IMPROVEMERING TO MOD MANTRACTURE OF BRICKS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Gonzague Speyser, of St. Maure les Fossés
Paris, in the Empire of France, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMERING TO MOD MANTRACTURE OF BRICKS OR BUILDING BLOCKS"
Sealed the 8th May 1866, and dated the 17th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Gonzague Speyser
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th November 1865.
I, LOUIS GONZAGUE SPEYSER, of St. Maure les Fossés, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS OR BUILDING
BLOCKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
bricks or building blocks. In making bricks or building blocks I apply a
compound mortar consisting of one measure of slack lime reduced to
powder, six measures of broken stones reduced to powder, or of gravel or
sand, two measures of ashes of charcoal or peat, two measures of heaped
scorria, and one measure of Roman or Portland cement. The ashes and
half of the scorria can be omitted by substituting for these substances an
equal quantity of gravel, but in this case the cement should be increased
by half a measure. The mixture is made in the following manner :-
Take the measure of slack lime and grind it separately in water added

page_text: gradually till the mixture becomes of the consistency of porridge or thick
soup, then the broken stones or the gravel, the ashes of charcoal or peat,
the scorria, and two-thirds of the cement are added, the whole being put
together into a barrel, and during the time the barrel is being filled it is
rotated and water is gradually added to maintain the stuff during the
operation at the consistency of ordinary brick clay, and after 15 minutes'
time, which is sufficient for effecting the mixture, the door in the barrel is
opened and the mixture run out. This mixing being finished, the com-
position is made into a heap and let rest for from 10 to 15 minutes, after
which it is put again into the barrel, and while it is turning the remaining
third of the cement is added gradually but without any more water.
About twelve minutes after the second mixing the composition is run out,
and it is ready for making bricks or blocks, to which purpose it ought to
be immediately applied after coming out of the barrel. The composition
is put into moulds to form the bricks or blocks, and is consolidated with a
rammer shod with iron, and composition is added from time to time till
the moulds are quite full; or the bricks or blocks may be compressed
strongly in their moulds by a screw or other instrument. The bricks or
blocks when taken out of the moulds become hard rapidly, and afterwards
the bricks or blocks may be used for works which are executed under
water without fear of the slightest alteration in the solidity of the bricks
or blocks; indeed, instead of becoming soft, they become harder and
harder in the water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Gonzague Speyser in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
GONZAGUE. SPEYSER, of St. Maure les Fossés, Paris, in the Empire of
France, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Louis Gonzague Speyser, Her special licence that
I, the said Louis Gonzague Speyser, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Louis Gonzague Speyser, my

page_text: ".
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 MANUFAC-
TURE OF BRICKS OR BUILDING BLOCKS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Louis Gonzague Speyser, 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 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 Louis Gonzague Speyser, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
bricks or building blocks. In making bricks or building blocks I apply a
compound consisting of one measure of slack lime reduced to powder, six
measures of broken stones (reduced to powder) or of gravel or sand, two
measures of ashes of charcoal or peat, two measures of heaped scorria, and
one measure of Roman or Portland cement. The ashes and half of the
scorria can be omitted by substituting for these substances an equal quantity
of gravel, but in this case the cement should be increased by half a
measure. The mixture is made in the following manner:-Take the
measure of slack lime and grind it separately in water added gradually till
the mixture becomes of the consistency of porridge or thick soup, then the
broken stones or the gravel, the ashes of charcoal or peat, the scorria, and
two-thirds of the cement are added, the whole being put together into a
barrel, and during the time the barrel is being filled it is rotated and water
is gradually added to maintain the stuff during the operation at the
consistency of ordinary brick clay, and after 15 minutes' time, which is
sufficient for effecting the mixture, the door in the barrel is opened and
the mixture run out. This mixing being finished, the composition is
made into a heap and let rest for from 10 to 15 minutes, after which it is
put again into the barrel, and while it is turning the remaining third of
the cement is added gradually but without any more water. About
twelve minutes after the second mixing the composition is run out, and it
is ready for making bricks or blocks, to which purpose it ought to be

page_text: immediately applied after coming out of the barrel. The composition is
put into moulds to form the bricks or blocks, and is consolidated with a
rammer shod with iron, and composition is added from time to time till
the moulds are quite full; or the bricks or blocks may be compressed
strongly in their moulds by a screw or other instrument. The bricks or
blocks when taken out of the moulds become hard rapidly, and afterwards
the bricks or blocks may be used for works which are executed under
water without fear of the slightest alteration in the solidity of the bricks
or blocks; indeed, instead of becoming soft, they become harder. and
harder in the water.
What I claim is the manufacture of bricks or building blocks from a
mortar or composition prepared as above described.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Gonzague Speyser, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
LOUIS GONZAGUE SPEYSER. (L.S.)