Improvements in the Method of Producing Imitations of Various Minerals, Wood, and like Materials.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
Improvements in the Method of Producing Imitations of Various
Minerals, Wood, and like Materials.
I, FRANS RICHARD ALEXANDER SUNDELL, of Passage Birger Jarl, Stockholm,
Sculptor, in the Kingdom of Sweden, 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:-
The present invention furnishes a means of producing more simply, quickly and
cheaply than has heretofore been possible, imitations of minerals, wood and other,
materials, or of producing surface work in different patterns, the imitations
effected being so striking that it is questionable whether as good results could be
procured in any other way.
The method is as follows;-
In a small receiver in the shape, for instance, of a scoop open in front, there is
in the first place introduced a mass of chalk and gypsum (plaster of Paris) or
cement, having the consistency of pulp or gruel and being of the colour which is
to be the prevailing one or, so to speak, the ground colour. In this mass while
it is still in the scoop there are scattered smaller quantities of a mass of such
colour as is to form the grain of marbling. This mass is subsequently mingled
into the former mass, the ground colour mass, by means of a narrow or wide tool,
for instance a strip of steel of knife shape, said tool being used to stir the mass
about in straight or curved lines, parallel to or intersecting one another. By
using a finer tool fine grain may be produced, and when a coarser tool is used, the
graining will be coarser. If more than one colour be desired in the grain, two
or more graining colours must be employed in the manner described. If, when
intermingling the grain colours, the mass is stirred in the longitudinal direction
of the scoop (that is at right angles to the open scoop), the grain becomes more
parallel. If on the other hand, the grain colour be spread out crosswise in the
scoop (that is parallel to the pouring edge), a grain is obtained which should run
crosswise to the path of scoop, at the pouring of the mass from the same, but in
consequence of the motion of the scoop the grain will run in more or less curved
arcs. It is easily understood how by the latter method it is possible to produce
imitations of the grain of wood, for instance. By making the front edge of the
scoop straight or curved it is possible to cause the mass to flow out in different
ways. Different patterns may also be obtained in pouring, if the colours at one
side of the scoop be stirred longitudinally and at the other side crosswise or
diagonally.
The mixture thus prepared in the scoop is poured or layed out over the surface
(a pane of glass for instance) which is to form the support or bed of the mass in the
pouring and drying operations or during its further treatment. In pouring the
scoop is moved over the surface with its discharging edge foremost, in order that
the handsomest grain may be brought in direct contact with the underlying bed.
Beautiful effects may be produced in pouring by moving the scoop in a straight or
curved path, rapidly or slowly. Certain parts of the surface may be left uncovered
and subsequently filled in with a mass of different ground or grain colour.

page_text: It is readily seen that by this method beautiful graining, marbling, or pattern
works may easily be produced which would involve a great deal of labour, if they
were to be accomplished otherwise, for instance by the methods usually employed
by painters in producing graining and marbling. The method above described,
as regards the imitation of natural stone may almost be compared to that by
which nature herself has produced her designs.
After the formation of the graining, marbling or pattern on the underlying bed,
the mass is reinforced at the back by the addition, in known manner, of suitable
substances, so as to produce on the subsequent drying, a strong plate or flag
which may be afterwards subjected to any desired treatment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
A method of producing imitations of various minerals kinds of wood and other
materials, consisting in first placing in a scoop, open in front, a mass, having the
colour which is to form the ground colour, then scattering the said mass, while
still in the scoop, small quantities of one or more colours which are to form the
grain, marbling etc., then stirring said colour or colours into the mass and finally
pouring or laying the mass thus prepared out over an underlying bed while moving
the scoop with its discharging edge foremost in a straight or curved path over the
surface of the bed mentioned, the layer thus formed being subsequently treated
in known manner for the production of a rigid plate or flag.
Dated this 26th day of July 1897
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.