IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMBER "VARNISH
Year: 1877

page_text: :
LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Meredith, of Edgbaston, in the County of Warwick,
for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMBER
"VARNISH."
Scaled the 18th December 1877, and dated the 22nd October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Meredith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1877.
SAMUEL MEREDITH, of Edgbaston, in the County of Warwick. ** IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMBER VARNISH."
My Invention relates to improvements in the process of manufacturing amber
varnish, whereby a varnish is produced capable of giving a very superior polish or
surface, and especially valuable for coach and other high class work.
I first bleach or prepare the amber as follows:-I place a quantity of yellow
amber in a suitable receptacle, such as an earthen crucible of sufficient strength, and
add double the quantity of sal gemme, and then pour in as much spring water as
will dissolve the sal gemme; and when the latter is dissolved I add more water and
stand the crucible over a fire until the color of the amber is changed to a perfect
white. The bleached amber is next placed in an iron pot and heated over a common
fire until it is completely liquefied, after which the melting pot is removed from the
fire, and when sufficiently cool the amber is immersed in spring water to eliminate
the sal gemme, after which the pot is again heated over the fire until the amber is
again liquefied. When the operation is finished the amber is removed from the pot
and spread out upon a clean marble slab to dry, and afterwards exposed to a gentle
heat to entirely deprive it of humidity.
To make a varnish white amber prepared as above is reduced to powder in a
mortar, or otherwise, and melted over a fire in a clean iron pot, as much fine nut oil
being then added as will make it flow, after which the whole is well stirred until

page_text: thoroughly mixed. The pot is now removed from the fire, and when the heat has
sufficiently moderated essence of turpentine is added to form a varnish of the proper
consistency for use.
The following proportions of the ingredients I find to answer well, but I do not
limit myself thereto
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Meredith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th April
1878.
"
SAMUEL MEREDITH, of Edgbaston, in the County of Warwick. IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AMBER VARNISH."
My Invention relates to improvements in the process of inanufacturing amber
varnish, whereby a varnish is produced capable of giving a very superior polish or
surface, and especially valuable for coach painting and other high class work.
I first bleach or prepare the amber as follows:-I place a quantity, say, about
seven pounds of yellow amber in a suitable receptacle, such as an earthen crucible
of sufficient strength, and add fourteen pounds of sal gemme, and then pour in as
much spring water as will dissolve the sal gemme; and when the latter is dissolved
I add more water and stand the crucible over a fire until the colour of the amber is
changed to a perfect white. The bleached amber is next placed in an iron pot and
heated over a common fire until it is completely dissolved, after which the melting
pot is removed from the fire, and when sufficiently cool the amber is removed from
the pot and immersed in spring water to eliminate the sal gemme, after which the
amber is put back into the pot and is again heated over the fire until the ainber is
dissolved. When the operation is finished the amber is removed from the pot and
spread out upon a clean marble slab to dry until all the water has evaporated,
and must be afterwards exposed to a gentle hoat to entirely deprive it of humidity.
To make a varnish, white amber prepared as above described is reduced to powder
in a mortar, or otherwise, and is melted over a fire in a clean iron pot, and as much
fine nut oil as will make it into a varnish is then added, after which the whole is
well stirred until thoroughly mixed. The pot is now removed from the fire, and
when the heat has sufficiently moderated essence of turpentine is added to form a
composition of the proper consistency for use.
The following proportions of the ingredients I find to answer well, but I do not
limit myself thereto.

page_text: before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved process of manufacturing
amber varnish, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Meredith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
SAMUEL MEREDITH.
(L.S.)