IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING WOOD, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Henry Williams at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd January 1876.
"
WILLIAM HENRY WILLIAMS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING WOOD, AND IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE."
My said Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in orna-
menting wood, whether in pieces to be afterwards made up into various articles as
in strips or lengths to be afterwards made into picture frames, or in the form of
articles already made, the ornamenting process being applied to such parts as it is
wished to ornament.
My said Invention further consists of the improvements herein-after described in
machinery or apparatus for carrying into effect the said ornamenting process.
I will describe my Invention as applied to the ornamenting of the circular
wooden paterases or gas blocks affixed to walls, and to which the gas brackets are
attached. I make a circular blank of the figure which the finished article is
required to have, except that it is without ornament. I make the said blank by
preference by the process of turning, taking care that the fibre of the wood shall be
as nearly as may be parallel with the axis of the blank, that is, that the blank shall
be so cut from the wood of which it is made that the fibres shall be presented
endwise to the surface to be ornamented. I place the blank in a die, the bottom
face of which carries the ornamental design to be impressed upon the blank. The
said design is produced in the die by the die sinking or other process. The said
die is of a depth greater than the thickness of the blank. The said die is fixed on
the bed of a powerful fly press or other press, to the bolt of which a plain upper die
or plunger is attached of a size proper to enter the die on the bed of the press. The
die is warmed and the blank being placed therein with the face to be ornamented
downwards the plunger of the press is brought down with great force, and the blank
is compressed so forcibly between the plunger and die that the ornament sunk in
the bottom of the die is impressed upon its lower face. The plunger of the press
must be raised and brought down forcibly upon the blank several times in order to
produce a sharp and perfect impression.
In place of a fly press or other press a stamp may be employed. Where the edge
only of articles of considerable size has to be impressed the ornamental design may
be made upon a roll mounted on a horizontal axis. The blank is supported in a
cup shaped support of a depth somewhat less than the thickness of the blank. The

page_text: said support is capable of rotating upon its centre in a horizontal plane, and by the
rotation of the ornamented roll pressed with great force on the margin of the blank,
the said blank is carried round with its support and is impressed by the ornamented
roll. The articles after they have been ornamented in the way described may be
finished by being painted, gilded, or otherwise treated.
My Invention is especially applicable to the ornamenting of alder, sycamore, and
poplar, but I do not limit myself to any particular kind of wood.
My Invention is particularly adapted to ornament paterases or gas blocks, bread
trays, shade stands, and other articles having generally a flat symmetrical figure,
as well as to the ornamenting of lengths or strips of wood to be afterwards made
into picture frames or used as mouldings, beadings, cornices, and the like.