AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING MARQUETRY AND OTHER DIVERS-COLOURED WOODWORK
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting
Eugineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING
MARQUETRY AND OTHER DIVERS-COLOURED WOODWORK."-A Communication
from abroad by Joseph Dill, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, United
States of America, Mechanical Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th July 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
PRODUCING MARQUETRY AND OTHER DIVERS-COLOURED WOODWORK," a commu
nication, to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists, first, in dovetailing together any
suitable number of blocks of wood of different grain or color, and then
[Price 8d.]

page_text: turning the block thus composed into fancy articles, such as cups, card
receivers, and handles for various articles, in fact any article of wood-
work in which a variety of designs will produce a pleasing effect.
Further in producing marquetry either by dovetailing two flat pieces
of wood to each other, and then cutting through the centre of the line
of the said dovetails, so as to leave a part of the male dovetails of each
piece in the female dovetails of each of them, or by cutting off the male
dovetails of one piece and sliding them into the female dovetails formed
in the other piece, or by dovetailing any desired number of pieces of
wood of different grain or color end to end.
The said Invention also consists in providing a number of pieces of
wood of different color or grain, so shaped as to, form when combined,
any geometrical or artistical figure with female dovetails, and uniting
them by strips of double male dovetails.
Also in a peculiar manner of forming ornamental picture frames
by dovetailing strips of wood of different color into and above each
other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th January 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great

page_text: Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In-
vention for 'AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING MARQUETRY AND OTHER
DIVERS-COLOURED WOODWORK," upon the condition (amongst others), that I,
the said William Robert Lake, my executors, or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and.
seals, 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 William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-
The nature of my Invention consists, first, in dovetailing together any
suitable number of blocks of wood of different grain or color, and then
turning the block thus formed into fancy articles, such as cups, card
receivers, handles, &c., in fact any article of woodwork in which a
variety of designs will produce a pleasing effect.
Further in producing marquetry either by dovetailing two flat pieces of
wood to each other, and then cutting through the centre of the line of
said dovetail, so as to leave a part of the male dovetails of each piece in
the female dovetails of each of them, or by cutting off the male dovetails
of one piece and sliding them into the female dovetails formed in the other
piece, or by dovetailing any desired number of pieces of wood of different
grain or color end to end, or providing a number of pieces of wood of
different color or grain so shaped as to form when combined any
geometrical or artistical figure with female dovetails, and uniting them by
strips of double male dovetails.
Also in the peculiar manner of forming ornamental picture frames
by dovetailing strips of wood of different color into and above each
other.
In Figure 1, I have shown an article composed of eight different
blocks, dovetailed together and then turned out on a turning lathe so as
a card receiver or flower stand, having a very peculiar and
Striking design, which could not be produced in any other way. In
dovetailing these pieces together I dispense with the use of glue. or

page_text: cement, which is rendered unnecessary, as by the turning the fibres of
the different pieces of wood where they are dovetailed are thoroughly
united.
In Figure 3, I have shown the first method of producing marquetry
by dovetailing a flat piece a of dark wood to a flat piece b of lighter
wood, and cutting the same in the centre of the dovetails, as shown by
the line a, a, which produces the designs of marquetry as shown in
Figure 3. The piece a in Figure 4 is provided with female dovetails in
any desired direction into which the male dovetails of lighter wood are
slid.
In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown the method of producing marquetry by
dovetailing pieces of wood of different color end to end.
In Figure 7, the pieces a of dark wood and pieces b of lighter wood
are shaped to form an octagon; their contiguous edges or sides being
provided with female dovetails into which the double male dovetail
pieces c, (one of which is shown detached in Figure 8,) are slid so as to
securely lock the pieces a, b, to each other and form the octagon design.
In this manner beautiful designs of mosaic may be made for table tops and
similar articles.
In Figure 2 is shown a design for ornamental frames for pictures,
looking-glasses, &c., by forming the pieces d, e, with male dovetails on
their under side which slide into female dovetails on the pieces e, f. Any
number of these pieces may be slid one into the other to form any
desired design in imitation of carving. In this manner designs can be
formed on picture frames which it would be impossible to form by
carving, and were such strips merely glued one to the other instead of
being dovetailed the changes of temperature in a room would soon warp
and break them.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,-
First. The method of dovetailing together any suitable number of blocks
of wood of different grain or color, and forming the said blocks into fancy
articles, substantially as herein-before set forth.
7
Second. The method of producing marquetry by dovetailing two
flat pieces of wood to each other and cutting through t.
the line of the said dovetail, substantially in the manner C
described.

page_text: Third. The method of producing marquetry by cutting off the male dove-
tails of one piece and sliding them into the female dovetails formed in the
other piece, substantially as herein-before set forth.
Fourth. The method of producing marquetry by providing a number
of pieces of wood of different color or grain so shaped as to form
any geometrical or artistical figure with female dovetails, and uniting
them by strips of male dovetails, substantially as herem-before set
forth.
Fifth. The method of producing or forming ornamental picture frames
by dovetailing strips of wood of different color into and above each other,
substantially as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
H. J. GEDGE,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings.
London.