IMPROVEMENTS IN FACTURE OF PRUSSIATE OF POTASH AND PRUSSIAN BLUE." THE
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Webster, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FACTURE OF PRUSSIATE OF POTASH AND PRUSSIAN BLUE."
THE MANU.
Sealed the 31st January 1861, and dated the 8th August 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Webster, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
August 1860.
I, JAMES WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PRUSSIATE OF POTASH AND PRUSSIAN BLUE," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist, first, in causing oxide of iron or iron in any
other state to enter into combination with bark wood, or sawdust, or spent
bark (that has been used by tanners.) After the iron has been taken up by
the bark wood, &c., by moisture being applied, the whole is dried and burned
in retorts or other apparatus, and when cold it is saturated with carbonate of
potash, as in the usual way of manufacturing.
Secondly, for the use of sulphate of ammonia with lime for the making and
supplying ammoniacal gas to the carbonized bark or wood, &c., whilst in a hot
state, and charged with the iron and potash, the prepared bark, wood, &c.,
being at the time confined in the said retorts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th February 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WEBSTER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, send
greeting.
1
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Webster, Her special licence that I, the said James Webster,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Jaines Webster, 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, for Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRUSSIATE OF POTASH AND PRUSSIAN BLUE," pun
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Webster, 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 YB, that I, the said James Webster, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My improvements consist, first, in causing oxide of iron or iron in other
like state to enter into combination with bark, wood, sawdust, or spent bark
(that has been used by tanners); this combination of the vegetable with the
mineral substance is formed by simply mixing the two together and applying
moisture. After the combination is formed the whole is dried and burned in
the retorts, Figures 1, 2, and 3 (all of which have a lid and bottom as
Figure 1, c and d, and are heated by flues f, f); when cold it is saturated
with carbonate of potash as in the usual way of manufacturing.
"

page_text: Secondly, I use sulphate of ammonia with lime and water in a suitable
boiler for making and supplying ammoniacal gas to the carbonised bark, wood,
sawdust, or spent bark, whilst in a hot state, and charged with iron and
potash, the prepared bark being at the time confined in the said retorts; the
arrows shew the passage of the ammoniacal gas which enters the retorts at a,
and the gas not taken up by the contents of Figure 1 retort passes into
Figure 2, and so on to Figure 3, the superfluous gas finds its way into the
condenser, Figure 4, which is filled with moist coke or other like substance,
and is kept moist by the water rose bat the top, the gas meeting with the
damp substance is condensed, and falling passes into the tank, Figure 5, and is
then ready to form more gas by being mixed with lime.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the mode of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that 1 do not confine myself to the
exact form of the retorts and condenser, or the exclusive use of gas made from
sulphate of ammonia and lime; but what I claim is (in the manufacture of
prussiate of potash and Prussian blue), the use of bark, wood, sawdust, or
spent bark with oxide of iron, or other like iron, and the passing of ammoniacal
gas through and into it after it has been chared or burned, and charged with
the carbonate of potash. I also claim the manufacturing of ammoniacal gas
with sulphate of ammonia, lime, and water, for the manufacture of prussiate of
potash and Prussian blue.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Webster, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-one.
Witness,
JOSEPH COOKE,
Birmingham.
JAMES WEBSTER. (L.S.)