AN IMPROVED MANU- FACTURE OF METALLIC COVERS OR SEALS FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIONIKE VESSELS, AND IN APPLYING OR AFFIXING THEM
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George William Jacob, of Dalston, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MANU-
FACTURE OF METALLIC COVERS OR SEALS FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George William
Jacob at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th May 1858.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM JACOB, of Dalston, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC COVERS OR SEALS FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND
OTHER LIKE VESSELS, AND IN APPLYING OR AFFIXING THEM,"
follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in making metallic covers or
seals for bottles, jars, and other like vessels (which may or may not be
used as labels) by casting them in a matrix or mould which may have
therein or thereon a pattern, device, figure, type, or design. This
matrix or mould may be constructed so as to open, to admit of the

page_text: cover or seal being more readily released therefrom. I propose to use
any fusible metal or alloy of metal, giving a preference to what is
called "type metal," which is a compound of lead and antimony. I
sometimes impress patterns, devices, figures, types, or designs on the
tops of these covers or seals while yet in the matrix by means of an
apparatus, which.is pressed on the top surfaces thereof. This apparatus
is similar to that well known for embossing. The second part of my
Invention consists of an improved sort or kind of metallic cover or seal
for bottles, jars, and other like vessels, namely, a perforated or
vandyked cover or seal, having a more ornamental appearance than has
hitherto been obtained in this article. The sides of the cover or seal
being perforated, they may serve as a label. These perforated or
vandyked seals or covers may be made by casting or otherwise. The
third part of my Invention consists in pressing or putting in pieces of
metal different in color and quality from that of which the cover or seal
is made into or on the cover or seal for ornamental purposes, and this
is done by pressing them into or on the cover or seal while in the
matrix. The fourth part of my Invention consists in applying or affix-
ing these metallic covers or seals to the tops and necks of bottles and
other vessels by means of a pair of pincers or squeezers lined with
flexible material, having a hard outer edge, so as to bend them firmly
to the bottle or other vessel; and in another apparatus consisting of a
piece of wood or other suitable material, having a hole therein, lined
with some elastic substance, cross cut into two or more parts, the whole
woodwork being covered with vulcanized india-rubber or other similar
elastic material. The bottle, &c., on which the cover or seal has been
placed, is to be inserted into this hole for receiving pressure, or the
apparatus may be pressed on the bottle to secure the cover or seal. I
do not bind myself to the precise details hereof.

page_text: filed
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
the said George William Jacob in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 5th November 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGE WILLIAM JACOB, of Dalston, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said George William Jacob, Her special licence
that I, the said George William Jacob, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said George William Jacob, 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
"AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC COVERS OR SEALS FOR BOTTLES,
JARS, AND OTHER LIKE VESSELS, AND IN APPLYING OR AFFIXING THEM," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George William
Jacob, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 George William Jacob, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 Draw-
ings hereunto annexed, that is to say: ..
Metallic covers or seals for covering or sealing bottles and other
similar vessels have long been known and manufactured. It has been
customary to cover or secure the necks of bottles containing effervescent

page_text: wines or other liquids with tin foil, and to cover other bottles with
metal lids or caps, hammered out by hand, or made by dies. More
recently metallic coverings for bottles have been made by means of
machinery of a complicated and expensive character, requiring steam
power, and the metallic coverings so made have very little ornament.
Now the objects of my Invention are to manufacture an ornamental
cover or seal for bottles and other similar vessels, without requiring
costly machinery, and by this means enabling a consumer of such
articles to manufacture covers or seals on his own premises. By my
improved mode of manufacture these metallic coverings may be
rendered highly ornamental and attractive, a matter of much im-
portance to the vendor of bottled articles of commerce.
My Invention consists of manufacturing ornamental covers or seals
for bottles and other similar vessels by casting fusible metal in a mould
or matrix which has therein or thercon a pattern, device, figure, type,
or design in the manner and by the means herein-after more fully ex-
plained, and shewn by the Drawings annexed, such covers or scals so
produced having vandyked, pierced, and embossed or lettered sides. In
order that the said Invention may be better understood, I will proceed
to describe the process of manufacture, referring to the Drawings
annexed. Figs. 1, to 3, represent a mould, in divisions, convenient for
use. This mould may be made of any suitable material; but I prefer
it to be made of brass. The pattern, device, figure, type, or design is
to be engraved on or sunk in the surfaces thereof by means so well
known as not to require explanation here; but I would remark, that it
is very desirable that the pattern or design should be engraved or sunk
in as angular a form as possible, in order that the metal may not
"hug" the sides of the mould, or, in other words, that it may easily
quit the mould. To facilitate the release of the metal I. coat the sides of
the mould with "crocus" or per-oxide of iron, or other suitable powder
used in casting. The mould may be in two, three, or more divisions,
as found convenient in practice. The mode of operation is thus:-The
surfaces of the mould being coated, by well known means, with per-
oxide of iron or other suitable powder, and then dried by heat, the part
shown by Fig. 2, is placed round the core or plug shown by Fig. 1, the

page_text: part shown by Fig. 3, being placed on the top of that shown by Fig. 2,
the parts figured 4, forming the gate or entrance for the molten metal;
the workman, who should wear thick gloves on his hands, takes the
parts thus united in his left hand, and, with his right hand, dipping a
ladle into the molten metal, which may be melted in any ordinary
melting pot in a furnace near to him, he pours the molten metal into
the gate or entrance of the mould.
The part shown by Fig. 1, will be
underneath the mould, being held in a slanting position. A damp
sponge on the end of a stick is then to be applied to the gate to cool
it; after this it is separated, and the seal or cover released, the gate
piece being easily broken off.
I will now proceed to describe another mode of casting such covers
or scals. Fig. 4, represents an iron pot set in fire-brick to contain the
molten metal; Fig. 5, shows an iron vessel floating in the molten
metal; Fig. 6, shows a lever connected by a rod (which is allowed free
action), with the bearing on the middle of the float, the lever resting at
the back on the bearing, Fig. 7; an irou rod, Fig. 8, connects the
lever with the treadle, Fig. 9, which rests on a bearing, Fig. 10. Un-
derneath the treadle is a spring of wood, Fig. 11, which produces
counteraction; Fig. 12, shows the conducting tube for the molten
metal; Fig. 13, shews an iron box resting on the framing 14; this box is
lined interiorly with wood, (coated with glue and black-lead, and dried,)
in the centre of which, at the bottom, is fixed a metal plate 15, into
which the plug or core 16, to form the bottom of the seal, is inserted.
The bottom of this box is so tapered that the metal will recede down
the tube when required; 17, represents one handle, on which is one
half of the matrix, showing the design engraved thereon; at the end
of the handle is a spring encompassing the upright spindle 18, on
which is a collar with a tightening screw 19, which helps to keep the
matrix down on the plate 15. On the front of the table is placed an
angular piece of wood 20, and corresponding wedges 21, are made on
the handles of the matrix, so that when the matrix is closed they serve
to keep it down on the plate; 22, is a hinged "fly" or flap, on which a
design may be engraved or placed, if it is desired to have a design im-
pressed. In order to make covers or seals by this apparatus the foot

page_text: is pressed on the treadle, causing the metal to flow to the required
height in the table; the handles of the matrix are then quickly closed to
embrace the plug or core at the same time that the foot is released to
allow the superfluous metal to recede. The "fly" or flap is then
pressed upon the top of the seal. As the matrix tapers from the inner
edge the metal not required flows over into the table. The fly is lifted,
the handles are then separated, and the cast seal or cover released
from the plug or core. I use sometimes movable hollow plugs or
cores placed over a fixed one, so that the cast seal or cover and hollow
core are then removed together. These are useful where any subse-
quent processes of decoration are to be employed, such as coloring or
decorating the outer surfaces of such patterned seals or covers with var-
nish or other colors. The casting table and matrix must become
sufficiently hot before good casts can be insured, and the moulds, in
every case, require occasional coating with the per-oxide of iron and
water. In this last described process the designs to be impressed on
the top may consist of embossed paper coated with black-lead and glue,
or of any cast or moulded material which the heat will not destroy.
The metal pot and casting table should have a cover and pipe sus-
pended over them to convey away the vapours. In both processes the
metal I prefer to use is printers type metal, which is a mixture of lead
and antimony; but I desire it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the use of this metal, for other fusible metals or alloys of
metals may be employed for the purpose, and I have found that tin-
man's solder or pewter may be advantageously used in the process.
Fig. 27, represents a cover or seal formed by a mould.
I will now proceed to describe another mode by which I make these
covers or seals, and this mode admits of greater speed in manufacture.
The metal employed is to be cast in strips or bands, shown by the
Figure marked 23, with suitable patterns or devices thereon, or thin
bands of metal may be pierced or perforated in figures or patterns,
without being cast. The band of metal is divided into lengths suffi-
cient to form a cover or seal, and the pieces are then bent round a core
or plug of iron covered with paper, and coated with glue and black-
lead, so as to make it a had conductor of heat. This plug or core, with

page_text: the band around it, is now to be tightly compressed by a pair of suit-
able pincers lined with cork or felt, and coated, as before described,
to prevent the lining being destroyed by heat. These pincers have a
"fly" or flap, as before shown, and the molten metal being poured
in forms the top in the space left for that purpose; the fly or flap
(provided with a design or not) is then quickly pressed upon the molten
metal, thus forming the top of the seal. Care must be taken that the
edges of the band of metal are clean, and free from oxide, or otherwise
the juncture will not be perfectly made.
For giving an ornamental appearance to bottles the kind of cover
or seal represented by the Drawing, marked 24, will be found very
effective; I cast these in a flat form, as shown, and the centre part
being placed upon the top of the bottle, the star-like portions are to
be pressed down the sides of the neck of the bottle, or they may be
bent and prepared before application. By being cast in the form
herein shown there is less trouble in adjusting the mould, and greater
facility for procuring perfect casts. In order to secure the ends or
sides of this peculiar cover or scal I use a band or ring of metal, or
other suitable material, as shown in the Drawing, marked 25; which
rings, when of metal, are cast, and have designs formed thereon in the
same manner as the caps or seals first herein-before described. The
rings, when cast, are to remain on the plug or core, and may be easily
removed therefrom. These rings are placed over the cover or seal on
the bottle, and by pressure collapse or tighten the radiating parts of
the seal or cover where the neck of the bottle enlarges. By engraving
or sinking a name, device, or motto in the mould for making these
rings a very useful label is produced, giving a distinctive mark to the
bottles on which they appear, and serving to dispense with other kinds
of labels. For instance, a manufacturer's name and address may be
made to appear on the band, as shown by Fig. 26, or the name of the
producer of the matters contained in the bottle. Although I describe
these rings, and the mode of making them, other rings or bands, or
wires, as is obvious, may be employed for a similar purpose; and some-
times it may not be thought necessary to use any rings in conjunction
with this peculiar cover, as the latter may be caused to adhere to the

page_text: sides of the bottle by compression. Instead of casting these orna-
mental star-like covers or seals, they may be pierced out of or from
any thin suitable metal, and then bent and made to adhere to the sides
of the bottle, as herein-before described. And in most cases I find it
useful to apply some adhesive matters to the interior parts of these
metallic covers, seals, and rings, to facilitate adhesion, using sometimes
a varnish, or a gummy matter, such as is well known. These seals or
covers can be pressed tight to the neck of the bottle by using a
machine, which consists of three or five anti-friction rolls, covered with
vulcanized india-rubber, or other suitable flexible material. These
rolls are fixed in a suitable frame at proper distances to admit of the
neck of the bottle, with the cover on it, being placed between them as
a working spindle might be. By pressing a lever the top roll or rolls
descend, and press upon the cover or seal; the bottle is then partly
turned round, and the cover or scal is thus closely pressed against the
neck of the bottle. There is a disc at the back of the frame, against
which the mouth of the bottle presses, causing it to revolve with the
rest. The general construction of this is so simple that any ordinary
mechanical engineer or artisan could construct one, and further expla-
nation is unnecessary. Another mode of applying such covers and
seals to the necks of bottles consists of inserting the necks of the
hottles, with such seals or covers on, into a hole made in the centre of
a piece of wood, and before which hole a piece of india-rubber, or other
elastic material, is placed tightly on a wooden or other frame. The
tension thereby caused will be sufficient to secure the covering to the
neck of the bottle, and in many instances the pressure of the hand,
covered with a leather glove, will effect the desired purpose.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention of an im-
proved manufacture of metallic covers or seals for bottles, jars, and
other like vessels, and in applying or affixing the same, and the best
means at present known by me for carrying the same into effect, I
desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details herein shown and described, provided the peculiar character of
either part of my Invention be retained; neither do I make any claim
for casting other articles than covers or seals for bottles, jars, and other

page_text: similar vessels. But what I claim is, the manufacture of metallic
covers or seals having pierced or vandyked sides for bottles, jars, and
other like vessels substantially in the manner herein-before described
and set forth, and shown by the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George William Jacob, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
G. W. JACOB. (L.S.)