IMPROVEMENTS IN TOMBSTONES OR MONUMENTS AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF, PARTS OF WHICH INVENTION ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO COFFINS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Rogerson, of Leeds, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOMBSTONES OR MONUMENTS AND OTHER
SIMILAR STRUCTURES, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF, PARTS OF WHICH
INVENTION ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO COFFINS."
Sealed the 14th November 1876, and dated the 20th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Rogerson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1876.
ROBERT ROGERSON, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TOMBSTONES OR MONUMENTS AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES, AND IN THE MANU-
FACTURE THEREOF, PARTS OF WHICH INVENTION ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO COFFINS."
1st. In forming a standing toombstone upon the principles of my Invention I cut
two pieces of glass to the required shape, and after blackening, ornamenting, or
painting to imitate stone or otherwise, on one side of each I screw, cement, or
otherwise fasten them to a hard wood, lead, or other framework, the painted or
ornamented sido being innermost. After this I cover the exposed edges of the
glass or frame with moulded or other glass similarly ornamented. I, however,
frequently let this glass project over the front so as to allow of another piece or
pieces of glass upon which the lettering is put to fit under the edge, the same
being screwed or otherwise fixed on so that they can be taken off any time for
further lettering. This is not absolutely necessary, as the two main pieces of glass
could be lettered instead. To allow of additions in this case I paint the letters in
oils, but the background or imitation stonework of water color or other material
capable of being washed off without injuring the oil color. I now screw four
pieces of strong iron or bronze to the base of the wood framework to fit into holes
in a stone or concrete, or cast or wrought-iron foundation, and secure them with
lead or cement.
2nd. Funeral and other monuments can be made in accordance with my Inven-
tion in the following manner:-A suitable framework of iron, bronze, artificial
stone, or other suitable material or combination of materials is formed, the samo
being so arranged that plato glass pannels for the lettering to be put upon can be
inserted so that they can be taken out any time for further lettering. The frame-
work painted (or galvanized in the case of iron) or otherwise ornamented and pro-
tected in any desirable manner can be screwed, bolted, or otherwise secured in any
Price Gal

page_text: convenient manner, or can be covered with moulded glass, as before described, to a
solid foundation of stone, concrete, brickwork, or other suitable material.
3rd. Coffins can be made in a similar manner. A skeleton framework of iron,
bronze, or lead is made first, and glass panels, after being blackened or ornamented
to taste, can be inserted. The hardened glass made by annealing the hot glass in
oil, &c. is the kind that I would prefer to make these monuments, tombstones, and
coffins of if obtained cheaply.
The main gist of this Invention consists in manufacturing the tombstones, monu-
ments, and coffins of pannels of glass painted on the inside so as to imitate finely
polished stone or other material, said panels being screwed or otherwise attached
to frames and their edges covered by ornamental mouldings, and also in the minor
details already explained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Robert Rogerson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th November
1876.
ROBERT ROGERSON, of Leeds, in the County of York. " IMPROVEMENTS IN TOMB-
STONES, MONUMENTS, AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES, AND IN THE MANUFAC-
TURE THEREOF, PARTS OF WHICH INVENTION ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO COFFINS."
This Invention consists in forming funereal and other monuments and coffins of
glass plates and moulded glass (usually strengthened by a suitable framework of
tougher material), and colored on the inside so as to imitate granite, marble, or
other polished material. The whole, in the case of monumental structures, sup-
ported on a base of iron, stone, concrete, or other material.
Referring to the Drawings, Fig. 1 shows a section; Fig. 2 an elevation of frame-
work; Fig. 3 a front elevation of a gravestone made in accordance with my Inven-
tion; Fig. 4 a similar and cheap alternative forin.
In Fig. 1, 2, and 3, A is a skeleton backing of wood, iron, or other material
fastened by bolts or otherwise to base B (in this case of cast iron). Stone will do
for a base equally well, but in such case I attach the frame to it by studs with
dovetail ends let into the stone and made fast with lead or cement run in. Cand D
are glass plates painted in any desirable manner on the inner side and screwed
round their edges to backing A. E is a moulding of glass, likewise painted to
imitate stone, placed over the whole all round the edge so as to hide the screws.
This moulding can be cemented on with waterproof cement. The lettering can be
painted on the back of the glass C or D itself in oils and the stone coloring in
water color, so that it can be washed off at any time without disturbing the
lettering and fresh inscriptions added. But this is not absolutely necessary, as if
the stone coloring is done in oil it can be washed off with potash when required,
and instead of painting the lettering, et cetera, on the glass, printed, lithographed,
photographed, embossed, painted, cut, or otherwise arranged lettering and ornamen-
tation can be done upon paper, wood, zinc, or other suitable material, and put
behind the glass panels instead of working upon the glass itself, or in some cases
it may be desirable to have a combination of both ways.
I sometimes affix to the front glass a moulding F capable of containing a remove-
able glass plate G, which alone contains the inscription and ornamentation, which
may also be cut into the glass. In that case the backs of plates C and D are
usually painted in a permanent manner. The arrangement of glass tombs or coffins
can be endlessly varied, and depends entirely upon the taste of the designer. This
single instance, however, completely explains my Invention, so that any one with
intelligence and artistic skill can work it successfully. It is needless, therefore, to
enlarge further. Fig. 4, however, shows a distinct modification of my Invention
which I use for tombstones where economy of cost is an object; in this Z is an

page_text: ornamental framework of metal, concrete, or other suitable material. F, a moulding,
and Ga tablet of glass similar to those already described under letters F and G in
the other Figures. H, a base of iron, wood, or other material pointed so as to be
readily inserted into the ground.
I claim as my Invention under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent-
1st. The construction of funereal or other monuments and coffins of glass panel-
ling with an interior colored, or white or black surface, to resemble granite, marble,
or other stone or other material, and surrounded by ornamental moulding, sub-
stantially as described, with or without a backing of stronger material.
2nd. The combination of the glass panel G and moulding F with plate D, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
3rd. The special arrangement of tombstone or heading, substantially as described
and shown in Fig. 4.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Rogerson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of November, 1876.
Witness,
TOM CROSLAND,
Mr. William P. Thompson's,
Patent Office,
6, Lord St.,
Liverpool.
ROBERT ROGERSON. (LS.)