, AND IN
RENDERING CERTAIN SUBSTANCES LESS PERVIOUS TO AIR AND MOISTURE," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the protection of metallic
surfaces, and in rendering certain substances less pervious to air and
moisture. I take paraffin either alone, or mixtures of paraffin with beeswax,
or any of the vegetable waxes or mixtures of paraffin, with sterine, 'stearic
acid, or any of the solid fatty principles or mixtures of paraffin with lac or
paraffin, or.its mixtures 'dissolved in any of the usual solvents.
The substances to which I apply the
melted or in the state of solutions, are
lead foil; tin; bronze powder; gold and
ED 01.1
paraffin, or its admixtures either
the following:-Iron brass; dead;
silver leaf; tinned plate; bronze;

page_text: Mosaic and Dutch gold; tin foil; zinc; the various kinds of gilding and gilded
articles; copper.
Felt; silk yarn; artificial flowers and leaves; flock; cotton wool; wool;
cotton yarn; paper for hangings, and covering wall and other surfaces;
woollen yarn; flax and flax yarn; silk; manufactured skins and furs;
coloured papers; paper bags; hair and feathers; unsized paper; straw plait';
parchment, and parchment paper not written on, as a substitute for oil in
currying and dressing leather and skins.
In carrying out this Invention the metallic articles composed of iron, brass,
lead, tin plate, or other metals, should be moderately warmed; and then dipped
into melted paraffin, or its admixtures, and after the excess of paraffin has
been allowed to drain off, they will be sufficiently protected from air and
moisture, so as not to oxidate at ordinary temperatures. Sometimes also the
paraffin, or its admixtures in a state of solution, being dissolved in coal tar,
naptha, or petroleum, naptha, benzole, bisulphuret of carbon, or any of the
other, solvents of paraffin, is or are applied to these metallic articles by means
of a brush or otherwise, or the articles are simply immersed in the solution.
The organic substances such as felt, yarns, skins, paper-hangings, the various
kinds of paper and other articles composed of paper and similar substances
mentioned in this Specification, are either passed through solutions of paraffin
or its admixtures, and the excess removed by pressure by means of hot
rollers, irons, or similar means, or the melted paraffin, or its solutions
are, applied with a brush or, otherwise, and the excess removed by pressure
between absorbent substances at suitable temperatures.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Stenhouse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st July 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
STENHOUSE, late of 11, Upper Brunswick Terrace, Barnsbury Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Chemist, now of 17, Rodney Street, Pentonville, in the
said County, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Stenhouse; Her special license that I, the said John Stenhouse,
my-executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said John

page_text: Stenhouse, 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 PROTECTION
OF METALLIC SURFACES, AND IN RENDERING CERTAIN SUBSTANCES, LESS PERVIOUS
TO AIR MOISTURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Stenhouse, my executors, or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,
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 John Stenhouse, 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, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to the use of the substance called paraffin, either in
a solid state, or dissolved in any of the usual solvents, such as highly
rectified coal tar, or petroleum, naptha, or bisulphuret of carbon, for the
purpose of protecting metallic surfaces, and rendering certain substances less
pervious to air and moisture.
The metallic surfaces which I purpose protecting by means of paraffin are
the following:-Gold and silver leaf; brass; tin and tin foil; copper;
bronze powder; Mosaic and Dutch gold; the various kinds of gilding and
gilded articles.
The substances which I propose rendering less pervious to air and mois-
ture, are the following:-Felt; flocks; woollen yarn; silk yarn; cotton
yarn; flax yarn; manufactured skins and furs; artificial flowers and leaves.
And my method of applying the paraffin to such metallic surfaces consists
in coating them therewith, and my method of applying the paraffin to the
substances above enumerated, consists in coating or impregnating them
therewith.
One way in which I treat felted fabrics, woollen yarn, silk yarn, cotton.
yarn, flax yarn, and manufactured skins and furs, is as follows:-I take a
plate of iron or other metal, the upper surface of which is quite clean, and
this I heat to a temperature of from 130° to 250° Fahrenheit, or even higher
if desirable, either by placing it over a suitable furnace, or by means of high-
pressure steam, or a metallic or other bath. On this plate I stretch out the

page_text: skin or fur or felted fabric which I wish to coat or impregnate, and hold it
tight and flat by means of a frame, or some other suitable arrangement.
When it has become sufficiently warm to soften or melt the paraffin easily, I
then rub over the felted fabric, skin, or fur, with a flat rectangular block of
solid paraffin, with the hand or otherwise, so as to coat its surface as evenly as
possible. The paraffin is usually applied to only one surface of the felted
fabric, and to the flesh side of the skin or fur. The felted fabric is then
strongly compressed by means of a hot flat iron or hot rollers, or other suitable
arrangement, in order to distribute the paraffin more equally among the
fibres. In the case of skins and furs, and occasionally also in that of felted
fabrics, no compression is employed, but the paraffin is made to penetrate
their substance simply by the application of heat. When the coating
or impregnation of these substances is completed, they are taken off, and
allowed to cool.
Sometimes instead of a flat block of paraffin, I employ a roller of that
material made by pouring melted paraffin around a wooden core or axis placed
in a suitable mould. The felted fabric or skin, or fur, is then drawn in a
contrary direction to the roller, with which it is kept in very close contact by
suitable pressure. The thorough incorporation of the paraffin with these sub-
stances is completed either by calendering either between hot metallic rollers, or
by melting in the paraffin by means of heat as in the previous case. Sometimes
also I draw the warmed felted fabric, or skin or fur, over a bar of any suitable
form of paraffin instead of over a cylinder of that substance, and then proceed
to complete the incorporation by heating in any of the ways already described.
Paraffin can likewise be applied to felted fabrics, skins, and furs, by rubbing
it on strongly when cold, and then passing a hot iron over its surface, or by
simply melting it in by the application of heat in the way I have already
described. At other times I take solid paraffin, which I heat in suitable vessels
until it is not only melted but its temperature is raised considerably above its
melting point. A temperature of from 130°, 250° Fahrenheit is found to
answer very well. A plate of iron or other metal is heated to a temperature
considerably above the melting point of paraffin, and on this plate a sheet of
stout paper or other absorbent material, such as linen, cotton, or woollen cloth
is placed, and evenly coated over with the melted paraffin by means of a
brush or other suitable instrument. The felted fabric, skin, or fur, which it
is wished to impregnate, is then spread out on the paraffined surface above
inentioned, in the case of skins and furs with the flesh side downwards, and
strongly compressed by means of a hot flat iron, or passing between hot
metallic rollers. When the impregnation is completed; the material is taken

page_text: out, and allowed to cool. When felted fabrics of considerable length have to
be treated with paraffin, the process can be made continuous by passing them
over one or more hot wooden or metallic rollers coated with paraffin from
working in a bath of that substance. The excess of paraffin is removed by
means of what is called a "guage spreader," having a guage or knife fixed
above it, and furnished with screws, so as to regulate the amount of paraffin
applied to the roller. The amount of paraffin can also be regulated by means
of a brush, or similar apparatus also acting on a roller; the thorough incor-
poration of the paraffin and the substances above enumerated being subse-
quently completed either with hot rollers, or by the simple application of heat.
The quantities of paraffin which are applied to these substances, and the
temperature to which I expose them, vary exceedingly according to their
nature, that is to say, according to the thickness of their substance, and the
amount of impregnation which it may be thought desirable to give them.
Any of the above enumerated articles can likewise be treated with solutions
of paraffin. Any of the usual solvents of paraffin can be employed for this
purpose. Those which I prefer are the most volatile portion of highly
rectified coal tar, or petroleum, naptha, or bisulphuret of carbon, either
singly or mixed. When these solutions have been made in the usual way by
gently heating them, they are applied to the articles which it is wished to coat
or impregnate by means of a brush or any other suitable instrument. It is
advisable to dry the substance thoroughly before applying the solution, and in
cold weather to warm it, so that. It may not chill the paraffin solutions. In
the case of felted fabrics, skins, and furs, after the greater portion of the
solvent has been removed by exposure to heat, it is usually advisable to
subject the articles to the action of hot flat irons or rollers, or other suitable
instruments.
When felted fabrics, skins, and furs, have been coated, or more or less
impregnated with paraffin in any of the ways above described, they are not
only rendered less pervious to air and liquids, but become both stiffer and
stronger. Paraffin is therefore an excellent finish for certain kinds of felted
fabrics. Flock, woollen yarn and cotton yarn, silk yarn and flax yarn, and
artificial flowers and leaves may be coated or impregnated with paraffin by
passing them through a paraffin bath, or a solution of paraffin, or in any
of the ways above described most suitable to their nature. such for instance,
as laying on the paraffin by means of a brush or other suitable implement.
Gold and silver leaf, brass, tin and tin foil, copper, bronze powder, mosaic and
Dutch gold, and the various kinds of gilding and gilded articles can likewise
be coated with paraffin in a similar way.

page_text: Mixtures of paraffin with wax, stearine,, stearic acid; or any of the other
solid fat acids, can also be employed in the same manner, and for the same
purposes as that already mentioned, but I prefer employing paraffin alone.
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 I do not restrict myself to
the particular processes previously mentioned, which are described only for
the purpose of shewing how this Invention may be carried into effect, and
variations may possibly be contrived by which the same results may be like-
wise effected; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before part recited
Letters Patent is, the employment and application of paraffin, either solid, or
in a state of solution, or mixed with wax, stearinc, stearic acid, or any of the
other solid fat acids for the protection of the metallic surfaces hercin-before
mentioned, and for rendering the other substances herein-before mentioned
less pervious to air and moisture
In witness, whereof, I, the said John Stenhouse, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of July, One thousand eight hun-
dred and sixty-two.
JOHN STENHOUSE. (L.S.)