Im- PROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL OR MOULDED BRICKS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Murray, of Loman Street, in
the Borough of Southwark, Machinist, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL OR MOULDED BRICKS."
Sealed the 1st August 1871, and dated the 9th February 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Murray
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th February 1871.
I, CHARLES HENRY MURRAY, of Loman Street, in the Borough of
Southwark, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL OR MOULDED
BRICKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to machinery for making that class of bricks
in which one end or part of the brick is formed with an ornamental

page_text: moulding, so that such bricks may be used to form ornamental string
courses, cornices, or bands in buildings constructed of bricks.
The object of my Invention is to supersede the use of dies or moulds
which are usually required to produce ornamental bricks, and in place
thereof the bricks are formed by means of templates and a cutting
wire.
In carrying out my Invention the clay is first formed or cut into
lumps of a size and shape approximating to that of the intended brick.
This lump of clay is placed on the table of my improved machine, and
then by means of a treadle and a pair of levers or other equivalent
mechanical devices a pair of templates are brought up against the sides
These templates
of the lump of clay so as to securely hold the same.
are made to correspond to the section of the intended brick. When the
lump of clay is firmly held by the templates all the superfluous clay which
projects beyond the edge of the templates is removed by drawing a wire
over these edges so as to leave the brick with the moulded end thereon.
By removing the pressure on the treadle a counterbalance weight con-
nected therewith will draw back the templates from the moulded brick,
which may then be removed from the machine and a fresh lump of clay
put in its place.
If it be desired to make moulded bricks for arches the bevil or wedge
form may be produced by setting the templates on a slight cant. If
large numbers of bricks of any particular pattern be required it will be
advisable to make the templates of metal, but if only a short number be
required the templates may be made of wood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Henry Murray in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th August 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HENRY MURRAY, of Loman Street, in the Borough of Southwark, 3
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of February, in the year

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Henry Murray, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Henry Murray, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Henry Murray, my exe-
cutors, 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY
FOR MAKING ORNAMENTAL OR MOULDED BRICKS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Henry Murray, executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 Charles Henry Murray, 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 Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
My Invention relates to machinery for making that class of bricks in
which one end or part of the brick is formed with an ornamental
moulding, so that such bricks may be used to form ornamental string
courses, cornices, or bands in buildings constructed of bricks.
The object of my Invention is to supersede the use of dies or moulds
which are usually required to produce ornamental bricks, and in place
thereof the bricks are formed by means of templates and a cutting
wire.
The improved machinery I employ for carrying out my Invention is
shewn in the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front
elevation, Fig. 2 a side elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the
machine.

page_text: The clay is first formed or cut into lumps of a size and shape approxi-
mating to that of the intended brick. This lump of clay is then placed
on the table a of my improved machine, and by means of a treadle b and
a pair of bell-crank levers c, c, or other equivalent mechanical devices a
pair of templates d, d, are brought up against the sides of the lump of
clay e so as to securely hold the same. These templates d, d, are made
to correspond in shape and dimensions to the section of the intended
brick. When the lump of clay is firmly held by the templates d, d, all
the superfluous clay which projects beyond the edges of the templates is
removed by drawing a wire over these edges so as to leave the brick with
the moulded end thereon between the templates.
Figures 4 and 5 are front and side views of a metal frame in which
a cutting wire is strained ready for use in removing the superfluous clay
in the manner just described. By removing the pressure on the treadle b
a counterbalance weight b¹ connected therewith will draw back the
templates from the moulded brick, which will remain on its edge on the
table of the machine, and may then be removed therefrom and a fresh
lump of clay put in its place.
If it be desired to make moulded bricks for arches the bevel or wedge
form may be produced by setting the templates on a slight cant. If
large numbers of bricks of any particular pattern be required it will be
advisable to make the templates of metal, but if only a short number be
required the templates may be made of wood.
Figures 6 to 31 inclusive represent various forms of ornamental or
moulded bricks which may be made in my improved machine in the
manner just explained. Various other forms may also be made if
required.
The lump of clay to be operated upon may be placed either on one
side, as above mentioned, or flat on its wider base, or on end, as may be
found most convenient for removing the superfluous clay. The templates
must of course be arranged accordingly.
Having now described my Invention of improved machinery for
making ornamental or moulded bricks, and having explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention
secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, the general arrangement
and construction of parts above shewn and described, or any mere modi-
fication in which the block or piece of clay to be operated upon is

page_text: clamped or securely held between templates or other equivalent devices
while the superfluous clay is being removed so as to form a brick or
block with a moulded or ornamental end, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Henry Murray, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one
CHARLES HENRY MURRAY. (L.S.)