IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING IRON un Sun BOTTOMS LTD OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Robinson, of 9, Whitehall Place, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING IRON
un Sun BOTTOMS LTD OTHER SURFACES"
Sealed the 13th April 1854, and dated. the 1st February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Robinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
February 1854.
I, ALBERT ROBINSON, of 9, Whitehall Place, do hereby declare the nature
of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING
IRON AND OTHER SHIPS' BOTTOMS, AND OTHER SURFACES," to be as follows:-
'My Invention consists in the application of a complete covering of black
lead, or plumbago, to the bottoms of iron or wooden vessels, and other sur-
faces. To effect this, I combine the plumbago with sufficient quantities of
gums, fatty, resinous, or waxy matters, gutta percha, caoutchouc, or other
plastic or easily fusible mediums. The composition thus formed is to be applied
in a melted state to the bottoms of ships or other surfaces, and when cold to
be polished or burnished by rubbers, so as to produce a perfectly smooth and
even surface of polished black lead. And in order to prevent the attachment of
marine animals and plants to this polished surface, I employ some poisonous
and irritating substances, such as the oxides and sulphurets of arsenic, the
combinations of its oxides with the oxides of lead and copper, or these latter
oxides alone, carbonate of barytes, the oil of croton, tiglium, or other poison
applicable to the purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Albert Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st July 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALBERT
ROBINSON, of 9, Whitehall Place, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Albert Robinson, Her special licence that I, the said Albert
Robinson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Albert Robinson, my 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,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PREPARING COMPOSITIONS FOR COATING IRON AND OTHER SHIPS' BOTTOMS, AND
OTHER SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Albert
Robinson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Albert Robinson, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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 thereof (that is to say):-
My Invention consists in the application of a complete covering of black lead,
or plumbago, to the bottoms of iron or wooden ships and vessels, and other
surfaces. To effect this, I combine the plumbago with sufficient quantities of
gums, fatty, resinous, or waxy matters, gutta percha, caoutchouc, or other
plastic, or easily fusible mediums. The composition thus formed is to be
applied in a melted state to the bottoms of ships or other surfaces, and when
cold to be polished or burnished by rubbers, so as to produce a perfectly
smooth and even surface of polished black lead. And in order to prevent the
attachment of marine animals and plants to this polished surface, I employ
some poisonous and irritating substances, such as the oxides and sulphurets of
arsenic, the combination of its oxides with the oxides of lead and copper, or

page_text: these latter oxides alone, carbonate of barytes, the oil of croton, tiglium, or
other poison applicable to the purpose.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
I take at the rate of six cwt. of mineral or Turkish asphaltum, or best
purified coal pitch, melt and boil it for six hours, then add thirty gallons boiled
linseed oil; allow it to cool to the temperature of 240° Fahrenheit. Mix
previously six cwt. of best purified ground plumbago, together with sixty lbs.
of arsenite of copper, finely pulverized, with eighty gallons of rectified coal tar
naptha; when the plumbago, arsenite of copper, and naptha are well mixed,
add to the melted asphaltum, at the temperature of 240°; mix the whole
together, and put away in tight vessels for use. The manner of using the
composition is as follows:-Clean the surface to which it is to be applied
thoroughly, then stir up the composition, and apply like paint; three coats will
be desirable to produce a smooth polished surface. The bottoms of vessels may
be rubbed with rubbers or pieces of felt; but the process is not absolutely
necessary, as the friction of the water by the vessel passing through it, soon
makes the black lead surface smooth.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and manner of
combining and applying the several matters used, I would wish it to be
understood that I make no claim to the employment of either of the matters
described, separately or combined, other than is herein-after stated; and
although I prefer the use of the Turkish asphaltum, or purified coal pitch,
other matters melting by heat in a similar manner may be employed. What I
claim is, the combining of plumbago (with or without the poisoning or irritating
matters herein mentioned) with asphaltum, pitch, or similar matter requiring
heat, or a solvent and heat, to render it fluid for the purpose of mixing and
applying plumbago to the covering the bottoms of ships or vessels and other
surfaces.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert Robinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
ALBERT ROBINSON. (L.s.)