AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF 'DRAIN BOTTOMs,
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Holmes, of Wapping Road, Bradford, in the
County of York, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMBINATION OF
MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF 'DRAIN BOTTOMs," FLUE
Sealed the 10th December 1867, and dated the 18th June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Holmes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th June 1867.
I, JOHN HOLMES, of Wapping Road, Bradford, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED COM-
BINATION OF MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF 'DRAIN BOTTOMS,"
FLUE SLABS, BRICKS, AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," to be as follows:―
My Invention has reference chiefly to the bottom parts of drains, although
applicable to other purposes where ordinary burnt clay is used, and where
strength and durability are essentially requisite.
The combination of materials referred to consists of a mixture of the dark
blue scale or shale found underneath the clay with the clay itself, in the pro-
portion of five-sixths of the former to one-sixth of the latter, by preference
the scale or shale having previously been pulverized and mixed with water to
render it of a pasty consistency, and then blended or mixed with the clay,
moulded to the required shape, and burnt in the customary manner. In sonre

page_text: cases I mix the strata underneath a bed of coal, and usually termed the
"seat," with the blue scale or shale and clay, preparing the "seat in the
same manner as the scale is done in the following preferred proportions:
"Seat" one-quarter, blue scale one-sixth, and the remainder clay. I thus
obtain by this admixture when burnt a hard and durable compound.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Holmes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HOLMES, of Wapping Road, Bradford, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant. unto me, the
said John Holmes, Her special licence that I, the said John Holmes,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Holmes, my 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, 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 "AN IMPROVED COMBINATION
OF MATERIALS TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DRAIN BOTTOMS,' FLUE
SLABS, BRICKS, AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Holmes, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, 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 Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Holmes, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention has reference chiefly to the bottom parts of drains, although
applicable to other purposes where ordinary burnt clay is used, and where
strength and durability are essentially requisite.

page_text: The combination of materials referred to consists of a mixture of the dark
blue scale or shale found underneath the clay in its bed with the clay itself in the
proportions of five-sixths of the former to one-sixth of the latter, by preference
the scale or shale having previously been pulverized and mixed with water to
render it of a pasty consistency, and then blended or mixed with the clay,
moulded to the required shape and burnt in the customary manner. In some
cases I mix the strata underneath a bed of coal, and usually termed the
"seat," with the blue scale or shale and clay, preparing the "seat" in the same
manner as the scale is done, in the following preferred proportions :-" Seat "
one-quarter, blue scale one-sixth, and the remainder clay. I thus obtain by
this admixture when burnt a hard and durable compound.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim as and
of my Invention is, the admixture of the scale or shale found in clay beds
underneath the clay with the clay itself, or the admixture of the scale or
shale with the "seat" found underneath coal in its bed, as well as with the
clay by preference in the proportions herein-before named (the scale having
in either case been treated before admixture as described) for the purpose of
forming when burnt a hard and durable compound.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Holmes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witnesses to the signing, sealing,
and delivery of these Presents
J. DAWSON, Sol., Bradford.
THO. RENTON, his Clerk.
JOHN HOLMS. (L.S.)