IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING AND IN TILES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lidgey Nancarrow, of Grampound, in the
County of Cornwall, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING
AND IN TILES FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 8th July 1873, and dated the 27th March 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lidgey Nancarrow
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th March 1873.
I, JOHN LIDGEY NANCARROW, of Grampound, in the County of
Cornwall, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN ROOFING AND IN TILES FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists as more particularly hereafter described in the
construction and in the employment of roofing tiles with ridges and
grooves in combination with locking pieces, or tiles made in such
manner as to fit over the parts where two tiles meet, whereby roofs that
are constructed with tiles and locking pieces according to my Invention
are rendered very durable and perfectly weatherproof, while at the same
time the cross laths now used may be dispensed with.

page_text: The tiles proper consist of flat surfaces having a groove formed round
three of the sides thereof, the fourth side being preferably sloped off or
bevilled if preferred, or they may be left square. There is a ridge along
the under side of the sloped or bevilled edge except for the "eaves."
The locking pieces or locking tiles consist of ribs preferably flat on their
upper surfaces with projections on the lower edges, whereby a groove
is formed between the two edges, and of sufficient width to enter into the
grooves on the side of two adjacent tiles, and in such manner that the
outside ridges on the tiles formed by the grooves therein are grasped
and held tightly by the ribs on the locking piece or tile; one end of the
upper surface of a locking piece is provided with a stud or projecting
piece and the other end (except when used for the "eaves") with an
aperture of a size corresponding with that of the projection, so that
the aperture in one locking tile may be placed and be caused to fit over
the projection on the next locking piece; that part of the locking piece
which projects beyond the tile is not grooved and ribbed on its under
side but in that part is only of the thickness of the tile without the ribs
at the edges, so that the locking tile at this part rests on the next locking
piece, only projecting or being raised therefrom the thickness such
locking piece may be.
In laying a roof with tiles and locking pieces made according to my
Invention the ridge or projection on the under side of one tile is placed
in the groove on the upper surface of the tile immediately below; to
secure the tiles a locking piece is placed over the ribs and secured to a
rafter by nails or bolts, then the aperture in the next locking piece is
placed over the projection on the fixed locking piece and secured by
nails or bolts as before, and so on, one locking piece fitting on to the
other throughout the roof.
I prefer to make the nails of galvanized iron, and the head of nails
for the eaves of a cup-shape with a leather washer under the head, so
that when the nail is driven down the washer prevents the possibility of
rain entering. The other nails have preferably flat heads sunk into the
tile, which when in position are covered by each succeeding tile. I
prefer to place a bed of plaster, lime, or cement at the points of junction
of the tiles in order to provide for any uneveness that may be caused in
the firing of the tiles as well as to exclude air and to render it un-
necessary to plaster on the inside of the roof.

page_text: By my Invention no cross laths will be required and the grooves and
ridging can easily be made to fit by using tiles of different widths and
sizes as may be required to suit those particular parts of the roof to be:
covered.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Lidgey Nancarrow in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LIDGEY NANOARROW, of Grampound, in the County of Cornwall, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Lidgey Nancarrow, Her
special licence that I, the said John Lidgey Nancarrow, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Lidgey
Nancarrow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROOFING AND IN TILES FOR THE SAME," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Lidgey Nancarrow, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Lidgey Nancarrow, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying

page_text: Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say :-
This Invention consists, as more particularly hereafter described, in the
construction and in the employment of roofing tiles with ridges and grooves
in combination with locking pieces or tiles made in such manner as to
fit over the parts where two tiles meet, whereby roofs that are con-
structed with tiles and locking pieces according to my Invention are
rendered very durable and perfectly waterproof while at the same time
the cross laths or purlins now used may be if desired dispensed with.
The tiles proper consist of flat surfaces having a groove formed round
three of the sides thereof, the fourth side being preferably sloped off or
bevilled if preferred, or they may be left square. There is a ridge along
the under side of the sloped or bevilled edge except for the "eaves."
The locking pieces or locking tiles are preferably flat on their upper
surfaces with projections on the lower edges whereby a groove is formed
between the two edges and of sufficient width to enter into the grooves
on the side of two adjacent tiles and in such manner that the outside
ridges on the tiles formed by the grooves therein are grasped and held
tightly by the ribs on the locking piece or tile; one end of the upper
surface of a locking piece is provided with a stud or projecting piece and a
the other end (except when used for the "eaves") with an aperture or
recess of a size corresponding with that of the projection, so that the
aperture in one locking tile may be placed and be caused to fit over the
projection on the next locking piece; that part of the locking piece
which projects beyond the tile is not grooved and ribbed on its under 2
side, but in that part is only of the thickness of the tile without the ribs
at the edges, or in other words, the locking pieces in this part are made
without ribs so that the locking tile at this part rests on the next locking
piece only projecting or being raised therefrom the thickness such
locking piece may be.
By my Invention no cross laths will be required and the grooves and
ridging can easily be made to fit by using tiles of different widths and
sizes as may be required to suit those particular parts of the roof to be
covered.
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings illustrates one method in 3
which my Invention may be conveniently carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a plan of a part of a roof sharing nextion of that

page_text: Figure 2 is a section through line a, a, and Figure 3 a section through
line c, c, of Figure 1.
Figure 4, is a view in plan of a separate and distinct tile.
Figure 5 is a side view and Figure 6 is a plan of the under side of a
locking piece.
A, A, are the tiles which on their upper surface are formed with a
groove c, c, round the top, and the two sides as shewn clearly at Figure
4, the fourth or bottom edge being formed preferably with a slope or
bevil, as shewn at Figures 2 and 3; 9 is the rib on the under side of said
tile. A¹, A" are the eave tiles and A", A", the end tiles, the latter being
of any suitable width to make up the required size of roof. B, B, are
the locking pieces or tiles having on their under side ribs or projections
d, d, shewn clearly at Figures 5 and 6, which lie in the grooves c, c,
of two adjoining tiles, being embedded therein or thereon if desired by
means of mortar, cement, or other material, the ribs on the locking
pieces at the same time grasp and hold together the ribs e, e, on the
edges of the roofing tiles. One locking piece projects over and rests on
the next following lower locking piece and is therefore plain or without
ribs on this part of the under side; each locking piece has a projection or
lug 6 of the shape shewn, and a hole ƒ of a corresponding shape, the lug
b of one locking piece entering, and because of its sloping shape being
held tightly in the hole fof the next following locking piece. In laying
a roof with tiles and locking pieces made according to my Invention
the ridge or projection g on the under side of one tile is placed in the
groove c on the upper surface of the tile immediately below; to secure
the tiles a locking piece B is placed over the ribs e, e, and secured to a
rafter by nails or bolts, then the aperture fin the next locking piece is
placed over the projection 6 on the fixed locking piece and secured by
nail or bolt and so on, one locking piece fitting on to the other
throughout the roof. The other nails have preferably flat heads sunk
into the tile which when in position are covered by each succeeding tile.
I prefer to place a bed of plaster, lime, or cement at the points of
junction of the tiles in order to provide for any uneveness that may be
caused in the firing of the tiles as well as to exclude air and to render it
unnecessary to plaster on the inside of the roof. Each locking piece is
fastened on to the woodwork of the roof by means of a nail with counter-
sunk head driven into the woodwork between two tiles. For ordinary
purposes I find such nail sufficient for each locking piece. The tiles A

page_text: and A", have each a rib on their under side which rests in the corre
sponding groove in the upper side of the adjoining lower tile, but the
eave tiles A¹ are preferably made without them as aforesaid.
ани а, пато
C
ини
sponding groove in the upper side of the adjoining lower tile, but the
eave tiles A¹ are preferably made without them as aforesaid.
Sheet 2 shews two other arrangements of locking pieces somewhat
modified to that before described, also an arrangement of ridge tile.
Figure 7 is a section taken through the tiles.
Figure 8 is a section taken through the locking pieces, and Figures 9
and 10 are views in plan of under side and side elevation respectively of
a locking piece detached, all made according to this arrangement.
E
A is the tile; B is the locking piece; d, d, are the ribs on the locking 1
piece; b, is the projection and is the aperture. In this case it will
be observed that the projection b is on the reverse side of the locking
piece to that on which it is in the other arrangement shewn at Figures
5 and 6, Sheet 1, while the aperture fis also on the reverse side and is
not necessarily cut completely through the material. In other respects 1
the tiles and locking pieces are similar to those before described.
Figure 11 is a section through the tiles and Figure 12 a section
through the locking pieces of another arrangement.
Figures 13 and 14 are detached views of the locking piece. According
to this arrangement a rib 6 takes the place of the projections in the other 2
arrangements and a groove ƒ takes the place of the apertures as before;
in other respects the tiles and locking pieces are similar in construction
and are laid and secured in a similar manner to those before described.
Figure 15 is an end view, Figure 16 is a side elevation, and Figure
17 is a horizontal section of a ridge tile adapted to my Invention. This 2
ridge tile consists of an angular piece made at one end with a raised
portion to correspond with the locking pieces, the said raised portion
overlapping the end of the adjoining angular piece. A is the tile; B,
locking piece; A¹ is the ridge tile, and B' is the raised portion thereof.
The corners of the ridge tile A¹ are cut to correspond with and to fit to 3
the top of the locking pieces.

page_text: And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my
improvements in roofing and in tiles for the same,-
Firstly. The particular construction of roofing tiles and the mode of
joining them to one another substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The particular construction of the locking pieces and the
mode or modes of fastening' or joining them one to another, and
fastening them to the roof all substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly. The employment of roofing tiles in combination with locking
pieces for joining and covering said roofing tiles, all substantially as
described and set forth in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The construction of tile roofs substantially as herein set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lidgey Nancarrow, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of Sep-
tember, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.
MATY