Applying "Runners.”
Year: 1886

page_text: Applying "Runners.”
I JAMES WILLDIGG of 31 Cavour Street Etruria in the County of Stafford
Potters Turner do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for THE
ORNAMENTING OF POTTERY AND PORCELAIN BY A NEW METHOD OF APPLYING
RUNNERS to be as follows:-
One form of the tools used by Potter's Turners in ornamenting Pottery and
Porcelain (hereinafter referred to as Earthenware) on the Potter's turning lathe,
and which are generally called "Runners," is shewn in Figures One and Two of the
accompanying drawings, and consists of a small metal wheel moving on pivots
working in a metal holder which is attached to a wooden handle or hand piece.
The surface of the runner wheel is marked in such a manner that when the
wheel is slightly pressed on the surface of the unfired earthenware intended to be
ornamented, as it is made to revolve on the turning lathe, the marks on the wheel
are transferred obversely to the Earthenware, and a regular series of impressions,
which form a pattern, are thereby marked on the parts of the surface of the
Earthenware to which the runner wheel has been applied.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings the runner wheel is
marked "A," the pivots "B," the metal holder "C," and the wooden handle or hand
piece "D," and the marked surface of the runner wheel "E."
The runner has hitherto, when in use, been held by the workman at right angles
to the Earthenware intended to be ornamented, as the latter is made to revolve on
the turning lathe, and it has been held so that the marks on the runner wheel
were obversely transferred to a band of the surface of the Earthenware corre-
sponding in width with that of the runner wheel, and if a wider ornamented band
was required it has only been obtainable by using a wider runner wheel. Hitherto
the pattern marked by the runner has only been varied by having different marks
on the surface of the runner wheel, and this has necessitated the use of a different
runner for every pattern required to be marked.
Instead of applying the runner at right angles to the earthenware so as merely
to transfer obversely the marks on the wheel as before described, by my new
method of applying it, the runner is held with the handle inclined either to the
right or left hand side of the workman, and so that the slight pressure necessary

page_text: is applied to the earthenware either with the edge or with one side only of the
marked surface of the runner wheel. When the runner wheel is held as just
described it is moved across any part of the surface of the Earthenware (as it
revolves on the lathe) of whatever width it may be, and according to whether the
runner wheel is moved straight across the surface of the Earthenware, and as near
as may be parallel with its axis, or whether it is moved across the surface of the
earthenware in an undulating line, different patterns are marked over the whole of
the surface of the earthenware across which the runner has been moved.
By this method of applying the runner, not only can a surface of any width be
ornamented without removing the runner, but the pattern produced, instead of
being restricted to an obverse transfer of the marks on the runner wheel, can be
regulated and varied in a number of ways, such as by varying the angle at which
the runner is held with regard to the Earthenware on the lathe, by using the edge
of the runner wheel instead of the whole of the marked surface of the wheel, By
using one side only of the marked surface of the runner wheel, By varying the
rate at which the runner wheel is passed across the part of the surface of the
Earthenware to be ornamented, By moving the runner wheel in an undulating
line across the surface of the Earthenware on the lathe instead of in a line as near
as may be parallel with its axis, and by varying the pressure of the runner wheel,
or by reversing the direction in which the Earthenware on the lathe is revolved,
and in a number of other ways.
The precautions to be taken in using the runner as just described would be at
once known to an ordinary workman accustomed to the use of runners. Care
should be taken to keep complete control of the tool and not allow it to be pulled
or drawn by the revolving earthenware out of the direction necessary to produce
the required pattern.
As the patterns which may be produced by this method admit, as already stated,
of many variations it would be impossible to describe how each pattern is to be
produced, but my method of using the tool may be more particularly shewn as
follows:-
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings shews the marks or pattern which
would be made by the runner shewn in Figures 1 and 2 when held at right angles
to the earthenware on the lathe as in the old method.
Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings shews the marks or pattern which
would be made by holding the runner, shewn in Figures 1 and 2, according to my
new method, with the handle inclined to the right hand side of the workman, the
pressure applied to the Earthenware with the right hand side of the surface of the
runner wheel so as to avoid touching the surface of the earthenware with its left
hand edge, the lathe turning "up," and the runner when so held moved in a
straight line across so much of the earthenware as is required to be decorated from
the right band to the left hand side.
To produce the pattern shewn in Figure 5, according to my new method, the
runner shewn in Figures 1 and 2 should be held with the handle inclined slightly
to the left, the runner wheel applied to the earthenware on its left hand edge, the
lathe turning up, and the runner when so held moved in an undulating or waving
line from the left hand to the right hand side of so much of the surface of the
earthenware as is required to be ornamented. Near the junction of the curves
shewn in Figure 5 the pressure on the runner should be lighter, and then gradually
increased towards the centre of each curve. The pattern marked by the runner
may be varied by changing the position of the runner when passing it across the
surface of the earthenware, and by this means, several different patterns may be
marked over the surface of the earthenware across which the runner has been
passed. And the curves shewn in Figure 5 would be inverted-if, when-the-runner-
was held in the position before described, the lathe was turned "down" instead of.
being turned "up."
The pattern shewn in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings is produced,
according to my new method, with the lathe turning up the runner held with the

page_text: handle inclined to the left hand side of the workman, the whole of the marked
surface of the runner wheel applied to the earthenware, but only with pressure
sufficient for the marks on the wheel to make a distinct line on the surface of the
earthenware, and the runner when so held moved across the surface of the earthen-
ware from the right hand to the left hand side of the workman, and after the
runner has been passed across the whole of the surface in this manner it is again
applied at the opposite end of the earthenware, with the handle inclined to the
right hand of the workman, the wheel applied as before, and when so held again
moved across the surface of the earthenware from the left hand to the right hand
side of the workman.
Articles of earthenware when ornamented by my new method as before described
are specially adapted for being decorated by the application of "slip" of different
colours to the raised portion of the pattern; the other, or incised part of the
pattern, being left of its original colour. The coloured "slips" may be applied
to the earthenware when revolving on the lathe by means of a soft brush or
pencil.
The ornamental patterns produced as before mentioned may also be decorated
by being "ground laid" and "gilded" in the ordinary way, and by the use of
coloured glazes which shew the pattern marked underneath, and by most of the
other methods of decoration now applied to earthenware.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
The Ornamenting of Pottery and Porcelain by a New Method of
Applying "Runners."
I JAMES WILLDIGG of 31 Cavour Street Etruria in the County of Stafford
Potter's Turner, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for THE ORNA-
MENTING OF POTTERY AND PORCELAIN BY A NEW METHOD OF APPLYING "RUNNERS"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
One form of the tools used by Potter's Turners in Ornamenting Pottery and
Porcelain on the Potters turning Lathe and which are generally called "Runners"
is shewn in figures "1" and "2" of the accompanying drawings and consists of
a small metal wheel, moving on pivots, working in a metal holder, which is attached
to a wooden handle or hand piece. The surface of the runner wheel is marked in
such a manner that when the wheel is slightly pressed on the surface of the unfired
pottery or porcelain intended to be ornamented when the same is revolving on the
turning lathe (and the rotation of which also causes the runner wheel to revolve,

page_text: rapidly) the marks on the surface of the runner wheel are transferred obversely to
the pottery or porcelain and a regular series of impressions which form an orna-
mental pattern are thereby marked on the parts of the surface of the Pottery or
Porcelain to which the runner wheel has been applied. In figures "1" and "2"
of the accompanying drawings the runner wheel is marked "A" the Pivots "B"
the metal holder "C" the wooden handle or hand piece "D" and the marked
surface of the runner wheel "E."
The runner has hitherto when in use been applied by the workman at right
angles to the Pottery and Porcelain intended to be ornamented as it is made to
revolve on the turning lathe and it has also been held so that the marks on the
runner wheel were obversely transferred to a band of the surface of the pottery
or porcelain corresponding in width with that of the runner wheel and if a wider
ornamented band was required it has only been obtainable by using a wider
runner wheel.
The pattern marked by the runner wheel has hitherto only been varied by
having different marks on the surface of the runner wheel and this has necessitated
the use of a different runner for every pattern required to be marked.
By my new method instead of applying the runner at right angles to the Pottery
or Porcelain so as merely to transfer obversely the marks on the wheel as before
described the runner is beld with the handle inclined either to the right or left
hand side of the workman and so that the slight pressure necessary is applied to
the pottery or porcelaine either with the edge or with one side only of the marked
surface of the runner wheel. When the runner wheel is held as just described and
whilst it is revolving rapidly with the motion imparted to it by the Pottery or
Porcelain on the lathe it is moved across any part of the surface of the pottery or
porcelain (as it revolves on the lathe) of whatever width it may be and according
to whether the runner wheel is moved straight across the surface of the pottery or
porcelain (that is as near as may be parallel with its axis) or whether it is moved
across the surface of the pottery or porcelain in an undulating line different
patterns are marked over the whole of the surface of the Pottery or Porcelain
across which the runner has been moved. By this method of applying the runner
not only can a surface of any width be ornamented without removing the runner
but the pattern produced instead of being restricted to an obverse transfer of the
marks on the runner wheel can be regulated and varied in a variety of ways.
That is to say (1) By varying the angle at which the runner is held with regard to
the Pottery or Porcelain on the lathe (2) By using the edge of the runner wheel
instead of the whole of the marked surface of the wheel (3) By using one side
ouly of the marked surface of the runner wheel (4) By varying the rate at which
the runner wheel is passed across the part of the surface of the Pottery or Porcelain
to be ornamented (5) By moving the runner wheel in an undulating line across
the surface of the Pottery or Porcelain instead of in a line as near as may be
parallel with its axis (6) By varying the pressure of the runner wheel and also
(7) By reversing the direction in which the Pottery or porcelain on the lathe is
revolved It should also be stated that by my new method the Pottery or Porcelain
on the lathe can be ornamented with several distinct patterns at the same time
and with the same runner wheel for by changing the position of the runner when
moving it across the surface to be ornamented or by some of the other methods
just mentioned the pattern marked by the wheel is at once changed and by this
means several distinct patterns are marked on the surface of the pottery or
porcelain over which the runner has been passed. As to the manner in which my
invention as hereinbefore described may be performed If the workman will bear.
in mind the different ways in which as already stated the patterns marked by my
new method can be varied the precautions-to-be-taken-in-using_the_runner as
before described would at once suggest themselves to a person accustomed to the
use of runners. Great care should be taken to keep complete control of the tool
and not allow it to be pulled or drawn by the revolving pottery or porcelain
on the lathe out of the direction necessary to produce the required pattern. And

page_text: whilst thus firmly guiding the tool care should also be taken not to apply too
much pressure on the runner wheel or it may cut too deep into the article of
pottery or porcelain on the lathe and so spoil it The pressure should also be very
even or regular particularly when the shape of the article on the lathe changes.
As the patterns which may be produced by this method admit of so many
variations it would be impossible to describe how each pattern is to be produced
but my method of using the tool may be more particularly shewn as follows
Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings shews the marks or pattern which
would be made by the runner shewn in Figures 1 and 2 when held at right angles
to the pottery or porcelain on the lathe as in the old method.
Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings shews the marks or pattern which
would be made by holding the runner shewn in Figures 1 and 2 according to my
new method with the handle inclined to the right hand side of the workman the
pressure applied to the pottery or porcelain with the right hand side of the surface
of the runner wheel so as to avoid touching the surface of the Pottery or porcelain
with its left hand edge the lathe turning "up" and the runner when so held
moved in a straight line across so much of the surface of the pottery or porcelain
as is required to be decorated from the right hand to the left hand side.
To produce the pattern shewn in Figure 5 according to my new method the
runner shewn in Figures 1 and 2 should be held with the handle inclined slightly
to the left the runner wheel applied to the pottery or porcelain on its left hand
edge the lathe turning up and the runner when so held moved in an undulating or
waving line from the left hand to the right hand side of so much of the surface of
the Pottery or porcelain as is required to be ornamented and near the junction
of the curves shewn in Figure 5 the pressure on the runner should be lighter and
then gradually increased towards the centre of each curve. The pattern marked
by the runner may be varied by changing the position of the runner when passing
it across the surface of the pottery or porcelain and by this means several different
patterns may be marked over the surface of the Pottery or porcelain across which
the runner has been passed and the curves shewn in Figure 5 would be inverted if
when the runner was held in the position before described the lathe was turned
"down" instead of being turned "up."
"
The pattern shewn in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings is produced
according to my new method with the lathe turning " up the runner held with
the handle inclined to the left hand side of the workman the whole of the marked
surface of the runner wheel applied to the pottery or porcelain but only with
pressure sufficient for the marks on the wheel to make a distinct line on the
surface of the pottery or porcelain and the runner when so held moved across
the surface of the pottery or porcelain from the right hand to the left hand side of
the workman and after the runner has been passed across the whole of the surface
of this manner it is again applied at the opposite end of the pottery or porcelain
with the handle inclined to the right hand of the workman the wheel applied as
before and when so held again moved across the surface of the pottery or porcelain
from the left hand to the right hand side of the workman.
Articles of pottery or porcelain when ornamented by my new method as before
described are specially adapted for being decorated by the application of "slip" of
different colours to the raised portion of the pattern the other or incised part of
the pattern being left of its original colour.
The coloured "slips" may be applied to the pottery or porcelain when revolving
on the lathe by means of a soft brush or pencil. The ornamental patterns produced
as before mentioned may also be decorated by being "Ground laid" and gilded in
the ordinary way and by the use of coloured glazes which shew the pattern marked
underneath and by most of the other methods of decoration now applied to pottery
or porcelain.
It should be mentioned that with the particular kind of runners hitherto in use
for "stippling" that is to say for simply imparting a roughened appearance to the
pottery or porcelain to which it has been applied and not for marking any distinct

page_text: ornamental pattern thereon a surface of any width has hitherto been roughened
independently of the width of the runner wheel and this is not claimed as being
comprised in my invention but with runners such as the one shewn in the accom-
panying drawings for marking distinct ornamental patterns on the surface of
pottery or porcelain on the turning lathe the pattern marked by the runner has
hitherto as already stated been restricted to the width of the runner wheel used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
=
(1) The new method of applying runners substantially as hereinbefore described
whereby a surface of pottery or porcelain of any width may be ornamented with
a distinct ornamental pattern or patterns by one application of the runner wheel
independently of the width of the runner wheel used.
(2.) The new method of applying runners substantially as hereinbefore described
whereby a variety of ornamental patterns can be produced on a surface of pottery
or porcelain on the turning lathe by the use of one kind of runner wheel without
being restricted to an obverse transfer of the marks on the surface of the wheel.
(3.) The new method of applying runners substantially as hereinbefore described
whereby the pattern marked by one runner wheel can be at once changed or
varied from one pattern to another and several distinct ornamental patterns
marked during one application of the runner wheel to the pottery or porcelain on
the lathe.