CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GRAINING AND DECORATING IN OIL, DISTEMPER, AND OTHER COLORS, AND IN IMITATING MARBLES, GRANITES, FANCY AND OTHER WOODS, AND IN THE APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND
BARBER, of Tring, in the County of Hertford, Decorative Painter, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Eleventh day of October, in the ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Edmund Barber, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Edmund Barber, my
exors, admiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edmund Barber,
my exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the
Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in the
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN GRAINING AND DECORATING IN OIL, DISTEMPER, AND OTHER COLORS, AND IN
IMITATING MARBLES, GRANITES, FANCY AND OTHER WOODS, AND IN THE APPARATUS
AND INSTRUMENTS TO BE USED THEREIN;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, that I, the said Edmund Barber, shall cause a particular

page_text: description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Edmund Barber, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon (that is to say):-
:-
My Invention relates,-
First, to the improving the general appearance of graining and imitation of
granites, marbles, fancy and other woods.
Secondly, to the construction of apparatus or instruments to be employed in
imitating granite, stone, and other substances of a spotted or variegated
appearance in paint, whether oil or distemper, and also for giving to a new
painted surface a better resemblance to granite or other stone, by depositing
on such surface some granite, stone, glass, or sand in a pulverised state.
And, thirdly, my Invention relates to the construction of apparatus to be
used in graining and in imitating fancy and other woods and marbles, and
applicable also to other decorations.
These improvements in graining are, first, the great regularity of the work,
and its better resemblance to nature; for, by the use of the apparatus herein-
after to be described the exact pattern or grain of any wood may be faithfully
imitated. The pattern of the wood is to be carved or woven on leather or
woollen substances, and fixed to a roller, which is to be rolled over the new
painted surface immediately after the same has been combed, and before it is
dry, whereby impressions will be made corresponding with the pattern carved
or woven on the leather or woollen substances which are fixed to the roller,
as herein-after described. By this means, if the leather be properly carved
out, or the subject properly woven to the pattern, the grains of any wood or
veins of any marble may be faithfully imitated, which cannot be done so
correctly and faithfully by the present mode of graining. Another improve-
ment is, that by the application of rollers and circular brush wheels, herein-after
described, great speed is obtained in graining and imitating granites and other
decorative work, and the application of my apparatus will enable any person
to grain or imitate granite and marbles without any previous knowledge of the
art of graining or decorating. But in order that my said Invention may be

page_text: better understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to give a
description of the Drawings hereunto annexed. Figure 1, Sheet A, represents
in the side view, Figure 2 the longitudinal section, and Figure 3 a plan, of
an apparatus which I employ for imitating granite or spotting surfaces. This
machine is only constructed to throw one colour, having only one reservoir or
cistern to contain the necessary supply of paint or colour. a, a, are two sides
of a cylinder, made of tin, iron, zinc, copper, or any other suitable metal.
These two sides are secured to the curved top 6 and the curved bottom c,
leaving a large opening d, d, in front, the use of which will hereafter be
described. e is a regulating slide or sluice sliding in the grooves f, f. g is a
cistern or reservoir to contain the paint or colour. h, h, is a circular brush
wheel, of sufficient diameter to dip in the paint which shall be deposited in the
cylinder seen by the dotted lines. This circular brush wheel may be composed
of bristles, feathers, whalebone, cane, and any other elastic materials suitable
for the purpose, as seen in Figure 4. i is an axle passing through the centre of
the brush wheel, one end of which revolves in one of the sides of the cylinder a,
and to the other end thereof is secured a small handle j, by which motion is
given to the circular brush wheel h, h. k is a cranked wire or strike, seen
separately at Figure 12, the ends of which pass through the sides of the
cylinder a, a, and are secured by nuts l, l. The action is as follows:-The
paint or colour is poured into the cistern g, care being taken during the pouring
thereof to keep the regulating slide down, to prevent the paint or colour
from getting into the cylinder before the operator is ready for work, lest it
When the necessary
should overflow the edge of the circular bottom c.
quantity has been poured in the regulating slide e must be then raised to
admit the paint or colour into the cylinder to such a height as will cause the
bottom part of the circular brush wheel h, h, to dip in about one eighth of an
inch, which height must be regulated by the regulating slide e, by either
raising or depressing the same. It is obvious that when the paint or colour
has risen to the circular brush wheel h, h, so as to cause the bottom part
thereof to be immersed therein, by causing it to rotate in the direction
of the arrow's flight, each separate cluster of bristles, whalebone, feathers,
or cane having been first raised out of the paint or colour, and con-
sequently loaded with will alternately strike against the cranked wire k,
which as the brush rotates will disengage themselves suddenly from the
cranked wire k with great force, which will cause the paint the circular brush
wheel contained to be deposited on the required surface in numbers of small
spots or granulations, the opening d, d, in the front of the cylinder being to
allow the paint to escape at the disengaging of the brushes. I must here

page_text: remark that the cranked wire k being made moveable by loosening the nuts
1, 1, may be brought forward or pushed backwards, according to the size
of the spots and granulations required. The more it is pressed backward
towards the cistern g the smaller and more numerous the spots or granu-
lations will be, as the brushes will disengage themselves with greater force,
and the more it is brought forward the larger and less in number they will be,
owing to the surface of the brush wheel which will pass over the wire being
much less in length than when the wire k is pressed backwards. After the
brushes are disengaged from the cranked wire k they will be free or nearly so
from paint or colour, until by the rotation of the circular brush wheel h, h, they
will alternately dip into the paint or colour, and rise therefrom loaded with
paint till they arrive at the cranked. wire k, when the action would be in
repetition of that herein-before described. Figure 5 represents a side view
and Figure 6 a longitudinal section of a similar machine as the one above
described, but having cog wheels to give it a rapid rotatory motion, and also
having the advantage of a double bottom to receive the droppings or the
overflow. m, m, the cylinder containing the circular brush wheel n, n.
o, the
cranked wire to regulate the number and size of the spots or granulations.
p, the cistern or reservoir to hold the paint or colour. q, the regulating slide
or sluice. r, the double bottom to receive the droppings or overflows.
handle by which it is held. t is a small cog wheel fixed to one end of an
axle, going entirely through at any suitable part of the cylinder m, m. At
the other end of this axle is a small handle to give motion to the circular
brush wheel. This cog wheel t catches into another cog wheel u of small
dimensions, which works a larger cog wheel v, fixed to the shaft of the circular
brush wheel n, n. These cog wheels are outside of the cylinder m, m.
w is a cover to keep the dust or dirt from falling in the paint or colour.
x the nut to fix the cranked wire o when adjusted. The action of spotting or
imitating granite is just the same and in all respects similar to that of the
machine herein-before described. The paint or colour is supplied by the
cistern p through the opening p¹ into the bottom of the cylinder m, m.
y is a hole made in the bottom to keep the paint or colour always to a proper
level. Should however a greater quantity be admitted than is necessary it
immediately runs into the reservoir formed by the double bottom r made for
that purpose. The utility of this double bottom would be evident where the
operator would be using a machine similar to that described at Figures 1, 2,
and 3, and being suddenly called off his work should forget to lower the
slide or sluice q. The colour would then rise too high up the brush, and
overflow upon the table or floor, wherever it might be left, whereas the
8, the

page_text: double bottom obviates that inconvenience. The circular, brush wheel revolves
in the direction of the arrow's flight, and the paint or colour is thrown
from the circular brush wheel n on the part required, through the square
opening, z, made in front of the cylinder m, m. Figure 7 represents
the plan of another machine for spotting with or throwing three different
colours at once, having three separate cylinders, brush wheels, and cisterns or
reservoirs. The mode of working is similar to the two other machines herein-
before described. a, a, a, the cylinders, containing the circular brush
wheels fixed to the axle a**, a**, which axle passes through the three
cylinders a, a, a*. *, 6, 6*, are the cisterns or reservoirs to contain the paint
or colour, and c, c, c, the openings for allowing the paint or colour to escape
after leaving the brushes. *, the handle to give motion, and f*, the handle
to hold it by. I must here remark, that the supply of paint or colour to the
circular brush wheels need not be from the bottom, as before described in
the other machines, but the cisterns in this machine may be so constructed as
to drop the paint or colours on the cluster of bristles, feathers, whalebone, or
cane before the said cluster arrives at the cranked wire, in the same manner
as water falls on the water wheel in what is called the overshot wheel; but
I prefer the circular brush wheel to be allowed to dip in the paint or colour as
described in Figures 1, 2, and 3. Figure 8 represents the side view, Figure
9 the cross section, and Figure 10 the plan of a machine with three sets of
circular brush wheels, and precisely similar to Figure 7, with the exception of
being furnished with three regulating supply plugs or screws in lieu of
regulating slides and sluices. g*, g, the sides of the cylinders containing the
circular brush wheels h, h*. *,,, the cisterns or reservoir to contain
the paint or colour. *, the handle to give motion to the brushes h*, *. k* is
a suitable long plug going through the whole length of the machine, having the
conical holes 0, 0, 0, therein, so that.when it shall be in its place one of
each of these holes shall from a communication between each cistern or
reservoir, *,, and the cylinders containing the circular brush wheels h*, h*.
*,,, are three thumb-screw plugs, the ends of which are taper, as seen
at, m, Figure 9, so as to fit closely in the conical hole o* in the plug k when it
is required to stop the supply of paint or colour. I will suppose, for example,
that I wanted to use only one of the three colours. I would then open the
thumb-screw plug belonging to the cistern or reservoir containing the.colour
or paint required to be used and screw up the two others, and therefore stop
the supply. These machines may be made with a greater or a less number of
cisterns and circular brushes, depending entirely upon the number of colours
required to be used. n* is the handle by which the operator holds the

page_text: machine during the operation. Figure 11 are views of the long plug k
above described, shewing the conical holes o*, o*, o*. Figure 13, Sheet B,
represents the side view, Figure 14 the front view, Figure 15 the back view,
and Figure 16 the cross section of another machine for the same purpose as
those before described, but on a larger scale, being only intended to throw two
different colours at once. The circular brush wheels are of the same description
as those in the other machines, the difference being only in the manner they
are fixed one over the other. a, a, a, is a case made of metal or wood, having
a bottom 6 dividing it into two compartments or chambers c and c', in which
the circular brush wheels and revolve. d and dare two cisterns or
reservoirs to contain the paint or colour to be supplied to the circular brush
wheels and c³, the cistern d supplying the top compartment c, and the
cistern d¹ supplying the lower compartment c'. e and are two regulating
slides to regulate the supply of the paint or colour as it flows by the com-
munications and f¹ into the chambers c and c³. 9 and g¹ are the cranked
wires, g being fixed to the top of the chambers c, and g' to the bottom of the
chamber c. h and h¹ are two pullies fixed to the axles of the circular brush
wheels and c, over which runs a cross band i, so as to cause the circular
brush wheel c³ to revolve in a contrary direction to the circular brush wheel c³.
The pullies h and h¹ have three grooves of different sizes, so as to cause when
necessary one of the circular brush wheels c or c³ to revolve faster or slower
as may be required. It is obvious that the band being crossed and motion
being given to the handle j, which is fixed to the pulley h, it will cause the
pulleys to rotate in the direction of the arrow's flight, or in contrary ways to
each other. k is the handle by which it is held during the operation. The
chambers c and c¹ are open in front, as seen at Figure 14, to allow the escape
of the paint or colour from the circular brush wheels c³ and c³. Figure 17
represents the side, and Figure 18 the front end view, of a machine for
depositing on a new painted surface when wet some granite, stone, glass, or
sand in a pulverized state, when it is required to imitate more closely the
natural appearance of granite and other stones. Figure 19 represents a lon-
gitudinal section thereof. I, 1, is a round case with a long flat tube m coming
from it at the opening in the case I, 1, at n. o, o, is a blower or fan, the
quick rotatory motion of which will blow out the air with great force at m.
p is a reservoir or cistern to contain the pulverized granite, stone, sand,
or glass, to be distributed on the surface required. q is a cock either to stop
the supply altogether, or to regulate the same should it fall through too fast.
and r¹ are two cog wheels revolving on the supports; the wheel r is fixed to
the motion handle t, and catches into the teeth of the small cog wheel r¹,

page_text: The supply of air to the
Figure 20 represents the
The action is as follows:-
which is fixed to the axle of the blower or fan.
inside of the blower case l' is through the hole u.
end view of the fan o, o, detached from its case 1, l.
The pulverized granite, stone, glass, or sand is deposited in the reservoir p
while the cock is shut, and when full the fan is put in motion by the
bandle t, fixed to the large cog wheel v, which causes the fan o, o, to revolve
at a rapid rate owing to the cog wheel r¹ being much smaller. During the
revolution of the fan o, o, there is a strong blast of wind issuing from the
tube m, then by opening the cock q the contents of the reservoir or cistern
will fall through, and immediately come in contact with the said blast of wind,
and thereby be blown out at m' and deposited against the surface to which the
machine will be directed. I may here remark, that if paint or colour be put
into the reservoir or cistern p, and the fan o, o, be put in motion when the
paint or colour drops through the cock q and comes in contact with the blast
of wind, the same effect will be produced as would be by the circular brush
wheels, or nearly so.
I will now proceed to describe the third part of my Invention, which
consists in the construction of apparatus and instruments to be used in
graining and imitating fancy and other woods and marbles, and in decorating
in general either in oil, distemper, or other colours. Figure 21 represents the
side view of a roller made of wood or metal, but I prefer using wood; and
Figure 22 shews the front view thereof, with the carved veins or curls
thereon. A, A, the wooden or metal roller surrounded by a band or thickness
B, B, of buckskin, buffalo, or other leathers, thick cloths, woollen substances,
or valcanized india rubber, for which a Patent was granted to Mr. Hancock,
in England. C, C, are two wooden handles fixed to the roller to roll in the
hand and to hold the roller by. This thickness of leather or woollen substance
is made secure to the roller A, A, by means of waterproof glue, nails, or
otherwise, as may be most convenient. The veins of the different woods and
marbles to be imitated may be carved on the thick leather or on the wooden
roller, if made of soft wood, or cut the form of the veins requirèd, and sewn on
a canvas or cloth band. The mode of transferring the different grains, veins,
and curls is effected by simply laying a sheet of thin transparent paper upon
the part required to be imitated, and going over the grain, veins, or curls
with a brush dipped in printers' ink and boiled oil, and afterwards transferring
it when still wet on to the leather, wood, cloth, or woollen substances, or
valcanized india rubber; but other means may be employed for transferring it
to that above described; I prefer, however, using the mode named, being the
most simple. When the transfer has been effected, and the grains, veins, or

page_text: curls clearly marked, the parts which are not required to mark, or the parts
between the grains, veins, and curls, are to be cut and curved out with a pen-
knife, chisel, or any suitable instrument, or a band may be woven with the
pattern thereon and then glued on the wooden or metal roller A, A. When
imitating wainscot oak, where the veins are far apart, it will be necessary to
cut out the leather or other substance of the shape of the grains or veins, and
sew them on the canvas before it is glued to the roller A, A; but in rose and
satin wood, and mahogany and other woods, when the carving of the veins
would not mutilate the leather or other substance too much, I prefer carving
the substance when it is glued to the roller A, A. The work is painted in
the usual way, and the graining colour, whether in distemper or in oil, put
over it. When it is combed over or softened the roller on which is glued the
leather or other substance with the grain required must be rolled over, when
the veins or curls which are projecting over the surface of the roller A, A,
will come in contact with and take up the graining colour in the exact shape
and form as those carved or woven on the roller A, A. The parts between the
veins being carved out will not come in contact with the graining colour, and
consequently will not take it up. To form dark veins in wainscot oak is by
applying the colour the veins are required to be on the raised surface of
the rollers with a brush, or the roller must be rolled on a flat board or surface
saturated with the colour in the same way as printers roll the ink on their
roller, but taking care not to put too much color on, as it would run into the
carved parts and would smear and disfigure the work when rolled over. This
is the mode I use for imitating marble, as all the colours have to be put one
over the other and softened afterwards, and not taken out as in wainscot.
When distemper colours are used, and the roller becomes thick, by rolling it
over a damp cloth it will be afterwards immediately fit for use; but when
graining in oil colour the roller must be cleansed with spirits of turpentine,
which are generally used for that purpose, by either rolling it on a cloth
damped with the spirit or rolled therein. Any ornamental flowers, devices,
and mouldings may be imitated by the same means, as it is only required to
curve out or weave the subject of the design on the substance surrounding the
rollers on which they are glued. Figure 23, Sheet C, represents a side view,
and Figure 24 a front view of three separate rollers for the purpose of
imitating graining or marbles. These rollers are made separate, so as to be
allowed to change and vary the run of the veins or curls; for instance, the
roller D may be changed in the place of the roller F, and the roller F in the
place of the roller D, and thereby change the entire appearance of the grain.
This is done by unscrewing one of the handles G, which will admit the rollers

page_text: to be changed; they revolve on a round rod made of wood or metal; I prefer
wood as the lightest and most convenient. D¹, D₁, is the substance on which
the grains or veins or curls are curved or woven. Figure 25 represents the
side view of an oval roller, and Figure 26 the front view thereof. This roller
H may or may not be allowed to revolve. I prefer having the handles I
and I fixed. H' and H' the substance glued thereto. This form of roller may
be found useful when a round revolving one would be useless. Figure 27
represents the end view, and Figure 28 the front view, of a concave roller
J and J, covered with the same substance J¹ and J¹, and revolves on a rod to
which is fixed the two handles K, K'; but it would do as well fixed firmly.
This roller is applicable to the graining or marbling of a column or round
surface, when a flat-surfaced roller will not do. Figures 29 and 31 are
different views of a portion of a roller, with the substance L extending to the
ends thereof, so as to allow them to touch in corners where round surfaces
could not, as for instance along the edges of deep mouldings. Figure 30
shews the end view of Figure 29, with the two fixed handles M, M.
Figure 32 shews the various forms of rollers adapted to fillets, mouldings, or
beads; they are separate, and can be used one without the other. Figure 33
represents the side, and Figure 34 the front view, of a globe-shaped or convex
roller, to touch in hollows where it is impossible to admit a flat or concave
roller. This roller is to be covered with leather or woollen substance, and the
required grain, vein, or curl carved or woven thereon; it may either be allowed
to revolve freely on the rod N, seen as broken, or can be solidly fixed to two
handles similar to Figure 28. Figure 35 and 36, Sheet D, represents views
of a wedge-shape roller to go over the work where it may have been left
undone by the other rollers, or where it may be found inconvenient to apply
the others. It begins with a broad part at O and gradully decreases till it
comes to a point, as at P, the hollow part P¹ being cut out to allow it to
begin or finish close to the mouldings. Figure 37 represents a hollow roller or
drum made of wood, but so constructed as to be able to alter and change the
entire surface thereof by transposing some of the parts from one side of the
roller or drum to the other. Figure 38 represents a longitudinal section
thereof, shewing the way it may be put together, and also the mode of
securing the parts by pins going through them to prevent their falling out
during the revolution of the roller or drum. Q, Q, is a hollow roller or drum,
made of wood and covered with leather or woollen substance, with the two
ends R, R, made secure to it by the two strong wood screws R¹ and R².
S, S, are two handles with screws cut thereon to allow their being unscrewed
at pleasure for the convenience of packing or otherwise. T', T', T', T, are

page_text: moveable oval rings cut out outside the ovals T, T, T, T; I prefer cutting
them of a dovetail, as seen at T, T, Figure 38, to prevent their falling in the
roller or drum when applying them to their places; oblongs, rounds, or
squares may be cut in the same way. U, U, U, U, are pins or wire going
through the sides of R, R, rollers Q, Q, and the moveable parts T, T, T, T,
and T, T, T, T', to secure them when the roller is required to be used.
This apparatus is mostly applicable where it is necessary to imitate a knotty
piece of wood, as at every revolution of the roller the knots may be changed
and thereby break that regularity which would follow if they were fixed.
Figures 39, 40, 41, and 42, represent different views and sections of an
apparatus for containing a number of patterns in a small space, and so
constructed as to pack one within the other. Figure 39 represents the plan
of several metal or wooden rollers or drums of different dimensions to allow a
number of smaller ones of graduated sizes to be packed therein; I prefer
them made of zinc, as being much lighter and taking up less room than if
made of wood. This Figure shews six different graduating sizes inside of the
outer drum, thereby enabling the operator to take in a very compact and
portable form sufficient tools to perform and execute any kind of work, such
as graining, imitating fancy woods, marbles, and other decorations, to the
patterns carved or cut on leather, or woven on woollen and other substances
glued to the zinc rollers or drums, and obviating, consequently, the incon-
venience or necessity of the operator being encumbered when going to work
from home with a number of wooden or metal rollers, as herein-before
described in Sheet C. a, a, a, a, a, a, represent the zinc rollers or drums.
a', a, a, a, a, a, the leather, woollen, or other substance glued thereon.
b is a woollen roller, seen in section in Figure 42, on which a similar substance
may be also glued. c, c, are two handles so constructed as to allow the roller b
to roll freely when the handles are in the hand. These handles revolve on
their axis d, d, which are secured to the wooden roller 6 by the wood screws
e, e. ff, are two small screws screwed in the handles c, c, and projecting
into the grooves g, g, to prevent their coming off the axis. These handles
may be carried in the pocket, thereby reducing the length of the machine and
making it more portable. Figure 40 represents the third size zinc roller or
drum, with the centre roller b fixed in the centre. d, d, shews the handles
fixed ready for use. h, h, h, h, are iron or wooden male screws, with round
heads of such a sufficient length so that by extending them when required they
will come in contact with the largest of the zinc rollers or drums, and thereby
fix the axle or centre, or by shortening the screws they will be so regulated as
to fix to any of these sizes between the largest and the smallest size roller or

page_text: drum. Figure 41 represents the end view of the section seen at Figure 42,
with the screws h, h, h, h, extended to keep the roller b in the centre.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein described
so long as the peculiar character of any part of my Invention be retained.
But what I do claim is,-
First, the construction of apparatus and machines for spotting or throwing
paint or colour (supplied by cisterns or reservoirs) in the shape of spots or
gremulations by the means of circular brush wheels striking against cranked
wires, as herein-before described.
Secondly, I claim the construction of machines or apparatus for giving a
new painted surface when wet a closer resemblance to granite, stone, or other
substances, by depositing thereon some of the substances to be imitated in a
state of pulverization.
Thirdly, I claim the apparatus, rollers, and forms thereof for graining or
imitating marble, fancy and other woods and decorations, as herein-before
described, by carving or weaving on the surfaces of such apparatus the pattern
of such grains, veins, curls, and other patterns as may be required, on leather,
cloth, woollen, and other substances, and vulcanized india rubber; and also
the combination of several wood or zinc rollers or drums of graduating sizes
for the convenience of portability.
And, lastly, I claim the right to vary the shape and form of the apparatus
and rollers to be used in imitating granites, marbles, fancy and other woods.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Barber, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fo