IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BALLS FOR BILLIARDS AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Woodward, of 17, Wellington Terrace, Shepherd's
Bush, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BALLS FOR BILLIARDS AND OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by William Henry Lippincott,
of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 14th October 1870, and dated the 24th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Woodward at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1876.
HENRY WOODWARD, of 17, Wellington Terrace, Shepherd's Bush, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BALLS FOR
BILLIARDS AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by William
Henry Lippincott, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America.
I employ a variety of moulds with suitable vulcanizing apparatus, and I commence
by first vulcanizing a central core or nucleus, which core is enclosed in another
mould of larger size containing rubber sufficient to surround the core, which mould
with its contents is subjected to the same vulcanizing process as the first. Any
number of coatings or layers may be added in this manner until the ball attains
the required size, the vulcanizing operation boing performed for each layer, and a
mould of increased diameter being employed for each operation. The ball when
thus formed is turned and polished in the ordinary way.
The vulcanizing process is the same or similar to that pursued by dentists in
vulcanizing rubber in their profession, the requisite heat being obtained from steam
or water confined in the vulcanizer and raised to a temperature of about 320°.
It will thus be seen that the ball is formed of different or successive layers of
rubber, each layer being vulcanized as it is added to the mass.
The heat to which the ball is subjected at each operation fuses and combines the
joining surfaces so that the ball when completed is a homogeneous mass from centre
to surface, all marks by which the different layers could be distinguished being
nearly obliterated.
The ball thus formed possesses all the properties required for billiard balls with
equal or greater elasticity than ivory, of uniformn density, and with all the necessary
hardness and tenacity, besides being unaffected by moisture or changes of tem-

page_text: perature. Other substances than rubber may be used as a core, or be surrounded
with one or more layers of vulcanite by the process described, but I consider the
pure vulcanite ball the best.
Any desired color may be obtained, from white to black, by bleaching or coloring
the rubber before vulcanization, such color being fixed and uniform throughout.
Having thus described my Invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by
Letters Patent, forming billiard balls and other balls of a similar nature or for
similar purposes of successive layers of rubber, each layer being vulcanized as it is
added, substantially as herein described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lotters Patent filed by the
said Henry Woodward in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th November
1876.
HENRY WOODWARD, of 17, Wellington Terrace, Shepherd's Bush, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman. " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BALLS FOR
BILLIARDS OR OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by
William Henry Lippincott, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States of
America.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of balls used in playing billiards,
bagatelle, and other games where ivory balls are usually employed, and the Inven-
tion consists in forming such balls of vulcanized india-rubber or vulcanite in the
manner and by the process herein-after described, whereby I am enabled to produce
a ball equal in all essential particulars to those made of real ivory and at much less
cost. I am aware that many efforts have been made to manufacture these balls
of vulcanized india-rubber, as well as of other materials and compositions, but I am
not aware that any article of the kind has been yet produced which has answered
the purpose intended.
By the ordinary or single process india-rubber cannot be vulcanized in a mass
sufficiently large for the purpose and possessing the requisite qualities, that is,
elasticity and uniform density throughout. By this process a ball is produced
possessing the homogeneity, weight, hardness, clasticity, and durability of the best
ivory balls.
In carrying out this Invention I employ a variety of moulds with suitable vul-
canizing apparatus, and I commence by first vulcanizing a central core or nucleus,
which core is then turned truly spherical, and afterwards enclosed in another mould
of larger size containing rubber sufficient to surround the core and fill the mould,
which mould with its contents is subjected to the same vulcanizing process as the
first. This layer is then turned truc as before, and in this manner any number
of coatings or layers may be added until the ball attains the required size, the
vulcanizing and turning operations being performed for each layer and a mould
of increased diameter being employed for each successive vulcanizing operation. The
ball when thus formed and finally turned true is polished in the ordinary way with
rotten stone.
The vulcanizing process is the same or similar to that pursued by dentists in
vulcanizing india-rubber for dental purposes, the requisite heat being obtained
from steam or water confined in the vulcanizer and raised to a temperature of
about 320°
It will thus be seen that the ball is formed of different or successive layers of
rubber, each layer being vulcanized as it is added to the mass, and afterwards
turned to ensure the perfect union of the adjoining surfaces of the layers.
The heat to which the ball is subjected at each operation fuses and combines the
joining surfaces so that the ball when completed is a homogeneous mass from centre
to surface, all marks by which the different layers could be distinguished being
nearly obliterated.

page_text: A ball thus formed possesses all the properties required of billiard balls, its elas-
ticity is equal to or greater than that of ivory, it is of uniform density, it possesses
the necessary hardness and tenacity, and it is unaffected by moisture or changes of
temperature. Other substances than india-rubber may be used as a core to bo
surrounded with one or more layers of vulcanite by the process described, but I
consider the ball made wholly of vulcanite the best.
Any desired color may be obtained by mixing a suitable coloring matter or
matters with the last or outermost layer of india-rubber. For red and white I
employ the following ingredients in the proportions given, which are those that
answer the purpose, but I do not in any way limit myself thereto :-
Rad
Vermilion
White-
Para india-rubber
Zinc, white
-
Calcined magnosia
-
6 parts
"
- 8 parts (by weight).
-
5
33
-
-
1
"
"
"
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I clain as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Pateut is, manufacturing billiard balls and balls
for other similar purposes of successive layers of india-rubber, cach layer being
vulcanized as it is added and afterwards turned, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Woodward, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. WOODWARD. (L.S.)