IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE AND SIMILAR WARES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Ransome, of Ipswich, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE
AND SIMILAR WARES."
Sealed the 3rd November 1858, and dated the 13th July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Ransome
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th July 1858.
I, FREDERICK RANSOME, of Ipswich, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
STONE AND SIMILAR WARES" to be as follows:-
In the manufacture of artificial stone and such like wares by the
use of soluble silica, difficulty has been found in obtaining soda free
from impurities, particularly from sulphuric acid, which is apt to
produce an efflorescence from the stone, under variations of the at-
mosphere.

page_text: Now my Invention consists of employing baryta, or salts of baryta,
to neutralize such impurities; and I find such artificial stone con-
siderably improved by exposing it, when moulded, to a bright red heat in
a suitable muffle or kiln.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Ransome in the Great Seal Patent
Oflice, on the 10th January 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
FREDERICK RANSOME, of Ipswich, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Frederick Ransome, Her special licence
that I, the said Frederick Ransonic, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick Ransome, 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 MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE AND SIMILAR WARES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick Ransome, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Frederick Ransome, 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):

page_text: In the manufacture of artificial stone and such like wares by the use
of soluble silicate, difficulty has been found in obtaining soda free from
impurities, particularly from sulphuric acid, which is apt to produce an
efflorescence from the stone under variations of the atmosphere. Now,
my Invention consists of employing baryta, or salts of baryia, or any of
the salts of lead, to neutralize such impurities; and I find such artificial
stone considerably improved by exposing it, when moulded, to a bright
red heat in a suitable mufllc or kiln.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner of performing the sanie.
In the Specification of a Patent, granted to me on the Twenty-
second day of October, One thousand eight hundred and forty-four, J.
described means of manufacturing artificial stone, by employing a solu-
tion of silica, and I explained how I prepared soluble silica for such
purposes. According to my present Invention, I carry on the man-
facture of artificial stone, as formerly described by me; but in order to
prevent efflorescence in such artificial stone after it is manufactured I
cause the solution of caustic soda used in preparing soluble silica to
be first deprived of its impurities by applying a solution of baryta, and
this I do by adding the solution of baryta to the solution of caustic
soda, till no further precipitate is caused by such addition. then
separate or draw off the solution of caustic soda from the precipitate.
and employ it, as formerly described by me, in the manufacture of
artificial stone. Although I prefer to use a solution of baryta for this
purpose of removing impurities from the solution of caustic soda used
in the manufacture of artificial stone, I do not confine myself thereto,
as a solution of a salt of baryta may be employed, or any salt of lead
may be used in a similar manner. The articles of artificial stone
manufactured according to my Invention, after they are well dried, are
then raised to a bright red heat in a suitable muffle or kiln, and arc
then allowed to cool slowly.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that
what I claim is, the employment of a caustic solution of soda deprived
of its impurities in the manufacture of artificial stone; and I also

page_text: to a red heat.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Ransome, have hereunto
set iny hand and seal, this Seventh day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
S. B. JACKAMAN,
Sol., Ipswich.
FREDERICK RANSOME. (L.S.)