IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES IN GLASS ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER MATERIALS, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO VARIOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Adolphus Biddell, of Edward Street
Parade, Birmingham, and John Redgrave, of Newhall Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES IN GLASS
ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER MATERIALS, AND IN THE APPLICATION
THEREOF TO VARIOUS PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th August 1869, and dated the 2nd July 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Adolphus
Biddell and John Redgrave at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 2nd July 1869.
We, WILLIAM ADOLPHUS BIDDELL, of Edward Street Parade, Bir-
mingham, and JOHN REDGRAVE, of Newhall Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES IN GLASS

page_text: ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER MATERIALS, AND IN THE APPLICATION
THEREOF TO VARIOUS PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to the manufacture of ornamental articles in
pressed glass alone or in combination with other materials and in the
application thereof to various purposes.
In carrying our Invention into practice we form any desired object in
glass, either plain or colored, by pressing it when in a plastic condition
into metal moulds or dies, as is well understood in the manufacture of
moulded articles in glass. These moulds or dies are made for con-
venence in two or more parts, and male and female, of the size and
shape required. The moulds are so formed that an ornamental device,
such as a group of flowers or other object in nature or art, will be
impressed in one surface of the object when moulded, the surface of the
object which is exposed to view taking the form of the object to be
manufactured, but in other respects being without ornament, or having
only such ornament as will heighten the effect of the device impressed on
the other side, or as is consequent upon the form of that device. After
the glass has been pressed by the dies into the desired form and removed
from the mould we apply various colors, enamels, metal, or metallic foil,
wash, or powder to the surface of the device formed therein, and thereby
produce the effect of an ornamental device embedded in the glass of
which the object is formed.
When carrying our Invention into practice we employ transparent or
opaque colors or substances, in accordance with the purpose to which the
object is to be applied, and according to whether the object is intended
to be seen by transmitted or reflected light. Where the object is not
intended to be transparent cement, clay, or other earthy material may be
applied at the back of the device to which the ornamenting material has
been applied as above described.
According to another part of our Invention after colors or coloring
materials, enamels, or metallic, or other ornamenting substances have
been applied to objects formed in pressed glass, as above described,
we fix such colors, materials, or substances by heating, burning, or
fusing them after they have been applied to the device formed in the
object. In carrying this part of our Invention into practice care must be
taken that the object is formed of glass sufficiently refractory to resist

page_text: the action of the heat necessary to fix the coloring material or other
substance applied thereto.
According to another part of our Invention we form and ornament
objects in pressed glass, as above described, in two or more parts, and
afterwards unite such parts together by melting the edges of the glass
and pressing the parts together, or by applying a flux and using a blow
pipe flame to the edges which are to be united. Before or after the
parts are united the interior space may be filled in with cement, clay, or
other earthy materials, and when the cement or clay is applied before
the parts are united such cement may be employed as a means of uniting
the parts, the edges of which may be afterwards united by the use of the
blow pipe and flux, as before described. The surface through which the
device formed and ornamented in any object in pressed glass according
to our Invention is seen may be polished, fire glazed, or roughened, so
as to heighten or subdue the effect.
Lettered
Objects in pressed glass which have been formed and ornamented
according to our Invention, as above described, may be combined with
other materials, and applied to a great variety of purposes, such as the
forming and ornamenting of chandeliers, lamps, lustres, and other
articles employed for the purpose of illumination, and in combination
therewith; also for medallions and panels inserted in stoves; also
for epergnes, stands, inkstands, and other articles of use or ornaments
for the table; also for brackets and pedestals, and for pavement, whereby
a highly ornamental mosaic effect may be produced combined with
great durability; also combined with articles of furniture.
or other devices may also be formed as above described, and applied for
name plates and tablets for advertizing purposes; also for architectural
purposes, such as the ornamentation of the interior or exterior of build-
ings in the form of busts, medallions, entablatures, panels, compartments,
or designs inserted in the walls, windows, or other parts of the building
or placed thereon, and for chimney pieces, door and other knobs,
finger plates, and also for fountains and monumental purposes. And
according to one part of our Invention we manufacture ornamental
bricks by moulding recesses therein, into which we insert various
designs in pressed glass formed and ornamented as above described,
the inserted ornament being secured to the brick either by vitrification
or cement.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Adolphus Biddell and John Redgrave
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th December 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
ADOLPHUS BIDDELL, of Edward Street Parade, Birmingham, and JOHN
REDGRAVE, of Newhall Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said William Adolphus Biddell and John Redgrave,
Her special licence that we, the said William Adolphus Biddell and
John Redgrave, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said William Adolphus Biddell and John Redgrave,
our 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 MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES IN GLASS ALONE OR IN COMBINATION
WITH OTHER MATERIALS, AND IN THE APPLICATION THEREOF TO VARIOUS PURPOSES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said William Adolphus
Biddell and John Redgrave, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the
hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 we, the said William Adolphus Biddell and
John Redgrave, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say :-

page_text: Our Invention relates to the manufacture of ornamental articles and
devices in pressed glass alone or in combination with other materials,
and in the application thereof to various purposes.
In carrying our Invention into practice we form any desired object in
glass, either plain or colored, by pressing it when in a plastic condition
into metal moulds or dies of various kinds and descriptions. Some of
these moulds or dies are made for convenience in two or more parts, and
male and female, of the size and shape required; other moulds or dies
are made with a flat surface, having raised lines upon them, which are
intended to produce the effect either of engraving or in outline. The
moulds or dies, which are made in two or more parts, and called male
and female, are so formed that an ornamental device, such as a group
of flowers, fruit, reptiles, birds, or other objects in nature or art, will be
impressed on one surface of the object when moulded, the surface of the
object which is exposed to view taking the form of the object to be
manufactured, but in other respects being without ornament, or having
only such ornament as will heighten the effect of the device impressed
on the other side, or as is consequent upon the form of that device.
After the glass has been pressed by the dies into the desired form and
removed from the mould we apply various colors, enamels, metals, or
metallic foil, wash, or powder, or oxides to the interior surface of the
device formed therein, and thereby produce the effect of an ornamental
device embedded in the glass of which the object is formed. When
carrying this part of our Invention into practice we employ transparent
or opaque colors or substances, in accordance with the purposes to
which the object is to be applied, and according to whether the
object is intended to be seen by transmitted or reflected light. Where
the object is not intended to be transparent, cement, clay, or other
material may be applied at the back of the device to which the orna-
menting material has been applied as above described. The moulds or
dies made with a flat surface, having raised lines upon them of various
sizes and thicknesses, are so made as to produce by pressure upon the
glass when in a soft state the effect either of engraving or in outline, and
they are also made so as to impress and cut out the various devices or
designs producing interstices, which interstices are then colored in
various tints, and the surface colored up as desired, either for vitrifi-
cation or otherwise. The surface may also be left plain for the purpose
of roughening or being overlaid with metals.

page_text: According to another part of our Invention, after colors or coloring
materials, enamels, oxides, or metallic or other ornamenting substances
have been applied to objects formed in pressed glass, as above described,
ive fix such colors, materials, or substances by heating, burning, or
fusing them after they have been applied to the device formed in the
object. In carrying this part of our Invention into practice care must
be taken that the object is formed of glass sufficiently refractory to resist
the action of the heat necessary to fix the coloring material or other
substance applied thereto.
According to another part of our Invention we form and ornament
objects in pressed glass, as above described, in two or more parts, and
afterwards unite such parts together by melting the edges of the glass and
pressing the parts together, or by applying a flux and using a blow pipe
flame to the edges which are to be united. Before or after the parts are
united the interior space may be filled in with cement, clay, or other
materials, and when the cement or clay or other material is applied
before the parts are united such cement may be employed as a means
of uniting the parts, the edges of which may be afterwards united by
the use of the blow pipe and flux, as before described. The surface
through which the device formed and ornamented in any object in
pressed glass according to our Invention is seen may be polished, fire-
glazed, or roughened so as to heighten or subdue the effect.
Objects in pressed glass which have been formed and ornamented
according to our Invention as above described may be combined with
other materials and applied, according to one part of our Invention, to
a great variety of purposes, such as the forming and ornamenting of
chandeliers, lamps, lustres, and other articles employed for the purpose
of illumination, and in combination therewith; also for medallions,
masks, and panels inserted in stones; also for epergnes, stands, ink-
stands, and other articles of use or ornament; also for brackets and
pedestals; also for pavement, whereby a highly ornamental mosaic
effect may be produced combined with great durability; also combined
with bedsteads and other articles of furniture. We also form lettered or
other devices as above described, and apply such devices for name plates
and tablets for various purposes; also for architectural purposes, such as
the ornamentation of the interior or exterior of buildings in the form of
busts, slabs, medallions, statues, entablatures, panels, compartments, or

page_text: designs inserted in the walls, windows, or other parts of the buildings,
or placed thereon; also for chimney pieces, door and other knobs, and
finger plates; also for fountains and monumental purposes. And
according to one part of our Invention we manufacture bricks, slabs, or
blocks, by moulding recesses therein, into which we insert various
designs in pressed glass formed and ornamented as above described the
inserted ornaments being secured to the brick or other article either by
vitrification or cement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which we carry the same into practice,
we would have it understood that we do not confine or restrict ourselves
to the precise details which we have laid down, as variations therein may
be made without deviating from the main features of our said Invention;
but what we claim is, the improved manufacture of ornamental articles
in glass alone or in combination with other materials, as and for the
purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Adolphus Biddell and John
Redgrave, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Twenty-
third day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM ADOLPHUS BIDDELL. (L.S.)
J. REDGRAVE.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM ADOLPHUS BIDDELL. (L.S.)
J. REDGRAVE.
(L.S.)