Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Marble.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Marble.
I, LEWIS NATHAN, of 53 Amersham Road, New Cross, London, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of artificial marble,
suitable for decorating walls, ceilings, alcoves, curves, columns, dados, and other
parts or places, whereby I am enabled to manufacture and apply the marble on
the spot, that is to say in and to the building which is to be decorated or ornamented,
instead of having to manufacture it away from the building, as heretofore, and
then transporting it thereto, which is often exceedingly difficult and inconvenient.
In carrying out my invention the surface to be ornamented, as, for instance, a
brick wall, or a lathed partitioning, is first prepared in the usual way by a plasterer,
with coarse mortar mixed with hair and lime, to which is added a small portion of
plaster or cement, preferably Keen's cement, to cause the coarse mortar to set off
quickly. When this facing is hard it is floated over with a float or straight edge
It is then allowed to set, and
in the usual way so as to make it perfectly level.
when hard enough is then sprinkled with water. I then take coarse Keen's or other
cement, previously mixed in a banker, and lay it onto the facing with a floating
trowel and level it off with a straight edge to the desired thickness, say about
inch. The surface or wall is now allowed to set until of sufficient hardness that
the pressure of the finger will not make any indentation therein, but not hard
enough to cause any suction in it, as suction will cause the marble facing, when
applied, to go dead in patches or round holes. It therefore requires great caution
and skill to catch the wall or surface in the right stage of hardness.
I now proceed to make the marble for the facing, say, for instance, a sienna
marble. For this purpose I use a bench, the length of which should be that of the
height of the wall or surface to be covered. The face of this bench, which must
be perfectly smooth, may be made of slate or wood, preference being given to the
latter on account of its portability, and seeing that the marble is to be used where
it is to be manufactured. The bench face, when planed down smooth, must be
coated with shellac to render it impervious to moisture.
I then take a piece of oil cloth and lay it on the bench with the smooth face
downward, and thoroughly sponge the back with clean water, also the bench. I
next turn the oil cloth over so that its smooth surface comes uppermost and then
rub it over with a damp sponge so as to express the superfluous water and air from
underneath. After this, the oilcloth is wiped thoroughly dry with a clean rag.
Great care must be taken so that no wrinkles are formed in the oil cloth. I then
cut the oilcloth to the required length, and rub its surface over with a cloth dipped
in lard oil.
I now prepare the superfine cement which is to be used to form the marble, and
this I do by sprinkling the cement in water until the cement entirely covers the
While the soaking is going
water, and I then allow it to soak for a few minutes.
on, I may prepare the stains necessary for the veins. For this purpose I take two
vessels into both of which I pour water, and the water in one of them I make of a
reddish tint by adding thereto dried Indian red, while into the water in the other I
place a purple brown and dry drop black.
I now take silks, known in the trade as thrums, divide them into the thickness
required and tie a knot at one end. Some of these I dip into the red and others
into the dark brown, drawing them afterwards through the fingers to free them of
superfluous stain. The thros are next opened and placed upon the oil cloth.

page_text: The cement is then transferred to as many vessels as there are tints required to
be produced in the marble. The colours I prefer to use for these tints are orange
chrome, yellow ochre, burnt and raw sienna, all dry, the said tints being made
according to the required shade of the marble. I then take a small quantity of the
soaked cement and divide it into a suitable number of portions, say three, and place
them onto a piece of glass, and, by the use of a gauging trowel, mix with one
portion some ultramarine blue and drop black, and with the other portion, drop
black. I then take a small portion of the two tints, together with some white
forming the third portion, and lay them on the glass, and I then take a silk thrum
and draw it through the tints on the glass and lay it down onto the oilcloth over
the other veins. This operation is repeated until the oilcloth has received a
sufficient number of these cloudy slate-coloured veins. I then take the yellow tints
and throw them onto the surface of the oil cloth until it is completely covered. I
then draw out the silks or thrums with a suitable tool and fill in with cement of
the same tints as the marble, the vacant spaces which have been produced by the
lifting out of the thruns. I next lay a straight edge along each side of the
oilcloth and smooth down the material constituting the artificial marble with a trowel.
I then place a piece of thin wet calico on the marble and take some dry coarse
cement and cover the calico in order to absorbe the water from the marble, and I
allow this calico and cement covering to remain on the marble for about quarter of
an hour. The calico and cement covering is then removed from the marble and
any cracks, which may have formed, are then trowelled together, and the whole of
the marble is likewise trowelled so as to disperse any air bubbles that may have
formed by the throwing of the different tints onto the oilcloth. Superfine cement
of the same tint as the marble is then laid over the marble surface and is levelled.
to the desired thickness by drawing a straight edge across the before mentioned
straight edges. It is then dried as before described. The marble and oilcloth are
then wound onto a wooden roller, said roller being applied perfectly parallel with
the bottom edge of the marble and oilcloth. Water is now sprinkled on the wall
or surface and some of the tinted cement brushed on it, care being taken to brush.
this cement on equally and that not too much is employed. The roll of marble is
then lifted up bodily and carried to the surface or part to which it is to be applied,
and the end placed parallely thereto. The marble sheet is then unrolled very
slowly and is pressed by band, or otherwise if preferred, on to the wall until the
entire sheet is unrolled, it being of great importance to press the roll very closely so
as to prevent the air from getting between the sheet and the wall. The surface
thus applied is then allowed to stand for about an hour, according to the condition
of the marble, as the marble must be just hard enough to allow of the oil cloth
being removed by withdrawing it very slowly from its face, for if it be withdrawn
too quickly, and the marble be not hard enough, it will drag the face. When the
oilcloth is taken off it is laid face downward on the bench and washed with a sponge,
then turned over, and its face washed. It is then dried and oiled and prepared as
before described for the reception of the next gauge of marble. It is essential that
every particle of cement should be washed off the back of the oil cloth, and off the
face of the bench, as otherwise, when treating the next batch, depressions or hollows
will be formed therein.
In cases where oilcloth cannot be used, I employ paper, and I prepare it in the
same manner as the oilcloth but with this exception, I do not oil it.
و"
The marble should be rubbed as soon as it is sufficiently hard, for if it be allowed
to stand too long the labour is more costly. It requires to be rubbed down three
times, and "stopped three times with the same colours as used on it. The first
rubbing should be effected with a rough quick-cutting stone, the second with one of
a finer grit, the third with snake stone. The marble must then be allowed to
stand until it is perfectly dry, then cleaned off, and polished with putty powder, or
other suitable material.
For inlaid or mosaic work on walls, ceilings, etc., I first prepare the surface, to
which the marble is to be applied, in the same manner as before described, and

page_text: make the marble on a glazed or oily paper. I then take a piece of calico which
has been dipped into the superfine cement, and tinted the same colour as the marble
and rub it onto the back of the marble. I then lift the marble, calico, and paper,
and cut it with a knife, or other suitable instrument, into the shape or design
required, and, after taking the calico off, apply the marble to the wall or ceiling.
In some cases where the design forms a difficult scroll, I prepare a zinc profile, then
lay sheets of the marble onto the wall, in the manner as before described, then take
the zinc profile and lay it in position on the face of the marble. I then take, a
sharp pointed knife and trace round the edge of the profile, cutting through to the
coarse cement on the wall or ceiling. I then take a suitable tool and pick or scale
off all the surplus marble on the outside of the scroll. The wall or ceiling around
the scroll must be scraped clean with a wooden scraper to remove all loose cement,
taking care, at the same time, to keep the wall or ceiling smooth where marble is
not on it. I then allow this scroll or design to stand sufficiently long to harden,
and then apply the marble filling-in made as before described.
For straight strips, I marble on oiled or glazed paper, and cut it with a knife or.
sharp instrument against a straight edge, to the dimensions required. I then take
a piece of calico dipped into tinted superfine cement of the same colour as the
marble, and apply the calico to the back of the marble to allow it to be handled
without breaking. I then remove the marble from the the bench and lay it onto a
piece of wood, then brush some tinted cement on to the wall or ceiling, then remove
the calico, roll the strip of marble and paper onto a roller and then unroll against
the wall or ceiling to the position required.
Tad thin 4th don of Manah 1002
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Artificial Marble.
•
I, LEWIS NATHAN, of 53 Amersham Road, New Cross, London, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this 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 acccompanying drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention relates to improvements in the preparation and mode of securing
to surfaces, of artificial marble suitable for decorating walls, ceilings, alcoves,
curves, columns, dados, and other parts, places, or surfaces, whereby I am enabled
to manufacture and apply the marble in a plastic state to surfaces to which it is
cemented throughout, before becoming hardened, the whole operation being carried
In this way I
on in or near the building which is to be decorated or ornamented.
avoid the disadvantage of manufacturing the marble away from the building, as
heretofore, and then transporting it thereto in hardened slabs to be attached to the
surfaces by screws, dowels, or other devices, which method is more costly and less
durable and occupies a much longer period of time, and is more difficult to carry
out than that forming the subject of my improvements, and which prior process,
in the case of columns, mouldings, and the like, required costly models, moulds,
and other appliances.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention relates, to
manufacture and use the same, I proceed to describe fully the manner of carrying
it into practice.
In carrying out my invention, the surface to be decorated or ornamented, say for

page_text: instance a brick wall, or a lathed partitioning, is first prepared in the usual way by
a plasterer with coarse mortar mixed with hair and lime, to which is added a small
portion of plaster or cement, preference being given to Keen's cement, to cause the
coarse mortar to set quickly. When this mortar is applied to the wall or surface,
it is floated over with a float or straight edge in the usual way, so as to make
it level. It is then allowed to set, and when hard enough is sprinkled with water
to avoid suction. I then take coarse Keen's, or other, cement, previously mixed in
a banker, and lay it onto the facing with a float or trowel and level it off with
a straight edge to the desired thickness, say about inch. The surface or wall is
now allowed to set until of sufficient hardness that the pressure of the finger will
not make any indentation therein, but not hard enough to cause any suction in it,
as suction will cause the marble facing when applied, to go dead in patches or
round holes. It therefore requires great caution and skill to catch the wall
or surface in the right stage of hardness.
I now proceed to make the marble for the facing, say for instance a sienna
marble. For this purpose I use a bench, the length of which should be that of the
height of the wall or surface to be covered. The face of this bench, which must
be perfectly smooth, may be made of slate, glass, or wood, preference being given
to the last named on account of its portability, and seeing that the marble is to be
used where it is to be manufactured.
The bench face, when planed down smooth, must be coated with shellac to render
it impervious to moisture.
I then take a piece of oil-cloth and lay it on the bench with the smooth face
downwards, and thoroughly sponge the back with clean water, also the bench.
I next turn the oil-cloth over so that its smooth surface comes uppermost, and then
rub it over with a damp sponge, so as to express the superfluous water and air from
underneath. After this the oil-cloth is wiped thoroughy dry with a rag. Great
care must be taken so that no wrinkles are formed in the oil cloth. I then cut the
oil-cloth to the required length and rub its surface over with a cloth dipped
in lard oil.
I now prepare the superfine cement which is to be used to form the face of the
finished marble, and this I do by sprinkling the cement into a vessel containing
water until the cement entirely covers the water, and I then allow it to soak for a
few minutes. While the soaking is going on, may prepare the stains necessary
for the veins. For this purpose I take two vessels, into both of which I pour
water, and the water in one of them I make of reddish tint, by adding thereto,
say dried Indian red, while into the water in the other, I place a purple brown and
ivory drop-black.
I now take silks, known in the trade as
thrums," separate them into the
thickness required, and tie a knot at one end. Some of these I dip into the red
and others into the dark brown, drawing them afterwards through the fingers to
free them of superfluous stain. The thrums are next opened and placed upon the
oilcloth, the service of an assistant being necessary for this purpose.
The cement is then transferred to as many vessels as there are tints required to
be produced in the marble. The colours I prefer to use for these tints are orange-
chrome, lemon-chrome, burnt and raw sienna, and Indian red, all dry, the said tints
being made according to the required shade of the marble. I then take a small
quantity of the soaked cement and divide it into a suitable number of portions, say
three, and place them onto a piece of glass, and by the use of a gauging trowel mix
with one portion some ultramarine blue and drop-black, and with the other portion
drop-black alone. I then take a small portion of the two tints, together with
some white, forming the third portion, and lay them on the glass, and I then take
a silk thrum and draw it through the tints on the glass, and lay it down onto the
oil-cloth over the other veins. This operation is repeated until the oil cloth has
received a sufficient number of these cloudy slate coloured veins. I then take the
yellow tints and through them onto the surface of the oilcloth until it is completely
covered. I then draw out the silks or thrums with a suitable tool, and fill in with

page_text: cement, of the same tint as the marble, the vacant spaces which have been
produced by the drawing out of the thrums. I next lay a straight edge along each
side of the oil cloth, and smooth down the material constituting the artificial
marble with a trowel. It will be understood that this method of producing
artificial marble is that usually employed.
In order to carry out my invention I now prepare the plastic sheet for the
reception of a backing, preferably of cheaper material, for which purpose I place a
piece of thin wet calico on the marble, and take some dry coarse cement and cover
the calico, in order to absorb the water from the marble, and I allow this calico
and cement covering to remain on the marble for about 2 or 3 minutes. The
calico with its cement covering is then removed from the marble, and any cracks
which may have formed are then trowelled together, and the whole of the marble
is likewise trowelled so as to disperse any air bubbles that may have formed by the
throwing of the different tints onto the oilcloth. Cement, either superfine, or
coarse, mixed with water, and of the same tint as the marble, is then laid over the
surface of the marbled sheet so as to form a backing and is levelled to the desired
thickness by drawing a straight edge across the before mentioned straight edges.
It is then dried as before described and trowelled again, and will bear being carried
from the bench to the wall to which it is to be applied.
For the purpose of such transport, and in dealing with long strips, I prefer to
wind the marble and oilcloth onto a wooden roller, the said roller being applied
perfectly parallel with the bottom edge of the marble and oilcloth; or the sheet
may be carried on the oilcloth alone. Water is now sprinkled on the wall or
surface and some of the tinted cement brushed on it, the object being to prepare
the wall or surface for the reception, and, which is very important, to cause the
sheet to adhere firmly and closely to the wall or surface so as to be affixed thereto
without any extraneous fastening, and to become one with and part of the actual
surface of the wall or foundation to which it is applied. Care must be taken to
brush this cement on equally, and that too much should not be employed. The
roll of marble and oil cloth, or the sheet with its support of oilcloth, is then lifted
up bodily and carried to the surface or part to which, it is to be applied, and in the
case of employing a roll the free end of the sheet is placed parallel thereto. The
marble sheet is then unrolled very slowly and is pressed by indiarubber rollers, or
other suitable appliances, onto the wall, until the entire sheet is unrolled, it being
of great importance to press the roll very closely so as to prevent the air from
getting between the marble sheet and the wall. If the slab is to be affixed without
the aid of a roller, the operation is carried out in like manner, and the sheet of
marble may be removed bodily upon the oilcloth and applied to the surface. The
sheet thus applied to the foundation which is to support it, is then allowed to stand
for a short time, according to the condition of the marble, as the marble must be
just hard enough to allow of the oilcloth being removed by withdrawing it very
slowly from its face, for if it be withdrawn too quickly, and the marble be not hard
enough, it will drag the face. When the oil-cloth is taken off, it is laid face down-
wards on the bench and washed with a sponge, then turned over and its face
washed. It is then dried and oiled, and prepared, as before described, for the
reception of the next gauge of marble. It is essential that every particle of
cement should be washed off the back of the oil cloth, and off the face of the
bench, as otherwise, when treating the next batch, depressions or hollows will be
formed therein.
One advantage of my invention is that I am enabled to break the joints or seams
of each layer of marble as they are placed next to each other against the walls or
ceilings, and for this purpose I use a knife having a sharp point, and commence
cutting at a place where the vein ends abruptly and trace that vein through into
the next piece of marble to a vein of the same colour. This knife leaves a cut or
parting crack where it has been used. I then take an ordinary glass syringe,
provided with an indiarubber bulb at one end, by means of which I draw up into
the bulb some of the stain of the same colour as the vein required to be connected,

page_text: and place the point of the glass syringe into the highest point of the cut and force
out as much of the stain as is necessary to fill the crack. When this is done, I
press the crack together with a trowel; this leaves a smear over the marble
which will disappear at the first stoning or rubbing down of the marble.
In order to enable the marble to be conveniently wound onto the roller, I may
employ a wooden carriage for the roller to rest on, and capable of running on
wheels along the bench. Through the roller passes a spindle having a flange at
one end to which said roller is screwed, and this spindle is mounted in bearings on
the carriage and is furnished with a handle. The back of the oilcloth must be
facing the roller, so that the back of the marble will be on the outside of the roller
when ready to be placed on the wall. This roller is provided with a removable
strip which, when it is desired to roll the sheet of marble, is withdrawn, and the
selvage of the oilcloth or foundation is inserted into the roller at the part from
which the strip had been removed. This strip is then replaced, and in this manner
securely grips the oilcloth or foundation and prevents it from shifting during the
rolling up.
In cases where oilcloth cannot be used, I employ suitable paper of sufficient
strength to carry the material, and prepare it in the same manner as the oilcloth,
but with this exception, I do not oil it.
"
The marble should be stoned or rubbed down as soon as it is sufficiently hard,
for if it be allowed to stand too long, the labour is more costly. It requires to be
rubbed down three times, and "stopped three times with the same colours as
used on it. The first rubbing should be effected with a rough quick cutting stone,
the second with one of a finer grit, the third with snake stone. The marble must
then be allowed to stand until it is perfectly dry, then cleaned off and polished with
putty powder, or other suitable material.
For inlaid and mosaic work on walls, ceilings, etc. I first prepare the surface, to
which the marble is to be applied, in the same manner as before described, and
make the marble on a glazed or oily paper. I then take a piece of calico, which
has been dipped into superfine cement, and tinted the same colour as the marble,
and rub it onto the back of the marble. I then lift the marble, calico, and paper,
and cut it with a knife, or other suitable instrument, into the shape or design
required, and after taking the calico off, apply the marble to the wall or ceiling.
In some cases where the design forms a difficult scroll or pattern, I prepare a
profile, then lay sheets of the marble onto the wall in the manner as before
described, then take the profile and lay it in position on the face of the marble. I
then take a sharp pointed knife and trace round the edge of the profile, cutting
through to the coarse cement on the wall, or ceiling. I then take a suitable tool
and pick out all those parts of the scroll or pattern required to be filled in with a
marble, or marbles, of another colour, or colours.
For straight strips, I marble on oiled or glazed paper, and cut it with a knife or
sharp instrument against a straight edge, to the dimensions required. I then take
a piece of calico dipped into tinted superfine cement of the same colour as the
marble, and apply the calico to the back of the marble to allow it to be handled
without breaking. I then remove the marble from the bench and lay it on to a
board, then brush some tinted cement on to the wall or ceiling, then remove the
calico, roll the strip of marble and paper on to a roller and then unroll against the
wall, or ceiling, to the position required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :
1. The improvements in the manufacture of artificial marble for decorative
purposes whereby the same is applied and secured in its plastic condition to the
surface to be covered, without the use of screws, dowels, or other extraneous
fastenings, substantially as described.
2. The method of covering surfaces with artificial marble wherein the marble
facing is prepared on a removable foundation and is applied and secured in its

page_text: plastic condition to the surface to be covered, without the use of extraneous
fastenings, substantially as described.
3. The method of covering surfaces with artificial marble for inlaid, mosaic, or
scroll work, wherein the marble facing is prepared on a removable surface and is
applied and secured in its plastic condition to the surface to be covered, without
the use of extraneous fastenings, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1893.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottinghamı,
Agent for the Applicant.