IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of COLOURED OR ORNAMENTAL TILES, BRICKS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Anthony Marsden, of Cobridge, in the County of
Stafford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of
COLOURED OR ORNAMENTAL TILES, BRICKS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES.”
Sealed the 30th December 1879, and dated the 5th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Anthony Marsden
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July 1879.
GEORGE ANTHONY MARSDEN, of Cobridge, in the County of Stafford. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLOURED OR ORNAMENTAL TILES, BRICKS, AND
OTHER LIKE ARTICLES."
This Invention applies principally to forming or producing a colour or pattern
upon a tile or brick in a more simple or less expensive way than is now adopted.
I first make and colour the tile or brick face downwards. To form a decoration
or design I place upon the bottom of the mould or box a pattern made of tin or
other suitable material formed into any required shape or design. This pattern is
formed of vertical pieces of tin or other suitable material, and made of sufficient
depth to hold the requisite quantity of dust, having a smooth and level surface on
the bottom horizontal edge. The pattern so formed is placed upon the bottom of
the box or mould, and in the open spaces forming the pattern are placed the
different coloured dusts required to carry out the intended pattern or decoration.
On this being done the surrounding space is filled in with dust forming the body
of the tile or brick, and the whole pressed together in the ordinary manner.
To slmply colour a tile or brick or similar article I place upon the bottom of
the mould or box a layer of dust of the colour required, then fill in with dust or
clay.
To produce an imitation of marble, granite, or any irregular pattern or decoration
upon the tile or brick or other like article, I scatter on the bottom of the mould or
box different coloured dusts in such manner as will realise the desired decoration,
then fill up with the dust or clay, and press together. I also produce this style of
ornamented tile or brick by reversing the mode of manufacture, and fill the box or
mould with dust or clay first, then form an outline of the intended ornament

page_text: or design in the dust or clay, which outline I fill in with different coloured dusts,
Fand press together.
I-make a sunk or indented pattern, design, or impression upon a tile or brick
and other similar-articles-by placing upon the bottom of the mould or box a pattern-
or design-cut-from-paper_or_other suitable material covered on the upper side with
a mixture of oil,-gum, or other adhesive substance. The box or mould is then
filled with dust or clay, and the pattern pressed into the tile or brick which, when
burnt or fired in oven,-the-pattern is consumed, leaving its impression on the tile
or brick.
I cover
To colour an indented impression, and form a coloured design or pattern,
one side of the paper pattern or design with coloured dusts or suitable colouring
matter, which readily adheres to or forms a portion of the adhesive substance placed
on the pattern; this I then place on bottom of box or mould, and fill in with clay
or dust, as in the other case.
To execute a drawing, pattern, or design of a precise and determined. character I
place a thin layer of dust on the bottom plate of the box or mould, in which I draw
or outline with suitable instruments the intended pattern or drawing; the one side
of such outline I remove or fill in with dust or dusts in colour suitable to carry out
the pattern or design.
I also use cardboard or thin plates of suitable material of the size of the box or
mould, on which I execute a drawing in dust or dusts, which when completed I
place at the bottom of box or mould, and fill in with dust or clay in the ordinary
way.
To steady and guide the vertically formed patterns or designs into required
position upon the bottom of the mould or box, according to the patterns desired, I
use guides or supports from the two or more sides of the mould or box.
Should it be required to perforate or form holes on the back of a tile or brick, I
place pegs or pins on the bottom face of the top plate of the mould.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Anthony Marsden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th January 1880.
GEORGE ANTHONY MARSDEN, of Cobridge, in the County of Stafford. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLOURED OR ORNAMENTAL TILES, BRICKS, AND
OTHER LIKE ARTICLES."
This Invention applies principally to forming or producing a colour or pattern
upon a tile or brick in a more simple or less expensive way than is now adopted.
I first make and colour the tile or brick face downwards. To form a decoration
or design I place upon the bottom of the mould or box a pattern made of tin or
other suitable hard tough material, formed into any required shape or design. This
pattern is formed of vertical pieces of tin or other like material, and made of
sufficient depth to hold the requisite quantity of dust, the various partitions having
their bottom horizontal edges smooth and in one plane at right angles to their axis.
The pattern so formed is placed upon the bottom of the box or mould, and in the
open spaces forming the pattern are placed the different coloured dusts required to
carry out the intended pattern or decoration. On this being done the surrounding
space is filled in with dust forming the body of the tile or brick, and the whole
pressed together in the ordinary manner.
To simply colour a tile or brick or similar articles I place upon the bottom of
the mould or box a layer of dust of the colour required, then fill in with dust
or clay.
To produce an imitation of marble, granite, or any irregular pattern or decoration
upon the tile or brick or other like article, I scatter on the bottom of the mould or
box different coloured dusts in such manner as will realize the desired decoration,
then fill up with the dust or clay, and press together. I also produce this style of
ornamented tile or brick by reversing the mode of manufacture, and fill the box or
mould with dust or clay first, then forin an outline of the intended ornament
or design in the dust or clay, which outline I fill in with different coloured dusts,
and press together.
To execute a drawing, pattern, or design of a precise and determined character, I
place a thin layer of dust on the bottom plate of the box or mould, in which I draw
or outline with suitable instruments the intended pattern or drawing; the one side
of such outline I remove or fill in with dust or dusts in colour suitable to carry out
the pattern or design. I also use cardboard or thin plates of suitable material of
the size of the box or mould on which I execute a drawing in dust or dusts, which
when completed I place at the bottom of the box or mould, and fill in with dust or
clay in the ordinary way.
I make a sunk or indented pattern, design, or impression upon a tile or brick
and other similar articles by placing upon the bottom of the mould or box a pattern
or design cut from paper or other suitable and preferably inflammable material,
covered on the upper side with a mixture of oil, gum, or other adhesive substance,
preferably incapable of affecting the colour in firing. The box or mould is then
filled with dust or clay, and the pattern pressed into the tile or brick; when burnt
or fired in oven the pattern is consumed, leaving its impression on the tile or brick.
It is not necessary however to use inflammable material that will burn away off
the brick, as other material can be employed, and be stripped off after pressing and
before firing; thus, to produce embossed, sunk, or novel patterns on the surface of
tiles, bricks, and such like articles, I use fabrics woven in suitable designs, or
patterns, or natural objects, which I fasten on metal plates or strong mill-boards cut
to the size of the mould. The material, plate, or board so covered is placed at the
bottom of the mould, and upon it the dust or clay forming the body, and pressed in
the usual manner. The tile or article is withdrawn from the mould upon the plate or

page_text: cardboard or material bearing the impression, and is turned over, the impressor
removed, and replaced-in-the-mould.or box for further use. I also use cardboard,
on-which a pattern has been previously pressed, also embossed and ornamental
_wall_papers for producing surface ornamentation, and use in the same way as
_described above.
To colour an indented impression, and form a coloured design or pattern, I cover
-one-side of the paper pattern, or design, or surface with coloured dusts or suitable
colouring matter, which readily adheres to or forms a portion of the adhesive
substance placed on the pattern; this I then place on bottom of box or mould, and
fillin with clay or dust, as in the other case.
I also draw upon paper or other suitable material, using for such drawing or
outline a suitable adhesive composition, upon which when in a damp or wet state
I throw and cover with different coloured clays or dusts, as so called, which, when
completed, I place on the bottom of the mould, and fill in with dust or clay forming
the body of the article to be manufactured, then press in the usual way. The
material upon which the drawing or design has been executed can be removed from
the article on being withdrawn from the box or mould, or allowed to remain to be
burnt in oven or kiln. By this process it will be seen that designs can be produced
direct from the hands of an artist, and with unusual despatch and great saving in
cost over the present methods in use for decorating tiles, more especially from the
fact that each design may be different without additional cost, doing away with
the necessity of repetition to reduce the cost of production.
To steady and guide the vertically formed patterns or designs into required
position upon the bottom of the mould or box, according to the patterns desired, I
use guides or supports from the two or more sides of the mould or box. Should it
be required to perforate or form holes in the back of a tile or brick I place pegs or
pins on the bottom face of the top plate of the mould.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of carrying
it into effect, together with other details useful in the carrying out of the same into
practical operation, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and
desire to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The manufacture of ornamental tiles, slabs, or bricks, as described, by placing
on the bottom of the mould, or pressing onto the yet unfired body of the tile or
brick itself, a pattern, design, or arrangement of coloured dusts or pigments
artistically drawn, painted, or arranged on an inflammable or removable background
of paper or other suitable substance, filling up with the main body of dust or clay,
and pressing in the usual manner.
2. The manufacture of ornamental or encaustic bricks, slabs, or tiles by placing
on the bottom of the mould designs in embossed cardboard, paper, woven fabric,
_or other inflammable material that will not be apparent on firing, and covered
with adhesive matter, upon which-when-wet-coloured dust_has_been sprinkled, or
to which the coloured dust or pigment required, if any, has been caused to adhere,
and then filling up and pressing.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Anthony Marsden, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
GEORGE ANTHONY MARSDEN. (L.S.)