IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN AND TERNE PLATES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomkins, of Morriston, in the County of
Glamorgan, Tin Plate Worker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN AND TERNE PLATES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO
BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 21st August 1863, and dated the 25th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomkins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th February 1863.
I, GEORGE TOMKINS, of Morriston, in the County of Glamorgan, Tin Plate
5 Worker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN AND TERNE PLATES, AND IN THE APPARATUS.
TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the manufacture of tin
and terne plates, and also in the apparatus to be used therein, the object being
to make the plates with greater rapidity and of better quality than by the.
methods at present in use. I propose to coat iron plates with
mixture or alloy of nickel, zinc, and lead, or entirely with lead.
plates, I propose to dip the iron plates into the pot, and then
tin, or with a
To make tin
to draw them.

page_text: upwards through brass or other metallic tubes, rollers, or bars instead of
leaving them in the grease pot. In order to do this I arrange on the top of
the metal pot an oblong square frame, placed horizontally, holding from two
to two dozen clams, rollers, tubes, or bars fixed on the top of the pot. A
lifting rack at the bottom of the pot will raise the plates, after which they
are to be caught with a clip and removed. The clams may be made hollow
or flat either in the form of circular or square tubes or flat bars, and are to
be kept heated at a temperature equal to that of the molten metal below
them by means of mandrils or rods heated by immersion in the molten metal
or in a fire, and then inserted into the hollow clams, or by means of molten metal
circulating through the same, or, when bars are used, by dipping or lowering
them into the metal. Gas may also be employed to heat the clams. The
distance between the clams can be regulated according to the thickness of the
plates to be drawn through them. These clams partially clear the plates from
the superfluous molten metal instead of using the ordinary grease pot; they
will also answer the purpose of cleaning the plate from the list instead of
using the list pot. For lead and terne plates I propose to use the clams, but
in lieu of dipping the iron plates into the molten metal, I propose to form
above the clams a tray, three sides of which form a gutter or channel for
carrying the molten metal, which is ladled from the pot into the gutter. The
iron plates are held in a rack below the tray and above the pot, they will be
raised up through the clams by means of clips after the molten metal has
been poured into the tray above them. From each end of the gutter a series of
tubes, from two to two dozen communicate through which the metal runs, and
passes out through narrow slots cut along the sides of the pipes or tubes, by
which means the metal runs down the sides of the iron plates and coats them,
and the clams clean and draw the superfluous metal therefrom instead of
using the grease pot or hot chamber as is now done.
A modification of my Invention consists in tinning plates by a circular
rack. The plates are first to be dipped in hot water after coming from the
cold water; in consequence of the plates being dipped into the hot water they
became dried; then they are to be dipped into liquid spirits of salts and sal
ammoniac water instead of dipping them into grease; they are then to be
placed in a sliding rack; the rack is then brought over the hot plate of
the pot to dry them, and they are then placed in another dipping rack and
immersed in the molten metal, they are then removed and cleaned as before.
Or, instead of the sliding rack, I propose to place the plates to be coated into
a circular or revolving rack, half of which rotates in the molten metal. A cap

page_text: extends around the rack, or nearly so, in order partly to enclose or confine
the heat within the various divisions of the rotating chamber, and also partially
or wholly to clean the plates, a shifting ring or band also encloses the divisions
and prevents the plates from falling out of this rack. In some cases I dispense
with the cap or cover and substitute the clams in the form of rollers, tubes, or
bars, as before described, which are placed above the circular rack in a hori-
zontal position. The plates are then drawn through the rollers, bars, or tubes,
and cleaned, as before stated. In some cases I use a series of double or open
arms set on a shaft worked by a winch, crank, or other means upon and between
which, on pins a corresponding series of racks are suspended, in which racks
the plates to be coated are held; the shaft is set above the pot in suitable
bearings and underneath the rollers or clams; the revolution of these arms
causes the plates to dip into the molten metal, whence they are lifted and
drawn through the rollers; bars, or tubes, and cleaned accordingly.
In making tin plates I use a brush or brushes below the clams for the
purpose of clearing the plates of the superfluous metal previously to their passing
through the clams, but for lead and terne plates the rollers, clams, tubes, or
bars are to be adopted, and will be found sufficient. These may be made of
brass, copper, steel, or iron, or other metals or alloys. The circular rack may
in some cases be employed for the manufacture of lead and térne plates. A
great advantage will result from the manufacture of terne plates composed of
iron dipped in the mixture of half a part of nickel, three parts of zinc, and
one hundred and twelve parts of lead or thereabouts..
By this Invention several dozen plates may be made simultaneously instead
of only one plate as is now done.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMKINS, of Morriston, in the County of Glamorgan, Tin Plate Worker, send
.greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto

page_text: me, the said George Tomkins, Her special licence that I, the said George
Tomkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Tomkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN AND TERNE PLATES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George
Tomkins, 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 George Tomkins, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement :-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the manufacture of tin
and terne plates, and also in the apparatus to be used therein, the object
being to make the plates with greater rapidity and of better quality than by
the methods at present in use.
In order that my Invention may be completely understood, I now proceed
to describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
I coat iron plates with tin, or with a mixture or alloy of nickel, zinc, or
lead, or entirely with lead. To make tin plates, I dip the iron plates into the
pot and then draw them upwards through clams of brass, copper, steel, or iron,
or other suitable metal. These clams are to consist of metallic tubes, rollers,
bars, or rods, of any desired shape, and the process of so drawing the plates
through the clams is a substitute for leaving them in the grease pot. In
order to draw the plates from the pot, I arrange on the top of the metal pot
an oblong square frame, placed horizontally, holding from two to two dozen
clams, rollers, tubes, or bars fixed on the top of the pot. A lifting rack at
the bottom of the pot will raise the plates, after which they are to be caught
with clips and removed. The clams are to be kept heated at a temperature
equal to that of the molten metal below them by means of mandrils, or rods

page_text: heated by immersion in the molten metal or in a fire, and then inserted into
the hollow clams, or they may be heated by means of molten metal circulating
through them, or, when bars are used, by dipping or lowering them into the
metal. Gas may also be employed to heat the clams. The distance between
the clams can be regulated, according to the thickness of the plates to be
drawn through them. These clams partially clear the plates from the super-
fluous molten metal instead of using the ordinary grease pot; they will also
answer the purpose of cleaning the plate from the list instead of using the list
pot. For lead and terne plates I use the clams, but in lieu of dipping the iron
plates into the molten metal, I form above the clams a tray, three sides of which
form a gutter or channel for carrying the molten metal, which is ladled from
the pot into the gutter. The iron plates are held in a rack below the tray
and above the pot; they will be raised up through the clams by means of
clips after the molten metal has been poured into the tray above them. From
each end of the gutter a series of tubes, from two to two dozen, communicate,
through which the metal runs, and passes out through narrow slots cut along
the sides of the pipes or tubes, by which means the metal runs down the sides
of the iron plates and coats them, and the clams clean and draw the super-
fluous metal therefrom instead of using the grease pot or hot chamber as is
now done.
A modification of my Invention consists in tinning plates by a circular rack.
The plates are first to be dipped in hot water after coming from the cold
water; in consequence of the plates being dipped into the hot water they
become dried; then they are to be dipped into liquid spirits of salts and sal
ammoniac water instead of dipping them into grease; they are then to be
placed in a sliding rack; the rack is then brought over the hot plate of the
pot to dry them, and they are then placed in another dipping rack and
immersed in the molten metal; they are then removed and cleaned as before.
Or, instead of the sliding rack, I may place the plates to be coated into a
circular or revolving rack, half of which rotates in the molten metal. A cap
extends around the rack, or nearly so, in order partly to enclose or confine
the heat within the various divisions of the rotating chamber, and also
partially or wholly to clean the plates; a shifting ring or band also encloses
the divisions, and prevents the plates from falling out of this rack. In some
cases I dispense with the cap or cover, and substitute the clams in the form
of rollers, tubes, or bars, as before described, which are placed above the cir-
cular rack in a horizontal position. The plates are then to be drawn through
the rollers, bars, or tubes, and cleaned as before stated. In some cases I uso

page_text: a series of double or open arms set on a shaft worked by a winch, crank, or
other means, upon and between which, on pins, a corresponding series of racks
are to be suspended, in which racks the plates to be coated are held; the
shaft is set above the pot in suitable bearings and underneath the rollers
or clams; the revolution of these arms causes the plates to dip into the molten
metal, whence they are to be lifted and drawn through the rollers, bars, or
tubes, and cleaned accordingly.
In making tin plates I use a brush or brushes below the clams for the purpose
of cleaning the plates from superfluous metal previously to their passing
through the clams, but for lead and terne plates the rollers, clams, tubes, or
bars are to be adopted, and will be found sufficient. These may be made
of alloys or mixtures of metals. The circular rack may in some cases be
employed for the manufacture of lead and térne plates. A great advantage
will result from the manufacture of terne plates composed of iron dipped
in the mixture of half a part of nickel, three parts of zinc, and one hundred
and twelve parts of lead or thereabouts.
.
By this Invention several dozen plates may be made simultaneously instead
of only one plate as is now done.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew a plan and end view of a dipping and melting pot
and tray. a, a, is the dipping pot, and b, b, the melting pot; the dipping
pot is supported by pins resting in notches cut in the inclined planes c, c,
in order that it may be slid down and removed on to the trays d, d.
Two dipping pots may be employed alternately so that while one set of
plates are being drained another set are being filled. Fig. 3 is a section of a
dipping pot suited for a circular rack. Fig. 4 shews an end view of a series
of racks for holding the plates. Figs. 5 and 6 shew an example of clams,
Fig. 5 being a plan view, and Fig. 6 an end view. e, e, are spaces between
open clams, and f, f, shew the same closed ready for the plates to be
drawn; they are opened and closed by means of the cranked arms or
handles.g, which in practice would be connected by one shaft or bar h.
The above are merely a few examples to illustrate the principle of the
Invention, which has already been fully explained and made clear to those
acquainted with the art of manufacturing tin and terne plates. The racks
and plates may be tightened, as necessary, by screw pressure or other
means.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark that I do not limit
myself to any particular form of apparatus for carrying my processes into

page_text: effect; I have explained some, but it is obvious that they may be varied
without departing from the principles of the Invention, but what I claim,
and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent,
are the improvements herein described in manufacturing tin and terne plates,
thus obviating the use of the grease pot hitherto used, and employing lifting
racks and clams, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomkins, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
DANIEL REES,
High Street,
Swansea.
GEORGE TOMKINS. (L.S.)