IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the
City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE." A communication from abroad by
Llewellyn Levi Leathers, of Oakland, in the County of Alameda, State of
California, United States of America, Manufacturer of Artificial Stone.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said Ernest de Pass at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th December 1876.
ERNEST DE PASS, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE."
A communication from abroad by Llewellyn Levi Leathers, of Oakland, in the
County of Alameda, State of California, United States of America, Manufacturer of
Artificial Stone.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of artificial stone, and consists,-
First. In a process of making a saponaceous mixture or solution for tamping the
compounding materials.
And, Secondly. In a novel combination of materials for compounding and pro-
ducing such artificial stone. For this purpose hardwood ashes and water are used
to make a weak lye, and oily or resinous substances are added to make a saponaccous
solution. A small quantity of alum dissolved in cold water is added to the above
solution, which is then complete for moistening the sand and cement employed in
the manufacture.
The saponaceous solution or compound is composed of the following substances,
but I wish to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact proportions,
as they may be varied. To 10 lbs. of hardwood ashes I add 8 gallons of water and
boil them together so as to produce a weak lye, and to this lye I add 8 lbs. of some
fatty, oily, or resinous substance, preferring lard, but any of the oily or fatty
Prine 71

page_text: substances employed in the manufacture of soaps may be used; I then boil
moderately for 8 hours, occasionally adding a small quantity of water so as to
preserve a uniform quantity of 8 gallons and prevent concentration; I then add
8 gallons of hot water and boil for half an hour longer, when the liquid is then
strained off through a fine sieve into another vessel, where I allow it to cool, and I
then press or close tightly for use; I then dissolve 1 lb. of alum in 28 gallons of
clear cold water, and add 2 gallons of the above described saponaceous liquid,
throughly mixing them by stirring. Having throughly mixed four parts of clean
sharp sand or sand and gravel with one part of good cement while dry, I then add
a sufficient quantity of solution to dampen it, so that it can be properly tamped in
the usual way.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 13th April
1877.
ERNEST DE PASS, of Fleet Chambers, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE." A
communication from abroad by Llewellyn Levi Leathers, of Oakland, in the County
of Alameda, State of California, United States of America, Manufacture of Artificial
Stone.
My Invention relates to the manufacture of artificial stone, and it consists,―
1st. Of a process for making a saponaceous mixture or solution for tamping the
compounding materials.
And, 2nd. In a novel combination of materials for compounding and producing
an artificial stone. Hardwood ashes and water are used to make a weak lye, and
oily or resinous substances added to make a saponaceous solution. A small quantity
of alum is dissolved in cold water and added to the above solution, which is then
complete for moistening the sand and cement.
To make my artificial stone I first make a saponaccous solution or compound in
the following manner, but I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to the exact proportions, as they may be varied. To ten pounds of hardwood ashes
I add eight gallons of water, and boil them together so as to produce a weak lyc.
To this lye I then add eight pounds of some fatty, oily, or resinous substance, and
boil moderately for eight hours, occasionally adding a small quantity of water so as
to preserve a uniform quantity of eight gallons and prevent concentration; I then
add eight gallons of hot water and boil for half an hour longer, when I strain the
liquid off through a fine sieve into another vessel, allow it to cool, and then close
tightly for use.
For a fatty substance I prefer to use lard, as it has given me the best result, but
any of the oily or fatty substances used in the manufacture of soaps can be used;
I then dissolve one pound of alum and twenty-eight gallons of clear cold water, and
add 2 gallons of the above described saponaceous liquid and throughly mix them
by stirring. Having throughly mixed four parts of clean sharp sand or sand and
gravel with one part of good cement while dry, I then add a sufficient quantity of
the solution to dampen it so that it can be properly tamped in the usual way; I am
thus able to produce an artificial stone of great durability and hardness at a very
slight expense for material.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,―
First. The process described for making a saponaceous mixture or solution, for
the purposes specified.
Second. An artificial stone composed of sand and cement moistened with a

page_text: saponaceous mixture or solution before tamping, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest de Pass, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the year One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
F. DOWER,
Patent Office,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
ERNEST DE PASS. (L.S.)