A Composition for Preserving Wood, also applicable to other uses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 14th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
A Composition for Preserving Wood, also applicable to other uses.
I, JOSEPH MATTHEWS of Brunswick, in the County of Glynn, State of
Georgia, United States of America, Retired Sea Captain, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention consists of a novel composition paint or paste to be used as a
coating for preserving wood iron or other material to which same may be
applicable.
The composition is made up of the following ingredients in or about the
proportions stated but I do not restrict myself to any precise proportions, viz. :
Coal tar, five quarts; rosin, five pounds; pine tar, one quart; camphor gum, one-
fourth of a pound; powdered sulphur, thirty-eight pounds; tallow, ten pounds;
carbolic acid, three pints; arsenic, eleven pounds; phosphorus, ten drams; borax,
forty-two drams; oil rhodium, ten drams; bi-chloride of mercury, twenty-four
drams; cobalt, forty-two drams; poke-root bark, (Phytolacca radix) ground, two
pounds; ether, two ounces; mineral dust, three pounds.
In preparing this composition paint or paste I first take the above-named
quantities or thereabout of coal tar, rosin, pine tar, and camphor gum, and dissolve
the same over a slow fire and then add to said ingredients in the proportions herein-
before specified or thereabout the powdered sulphur, tallow, carbolic acid, arsenic,
phosphorus, borax, oil rhodium, bi-chloride of mercury, cobalt, ground poke-root
bark, ether, and mineral dust. The whole mass is then boiled till the sulphur is
dissolved, and then taken off the fire in the form of a paste, in which state it may
be moulded into any sized or shaped blocks for shipment or use as it will solidify
when cold. While the mass is boiling which should be over a slow fire, it should
be continually stirred.
To use the compound it should be melted in a kettle over a slow fire and be
applied with a brush while hot or warm or same may be applied in any other
suitable manner for instance by immersion of the article to be coated in a bath of
such composition either in the hot state as above described or in the cold state as
hereinafter explained.
If desired to retain the composition in a liquid or semi-liquid state it, while in
the form of a paste and beginning to swell while on the fire, should be treated by
drawing the fire, and adding about ten pounds more of tallow fed by pound bits at
a time and keeping the whole mass well stirred all the time till the tallow is
thoroughly dissolved. It should then be taken from the fire and when sufficiently
cool to admit of kerosene being added without igniting it such quantity of the
kerosene may be added to bring the composition to the required thickness for its
use and application as paint while cold, stirring it all the time while being used.

page_text: This addition or latter mode of preparation is designed to keep the composition in
a liquid state for barrelling or otherwise removing or using same while cold.
This paint or paste is applicable as a preservative especially suitable for wood
(though I do not restrict myself in any way to the use and application of my
composition to wood alone) including piles in water mud or sand, ships' bottoms in
fresh or salt water, and will keep off the worms and prevent the latter from eating
the wood. It, in fact, will prevent decay and rot and will preserve wood from the
ravages of insects of various kinds either in water or on land including barnacles
where the wood is exposed to the adhesion of the same or of growth of grass or
vegetable substances upon the wood.
It also may be used as a preservative of telegraph poles, cross-ties, trestle or
bridge-work; and to all kinds of wood-work in different climates and will keep
wood in any shape and place where-ever the composition can be applied, its
preservative powers too being most durable.
Deted this 14th day of Sentember 1894
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
4, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, JOSEPH MATTHEWS of Brunswick, in the County of Glynn, State of
Georgia, United States of America, Retired Sea Captain do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of a novel composition paint or paste to be used as a
coating for preserving wood iron or other material to which same may be
applicable.
The composition is made up of the following ingredients in or about the
proportions hereinafter stated (but I do not restrict myself to all of these precise
proportions) viz. :-
Coal tar, five quarts.
Rosin, five pounds..
Pine tar, one quart.
Camphor gum, one-fourth of a pound.
Powdered sulphur, thirty-eight pounds.
Tallow, ten pounds.
Carbolic acid, three pints.
Arsenic, eleven pounds, (such as white oxide).
Phosphorous, ten drams.
Borax, forty-two drams.
Oil rhodium, ten drams.
Bi-chloride of mercury, twenty-four drams.
Cobalt, forty-two drams, (such as native ore).
Poke-root bark (Phytolacca radix) ground, two pounds.
Ether, two ounces.
Carbonate or oxide of iron in powder (or equivalent mineral dust)
three pounds.
In preparing this composition paint or paste I first take the above-named
quantities or thereabouts of coal tar, rosin, pine tar, and camphor gum, and dissolve
the same over a slow fire and then add to said ingredients in the proportions herein-
before specified or thereabouts the powdered sulphur, tallow, carbolic acid, arsenic,

page_text: phosphorous, borax, oil rhodium, bi-chloride of mercury, cobalt, ground poke-root.
bark, ether, and mineral dust. The whole mass is then boiled till the sulphur is
dissolved and then taken off the fire in the form of a paste, in which state it may
be moulded as desired into any sized or shaped blocks for shipment or use as it will
solidify when cold. While the mass is boiling which should be over a slow fire it.
should be continually stirred.
To use the compound it should be melted in a kettle over a slow fire and be
applied with a brush while hot or warm or same may be applied in any other
suitable manner for instance by immersion of the article to be coated in a bath of
such composition either in the hot state as above described or in the cold state as
hereinafter explained.
If desired to retain the composition in a liquid or semi-liquid state it (while in the
form of a paste and beginning to swell while on the fire) should be treated by drawing
the fire and adding (to the aforesaid ingredients in the respective quantities stated)
about ten pounds more of tallow fed by pound bits (or thereabouts) at a time and
keeping the whole mass well stirred all the time till the tallow is thoroughly
dissolved. It should then be taken from the fire and when sufficiently cool to admit
of kerosene being added without igniting it such quantity of the kerosene may be
added to bring the composition to the required thickness for its use and application
as or like paint while cold, stirring it all the time while being used.
This addition or latter mode of preparation is designed to keep the composition
in a liquid state for barrelling or otherwise removing or using same while cold.
This paint or paste is applicable as a preservative especially suitable for wood
(though I do not restrict myself in any way to the use and application of my
composition to wood alone as same may be used for any other purposes for which
it may be applicable) including piles in water mud or sand ships' bottoms in fresh
or salt water etc. and it will keep off the worms and prevent the latter from eating
the wood. It, in fact, will prevent decay and rot and will preserve wood from the
ravages of insects of various kinds either in water or on land including barnacles
where the wood is exposed to the adhesion of the same or of growth of grass or
vegetable substances upon the wood.
It also may be used as a preservative of telegraph poles, cross-ties, trestles or
bridge-work; and for all kinds of wood-work in different climates and will keep
wood in any shape and place wherever the composition can be applied, its
preservative powers too being most durable.
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 berein-described composition paint or paste consisting of coal tar, rosin,.
pine tar, camphor gum, sulphur, tallow, carbolic acid, arsenic, phosphorous, borax,
oil rhodium, bi-chloride of mercury, cobalt, ground poke-root bark, ether and
mineral dust mixed and combined together in or about the proportions substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
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2. The herein-described composition paint or paste consisting of coal tar, rosin,
pine tar, camphor gum, sulphur, tallow, carbolic acid, arsenic, phosphorous, borax,
oil rhodium, bi-chloride of mercury, cobalt, ground poke-root bark, ether and
mineral dust mixed and combined together with additional tallow and kerosene in
or about the proportions substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 7th day of June 1895.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.