IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER CAVINA TITH
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bonython Moffatt, of Brentwood, in
the County of Essex, Architect, and George Middleton Henley,
of 45, Goswell Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING BRICKS, TILES, AND OTHER
CAVINA TITH
"
Sealed the 9th January 1872, and dated the 12th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bonython
Moffatt and George Middleton Henley at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 12th July
1871.
We, WILLIAM BONYTHON MOFFATT, of Brentwood, in the County
of Essex, Architect, and GEORGE MIDDLETON HENLEY, of 45, Goswell
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURNING. BRICKS, TILES,
AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,'
to be as follows:
:-
"
Our Invention consists of an improved method of burning bricks,
tiles, and all articles employed for building purposes manufactured

page_text: from clay or other analagous substances in which allumina forms the
basis, whereby we obtain a gray color varying from a light to a dark
tint, which we effect or accomplish by forming a chamber or a series of
chambers so constructed as to be made air-tight, with a regulating
aperture, to be partially or entirely closed when the superfluous vapours
have been driven off, the object being to retain the gases generated
in the course of firing and to exclude the air in cooling when burnt.
These chambers may be formed in the inside of an ordinary brick or
tile kiln or clamp or special kilns may be constructed on a principal
more fitted to the purpose.
By this Invention we not only obtain the gray color, but the articles
so treated will be materially strengthened and rendered far more
durable.
Statuary and pottery of all kinds manufactured from terra cotta or
a mixture of terra cotta and other compounds (after having been burnt
their natural tint) can be indurated a grey color throughout by refiring
them on this principle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Bonython Moffatt and George Middleton
Henley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th January
1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
BONYTHON MOFFATT, of Brentwood, in the County of Essex, Architect,
and GEORGE MIDDLETON HENLEY, of 45, Goswell Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said William Bonython Moffatt and George
Middleton Henley, Her special licence that we, the said William
Bonython Moffatt and George Middleton Henley, our executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said William Bonython
Moffatt and George Middleton Henley, our 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,

page_text: 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 BURNING BRICKS,
TILES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said William
Bonython Moffatt and George Middleton Henley, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, 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 Scal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Bonython Moffatt and
George Middleton Henley, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our Invention consists of an improved method of burning bricks,
tiles, and all articles employed for building purposes manufactured
from clay or other analogous substances in which allumina forms the
basis, whereby we obtain a gray color varying from a light to a dark
tint, which we effect or accomplish by forming a chamber or a series
of chambers so constructed as to be made air-tight in which the articles
to be burnt are placed in the ordinary manner. The chamber being
supplied with a regulating aperture to be partially or entirely closed
when the superfluous vapours have been driven off, the object being
to retain the gases (or vapours) generated in the course of firing and
to exclude the air in cooling when burnt. These chambers may be
formed in the inside of an ordinary brick or tile kiln or “ clamp,"
or special kilns may be constructed on a principle more fitted to the
purpose.
By this Invention we not only obtain the gray color but the
articles so treated will be materially hardened and strengthened and
rendered more durable.
Statuary and pottery of all kinds manufactured from terra-cotta or
a mixture of terra cotta and other compounds (before or after having
been burnt their natural tint) can be perindurated a gray color by
refiring them on this principle.

page_text: We do not confine ourselves to clay or other analogous substances,
but our process is extended to the various kinds of stone to color, and
render more durable for building or ornamental purposes.
Having now fully described the nature of this our said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into practical
effect, we claim as new, the production of a gray tint by employing an
air-tight chamber as herein-described or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Bonython Moffatt and
George Middleton Henley, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand cight hundred and seventy-two.
W. B. MOFFATT. (L.S.)
G. M. HENLEY. (L.S.)