IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF GYPSUM TO BE USED IN SUCH AND OTHER MANUFACTURES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomlinson, of Abbey Street, Carlisle, in
the County of Cumberland, Merchant, and William Thomlinson,
of Loughborough, in the County of Leicester, Merchant, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND
TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF GYPSUM TO BE USED IN
SUCH AND OTHER MANUFACTURES."
Sealed the 27th July 1869, and dated the 13th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomlinson and
William Thomlinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 13th March 1869.
We, JOHN THOMLINSON, of Abbey Street, Carlisle, in the County of
Cumberland, Merchant, and WILLIAM THOMLINSON, of Loughborough,
in the County of Leicester, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND
TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN THE PREPARATION OF GYPSUM TO BE USED IN SUCH
AND OTHER MANUFACTURES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of

page_text: paper and textile fabrics, and in the preparation of gypsum to be used in
such and other manufactures.
In order to prepare gypsum for incorporating with paper pulp previous
to its being made into sheets, or for incorporating with textile fabrics or
for using in other manufactures in the same manner as what is known
as China clay is now used, I calcine the gypsum with so high a degree
of heat as to deprive it of its cementing properties. When gypsum has
been so calcined it is readily pounded or reduced to an impalpable
powder of a fineness to which gypsum not so prepared could not be
reduced except at very great cost. The impalpable powder so obtained
when mixed with water or liquid becomes a soft pulpy mass, and in this
state is fit for use by the paper maker, or the makers of textile fabrics,
or in the manufacture of paints, or in other manufactures in a similar
manner to that in which what is known as China clay and like sub-
stances are now used for the purpose of giving body or substance.
Gypsum highly calcined as above described may be mixed up with
water and allowed to deposit therefrom, and after the surplus water has
been run off the deposit, which will be in a plastic state, may be used as
above described. The powder whilst mixed with the water, and before
being allowed to settle therefrom, might be subjected to a bleaching
process. The plastic mass obtained by deposition, as above described,
might be dried or partially dried and afterwards reduced to an impalpable
powder and be used in that state.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Thomlinson and William Thomlinson in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
THOMLINSON, of Abbey Street, Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland,
Merchant, and WILLIAM THOMLINSON, of Loughborough, in the County
of Leicester, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-

page_text: second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Thomlinson and William
Thomlinson, Her special licence that we, the said John Thomlinson
and William Thomlinson, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said John Thomlinson and William Thom-
linson, our 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND TEXTILE FABRICS, AND IN
THE PREPARATION OF GYPSUM TO BE USED IN SUCH AND OTHER MANUFACTURES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Thomlinson
and William Thomlinson, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, 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 John Thomlinson, on behalf of
myself and the said William Thomlinson, 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 the manufacture of
paper and textile fabrics, and in the preparation of gypsum to be used in
such and other manufactures.
In order to prepare gypsum for incorporating with paper pulp previous
to its being made into sheets, or for incorporating with textile fabrics, or
for using in other_manufactures in the same manner as what is known
as China clay is now used, we calcine the gypsum in ovens or kilns,
or in retorts, or in a clamp, or otherwise with so high a degree of heat as
to deprive it of its cementing properties. A full red or a white heat is
required. The fuel for burning may in some cases be mixed with the
gypsum, but when freedom from color is desired it should be burnt in
ovens or kilns fired externally. When gypsum has been so calcined it

page_text: is readily pounded or reduced to an impalpable powder of a fineness to
which gypsum not so prepared could not be reduced except at very great
cost. We either pound down or grind the burnt gypsum and dress it
through fine silk reels or dressing machines in the same way as flour is
dressed. We thus get a pure white impalpable powder which is perfectly
void of moisture, and which is used for paper making, color making,
starch making, or to add to size by cotton and woollen manufacturers
or grease makers. We call this powder "Thomlinson's patent feeder "
or mineral starch. The impalpable powder when mixed with water or
liquid becomes a soft pulpy mass, and in this state is fit for use by the
paper maker or the makers of textile fabrics in a similar manner to
that in which what is known as China clay and like substances are now
used for the purpose of giving body or substance; or we take the
calcined material in lumps, and add water to them and make a sort of
pulpy mass, and supply it thus to paper makers and others; or gypsum
highly calcined as above described may be mixed up with water and
allowed to deposit therefrom, and after the surplus water has been run
off the deposit which will be in a plastic state may be used as above
described. The plastic mass obtained by deposition, as above described,
may be dried or partially dried and afterwards reduced to an impalpable
powder and be used in that state.
In the manufacture of paper the material prepared as above described
is thoroughly mixed with the pulp before it is run upon the gauze of the
paper machine.
In the dressing of textile fabrics it is mixed with the stiffening or
dressing material with which the fabrics are dressed.
The material in the state of state of powder may be used as a pigment,
and in the manufacture of paint it may be substituted for a portion
of the ordinary pigments.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, we would have it understood that what
we claim is,
The method of treating gypsum as above described to render it
suitable for use in the manufacture of paper and of textile fabrics, and
also in other manufactures.
We also claim the manufacture of paper from a mixture of fibrous
pulp and gypsum prepared in the manner herein set forth,

page_text: We also claim the dressing of textile fabrics with gypsum prepared as
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomlinson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
JOHN THOMLINSON. (L.S.)