IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOODEN BOTTLE STOPPERS AND BUNGS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF WOODEN BOTTLE STOPPERS AND BUNGS." A communica-
tion from abroad by Frank Addison Howig, of the City and County of San
Francisco, State of California, United States of America.
Sealed the 31st May 1878, and dated the 5th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at.
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th January 1878.
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOODEN BOTTLE
STOPPERS AND BUNGS." [A communication from abroad by Frank Addison Howig,
of the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, United States of
America.]
This Invention relates to the manufacture of wooden bottle stoppers and
bungs, and consists in subjecting the wood to chemical action, as hereafter
described.
The wood is first cut into the desired form for stoppers or bungs, which may be
done by machinery at a comparatively insignificant cost.
The stoppers or bungs so prepared are immersed in a strong cold solution of
potash, and there allowed to remain until they have become thoroughly saturated
with the fluid, when they are removed. By this means they are rendered
compressible with slight force, and elastic.
They are then subjected to the action of boiling water or steam to remove the
contained potash, and immersed in glycerine and water of equal parts, or one part
of the former to two of the latter, or glycerine and milk in these proportions heated
nearly or about to the boiling point, and there allowed to remain until thoroughly
permeated by the mixture, the time varying according to the size of the stopper or
bung.

page_text: When removed from this mixture, the ducts of the wood being well filled there-
with, the stoppers or bungs are subjected to a moderate degree of heat in order to
expel the watery portion of the mixture from them.
The stoppers or bungs are then immersed in either beeswax or paraffine, rendered
fluid by heat for from one to two hours or more.
The stoppers or bungs are then put into a drum with clean sand, and shaken, so
as to remove from their surface the adhering wax or paraffine.
After these various steps there results a product which answers all the require-
ments of a bottle stopper or bung, and may be produced at much less cost than the
ordinary stoppers of bark. They are stronger and of better appearance than the
bark stoppers, and more elastic and impervious than the ordinary stoppers or
bunge.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st July 1878.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOODEN BOTTLE
STOPPERS AND BUNGS." A communication from abroad by Frank Addison Howig,
of the City and County of San Francisco, State of California, United States of
America.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of wooden bottle stoppers or bungs.
According to this Invention the wood is subjected to chemical action, and the
following are the several steps of the process:-
First. The wood is cut into the desired form for stoppers or bunge, which may be
done by machinery at comparatively insignificent cost.
Second. The stoppers or bungs so prepared are immersed in a strong cold
solution of potash, and there allowed to remain until they have become thoroughly
saturated with the fluid, when they are removed. By this means they are rendered
compressible with slight force and elastic.
Third. They are then subjected to the action of boiling water or steam to remove
the contained potash.
Fourth. They are then immersed in glycerine and water of equal parts, or one
part of the former to two of the latter, or glycerine and milk in these proportions
heated nearly or about to the boiling point, and there allowed to remain until
thoroughly permeated by the mixture, the time varying according to the size of the
stopper or bung.
Fifth. When removed from this mixture, the ducts of the wood being well filled
therewith, the stoppers or bungs are subjected to a moderate degree of heat in order
to expel the watery portion of the mixture from them.
Sixth. The stoppers or bungs are then immersed in either beeswax or paraffine,
rendered fluid by heat for from one to two hours or more,

page_text: Seventh. The stoppers or bungs are then put into a drum with clean sand, and
shaken so as to remove from their surface the adhering wax or paraffine.
After these various steps there results a product which answers all the require-
ments of a bottle stopper or bung, and may be produced at much less cost than the
ordinary stoppers of bark. They are stonger and of better appearance than
the bark stoppers, and more elastic and impervious than the ordinary stoppers or
bungs.
I am aware that the several chemicals above specified have been heretofore used
separately in the treatment of wood, but I am not aware that they have been used
in combination for rendering it elastic and impervious, which is the object of
this Invention.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. A new process for treating wood for making elastic bottle stoppers and bungs,
consisting in removing the resinous and gummy matters by treatment with strong
alkaline solutions, and then subjecting it to steam or hot water, and subsequent
treatment with glycerine and paraffine or wax, or their equivalents, substantially
as set forth.
2nd. Elastic wooden bottle stoppers or bungs impervious to liquids and gases,
prepared substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
MOT ADIZ