IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ORNAMENTATION AND DRESSING OF THE SURFACES OF GLASS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, ou
the 1st November 1871.-A communication from abroad by George
Francis Morse, of the City, County, and State of New York, United
States of America.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ORNAMENTATION AND
DRESSING OF THE SURFACES OF GLASS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS
FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
In carrying out these improvements the surfaces of the glass or other
substances to be ornamented or dressed, which surfaces may be of plain,
curved, or other form, are subjected to the action of a falling or gravi-
tating mass of corundum and emery, which compound constitutes the
dressing material, substantially in the manner herein-after described.
The mechanism which I employ consists substantially of one or more
hoppers or receptacles for receiving the dressing material, and one or
more tubes connecting with the receptacles, for conveniently directing

page_text: the said materia during in
stance to be dressed.
The Drawing accompanying this description is a perspective view of
an apparatus intended for the practical working of the improvements.
A is a work bench upon which, resting on supports B, I arrange a
longitudinal box C, which I divide by means of partitions D, into a
series of hoppers E, into each of which I place a mass of the dressing
material a. Pendant from the centre of each of the hoppers E is a
small tube F, about eight feet in length, through which the dressing
material descends by gravitation, and is discharged through the lower
end of the tube. The upper extremity of each tube is provided with a
slide valve G, by which the quantity of dressing material which falls
through the tube may be regulated or wholly shut off. Shallow trays
H receive the dressing material as fast as it is discharged from the
tubes F. I are cushions on which the workman rests the glass plates
J, or other substance to be dressed.
The practical operation of the improvement is as follows:-I provide
a mass of dressing material composed of two parts of corundum in
powder, having a fineness known in the American market as No. 3, and
one part of emery in powder, known and styled in the American market,
as best English emery, No. 24. I prefer to use the proportions and
quantities of the substances here mentioned, but I do not limit or
confine myself to these proportions or quantities as they may be varied
at the pleasure of the operator. These substances having been in-
timately mixed, are placed in the several hoppers E: The glass plates
J, or other substances to be dressed or ornamented, are then held
beneath the lower extremities of the tubes F, and the slide valves G are
opened, so as to allow the dressing material to descend by gravitation,
and fall upon the surface of the glass or other substance. The effect
of this dressing material is to cut the surface of the glass or other sub-
stance, giving it a grained appearance of beautiful hues, even texture,
very ornamental and desirable.
In order to produce designs of any desired pattern upon the glass or
other substance, I place upon the surface thereof a pattern, cut out
either in paper, cloth, textile material, metal paper, gelatine, parchment,
rubber, gutta percha, or collodion film, or any other film or suitable
substance having such a nature that it will throw off or resist the action

page_text: of the dressing material, and when the aforesaid patterns are applied to
the glass or other substance, and subjected to the action of the dressing
material in the manner described, the glass or other substance will be
dressed or cut only in the open parts or interstices of the pattern, while
the parts of the glass or other substance that are protected by the
pattern will not be cut or acted upon by the dressing material, and thus
some portions of the glass or other substance will be cut or dressed, and
the other portions left in their original condition, and the contrasts thus
produced will form an ornamental configuration or dressing upon the
surface of the glass or other substance.
By continuing the action of the dressing material upon the surface of
the glass or other substance for a sufficient length of time in connection
with patterns of suitable nature as described, I form raised patterns
having almost any desired degree of relief. In the same manner I also
produce intaglio patterns or depressions to almost any desired degree
in the surface of the glass or other substance. The dressing material
as fast as it is discharged from the hoppers is to be replaced in them
again.
Many substances other than glass may be dressed or ornamented in
substantially the same manner, as for example the various metals may
be ornamented and dressed, and the most intricate and beautiful
chasings and ornamental designs may be inwrought upon them, having
in many cases the appearance of costly engravings. Various kinds of
stone may also be ornamented and dressed, and letters, writings, figures,
and ornamental designs of all kinds produced thereon, either in relievo
or in intaglio.