IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHIMNEY PIECES AND IN THE MODE OF ORNAMENTING AND FIXING THE SAME PARTLY APPLICABLE TO ORNAMENTAL HEARTHS FLOORS AND WALL SURFACES ALSO TO SIGN BOARDS, FACIAS, STREET AND NAME PLATES AND OTHER LIKE PLATES OR TABLETS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Diss at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1883..
ALFRED DISS of West Bergholt in the County of Essex Builder and Contractor
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CHIMNEY PIECES AND IN THE MODE
OF ORNAMENTING AND FIXING THE SAME PARTLY APPLICABLE TO ORNAMENTAL
HEARTHS FLOORS AND WALL SURFACES ALSO TO SIGN BOARDS, FACIAS, STREET AND
NAME PLATES AND OTHER LIKE PLATES OR TABLETS
"
This invention relates more particularly to an economical construction of chimney
pieces of a more or less ornamental character. and to a simple efficient and ready
mode of fixing the same in dwelling houses and other buildings and is partly
applicable to the construction of ornamental hearths floors wall and other surfaces
susceptible of ornamentation by what are known as Minton's or encaustic tiles,
also to the construction of "sign boards" facias, Street and name plates and other
like plates or tablets. In constructing a chimney piece intended to be ornamented
and fixed according to my invention I form the pilasters and entablature of cast
iron to any required pattern or design either in one or more parts the said casting
or castings forming open frames for the reception at the back thereof of encaustic
or Minton tiles of any contour design or colour, or slabs or tablets of glass porcelain
marble metal or other suitable ornamental material capable of withstanding wear
and of being easily cleansed. On the back portion of the foot or base of each
pilaster I cast or secure a stout dowel which projects slightly below the bottom
thereof and serves when dropped into a corresponding hole or recess in the hearth
to secure the lower part of the pilaster in position. The upper part of each pilaster
is held securely against the face of the wall by a projecting dowel fixed therein
after the manner of a "lewis" or otherwise and concealed by the front and sides
of the pilaster into the hollow of which it enters when in position. Into a tapped
hole made transversely through the projecting portion of this dowel enters a screw
inserted through the side of the pilaster and countersunk at the head so as to be
more or less concealed which screw and dowel in conjunction with the dowel at
the foot effectually holds the pilaster in position. The entablature may be secured
to the wall in like manner by fixed dowels and screws inserted therein through any

page_text: convenient part of the entablature. The ornamental tiles or tablets are inserted
from the back of the castings or frames before they are fixed to the wall or other
surface and fit into rebates cast therein to receive them. These tiles are held in
position by adjustable bars of angle iron or other suitable section the said bars
being tightened up by nuts inside so as to press against the backs of the tiles a
soft packing of wash-leather or other suitable material being interposed between
the bars and the backs of the tiles to prevent injury to the latter when tightening
up the said adjustable bars.
The same combination of open cast metal frames with ornamental tiles secured
therein in the manner above described is equally applicable to the construction at
a small cost of ornamental hearths floors and wall surfaces the frames with their
tiles when applied to upright surfaces being secured in position by the adjustable
bars as described with reference to the fixing of the chimney piece. Sign-boards
facias street and name plates and other like plates and tablets may also be
economically constructed in the same manner the tiles or glass having letters or
other devices produced thereon as will be readily understood and arranged in their
holding frames in proper order for producing the names or words required. In
some cases as for example in plates or tablets intended to be fixed to a door the
fixed screws upon which the adjustable bars for holding the frames or tiles in the
frame of the tablet or plate are mounted are prolonged sufficiently to pass through
the door to which they are secured by nuts on the inside.
I also propose to make my ornamental hearths in the form of a recessed casting
into the recessed part of which the tiles are laid and fixed by cement or otherwise.
The front portion only of this casting may be tiled or if desired the whole hearth
(front and back) may be tiled. The casting is laid in its place and fixed at the
front to the joists or flooring by suitable screws or in some cases I fix a fender to
the floor or joists on the front side of the said recessed casting which fender may
be of hollow cast iron and made to project over the upper surface of the casting
and so form the front side thereof.
Hearths constructed as above described can be made complete for the market and
so only require putting in their place.