IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LABELS FOR PLANTS AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Arnold, of Bartholomew Road, Kentish Town,
in the county of Middlesex, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF LABELS FOR PLANTS AND FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Arnold at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1882.
SAMUEL ARNOLD, of Bartholomew Road, Kentish Town, in the County of
Middlesex, " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LABELS FOR PLANTS AND
FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES,"
This Invention relates specially to improvements in the manufacture of such
labels as are to be exposed to the influences of the atmosphere in gardens or
elsewhere, the labels so made being strong and durable, whilst at the same time
the inscriptions thereon are rendered more distinct and imperishable than is the
case with similar labels as ordinarily constructed.
It is well known that the inscriptions on ordinary plant labels, after a certain
amount of exposure to the atmosphere become, illegible whilst the labels themselves
are so impregnated with dirt, or are so acted on by the weather as to render them
unfit for further use. These objections are, however, obviated in the labels to
which this invention relates and which are manufactured from pipe clay in the
following manner. The pipe clay having been moistened to a proper extent, as
will be well understood, by water or other suitable liquid, is moulded or otherwise
brought to any desired shape, such as for instance, a fan, shield, pallet, vase, scroll,
battleaxe, obelisk, or other suitable design as may be desired. The labels, having
been so formed, are then baked until they are thoroughly dried, by which means
they are rendered proof against the action of the weather whilst they are also
brought to a clear bright color. In moulding or when the labels are moulded and
before drying a small quantity of oil may be applied to their outer surface whereby
the latter is rendered smoother and more suitable, when dried, for the reception of
inscriptions written in ink.

page_text: "
Labels manufactured as above described are not only very durable but can be
thoroughly cleansed, by washing, of any garden material or dirt adhering thereto.
The inscription can be placed thereon by writing with ordinary ink or lead pencil,
but it is preferred to employ, for that purpose, what is known as copying ink,"
as by so doing the inscription is of such a nature that it cannot be obliterated by
the weather. The whiteness of the pipe clay tends to render any black inscription
specially distinct.
It is desirable that the labels should be provided with more than one smooth
side so that if it be required to change the inscription it will only be necessary to
obliterate the existing one, and to write the one substituted therefor on another
smooth side or space.
In some cases metal frames are employed, into which the said pipe clay labels
are made to slide.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Arnold in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th September 1882.
SAMUEL ARNOLD, of Bartholomew Road, Kentish Town, in the County of
Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LABELS FOR PLANTS AND
FOR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
"
My said invention relates specially to improvements in the manufacture of such
labels as are to be exposed to the influences of the atmosphere in gardens or
elsewhere, the labels so made being strong and durable whilst at the same time
the inscriptions thereon are rendered more distinct and imperishable than is the
case with similar labels as ordinarily constructed.
It is well known that the inscriptions on ordinary plant labels after a certain
amount of exposure to the atmosphere become illegible whilst the labels themselves
are so impregnated with dirt or are so acted on by the weather as to render them
unfit for further use. These objections are, however, obviated in the labels to
which this invention relates and which are manufactured from pipe clay in the
following manner. The pipe clay having been moistened to a proper extent, as
will be well understood, by water or other suitable liquid is moulded or otherwise
brought to any desired shape, such as, for instance, a fan, shield, pallet, vase, scroll,
battleaxe, obelisk, or other suitable design as may be. desired. The labels, having
been so formed, are then baked until they are thoroughly dried, by which means
they are rendered proof against the action of the weather whilst they are also
brought to a clear bright color. In moulding or when the labels are moulded, and
before drying, a small quantity of oil may be applied to their outer surface,
whereby the latter is rendered smoother and more suitable when dried for the
reception of inscriptions written in ink.
Labels manufactured as above described are not only very durable, but by
washing can be thoroughly cleansed, of any garden material or dirt adhering
thereto. The inseription can be placed thereon by writing with ordinary ink or
lead pencil or other suitable material. The whiteness of the pipe clay tends to
render any black inscription specially distinct.
It is desirable that the labels should be provided with more than one smooth
side so that if it be required to change the inscription it will only be necessary to
obliterate the existing one and to write the one substituted therefor on another
amooth side or surface.
In some cases metal frames are employed into which the said pipe clay labels
can be fixed.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and the
manner in which it is to be performed I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider novel and original and therefore claim as constituting the invention
secured to me by the said hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent, is :-
The manufacture of labels for plants and for other similar purposes from pipe
clay, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Arnold have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.