IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE STONES OR MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clayton Mewburn, of 169, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, AND
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE STONES OR MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREIN." -A Communication from abroad by Charles Otto Arntz,
Managing Director of the Remscheid Steel Works Company,
Remscheid, Prussia.
Sealed the 28th November 1873, and dated the 22nd September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clayton
Mewburn at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 22nd September 1873.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BUILDINGS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE STONES OR MATERIALS TO BE EM-
PLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
:
This Invention consists in the construction of buildings with what I
call cement cast stones, and in the manufacture of these stones of

page_text: Plastering comes entirely into disuse, and neither mason's mallet nor
trowel is requisite in the whole construction.
The building is unquestionably durable, and at the same time prac-
tical, as if necessary one part of the building can be demolished whilst
another part is being built.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said John Clayton Mewburn in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 20th January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CLAYTON MEWBURN, of 169, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Clayton Mewburn, Her special
licence that I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Clayton
Mewburn, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, AND IN THE MANUFACTUre
OF THE STONES OR MATERIALS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," (a communication
from Charles Otto Arntz, Managing Director of the Remscheid Steel
Works Company, Remscheid, Prussia), upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, 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, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in the construction of buildings with what I
call cement cast stones, and in the manufacture of these stones of
peculiar forms, as herein-after explained, so that they will hold together
without the use of mortar. I make or mould the cement cast stones of
pieces of stone of any description bound together by any suitable
cement. They can be made to any size or shape desired. They are
smooth on the inner side, and may have fine decorations. Each cornice
is cast in one piece.
The connecting surfaces of the stones are divided into three equal
parts, being connected by groove and tongue, of which the tongue is on
the upper and the groove on the lower surface, and connected by heads.
In door and window frames the tongue is in the frame, and the groove
in the stone.
The stones for the partition walls, together with the door frames, are
made in the manner before described. The heads of the partition |
walls joining the outer and chief walls are connected by grooves and
rabbets.
The connections of the stones being lengthwise are effected by an
incision in the rabbet, so that the heads of the stones cannot possibly
yield.
The several door and window frames on the inside and on the outside.
are made of the same substance with decorations, so that the revels of
wood are entirely done away with. The door and window frames
are connected above and below with a tenon, and at the sides with a
rabbet.
The respective stones on which the window sill rests are on the inside
and above even with the window sill. The window sill and also the lintel
are again connected by groove and tongue. The seats for the beams are
let into the stones.
The ceiling is made of cement plates of stucco work, and fastened to
the beams by means of screws from above.

page_text: Respecting the side and partition walls of the cellar, they are formed
exactly as is already described. The vault of the cellar is constructed of
conical stones, and connected as absve described. By these peculiar
formations and arrangements any building to be erected can be con-
structed so as be dry, and without any material for binding. Such a
building is air-tight, and never in need of repairs, and can be raised at
any season of the year, even in the severest frost or in rainy weather.
Plastering comes entirely into disuse, and neither mason's mallet nor
trowel is required in the whole construction.
The building is unquestionably durable, and at the same time prac-
tical, as if necessary one part of the building can be demolished whilst
another part is being built.
The shape of the stone and the manner of constructing such a
building are clearly shewn in the annexed Drawing.
a is a front view of a stone (without the incision for keeping the
whole in its position lengthwise); b, a view of the lower part of the
stone; c and d are the pillars of the door and windows provided with
iron cramps and straps at their ends; e is the elbow portion or sill of a
window; f, facade; 9, partition wall.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Clayton Mewburn, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of January,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.