AN IMPROVED MODE OF FORMING GLASS VESSELS AND UTENSILS WITH ORNA-
Year: 1831

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, APSLEY
PELLATT, of Falcon Glass Works, Holland Street, Blackfriars Bridge, in the
County of Surrey, Glass Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King William the Fourth, in and by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Ninth day of March last, for Himself, is heirs and
successors, did give and grant unto me, the said Apsley, and my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, His special licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Apsley Pellatt, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, and every of them, by myself and themselves, or
by my and their deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such others as
I, the said Apsley Pellatt, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of His Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, His Majesty's
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MODE OF FORMING GLASS VESSELS AND UTENSILS WITH ORNA-

page_text: MENTAL FIGURED PATTERNS IMPRESSED THEREON;" in which said Letters Patent
there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said Apsley Pellatt, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said recited Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE,, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Apsley Pellatt, do hereby declare that the said Improved Mode of Forming
Glass Vessels and Utensels with Ornamental Figured Patterns impressed
thereon is described and ascertained in manner following, that is to say :-
Part of the Invention relates to the forming of hollow glass vessels and
utensils, such as require to be formed by blowing the glass within hollow
metal moulds, similar to those-commonly used for- blowing moulded glass
bottles, with inscriptions or patterns on the outsides thereof. That part
of the said improved mode consists in applying, within a suitable recess
(or within suitable recesses) at the inside of the metal blowing mould, a
red hot cake (or red hot cakes) formed of an earthly composition, such
as is used by glass cameo makers for moulds, and which will bear a strong
heat; the said recess (or recesses) being so formed that the surface (or
surfaces) of the said cake (or cakes) will range exactly with the interior
surface of the blowing mould, and will form all such parts of that interior
surface against which the glass will apply (during the blowing thereof in the
mould, as are intended to have the ornamental figured pattern impressed
thereon, and the said surfaces of the cake (or cakes) against which the glass is
to so apply) having the type for the said ornamental figured pattern, cither
formed in relief or else sunk thereon, will produce the said pattern, either sunk
or else in relief, on the outside of glass which is blown in the mould, that
-operation-being-conducted-in-tho-usual-manner-of-blowing-in-moulds; -but-tho-
ornamental figured pattern so produced on the glass will represent sharper and
more defined impressions on the outside of the glass than can be usually.
obtained by blowing in metal moulds, that improvement of the impression
being owing to the heat which is given to the said cake (or cakes) of earthy
composition, and also to the nature of that composition, and also because the
said composition (or the superficial part thereof) will adhere slightly to the
glass, so as to cover over the ornamental pattern, when the vessel or utensil is
removed from the mould within which it was blown; as aforesaid, and the
carthy composition by which the ornamental figured pattern is thus covered-
will protect the impression thereof from being effaced or impaired in sharpness by

page_text: the heat to which it is necessary to subject the glass vessel or utensil, in order
to finish the same by the course of operations which usually follow that of
blowing in a mould, and after the glass is annealed and become cold it is easy
to brush off, and remove the covering of earthy composition from the orna-
mental pattern without any injury thereto; and for every succeeding glass vessel
or utensil which is to be blown in the mould, according to the improved mode,
the said mould must be prepared by inserting a fresh cake (or fresh cakes) of
carthy composition, heated red hot, as aforesaid, into the recess or recesses which
are provided in the metal mould for their reception; and in case the whole
circumference of the exterior surface of the glass vessels or utensils is
required to have ornamental figured patterns impressed thereon, then the said
cake (or cakes) of earthy composition must be so formed as to make a complete
interior lining to all such parts of the metal blowing mould as are to form
those parts of the glass vessel or utensil which are intended to have the orna-
mental figured patterns impressed thereon. The metal blowing mould must be
made to open in segments, which part one from the other after the usual
manner of blowing moulds, in order to introduce the glass into the mould
previous to blowing it thereon, and to withdraw the glass vessel or utensil from
the mould when the blowing is finished.
The other part of the said Improved Mode of Forming Glass Vessels and
Utensils with Ornamental Figured Patterns impressed thereon consists in
applying dovetailed or rebated sliders in lieu of hinge joints, in order to open
and shut the parts or segments of the hollow moulds wherein such glass
vessels or utensils are to be formed. And the latter part of the Inven-
tion relates equally to the mode of pressing the glass into such moulds for
forming flat and open vessels, as to the mode of blowing the glass hollow
therein, as herein-before set forth; for. in either case the mould. must be
composed of two or more parts or segments, which are so fitted to each
other as to be capable of receding one from the other to open the mould,
in order to admit the glass to be introduced into the mould in the first instance,
and to be withdrawn therefrom, after being formed into a vessel or utensil by
pressing or by blowing. The usual mode of uniting the said parts or segments
of. the mould is by hinge joints, but according to the improved mode the
segments or parts of the mould are affixed to dovetailed or rabated sliders,
which are fitted to slide in corresponding grooves formed in the base or bottom
piece of the mould, so as to admit of removing the said segments or parts from
each other in order to open the mould, or to approach the said segments
or parts together, and close or shut up the mould; and when the mould is so
shut up the segments are securely retained from separating (whilst the pressing

page_text: or the blowing is performed, by the usual means of securing the parts of
pressing or blowing moulds from opening when in use, viz, by hooks or
clasps, or by dropping a solid hoop or ring of metal over the two or more
segments.
And as to the manner of practising the said Invention.-The earthy compo-
sition herein-before mentioned should be of the same nature as those com-
monly used by the makers of glass cameos for forming their moulds; viz, for
the exterior of the cakes or moulds, fine plaster of Paris mixed with very
finely pounded brickdust in equal parts by weight; for the facing of the cakes
or moulds, equal parts by weight of finely pounded rotten stone and fine plaster
of Paris mixed likewise may be used; for facing the cakes or moulds, equal
parts, by weight, of fine plaster of Paris and caleine: pounded flints mixed.
The ingredients being sifted through fine lawn, and very intimately mixed
together in dry powder, are to be sufficiently moistened with water to make
the composition adhere in a dry paste when forcably crammed into suitable
hollow moulds for forming the cakes of earthy composition herein-before
mentioned. The said hollow moulds should be made of metal, and tho
ornamental pattern may be engraved or embossed in the bottom of the hollow
by the means usually employed by chasers, engravers, or die sinkers; or else a
more convenient mode is to form an exact model in fine modelling clay of the
cake of earthy composition which is wanted, with the type of the ornamental
figured pattern thereon, and then by running melted type metal, such as is used
for making printing types, around the said clay model, the required hollow
mould will be obtained for forming the earthy composition into a cake, which
will be the exact counterpart of the model previously made for the same. In
somo cases, when an original dish or cup or vase or utensil, or other vessel of
glass or porcelain or bronze, or other matter, is to be the model for the orna-
mental glass vessel which is to be formed by the improved mode, then the first
model above mentioned of the cake may be made by casting in plaster of
Paris on the ornamental part of the original dish, cup, or vase, or otherwise
the required ornamental pattern may be modelled in wax, and a cast thereon
in plaster of Paris will form a model for the cake, on which model type metal
may be cast to obtain a hollow mould for forming the cakes of carthy compo-
.sition as aforesaid, and which is done by ramming the moistened earthy com-
position into the hollow of the said metal mould, in order that the type for
the ornamental pattern may be obtained from the bottom of the said mould,
and the back of the cake may be formed by striking off the composition even
with the edges of the mould. The cake of earthy composition when with-
drawn from its metal mould is to be dried with a gradual heat until the mois-

page_text: The said cake
ture is quite evaporated, and then the cake will be fit for use.
may be moulded in the above manner when it is required to form a constant
succession of glass vessels or utensils when the same ornamental figured
pattern impressed thereon by the improved mode, and that ornamental figured
pattern will commonly be on detached portions of the outside surface of the
vessel or utensil; but for producing rare specimens of the fine arts by the
new mode in glass, after antique vases or other ornamented vessels or utensils
which have an ornamental figured pattern around every part of their outside
surfaces, the said carthy composition may be applied at once upon the outside
of the original vase or other vessel or utensil which is to be copied, or on a
wax model or a plaster cast thereof. The moistened composition being
moulded by ramming it hard around the original ornamental surface in
segments or distinct pieces, which will take off from the original without
injury to the ornamental figured pattern, which is required to be copied
therefrom in the same manner as the moulds for casting in bronze are made,
by ramming sand upon an original which is to be copied, or on a pattern
thereof. The earthy composition for forming such vessels or utensils as are
last mentioned will not be in detached, cakes, to be inserted into recesses in
the metal blowing moulds, as before described, because the whole of the
exterior surface of the glass vessel or utensil requires to be formed against the
said composition. In such cases the earthy composition will form a complete
lining to the metal blowing mould, which mould may be a mere frame or
skeleton for confining the pieces of the composition in their places and
retaining them from separating by the forco of blowing the glass within them.
In some cases, for a rare specimen of an ornamental vessel or utensil, a model
may be made in wax, or cast in sulphur, and around that wax or sulphur
model the moistened earthy composition may be rammed in one entire covering
around all the circumference of the model; and when the composition is
sufficiently dried the inclosed model may be melted by heat, so as to run out
the wax or sulphur and leave the composition hollow within, but without
joints, and consequently seams will be avoided in the glass which is blown
within the composition so formed. Note, a sufficient opening must be left in
the top or bottom of such a composition mould. as is last mentioned to intro-
duce the glass into the same before blowing it therein. After the blowing is
finished, the metal blowing mould, within which the composition mould is
placed, is opened, and the composition must be lifted up off from the glass
vessel in a zone or ring. And note, the said composition mould must be made
to separate into two or more zones or rings, one above another, if such sepa-
ration is necessary, in order to withdraw the glass vessel or utensil from the

page_text: said composition mould. The operation of blowing the glass in moulds made
according to the improved mode, with linings of red hot earthy composition at
all the parts which are to produce an ornamental impression on the glass,
differs but very little from the usual course of blowing glass in moulds. The
cake or cakes of earthy composition, being well dried as before mentioned,
are to be taken up with a pair of spring tongs, and placed under a heated
muffle, and kept there until they become red hot, and thenco they may
be taken out with spring tongues one by one as they are wanted, and
dropped into the recess or recesses which are made for their reception
in the metal blowing mould as aforesaid. The semifluid glass, being gathered
on the blowing iron, and blown hollow, and properly shaped in the usual
manner to form the intended vessel or utensil, but without being expended
to the full size, is heated up again to render the glass soft enough to take
a sharp impression, and then the glass is introduced into the opened blowing
mould immediately after the beated cakes of earthy composition have been
lodged therein in their proper places. The blowing mould is then closed
up around the glass, and the workman blows forcibly through the blowing pipe
to expand the hollow glass vessel or utensil, and make it fill the blowing
mould completely, and cause the glass to take the impression of an ornamental
pattern from the heated cake or cakes of earthy composition. After the
blowing is finished the blowing mould is opened, and the glass is withdrawn
therefrom. The composition will adhere to the glass so as to cover over the
ornamental pattern with a coating thereof, and that coating will protect the
said pattern from being impaired in sharpness of impression when the glass is
heated up again in order to finish the vessel or utensil, and also to anneal it.
Note, for blowing small vessels or utensils with ornamental patterns impressed
thereon by the improved mode, the workman may blow with sufficient force by
his mouth to expand the glass in the mould with as much pressure against the
surfaces of the cake or cakes of heated carthen composition as will cause the
ornamental pattern thereof to be well impressed on the glass; but when the
ornamental pattern covers an extensive surface on the glass vessel or utensil,
and is in high relief from the ground on which it is placed, a greater force of
blowing may be necessary than can readily be given to the air by the mouth,
in which case an air syringe may be applied to the mouthpiece of the blowing
iron to force air into the hollow of the glass vessel or utensil. The air
syringe is a small hollow cylinder of brass tube, about three inches diameter
and fifteen inches long, with a moveable piston fitted into it; the syringe has
two valves, one in the piston and the other at the bottom of the cylinder, both
opening downwards. The orifice at the lower end of the cylinder, below the

page_text: valve, is applied to the mouthpiece of the blowing iron, and then, by moving
the piston up and down in the cylinder, air will be forced down through the
blowing iron into the hollow within the glass in the same manner as an air-
condensing syringe operates when charging a ball for an air gun. To facilitate
the moving the piston quickly up and down in the cylinder, in order to blow
the glass hollow with promptitude as well as force, a spring of curled wire
may be applied round the rod of the piston to draw the piston upwards in the
cylinder, and then the workmen will only have to press down the piston rod
in the cylinder to force the air into the hollow of the glass, and the piston will
be returned by the reaction of its spring the instant that the workman
relieves the pressure on the piston rod, and by pressing the piston down again
he can force down more air without delay, and so on.. Or otherwise, in lieu
of the air syringe, a close bag, made of cloth, which is rendered air-tight by
means of indian rubber, and such as is used for seats and cushions, may be
applied to the mouthpiece of the blowing iron, the bag being previously
distended and blown up with air by means of bellows, or by the mouth like
a blown bladder or an air cushion, and then, by squeezing the bag forcibly by
the hands, the air may be forced down into the hollow glass which is included
within the blowing mould. When the blowing is finished, the cloth bag
must be blown up again by a boy by a pair of bellows, so as to be prepared
for blowing another succeeding glass vessel or utensil by its aid; or a hollow
globe or ball of metal, mounted on a metal stand, containing compressed air
forced into it by means of an air syringe fixed to the upper part of the ball, in
the interior of which, immediately under the air syringe, is a spring valve to
prevent the condensed air escaping, with the return of the piston. To prevent
accident, the hollow ball is provided on one side with a safety valve, regulated
by a lever and weight, (on which lever) a scale is, marked to indicate the
pressure of the condensed air within the hollow ball or globe, and on the
opposite side a cock is placed, by means of which the compressed air is allowed
at pleasure to be discharged through a flexible tube, one end of which is affixed
to the cock, and the other end communicates (when required) with the mouth-
piece of the blowing iron. And for the more complete explanation of per-
forming the said improved modo of forming glass vessels and utensils I have
hereunto annexed-two Sheets of Drawings, in which the requisite blowing and
pressing moulds and other apparatus are represented.
Figure the First; Sheet 1, is a mould for forming a decanter or bottle such
as is represented in Figure 2, with an ornamental pattern impressed thereon.
The blowing mould, Figure I., is made of metal, in three parts, the lower one
A, A, being circular, in one piece, but each of the two upper parts B, B, C, C,

page_text: only inclosed half of the circumference of the upper part of the decanter. The
three parts A, A, B, B, C, C, are united together by an upright joint pin D,
which is fixed fast into a nuckle which projects out from the lower part A, A,
and the pin D, passing through corresponding nuckles which project out from
the other two parts B, B, and C, C, it serves as a centre of motion around
which the said two upper parts can be moved in order to separate them from
each other and to uncover them from over the aperture of the lower part A, A.
E, E, is a flange projecting from the top edge of the lower part A, A, 50 as to
support the two upper parts and keep them steady. e is a hook stop to con-
fine the two upper parts down securely on the lower part when the two former
are close together. a, a, are stops on the flange E, E, to limit the separation
of the two upper parts. F, F, are the two handles by which the mould is
opened and shut. Thus far the mould is of the usual construction. The
improvement consists in the nitche or recess 2,2, in the lower part A, A, of the
mould, which recess is adapted to receive the heated cake 3 of earthy com-
position, by which the ornamental pattern is to be impressed on the glass.
Figure 3 is a separate view of the cake of earthy composition, which is
moulded by cramming the moistened composition into a type metal mould,
Figure 4, and striking off the superfluous composition, even at the back of
the cake, with the edges of its mould, Figure 4; the cake when withdrawn
from that mould bears the type of ornamental pattern which is intended to be
impressed on the glass vessel or utensil, Figure 2. The recess in which the
cake is lodged permits it to be put therein from above downwards, and when
the cake is in its place its internal surface, which bears the type of tho
ornamental pattern, will be in exact conformity with the interior of the metal
mould, and the upper parts B, B, C, C, when they are closed together over the
lower part A, fit on the top of the cakes 3, and keep it secure in its recess.
It is obvious that the lower part A of the mould may be made with two,
three, or four or more recesses at different parts of its circumference, in order
to receive as many different cakes of the ornamental pattern as intended to be
impressed on many sides of the decanter at once. The recesses may, if required,
be so wide as to join one to another, in order that the cakes, when put into
those recesses, may form a complete belt or zone of composition lining to the
metal mould; small fillitts or partitions of metal may be left between the
recesses to keep each cake in its own place, but those filletts need not advance
to the interior surface of the mould. If the upper part of the decanter is
required to have an ornamental pattern all around the base of its neck, a
complete circular collar of carthy composition may be formed in one piece, as
before-mentioned, with a hole through the centre of it large enough to admit

page_text: the glass to pass before it is distended by blowing; this collar being applied red
hot over the bottom part A (its base dropping into a suitable rebate around
the aperture of that bottom part to make it find its true place), then the two
upper parts B, B, C, C, being closed over the top of the said composition
collar, will retain it fast, and enable it to react against the force of blowing, so
as to impress the zone or belt or ornamental pattern on the glass. The mould,
Figure I., does not require the dovetailed sliders or rebated grooves which
constitutes part of the improved mode as before stated, because the form of
the decanter will permit it to be drawn upwards out of the lower part A, A, of
the mould when the two upper parts are turned aside, and the cake or cakes
may draw up out of its or their recesses along with the decanter if they adhere
to the glass. Moulds of a similar construction to Figuro I. may be used for a
variety of vessels or utensils which will draw upwards out of that part of the
mould wherein the cake or cakes are lodged..
Figures 5 and 6 represent a mould for a decanter made in two halves, which
part with a vertical joint across the centre of the decanter, and are separated or
closed together by a dovetailed or rebated slider fitted into a corresponding
groove, in the manner herein-before mentioned to be part of the improved modo
of forming glass vessels or utensils. H is the bottom plate or base of the mould,
on the edges of which plate two rulers K, K, are fastened by screws to form
the dovetail or rebated groove, into which a slider G is truly fitted to slide
horizontally to and from the centre of the mould; B, B, is one half of the
mould, which is screwed fast by its base to the bottom plate H; and C, C, is
the other half of the mould, which is united by a strong hinge joint d to the
slider G, by the horizontal sliding motion whereof the moveable half C, C, can be
separated from the fixed half B, B, when its handle F is drawn back, and then,
by motion about the hinge joint d, the moveable half C, C, can be turned up
into a convenient position to insert the red hot cake 3, 3, of earthy composition,
into the recess which is provided for its reception within the moveable half
C, C. When the cake is thus lodged in its place, the moveable half C, C, must
be first raised into an upright position by its handle F, so as to correspond
with the fixed half B, B, and then can be slided towards that half to close the
two together about the glass which is to be blown between them. In case it
is required to imprint ornamental patterns on the opposite sides of the circum-
ference of the glass vessel or utensil at once, then both the halves B, B, and
C, C, of the mould must have recesses for cakes of earthy composition, and
must both be fitted with hinge joints to dovetailed sliders so as to be moveable
in the manner represented in the Drawing for the half C, C; and in some
cases, for patterns in high relief which surround the vessel or utensil, it may

page_text: be advisable to make the mould separate into three or more parts instead of
two halves, and to fit each segment by a hinge joint to a dovetail or rebated
slider, which three or more sliders move in three or more distinct horizontal
grooves, all pointing to the common centre of the mould; when the two or
three or more parts of the mould are closed together around the glass which is
to be blown between them, they must be secured from separating by the usual
hooks and fastenings, but which are not represented in the Drawing.
Sheet 2 is to explain the application of the like lovetail or rebated sliders to
that kind of moulds wherein glass is to be pressed by the mechanical pressure
of a plunger or piston in order to form vessels or utensils with ornamental
patterns impressed thereon, according to a new mode which has recently been
introduced into this country from America. In all the Figures A, A, is the
base or bottom plate of the mould, and B, B, the two rulers which are screwed
thereon to form the dovetain or rebated groove, in which the corresponding
sliders C, C, are fitted so as to slide horizontally therein when they are moved
by their handles H, H, in order to separate or approach the two halves E, G,
E, G, of the metal mould, to or from the bottom F, which is screwed fast to
the base A, A, and when the two halves E, G, E, G, arc approached, they are
kept together by a solid ring or hoop K, K, which is dropped over the outside
circumference of them. K, K, is a flat cover plate which is screwed to the
ring K, K; it has a hole through it of the size of the inside of the glass dish
which is intended to be pressed, and the forcer or piston L is fitted into that
opening so as to slide correctly up and down therein, and being forcibly
pressed down by a lever power upon the semi-fluid glass which is previously
put into the mould, the glass is squeezed in the mould, and, as the glass
cannot make its escape therefrom, the ornamental pattern which is engraved
at the interior surfaces K, G, E, F, of the metal mould is impressed on
the glass.
Figure 3 shews how the ring k, k, K, K, are mounted in a handle which is
moveable on a joint, and about which is a centre of motion; those rings can
be turned up when the mould is to be opened, in order to put in or take out
the glass therefrom. The forcer or piston L is fastened by screws to the lower
end of an upright slider M, which is fitted through sockets V, V, formed in a
frame that is moveable about an upright axis W, W, in the manner of a gib of
a crane, in order that the forcer or piston L, after being lifted up out of the
aperture through the cover plate K, K, of the mould, may be turned round
about the upright axis W, so as to remove the forcer and its slider M from
over the mould, and then the rings K, K, k, k, can be lifted-up by their handle
R, after which the two halves of the mould E, G, E, G, can be separated by

page_text: drawing out the dovetail sliders C, C, in their grooves by their handles
H, HI, as far as the stop screws d, d, will allow, and then the glass dish or
hollow vessel which has been pressed can be taken out of the open mould.
X is the lever by forcing down the end of which the pressure is produced;
x, x are links, which serve as a fulcrum or centre of motion to the pressing
lever; and Y is a counterpoise to the weight of the lever and the slider M;
is a strong standard erected on the table P, P, which sustains the whole
machine to support the upper pivot of the upright axis W of the frame, by
which the upright slider M is guided.
In witness whereof, I, the said Apsley Pellatt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Ninth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.
APSLEY (L.S.)
ELLATI.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Ninth day of September,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Apsley Pellatt came before our
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And
also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Ninth day of September. in the year above written.