IM- PROVEMENTS.IN THE MODE OF TREATING BOTTLE CORKS ESPECIALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING A MORE DISTINCTIVE AND LESS EASILY EFFACEABLE MARK OR BRAND, AND ALSO FOR RENDERING THE CORK LESS LIABLE TO DECAY AND THE ACTION OF INSECTS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Gilbey, of 357, Oxford Street, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Wine Merchant, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS.IN THE MODE OF TREATING BOTTLE CORKS ESPECIALLY FOR THE
PURPOSE OF OBTAINING A MORE DISTINCTIVE AND LESS EASILY EFFACEABLE
MARK OR BRAND, AND ALSO FOR RENDERING THE CORK LESS LIABLE TO DECAY
AND THE ACTION OF INSECTS."
Sealed the 18th June 1867, and dated the 20th December 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Gilbey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th December 1866.
I, WALTER GILBEY, of 357, Oxford Street, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Wine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF TREATING BOTTLE CORKS, ESPECIALLY
FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING A MORE DISTINCTIVE AND LESS EASILY EFFACEABLE
MARK OR BRAND, AND ALSO FOR RENDERING THE CORK LESS LIABLE TO DECAY AND
THE ACTION OF INSECTS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
The first part of my Invention relates to the method I adopt for obtaining
a more distinctive and less easily effaceable brand or mark upon corks to be
used for bottles or such like vessels; for this purpose I prepare that face or
end of the cork which has to remain exposed when in the bottle by covering
its surface with a coating of any coloured liquid, so as to form an even ground
or face; upon this face I print in one or more colours the trade mark, motto,
or whatever figures or letters may be wished. When the end of the cork is

page_text: smooth and even I might print the mark in colour or colours direct upon the
actual surface. It frequently happens that the end of the cork projecting
from the bottle is distroyed by insects; in order to obviate this, instead of
covering the end of the cork only, I cover also the upper exposed portion of
the sides, using any of the well-known substances or mixtures which prevent
"the action-of-insects.__
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Walter Gilbey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th June 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
GILBEY, of 357, Oxford Street, London, in, the County of Middlesex, Wine
Merchant, send, greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of. Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give land grant unto me, the said
Walter Gilbey, Her special licence that I, the said Walter Gilbey, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Walter
Gilbey, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF
TREATING BOTTLE CORKS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING A MORE
DISTINCTIVE, AND LESS EASILY EFFACEABLE MARK OR BRAND, AND ALSO FOR RENDERING
THE CORK LESS. LIABLE TO DECAY AND THE ACTION OF INSECTS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that. I, the said Walter Gilbey, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 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 Walter Gilbey, 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, that is to say!--

page_text: Hitherto it has been customary in order to protect the outer face of bottling
corks and bungs when inserted in bottles, casks, or other vessels to cover the
exposed end with a metallic or other capsule, or a coating of wax. The ease
with which the capsule can be removed and replaced renders this almost
valueless as a protection from fraud and from other causes; it is equally so
as an air coating, while the crumbling and breaking of the wax when the
cork is drawn renders the wax coating highly objectionable.
The object of my Invention is to obviate the use of either metallic capsules
or wax, and by certain treatment to produce upon the cork or bung to be
used a mark much more distinctive, less easily effacable than the capsules or
wax, and such as to render withdrawing the cork or tampering with the
contents of the bottle or vessel containing the liquid impossible without
effacing or destroying the brand or mark. I propose, if necessary, to produce
this mark upon all or upon any portion of the exterior of the cork or bung,
but in general it will be preferable to select that portion which when the cork
or bung is inserted in the vessel projects outwards and is exposed to view.
In the first place, and when necessary, I prepare the cork or bung, or that
portion of it to be, operated upon so as to give it a smooth surface, and to
effect this I coat or cover such portion with a coating of any liquid composition
most suitable for that purpose; I then proceed to print or stamp or emboss
upon the said portion in one or more colours a trade mark or motto, or name
or address, or such other figure or figures, word or words, as may be wished.
Instead of printing a defined mark or motto, or name or address, or figure or
word, in some cases I colour, paint, coat, or dye the whole or any portion of the
cork or bung, selecting such colours as may be best suitable for effecting the
object. In printing or stamping or embossing in colours the said corks or
bungs, or any portion of them, or in colouring, coating, painting, or dyeing the
same I do not confine myself to any peculiar machinery for effecting this, and
I propose to use any well-known colours from any generally used substances
whether mineral or vegetable, so as to produce various effects.
I do not
confine myself to any peculiar composition or material for producing a smooth
surface on the cork or bung, or the portion of it to be treated, or even to use
any substance for this purpose whatever, but as in some positions corks or
bungs when inserted in bottles, casks, or other vessels are subject to decay
from the attacks of insects and from fungi, preferably I would apply such a
substance as from its composition would be destructive of insects, and
preventative of decay.
Having now described of what my Invention consists, and in what manner
I carry the same into effect, I wish it understood that what I claim and

page_text: desire to be secured by the before in part recited Letters Patent is printing,
stamping, embossing, coating, painting, or dyeing bottling corks or bangs, and
either over their whole surface or a portion of it, and in one or more colours,
a trade mark, motto, name, address, figure or figures, word or words, such
colours being produced either with vegetable or metallic substances or other
suitable-compounds..
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Gilbey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
WALTER (L.S.) GILBEY.