IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING AND ORNAMENTING COFFIN PLATES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Humpage, of Aston, near Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Metal Roller, for the Invention of
4
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Humpage at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th March 1875.
I, THOMAS HUMPAGE, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Metal Roller, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING AND ORNAMENTING COFFIN
PLATES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the improvements in manufacturing and
ornamenting coffin plates herein-after described, by which improvements
coffin plates are made and ornamented more economically than by the
ordinary method of manufacture.
In making and ornamenting a coffin plate according to my Invention,
I execute an ornamental design on a plate of hard metal, by preference

page_text: of steel, the said design being executed by the process called chasing.
I prefer to execute a chased design on both sides of the steel or hard
metal plato, the two designs being either similar or dissimilar. I place
the steel or hard metal plate having a design on each side of it between
two plates or sheets of the metal or alloy of which the coffin plates are
to be made, and I pass the three plates between a pair of rolls, sufficient
pressure being applied to cause the steel or hard metal plate to impress
the designs on its opposite sides on the plates of metal respectively,
between which it has been placed. The sheets of metal are thus
impressed with the outline of the coffin plate to be produced, and also
with the required ornamental design. When the steel or other hard
metal plate has a design chased on one sido only I pass it between the
rolls with one sheet placed in contact with its chased side, but I prefer
to use a steel or hard metal plato with a chased design on each side of
it. The ornamented coffin plates thus impressed on the metal plate or
plates may be cut out and finished in the ordinary way.
The metals and alloys and compound metals from which I make and
ornament coffin plates by chased steel and other hard metal plates by
the rolling process, are as follows:-Namely, lead and alloys of lead,
zinc and alloys of zinc, copper, brass, and the alloy of copper called
dipping and gilding metal, the alloy called Britannia metal, zinc, or
alloys of zinc coated with tin or an alloy of tin, lead coated with tin or
an alloy of tin.
Although I prefer to make the chased plate of steel, yet it may be
made of other hard metal or alloy when coffin plates of lead or other
soft metal or alloy are to be made and ornamented. In these cases a
chased plate of iron or German silver answers very well.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Thomas Humpage, Her special license that I,
the said Thomas Humpage, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Thomas Humpage, 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 Ohannel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING AND
ORNAMENTING COFFIN PLATES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Thomas Humpage, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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

page_text: the designs on its opposite sides on the plates of metal respectively,
between which it has been placed. The sheets of metal are thus
impressed with the outline of the coffin plate to be produced, and also
with the required ornamental design. When the steel or other hard
metal plate has a design chased on one side only, I pass it between the
rolls with one sheet placed in contact with its chased side, but I prefer
to use a steel or hard metal plate with a chased design on cach side of it.
The ornamented coffin plates thus impressed on the metal plate or plates
may be cut out and finished in the orninary way.
The rolling machinery which I employ in carrying my Invention into
effect does not differ from the rolling machinery ordinarily employed for
rolling metals. Plain cylindrical rolls known as chilled iron rolls of two
or three feet in diameter answer very well, but the diameter of the rolls
is of little consequence. I prefer to drive the rolls at or about the same
speed as that at which they are driven when used for rolling metals, but
the speed at which the rolls are driven may be varied without affecting
the result. When hard metals or alloys are operated upon greater
pressure must be put upon the axis of the upper roll than when soft
metals or alloys are operated upon as is well understood by metal
rollers.
The metals or alloys and compound metals from which I make and
ornament coffin plates by chased steel and other hard metal plates by
the rolling process, are as follows:-Namely, lead and alloys of lead,
zinc and alloys of zinc, copper, (either plain or coated on one or both
sides with tin), brass, and the alloy of copper called dipping and gilding
metal, the alloy called Britannia metal, zinc or alloys of zinc coated
with tin or an alloy of tin, lead coated with tin or an alloy of tin or
other lead or tin coated metal, such for example, as tinned iron.
Although I prefer to make the chased plate of steel, yet it may be
made of other hard metal or alloy when coffin plates of lead or other
soft metal or alloy are to made and ornamented. In these cases a chased
plate of iron or German silver answers very well.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim
as my Invention, the improvements in manufacturing and ornamenting
coffin plates herein-before described, that is to say, manufacturing and
ornamenting coffin plates from the metals and alloys and coated or

page_text: compound metals herein-before enumerated by means of a chased steel
or hard metal plate having on both sides of it the outline and ornament
of the coffin plates to be made, placing the said chased steel or hard
metal plate between two plates or sheets of metal or alloy, or coated,
or compound metal from which coffin plates are to be made, and
passing the three plates between a pair of rolls, suitable pressure being
applied, whereby the designs on the said chased plate are impressed on
the metal plates on each side of it, substantially as described; or using
a chased steel or hard metal plate having the outline and ornament of
the coffin plate on one side only, and placing the metal plate to be
ornamented in contact with its chased side, and passing the two plates
between a pair of rolls, suitable pressure being applied substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Humpage, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
0
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
THOMAS HUMPAGE. (L.S.)