IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSI- TIONS APPLICABLE TO THE COATING OF SHIPS BOTTOMS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Baker, of Temple Street, Whitefriars, in
the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSI-
TIONS APPLICABLE TO THE COATING OF SHIPS BOTTOMS."
Sealed the 23rd May 1864, and dated the 26th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Baker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th November 1863.
I, JAMES BAKER, of Temple Street. Whitefriars, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMPOSITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE COATING OF SHIPS BOTTOMS," to
be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in compositions applicable to
the coating of ships' bottoms. For these purposes sulphur, asphaltum, or
similar adhesive substances and black oxide of manganese are combined
together. The proportions in which these substances are combined may be
varied, but it is preferred to employ them at the rate of about two parts by
weight of sulphur, one part by weight of asphaltum or similar substance, and
one part by weight of black oxide of manganese. These matters are intimately
mixed and are to be applied when heated to the extent necessary to melt the
asphaltum or like substance in the compound.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Baker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BAKER, of Temple Street, Whitefriars, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Baker, Her special licence that I, the said James
Baker, my executors, adininistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Baker, my executors, 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS APPLICABLE TO THE COATING OF SHIPS BOTTOMS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Baker, 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 James Baker, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in compositions applicable to
the coating of ships' bottoms. For these purposes sulphur, asphaltum, or
similar adhesive substances and black oxide of manganese are combined
together. The proportions in which these substances are combined may be
varied, but it is preferred to employ them at the rate of about two parts by
weight of sulphur, one part by weight of asphaltum or similar substance, and
one part by weight of black oxide of manganese. These matters are intimately
mixed, and are to be applied when heated to the extent necessary to melt the
asphaltum or like substance in the compound.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed to describe the manner in which I
prefer to conduct the process.
I first melt the sulphur in an iron pot which is made double, or is contained
in an outer pot so as to leave a clear space between it and the inner pot for
the circulation of air. The melting pot is thus arranged in order that the
heat may be more regularly and safely applied to its contents.
The sulphur
is heated in this pot until having melted it first becomes thick, and then the
heat being still increased it becomes sufficiently thin to pour out of the vessel;
it is thus poured out into water, the sulphur thus prepared is then again
melted and asphaltum is added to it in the proportion above mentioned. The
asphaltum I prefer to employ is that known in commerce as Egyptian, and it
should be powdered before it is used. These materials being well stirred
together the proportion of oxide of manganese is thoroughly mixed in and the
compound is then poured out and cast into moulds; as a substitute for a small
part of the asphaltum, pitch may be employed, other similar substances also
may be used, but I prefer the asphaltum.
The composition is particularly applicable for coating the bottoms of iron
ships to protect them and prevent the adhesion of weeds. It is however appli-
cable to other ironwork and will protect it from the weather; it is applied in
a melted state and it works more readily if the metal be also heated.
be laid on with a brush and the surface afterwards finished to render it smooth
by means of heated irons, for it will be found that the composition sets too
rapidly to allow of an even coat being obtained conveniently with the brush
alone.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Baker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
JAMES BAKER. (L.S.)