THE TREATMENT OF WIRE GAUZE TO RENDER IT APPLICABLE FOR VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Olark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"THE TREATMENT OF WIRE GAUZE TO RENDER IT APPLICABLE FOR VARIOUS
USEFUL PURPOSES."-A communication from abroad by Edmond
Antoine Gaston d'Argy, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 7th May 1872, and dated the 16th November 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 16th November 1871.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for " THE TREATMENT OF WIRE GAUZE TO RENDER IT
APPLICABLE FOR VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention consists, 1st, in the production of a novel impermeable
material of a translucid nature (either white or colored), which may
be employed with advantage as a substitute for ground glass in church
and other windows, street and other lamps, and for making blinds,
marquees, shades, and other purposes.

page_text: The material is composed of metallic gauze, whether of iron, copper, or
other metal, and of any degree of fineness, to which is applied several
coats of varnish of a transparent and impervious nature, or it may be a
lacquer or a resinous coating, or a varnish or other coating combining
the above qualities may be used, by the application of which the
interstices or spaces in the metallic gauze become filled, and forming
when dry an impervious transparent material or fabric. The coats of
varnish are applied on the gauze fabric by means of a brush, or pre-
ferably by steeping or immersing it in the varnish. I preferably apply
four coats or thicknesses in succession. In order to fill up the interstices
in the gauze, and impart a vitreous appearance thereto I apply, 1st, a
layer or thickness of some silicate; 2ndly, a layer of copal varnish,
gum sandarac, gum lac, or other resin; 3rdly, a layer of spirit varnish
(such as Shoënce varnish) to give the desired color; and, 4thly, as a
waterproof coating I add a layer of white oil varnish composed of hard
resin in order to withstand wear.
-
The improved material of this Invention may also be applied for
purposes in which transparency is not required, such as for making
vessels for holding liquids, as drinking cups, goblets, tubs, pails, and
other containers, in which case I may employ an opaque varnish
insoluble in water to make the gauze water-tight.
Other articles in which the qualities both of lightness and imper-
meability are required may also be made of this novel material, such as
the coverings of garden chairs and seats, bags, trunks, and travelling
equipments generally. The parts of the different articles above enume-
rated are either fitted together by turning over the edges or united
by soldering in the ordinary way of manufacturing such articles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th May 1872.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year: of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
Her special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Melville Clark, 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 "THE TREATMENT OF WIRE GAUZE TO RENDER
IT APPLICABLE FOR VARIOUS USEFUL PURPOSES," a communication to me
from abroad by Edmond Antoine Gaston d'Argy, of 13, Boulevart
St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Alexander Melville Olark, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, 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 per-
formed, 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

page_text: boiled linseed oil, drying oils, or any other coating having either one or
both of the above qualities may be used, by the application of which
the interstices or spaces in the metallic gauze become filled. The varnish
or other coating adheres in drying to the metallic gauze, which forms an
impervious transparent material or fabric.
The improved material of this Invention may also be applied for
purposes in which transparency is not required, such as for making
vessels for holding liquids, as drinking cups, goblets, tubs, pails, and
other containers, in which case I may employ an opaque varnish or
coating insoluble in water to make the gauze water-tight.
Other articles in which the qualities both of lightness and imper-
meability are required may also be made of this novel material, such as
the coverings of garden chairs and seats, bags, trunks, and travelling
equipments generally.
The various articles above designated may be printed or ornamented 1
with patterns or designs to facilitate which a coating of india-rubber may
be first applied on the varnish to receive the colors which are printed in
the ordinary way. One or more coats of the varnish or coating before
referred to may be then lastly applied to protect the patterns or
designs.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
application to metallic wire gauze of a transparent opaque or colored
varnish or coating, as above described, for the production of a novel 2
impervious material to be used as a. substitute for white or colored
window glass, and applicable also for the various other purposes herein-
before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of May, 3
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-two.