IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF EMBOSSED FABRICS, SUITABLE FOR WALL DECORATIONS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Walton, of Hentlam House, Twickenham, in' the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF EMBOSSED FABRICS, SUITABLE FOR WALL DECORATIONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Walton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th March 1877.
FREDERICK WALTON, of Heatham House, Twickenham, in the County of Middle-
sex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EMBOSSED FABRICS, SUITABLE
FOR WALL DECORATIONS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of embossed
fabrics suitable for wall decorations.
My improvements consist as follows:-I take solidified drying oil and combine
the same with woody fibre, as made for the paper manufacturer, and add coloring
matters to the shade required. I combine these materials in a mixing machine
which is heated by steam; the compound is then spread on to paper or other
suitable fabric by means of two rollers, one of which has a sunken device or pattern
thereon by which I obtain a pattern in relief on the surface of the fabric; the
pattern can be printed in gilt afterwards at pleasure.
In some cases I produce, in the first place, a plain sheet and emboss it after-
wards.
In using the solidified oil, I sometimes employ solidified oil produced by oxidizing
the oil on large surfaces, and so I obtain a material which goes by the trade name
of oxidized oil, and sometimes I use oxidized oil produced by long boiling at a
very high temperature; in either case I prefer to use gum and resin combined
therewith,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Walton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th Septem-
ber 1877.
FREDERICK WALTON, of Heatham House, Twickenham, in the County of Middle-
sex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EMBOSSED FABRICS, SUITABLE
FOR WALL DECORATIONS."
This Invention has for its improvements in the manufacture of embossed fabrics
suitable for wall decorations. For this purpose I employ a composition of which
oxidized or boiled oil is the chief ingredient, and similar in that respect to the
composition employed for the manufacture of linoleum and such like floor cloths.
I spread this composition upon a fabric, and at the same operation, or whilst the
composition is still soft, I emboss it with an ornamental pattern, after which I
proceed to harden the material by hanging it in a heated chamber where it is kept
for a considerable period.
The embossed material can be further decorated by the application of color by
hand or otherwise.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe in detail the manner in which I prefer to
conduct the manufacture.
I take a solidified drying oil, I prefer to employ that obtained by spreading
suitably prepared linseed oil over a largo surface and so submitting it to the action.
of the air; this material goes by the trade name of oxidized oil, but drying oil,
rendered solid. by long boiling at a high temperature with suitable chemicals, as
is well understood and commonly practised, may also be used. I mix 100 lbs. of
solidified oil with 10 lbs. of kaurie gum and 10 lbs. of resin. Of this composition I
tako 100 lbs. and add to it sufficient colouring matter or pigment to produce the
desired colour, and about 5 lbs. of dryers, such as litharge, red lead, or lime, according
to the nature of the composition used. I prefer, however, to use 5 lbs. for 100 lbs.
of cement of either litharge or red lead, except where a light coloured material is
required, and in such cases I use white manganese, white lead, or unslacked lime.
I also mix with the composition in a mixing machine 150 lbs. of wood fibre as it
is prepared for the manufacture of paper, but in a dry state. Or in case a smooth
surface should not be required I can employ in place of the wood fibre ground cork
or other such like material. I mix the fibre or material with the composition in a
mixing machine, such as is employed in the manufacture of linoleum and such like
floor cloth. I use rollers to complete the mixing and then I proceed to spread the
material upon a fabric. I usually employ a comparatively thin woven fabric, but
paper can be used and is suitable where strength is not needed. To effect the
spreading, I employ two metal rollers set with their axes parallel and with their
surfaces at a short distance apart. I lead the fabric, upon which the composition is
to be spread, over one of the rollers and lubricate the other. The composition I
place between the two. As the rollers revolve the composition is drawn in and
forms a sheet between the fabric and the roller of a thickness dependent on the
distance the rollers are set apart. I then cause the sheet to pass under a roller of
metal having the desired pattern recessed into it, and this embossing roller is so set
as to compress the sheet between its own surface and that of the lower or first-
mentioned roller over which the fabric to be spread is passed, and in this way an
embossed pattern is raised upon the surface of the sheet.
In order to prevent adhesion of the material I pass a very light silken or other
fabric over the embossed roller. I previously damp the fabric with water or moisten
with oil. I afterwards strip off the fabric from the face of the embossed shect.
In some cases I prefer not to strip it; in such case I do not wet or grease it.
The fabric, if stripped off, can be used-many times. I hang the embossed shect
up in a drying chamber and there I keep it for about a fortnight, until the com-
position is thoroughly hardened to the same degree as it is usual to harden linoleum

page_text: and such like floor cloth. I prefer to expose the fabric to about 90 degrees Fahren-
heit for a day or two, and then to increase the temperature to 120° or 130°; the best
result is so obtained. Afterwards the material is further decorated, in most cases,
by the application of colour and gold, either by hand or otherwise.
In place of spreading and embossing in the same machine, these operations may
be performed separately and with some interval between them, so long as the com-
position is not permitted to become too hard. Or again, in place of spreading with
a smooth surfaced roller, the embossing roller may be made to serve the double
purpose of spreading and embossing, but I prefer to conduct the manufacture in the
manner above described.
When a face fabric is employed which it is not intended to strip off, I prefer to
prepare this fabric by giving to it previous to use a thin coating of composition, and
so I form a face upon it similar to that of artificial leather.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I claim the manufacture of
embossed fabrics, suitable for wall decoration, by spreading a composition of solidified
oil upon a fabric, producing a raised pattern upon it by means of an embossing
surface and then hardening the embossed sheet, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Walton, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TAמTD TA
TRAY