IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ENAMELLING OF METAL ARTICLES, AND IN THE MEANS AND APParatus .
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Neilson, of the Firm of "J. and W.
Neilson," Founders and Enamellers, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ENAMELLING OF METAL ARTICLES, AND IN THE MEANS AND APParatus
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Neilson at. the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st September 1871.
I, JOHN NEILSON, of the Firm of." J. and W. Neilson," Founders and
5 Enamellers, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ENAMELLING OF METAL ARTICLES, AND IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS OR
MECHANISM THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows, that is,
to say :-

page_text: of the enamelling materials or powder to the surfaces of the metal
articles, both in a plain or ornamental manner, especially while hot;
and which will enable the larger and heavier classes of articles which
have heretofore been enamelled, such as baths and smaller cisterns and
vessels; and many other new articles (which from these attendant
difficulties of their weight or size, it has heretofore been considered
either impracticable or unprofitable to thus treat) to be so enamelled.
with greater ease and certainty of good results and saving of time and
heat than was possible heretofore; and the articles which I desire to
enamel, and consider has not heretofore been done, and for which these
improvements are specially applicable and designed, are the enamelling
of the inner surfaces of condensers for steam engines, open metal
gutters, rhones or ducts for conducting sugar cane juice, and the large
class of hollow vessels or cisterns, and the bottoms and outer surfaces of
small iron boats, and the plates for the bottoms or sides of ships, after
being fitted, either with or without the bolts in them; as also window
and door frames, pilasters, mantelpieces, and panelling for the interior
of houses or ships, and to which metal thus used for interior and exterior
building my said improvements for ornamental purposes would be
particularly applicable, for imitating in enamelling the various kinds of
marbles, fine stone, and woods, or ornamental designs used for such

page_text: article can be set. and fixed to any angle clear of the turntable
below and carrying the standards with the supporting bearings of
the swivel frame, and to which a short lever on the swivel frame or
one of its journals may be connected so as to retain the side of the
6 vessel in the position desired, either to heat it properly while in the
"muffle" or for applying the enamelling powder when on the inclined
platform in front. The surfaces exposed to the heat of the new swivel
frame and turntable (as well as the carriage) may be made rough with
projections, so as to have a thickness or coating of fire-clay or other
O loam applied thereto, to prevent the iron from oxidizing or being burnt
away or melted in the "muffle so soon as it otherwise might be.
"
Another improvement consists in carrying an open rectangular or
other form of frame suitable for the particular large articles being
enamelled over the angled platform in front of the "muffle" upon
6 swing links or chains, hung and counterbalanced by a raising and
lowering chain and pulleys and weight, or lever and weight; all so that
this open frame which carries the sieves with the enamelling powder
in it may be brought down near to the sides or surface of the hot
articles so as to dress them quickly in succession with the usual
layer of the powder as soon as it is taken from the "muffle,"
when the frame and sieves are quickly raised quite up out of the
way of the platform and carriage, so that this also is then raised
to a line with the hearth of the hot "muffle," so that the door is
raised and the carriage with the article carried on its turntable and
swivel frame are wheeled into the hot or back part of the "muffle,"
and the proper side at once turned to the hot side of the "muffle
desired. The sieve frame may have the sieves of various sizes and
portable, so that any of these, may be inserted to suit the size or
shape of the surfaces to be dressed, or when the sieve is made a
fixture in the hanging frame, portable metal or other frames. may
be introduced within each other to contract the sieve to the smaller sizes
as desired.
"
The improvements for producing ornamental and colored enamelling
consist in forming the design or device desired with thin deep strips of.
sheet metal on edge, all soldered together so as to form deep cells, open
at the top and having the sieve for their bottom, so that each cell would.
be fitted with the particular well-known enamel powder and coloring
matters desired to be produced below the respective part of the sieve and

page_text: pattern, the sieve being brought very close down to the surface to be
dressed or enamelled and steadied as well as possible, to the table by
feet or side guides beyond the sides of the work, so as not to injure the
dressed surface and make the outline of the design sharp, the mere
vibration of the sieves by tapping the sides of the frame sufficing to
sift the powders through the sieves without lateral motion, unless where
that is desired to soften off the outline of the pattern. These pattern
designs of cells may either be made portable and capable of being
removed and changed for attachment to the same sieve and frame,
or be fixed each to a sieve of their own, and be suitable either for
application to the new hanging sieve over the movable inclined carriage
platform, or for other and smaller work on and over the ordinary sieving
and dressing enamelling table.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Neilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
NEILSON, of the Firm of "J. and W. Neilson," Founders and Enamellers,
of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Neilson, Her special licence
that I, the said John Neilson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Neilson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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
THE ENAMELLING OF METAL ARTICLES, AND IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS OR
MECHANISM THEREFOR OR CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Neilson, my executors or administrators,

page_text: 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 Neilson, 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 thẹ
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying two
Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
My said Invention consists in new or improved modes and means
or appliances for facilitating the application of the enamelling materials
or powders to the surface of the metal articles, both in a plain and
ornamental manner, especially while hot, and which will enable the
larger and heavier classes of these (as baths and smaller cisterns and
vessels) which have heretofore been enamelled, and also many other new
articles (which, from the difficulties attending their great weight and size
it has heretofore been considered either impracticable or unprofitable to
thus treat) to be so enamelled, all with greater ease and certainty of
good results and saving of time and heat than was possible heretofore;
and the articles I desire to enamel, and consider have not heretofore
been done, and for which my Invention and improvements are especially
applicable and designed, are the enamelling of the inner surfaces of
condensers for steam engines, open metal gutters, rhones, or ducts for
conducting sugar cane juice, and the large class of hollow vessels or
cisterns, and the bottoms and outer surfaces of small iron boats and the
plates for the bottoms or sides of ships after being fitted, either with
or without the bolts in them; as also window and door frames,
pilasters, mantelpieces, and plates for pannels, or for ceilings and floors
of houses or ships, and to which metal thus used, for the interior and
exterior of buildings, my said improvements for ornamental purposes
would be particularly applicable, for imitating in enamelling the various
kinds of marbles, fine stone, and woods, or ornamental designs, and tile
or mosaic work used for such purposes.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the
.

page_text: several Figures on the explanatory two Sheets of Drawings which I
have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing what I at present
believe to be the best modifications and arrangements for so carrying
the same into effect or practice, the same reference letters indicating the
same or like parts in all the Figures.
66
Referring to the several Figures on Sheet 1:-Figure 1 is a side
elevation and Figure 2 is a plan of a large enamelling oven or muffle,"
shown partly in section, and fitted with or having my improvements
applied thereto for enabling the said new and large or heavy metallic
or other articles to be enamelled with greater ease and saving of heat
and time than has heretofore been done, all sufficient to show or
illustrate the same. Figure 3 is a plan of the carriage alone, having the
swivelling carrying frame and article to be enamelled removed to show
the turning table more clearly. Figures 4 and 5 are sections and details
of the sieve for sifting the enamelling powder on to the articles to
be enamelled.
The first improvement of my said Invention consists in having the
larger or heavy article A. (in this case an ordinary cast-iron bath) to
be enamelled set in an open frame B, fitting and holding it firmly,
at the same time allowing for their free expansion, with two side or
end journals b, so that both hinge and swing near their centre of gravity
and work in recessed bearings c in the top of two standards c', secured
to or formed in one with a lower horizontal plate or frame C, C', made
to turn on a short central vertical spindle C² and bearings D, D¹, and
horizontal supporting brackets C¹ and ring D₁ (either with or without
antifriction rollers or balls D³) all as a turntable D, D', on the
carriage E below it; which is made to run by wheels E¹ on rails F from
the back to the front of the hearth G of the enamelling oven or
"muffle" H, so as to pass out through the slide door H', h', hung by
chains and counter-weights H³, h², on to the rails F¹ on a platform I,
hinged at the front on a level with the hearth G, but made to lower or
swivel down in front on the axle I by a horizontal winding spindle J
and pinion J¹ and segmental rack or wheel K (or it might be a screw
shaft or other equivalent lifting and lowering mechanism) the front'
wheels E¹ of the carriage E, D, D', abutting up against the blocks or
turned up ends F of the rails F¹, so as to sustain the whole on the
inclined platform I, the weight of the whole being counterbalanced
by the large segmental weights L, L, to the rear on cach side of the

page_text: segmental wheel K, and is lowered to an angle suitable for the
enameller to work at the particular article or bath A being treated
and enamelled, as shown in this angled position in red in Figure 1.
The bath and its carrying frame B is fulcrummed in the horizontal
gimbalds b, c, of the swivelling frame B, so that the article A can be set
and fixed to any angle clear of the turntable D, E, below, all carrying
the standards C, c', with the supporting bearings c of the swivel
frame B, b, and to which a short lever B¹ on the swivel frame B, or
one of its journals b and holding segment B" may be connected so
as to retain any side of the vessel desired at the angle or position
required, or be fixed vertically by the locking pin b¹ at the square
ends of the journals b, either to heat it properly while in the muffle H,
or for applying the enamelling powder when on the inclined platform. I
in front. In some cases when preferred the surfaces of the carriage E
and the new swivel frames B, C, and turntable D, E, exposed to the.
great heat in the muffle may be made rough with small spikes or
projections so as to have a thickness or coating of fire-clay or other loam
applied thereto to hold it and prevent the iron from oxidizing or being
burnt away or melted in the muffle so soon as it otherwise might be.
The turning table D, D', allows the vessel A and its swivelling frames
B, C, to be turned round as desired on the horizontal plane, or that of
the upper surface D¹ of the carriage E, whether horizontal or lying at an
angle, as shown in red lines in the interior of the muffle, where the end
of the carrying frames and bath are seen, while it is the sides of these that
are seen on the platform outside of the muffle. The frame B' for carrying
the bath A, is shown in plan view detached in Figure 3º. The muffle
door is formed in two, the large one H' having a small one h¹ sliding
up and down in it so as to suit more conveniently for different sized
articles, being wheeled in and out of the muffle without loss of heat.
Another improvement consists in carrying an open rectangular or
other form of frame M, suitable in size and shape for the particular
articles to be enamelled, over the angled or tilting platform I, in front of
the muffle H upon swinging links N, and frame and chains N', N", hung
and counterbalanced by a raising and lowering chain O and pulleys O'
and weight O" (or it might be by a lever and weight or other equivalent
arrangement) all so that this open frame M, which carries the sieves m
with the usual enamelling powder Z in it may be travelled along by the
travelling block o on the rail o' over head, and then brought down

page_text: near to the bottom sides or surface of the hot articles A as soon as
removed from the muffle, so as to dress these quickly in succession with
the usual thin layer of the powder Z by tapping the frame M at each
end or side by a small mallet or other equivalent, which shakes the
powder through the sieve m, m¹; after which the frame M and its
sieves m are quickly raised quite up out of the way of the carriage and
platform by pulling the cord 0%, so that the platform I is then raised or
swivelled by the turning or winding spindle and cross arms J2, J" (for the
purpose, being a continuation of the spindle J to one side) to a line with
the hearth and rails F of the hot muffle H, when the door h¹ is then
raised and the carriage with the bath or other article A carried on its
new turntable D and swivelled frames B, C, are wheeled into the hot
muffle H and the proper sides of the article turned so that the heat of
the muffle will act properly on them as desired. The sieve frame M
may have the sieves m portable of various sizes and shapes, so that any
of these may be hung thereto or inserted to suit the size or shape of the
surfaces to be dressed or enamelled, or when the sieve m is made a
fixture or stationary in, or not to be removed from the hanging frame M,
portable metal or other frames n, n¹, may be introduced within each
other to contract the sieve to the smaller sizes or shapes desired, as
shown in the sectional and detailed views of the sieve and frames,
Figures 4 and 5.
The several Figures on Sheet 2 all refer to my said improvements in,
and new or improved apparatus for producing ornamental enamelling
most suitable for interior and exterior building and other ornamental
purposes, all as herein-before stated. Figure 6 is a perspective elevation
of my improved frame M and arrangement of parts N, N', N, O, O',
o, o', for carrying the new sieves m, m³, as described in reference to
Sheet 1, but also suitable for carrying the new pattern sieves P, p,
shown in section and plan, Figures 7 and 8, made suitable for
cnamelling iron plates in imitation of inlaid tiles or mosaic work,
one of which plates is shown in plan view, Figure 9, with the
pattern corresponding to that of the sieve P, p, Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 10 shows an inverted or under side view of the sieve P, m',
detached to show the wire gauze m¹, not seen in Figure 9, where the
cells p are shown as filled with the respective colored powders Z.
Referring to these several Figures on Sheet 2, my improvements for
producing ornamental and colored enamelling consist in forming the

page_text: design or device desired with thin deep strips P of sheet metal on
edge, all soldered or otherwise fixed together so as to form deep cells p,
open at the top and having the sieve m¹, as before referred to, of fine
wire gauze m¹ (or other fabric such as used for sifting flour and other fine
powders) for their bottom, as seen at Figures 7 and 10, so that each cell
p would be filled with the particular well-known enamel powder Z and
coloring matters desired to be produced on the article to be coated below
the respective parts of the sieve-corresponding to the pattern q, as shown
in Figures 7, 8, and 9, of the sieve p, m², being brought very close down
to the surface to be dressed or enamelled and steadied as well as possible
to the table (or platform supporting the article to be enamelled) by the
feet or side guides Q, as shown at each corner of the frame beyond the
sides of the work, so as not to injure the dressed surface, and make
the outline of the design sharp or soft as desired according to the shake
or vibration given to the frame M of the sieve, the mere vibration of
which by tapping the sides of the frame sufficing to sift the powders out
of the recesses p and through the sieves m', with little lateral motion,
unless where that is desired to soften off the outline of the pattern.
These complete pattern designs q, of cells P, p, m³, may either be made
portable and capable of being removed and changed for attachment to
the same sieve m¹ and frame m, or be fixed each to a sieve of their
own, and be suitable either for application to the new arrangement
of hanging sieve M, m, described and shown on Sheet 1, over the
movable inclined carriage platform I, or for other and smaller work on
and over the ordinary sieving and dressing enamelling tables, in which
case supporting chains N, N, O, would not always be required,
although the supporting feet Q would be required, or an equivalent
to steady the sieve at the right height off the article to be coated; this
is done in the modification shown by holes Q₁ in the feet Q, into which
a pin or bolt q is passed below the corners of the frame M of the sieve,
which serve to support it when resting on the feet Q, or when carried by
the links N and chains N, O, directly attached to the top of the feet Q,
made long enough to support the sieve from the table or resting surface,
so as to suit shallow or deep articles to be coated below the sieve.
The new pattern sieves P, p, m³, could be contracted in size and shape
by screwing or otherwise fixing thin plate frames to their under side, so
as to cover the part of the sifting surface m¹ not required, and leave the
part of the sieve intact of the shape of the article desired to be coated.

page_text: At n, in Figure 10ª, and n², in Figure 10, are shown face views of such
thin plates; the first n", for contracting the sieve (Figure 10) to suit
for an ordinary hearth or plate y (Figure 11) for room grates; and the
second n³, for a pannel plate, both in enamel mosaic work, indicated in blue
and red lines in Figure 10. In Figure 11, x shows a front view of a cast-
iron mantelpiece as enamelled with a mosaic pattern and coated with a
new sieve of a shape and size and configuration to suit it, made and
constructed with a cellular frame (as P, p, m¹) all substantially as shown
and described in reference to Figures 7 to 10" on Sheet 2.
Although the sieve P, p, m², has been shown and described as of
a simple rectangular tile or mosaic pattern for plates for the formation
of floors, walls, or roofs, it is to be understood that the cellular recesses
P, p, or divisions, may be made to suit the various graining and lines of
woods, fine stones, marbles, and outlines of ornamental figures and
designs suitable for the vessel, utensil, piece of furniture, or parts of
buildings, houses, or ships for which the article to be enamelled is
desired and of a size to suit also. The respective colored enamelling
powders made as usual are put into the proper parts of the design
which they both are intended to represent, before and in readiness
for dusting them on to the article to be enamelled in a hot or cold
state as desired.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be
used or carried into effect, I would observe that I do not restrict
myself to the precise details herein described or delineated, but what
I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The construction and arrangement of the parts of swivel
frames, carriages, and platforms for hurling large and heavy articles
into and out of enamelling ovens or muffles, and tilting them in any
direction. for applying the enamelling powders or plastic material to
their surfaces; and improved sieves and their carrying frames for
applying the powder, all subsantially as herein described and shown in
the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The construction and arrangement of a tilting or swivelling a
carriage platform (as I) in front of the enamelling muffle, all
substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying
noinag

page_text: .
Third. The construction and arrangement of swivelling frames
(as B), for holding and tilting large or heavy articles while being
enamelled, all substantially as herein described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement of carriages with turning
frames and tables (as C and D) for carrying and swivelling large heavy
articles while being enamelled, all substantially as herein described and.
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The construction and arrangement of the parts of plain or
ornamental sieves (as m, m³, and P, p), and their carrying frames
and other mechanism, all substantially for the purposes and in the new
or improved manner herein described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Neilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
JOHN THOMSON,
Agent,
20, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
(L.S.) JNO. NEILSON.