IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- PACTURE OP SUBSTANCES ARTIFICIALLY COLOURED, VEINED, OR MOTTLED LIKE MARBLES OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund John Bridell, of the Middle Temple,
Barrister-at-Law, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
PACTURE OP SUBSTANCES ARTIFICIALLY COLOURED, VEINED, OR MOTTLED LIKE
MARBLES OR OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 4th July 1862, and dated the 17th May 1862.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edmund John Bridell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 17th May 1862, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND!
JOHN BRIDELL, of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF:
SUBSTANCES ARTIFICIALLY COLOURED, VEINED, OR MOTTLED LIKE MARBLES OR OTHER
SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
I employ in the production of the artificial substances made according to
my Invention, and which I call maretzo, well-known materials such as.
cements and other similar materials, by preference a cement or material that.
will form a hard compact substance, and afford a smooth surface capable of
receiving a polish, may be employed. I use in treating and colouring the
cements or other similar materials employed a new process which. produces,

page_text: results which have never previously been obtained. According to the colours
of the veins or figures required to be imparted to the artificial substance,
corresponding colours are mixed with the requisite amount of liquid in flat
trays made shallow, in which are spread fibres of floss silk, or silk waste, or
other fibrous materials (preferring silk), which will readily absorb the
colouring matters, and readily impart the same to the substances treated as
herein-after described. The silk or other suitable material is fixed in the
form of the veining or figure required by means of light frames of various
sizes made of wood, or wire, or the material may be also used at times
without such frames. The silk is well saturated in the before-named trays of
colour, and is then spread open with suitable instruments, and it is afterwards
carefully taken up and laid, with or without a frame, upon a piece of glass,
either flat or curved, as may be required, or upon some other smooth or
polished surface made of suitable form, such as metal or plaster. When it is
required to give a varied appearance to the substance patches of suitably
coloured cement are laid upon the glass. A layer of suitable colored or tinted
cement is then superadded. The cement is carefully spread so as to be
about one-eighth of an inch thick, and after being allowed to remain a sufficient
time to allow the saturated silk to part with its colour or colours, the silk
fibres are removed either. by raising the frames or by using suitable instru-
ments. The glass or other smooth surface is then shaken or agitated so as to
blend or harmonize the colours and a light coat of dry cement is sifted on for
the purpose of extracting the superfluous water, and is afterwards gently
removed by a plasterer's trowel. The material so prepared is then smoothed
or trowelled all over, so as to form a slab or other required form. To con-
solidate and strengthen the slab I employ a backing of canvas or other
suitable fabric, which I apply to the slab. The slab or other form of artificial
substance is then made up to the required thickness by adding a layer of
cement, which may be coarser, but should be of the same kind as that which
has been used for the face; it then remains upon the glass or other material
J. G., E. J. B. can be removed B. J. B., J. G.
until it sets and from the surface.
A
When it is removed from the glass or
other material it is rubbed down with stopping and polishing stones, aud
allowed to dry; it is then ready for enamelling and polishing by the
usually adopted by enamellers or for polishing by hand.
process
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, I claim as of my said Inven-
tion, the process of treating and colouring cements and other similar materials
of that class, whereby substances of the kind which I term maretzo, are

page_text: manufactured as above described; I claim the mode of imparting colour to
artificially manufactured substances by means of silk or other fibres used and
removed, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund John Bridell, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named Edmund
John Bridell, in the presence
of (the words "can be re-
moved" having first. been in-
serted and interlined above).
EDMUND JOHN BRIDELL.
(L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named Edmund
John Bridell, in the presence
of (the words "can be re-
moved" having first. been in-
serted and interlined above).
[Line 31, p. 2.]
JOHN GREENFIELD,
EDMUND JOHN BRIDELL. (L.S.)
Clerk to Mr. James Bell,
21, Abchurch Lane, City.