Improved Method or Methods of Decorating Tiles or the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method or Methods of Decorating Tiles or the like.
I, THOMAS HILL STUBBS, 51 Florence Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs,
Earthenware and Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described aud
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This my invention has reference to an improved method or methods of decorating
or ornamenting the surfaces of tiles or the like slabs, and is supplementary to the
Patent granted to me and numbered 21091 dated the 3rd day of November 1894,
the object of my invention being to economise labour, material and time.
In carrying my invention into practice I take such tiles or slabs which are to be
decorated whilst in a biscuit or glost state, and usually first dip such tiles or slabs
in a thin solution of plain slip, then I lay such tiles aside till the slip is sufficiently
dry, then I cover the face of such tiles or slabs with a suitable colour, glaze or slip
by means of a brush, spraying, dipping or other means, then when sufficiently dry
I place a metallic or other suitable stencil having a portion of a pattern, picture or
design cut therein on the face of such tiles or slabs, and by means of a bristle or
other suitable brush remove the colour, glaze or slip seen through the cut out
portions of the stencil, I again dip or cover the face of such tiles with another
glaze or slip according to the pattern, picture or design, and when sufficiently dry
I place another stencil having a portion of the pattern, picture or design cut
therein upon the face of the tile or slab and remove the colour, glaze or slip seen
through the cut out portions of the stencil by a brush or other suitable means, and
continue dipping, painting or spraying such tiles or slabs with a suitable colour,
glazes or slips and using a stencil alternately until the pattern, picture or design is
complete upon the surface of such slabs or tiles, which are afterwards glazed and
fired in the usual way.
In cases where it is desired to dip, paint or spray an opaque colour on such slabs
or tiles after a portion of a pattern, picture or design has already been formed on
such slabs or tiles, I cover the face of the tile or slab having the portion of the
pattern, picture or design on its surface with a suitable glaze or other suitable
material, then when sufficiently dry I place on such glazed surface a stencil which
will cover that part of the design, pattern or picture already formed on its surface,
and brush away all the glaze seen through the cut out portions of the stencil, then
I dip or cover the face of the tile or slab with an opaque colour or slip which is
kept from contact with the tile by the intervening glaze, then when sufficiently dry
I place a stencil on the face of the tile, and brush away the opaque colour from
the glaze until the glaze, or the body of the tile as required is exposed to view
through the cut out portions of such stencil.
In some cases colours desired in or on the pattern may be applied to the surfaces
of such slabs or tiles by hand, or be printed on such surfaces by means of transfers
prepared in the usual way, and may be applied to the surfaces of such slabs or tiles
at any desired period or stage of such method of decoration with or without the
aid of a suitable stencil plate or plates, thus combining the ordinary method of
decorating such as painting by means of a suitable brush and colours with or
without using stencil plates with the process above described, after which such
decorated or ornamented slabs or tiles are glazed and fired in the usual way. Such
slabs or tiles and the stencils used may be kept in their desired positions during
the process of decoration by hand, by clips or other suitable means.

page_text: The drying of the slip, colour or glazes upon the surfaces of such tiles or slabs
may be effected by placing such tiles in a room having the temperature of the
surrounding atmosphere, or such slabs and tiles may be placed in any suitable
position in a room or chamber heated by hot-air pipes, steam pipes or other suitable
means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim;
1st. The method of decorating or ornamenting the surfaces of slabs or tiles
made of or from clay, "dust," earthenware or other material from which such tiles
are usually made whilst in a biscuit or glost state by covering the face or surfaces
of such tiles with a suitable colour, then when such colour is sufficiently dry
removing by means of a suitable brush such portions of the colour as is unnecessary
for the desired pattern or portion of a pattern as is exposel through the cut out
portions of the stencil placed on the face of such tiles or slabs, the alternate
dipping, painting or spraying of a colour or colours on to the surfaces of such slabs
or tiles, and the use of a suitable stencil having a portion of the desired pattern,
picture or design cut therein being repeated any suitable number of times until the
design, pattern or picture is completed, after which process of decoration such slabs
or tiles are glazed and fired in the usual way as herein substantially described and
set forth.
2nd. The method of decorating or ornamenting the surfaces of slabs or tiles
made of or from clay, "dust," earthenware or other material from which such tiles
are usually made whilst in a biscuit or glost state by covering the face or surfaces
of such tiles or slabs with a suitable colour, then when such colour is sufficiently
dry removing by means of a suitable brush such portions of the colour as is
unnecessary for the desired pattern or portion of a pattern which is exposed
through the cut out portions of a stencil placed on the surface of such tiles or
slabs, the alternate dipping, painting or spraying of a colour or colours on to the
surface of such tiles or slabs, and use of a suitable stencil having a portion of the
desired pattern cut therein being repeated any suitable number of times, some of
the colours desired on the pattern being applied to the surfaces of such slabs or
tiles by hand, or be printed thereon by means of suitable transfers during auy
desired period or stage of such process of decoration with or without the aid of a
suitable stencil or stencils, such slabs or tiles after the pattern, picture or design on
their surfaces has been completed being glazed and fired in the usual manner as
herein substantially described and set forth.
Dated this 8th day of March 1895