Improvements relating to the Ornamentation of Wood and other Material, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1892-Accepted, 21st June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Ornamentation of Wood and other
Material, and to Apparatus therefor.
A communication from abroad by GOTTLIEB METELMANN, of Südende, in the
German Empire, Architect.
1 AMBROSS SMITH, of 3 Myrtle Terrace, West Green, Tottenham, in the
County of Middlesex, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
This invention has for its object improvements and certain combinations of
improvements in the process of and apparatus employed for ornamenting wood and
other material. To produce ornamental designs in relief upon wooden surfaces
requires the combined aid of heat and pressure, as is well understood in the
manufacture.
As neither pressure, nor heat, can, however, be applied to wood beyond certain
limits of amount or degree, it is found impossible to distort the same sufficiently for
the production of clean, sharp configurations in high relief without also, more or
less, crushing, or burning the surface. Recourse is therefore frequently had to the
exercise of a very high and inconvenient degree of heat and to impart to the wood
by the application of red hot, or highly heated moulds, under heavy pressure, the
deeper indentations of the latter and thus produce configurations which, as stated,
could never be obtained with the aid of only moderately heated moulds, by pressure
alone, however powerful. The resulting products is, however, objectionable, in so
far, as its surface appears invariably more or less charred, or blurred, and when
producing mouldings or imitation carvings, it then becomes necessary to subject
these afterwards to a further process of cleaning, or staining, in order to remove the
burnt or scorched effects and to produce uniformity of colour, or the product must
be employed in such faulty condition, with the scorched and charred effects upon it,
which is naturally objectionable.
Scorched or burnt effects upon wooden surfaces are only then of practical utility
when the same can be made to determine, or represent, also a distinct and definite
design, or ornamentation from correspondingly engraved and heated moulds upon
flat, or plane surfaces of lighter coloured woods, in imitation of inlaying, or painting.
In that case the production of a shallow relief is sufficient for the purpose, but in
order to be useful it must be both very sharp in outline and of a uniform and, pre-
ferably, very dark color, it being easily understood that the artistic beauty of such
effects depends entirely upon a striking contrast of color and sharpness of
design.
To achieve this it then becomes necessary once more, according to the practice
as hitherto, to heat the moulds to an inconveniently high degree of temperature
and, whenever that is the case, the requisite amount of pressure can again not
always be applied either long or strong enough, to produce clean designs of suffi-
ciently sharp and clear outline and at the same time also of black, or very dark and
uniform color, without burning or blurring the pattern. Practical experience has
taught me that the theory or allegation, relating to the employment of pressure
cylinders vizt. "that by varying the temperature of the roller and the duration of
the application of the same to the surface, the colour of the burnt or intaglio parts
of the pattern may be varied at will" cannot be sustained in practice.
To obviate these difficulties, I proceed as follows: I prefer to compress the wood
between heated, revolving cylindrical dies; I employ, however, only moulds or dies
engraved on gun metal, brass, or other suitable alloy of copper and not on iron or

page_text: steel. When iron, or steel moulds are nevertheless intended for use they should be
strongly coated with nickel, or the like in order to prevent the formation of oxide
of iron on the engraved mould which, inter alia, I find to interfere very materially
with the quality and colour of the work. I do however not prefer to employ such
moulds.
Before the wood is compressed I cause it to be thoroughly steamed in closed
vessels and I then prefer to keep it in that state for about three days in a cool,
damp place. Immediately before it is subjected to pressure I pass wood, intended
for the production of mouldings, and the like, through a heated flue or chamber in
which it is exposed to a dry baking heat and in that state it is fed under the moulds.
The temperature in such chamber may be high but it should always be regulated
to a degree which will make it impossible for the wood to become scorched, or
burnt, resinous woods requiring less heat than very hard, dry kinds. The chamber
which is open at both ends, is placed in closest proximity to the pressing apparatus,
and its outlet is on a level with the engraved pattern mould, or roller.
By this means wood-including also hard kinds such as teak-is rendered soft
and pliable and a very moderate amount of pressure then suffices for the purposes
of the said invention, to produce sharp and clean ornaments, such as mouldings in
high relief, by the aid of moulds which need then not to be heated to so high a
degree of temperature as would scorch, or burn the surface of the wood.
The manufacture of mouldings and the like in high relief differs, according to
this invention, essentially from that of flat ornamental work, as above mentioned,
with scorched effects on its surface. I proceed as follows: Steamed lengths of
wood which have previously been cut to profile in a moulding machine are fed from
the heated chamber under the revolving heated roller die where they are subjected
to only so much pressure as may be required to indent the wood approximately
with the pattern of the die, and without crushing the surface. Before the last part
of the length has thus passed from between the cylinders and, say one inch thereof,
remains still unindented, I slightly increase the pressure and simultaneously I
reverse the operation of the cylinders until the other end of the length-save about
one inch-has passed through and I then, in like manner, repeat this operation as
often as may be required, which must in each case depend upon the nature of the
pattern of the mould and the depth of its relief, until, on inspection, I find the
pattern rendered in continuity upon the wood in perfectly sharp and clean outlines.
The mould is kept lightly oiled during the process. By this combined means I
avoid scorching the surface and crushing the wood.
For the production of such other ornamentations, as aforesaid, in imitation of
inlaying, or painting, it is not always desirable to pass the steamed wood also
through a heated chamber before it is compressed, but it is necessary to manipulate
the same in manner, as follows:-
The boards or strips of wood are first carefully planed on both sides-on the
surface and on the back-and it is also most useful to glass paper the surface
besides, the object of this being to produce an even thickness and a perfectly
uniform level. The surface is then washed over with an aqueous solution of alum
and subsequently when this has dried, and not more than about twelve hours before
it is compressed, the wood is washed all over its surface with a suitable liquid, or
material, which will become carbonised burnt, or scorched and browned by the
action of the heat more rapidly, and at a much lower degree of temperature than
the wood itself and thus blackens the surface. A useful material for that purpose
is cow's milk, or cream, or a mixture of both, with or without an addition thereto
of sugar, ground rice, flour or starch beaten eggs and salt.
In some cases I mix the alum at once with the other liquid matter and I also
sometimes add the alun to the water used for steaming the wood.
Wood thus prepared is ready for the moulds and the aforesaid treatment then
enables me to produce on the surface sharp and clear designs of a uniform and very
dark color by the aid of moulds which, though heated, need not be over heated,
and by very slight pressure.

page_text: From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the production of
ornamental designs, as aforesaid, is, according to this improved process, not mainly
dependent upon varying the temperature of the heated mould and the duration of
its application to the surface of the wood (or other material) as within certain
limits of temperature, which will be easily ascertained by practical experience, I
can, by applying one, or more coats of the mixture, vary the color of the recessed.
parts of the ornament at will, without increasing, or decreasing either the heat of
the mould, the speed of the revolving rollers, or the pressure.
The rollers, or moulds, which I employ for this particular class of ornaments are,
as aforesaid, made of gun metal or the like, and they are so engraved that the
deeper indentations of the design to be transferred do not necessarily press upon
the wood, the more elevated projections forming the pattern first coming in contact
with the surface and thus charring the same.
In order to change the die readily whenever the design is to be varied, without
disturbing the cylinder in its bearings, I construct engraved cylindrical moulds in
segments which fit around the circumference of the roller. Each segment has
bodies, or pins, which are received in corresponding recesses of the other segment;
they are locked together by means of screws or wedges, through projecting flanges
at the sides.
A convenient mode of manufacture is as aforesaid, to compress the wood between
a pair of horizontally revolving, hollow, gas heated metal pressure cylinders
mounted vertically on a suitable frame, between which the wood is passed in com-
bination with a stationary table and adjustable guides. Either the top or lower
cylinder revolves in fixed bearings, is heated from the inside by jets of atmospheric
gas burners and carries the pattern engraved on its circumference and the other
cylinder, which serves to give the pressure, is pressed lightly, but yet sufficiently
firmly to prevent any oscillation or vibration of the wood, against the mould, by
means of a screw, or pair of screws, or other suitable mechanism. The construction
of gas heated pressure cylinders being, however, well understood, not novel in
itself, and not forming, save as follows, any part of my invention, I abstain from
further detailed description thereof.
In operating with gas heated hollow metal roller dies, or cylindrical moulds, very
great waste of caloric is now experienced and the resulting unequal distribution and
radiation of heat upon and respectively from the mould, or cylinder has, moreover
an injurious effect upon the product.
According to this invention, I obviate these defects by constructing hollow metal
roller dies which are lined around their inside, or packed, with a suitable refractory
material such as fireclay, upon which I cause the jets of atmospheric gas burners to
play from the centre of the roller. I polish the pressure roller.
When pasteboard, cellulose, or the like, are heated according to this process it is
unnecessary to steam, or heat such substances before compression.
Dated this 17th day of March 1891.
AMBROSS SMITH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Ornamentation of Wood and other
Material, and to Apparatus therefor.
A communication from abroad by GOTTLIEB METELMANN, of Südende, in the
German Empire, Architect.
I AMBROSS SMITH, of 3 Myrtle Terrace, West Green Tottenham in the County
of Middlesex, Clerk do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention has for its object improvements and certain combinations of
improvements in the process of and apparatus employed for ornamenting or

page_text: decorating wood and other analogous material such as boards of wood pulp paper
and the like.
To produce figures or ornamental designs in relief upon wooden surfaces requires
the combined aid of heat and pressure as is well understood in the manufacture.
As however neither heat nor pressure can be applied to wood beyond certain limits
of degree or amount it is found impossible to distort the same sufficiently for the
production of clean sharp configurations in high relief without also more or less
crushing or burning the surface. Recourse is therefore frequently had to the
exercise of a very high and inconvenient degree of heat to impart to the wood by
the application of red hot or highly heated moulds under heavy pressure the deeper
indentations of the latter and thus produce configurations which could not be
obtained by pressure alone however powerful with the aid of only moderately
heated moulds. The resulting product is however objectionable in so far as its
surface appears invariably more or less charred burnt or blurred and when
producing mouldings or imitation carvings it then becomes necessary to subject
these afterwards to a further process of cleaning or staining in order to remove the
burnt or scorched effects to produce uniformity of color or the product must be
employed in such faulty condition with the scorched or charred effects upon it
which is naturally objectionable.
Scorched or burnt effects upon wooden or other surfaces are only then of
practical utility when they can be arranged in such manner that they determine or
represent also a distinct and definite design or ornamental configuration from
correspondingly engraved and heated dies upon flat or plane surfaces of lighter
colored woods or materials in imitation of inlaying or painting. Such work is
known as pyrographic art or mechanical poker work and the production of a
shallow relief is sufficient for that purpose but in order to be useful it must be both
very sharp in outline and of a uniform and preferably very dark or black and
durable colour it being easily understood that the artistic beauty of such effects
depends entirely upon a striking contrast of colour and sharpness of design.
To achieve this it then becomes necessary as already stated according to the
practice as hitherto to heat the moulds to an inconveniently high degree of
temperature and whenever that is the case the requisite amount of pressure cannot
always be applied either long or strong enough to produce in continuity clean
designs of sufficiently sharp and clear outline and simultaneously also of such
uniform very dark or black color or tone without burning or blurring the pattern
nor does the mere action of burning or charring the wood by heated moulds as
hitherto produce a sufficiently fast or durable colour; it is only a question of
comparatively short time that such colour fades and vanishes more or less. More-
over the rollers and die as hitherto arranged become almost invariably unequally
or unduly heated and such unequal distribution of heat has a highly injurious
effect upon the surfaces under operation. These difficulties and imperfections are
now fully recognised in the trade and art to which they relate. I have ascertained
by practical experience that the professed theory or allegation relating to the
employment of pressure cylinders and concerning the production of such pyro-
graphic designs, vizt." that by varying the temperature of the roller and the
duration of the application of the same to the surface the colour of the burnt or
intaglio parts may be varied at will "cannot be sustained in practice.
To obviate these difficulties I proceed as follows: I prefer to compress the wood
as hitherto between heated revolving cylindrical dies; I employ however only
moulds or dies engraved on gun metal bronze or other suitable alloy of copper and
not on iron or steel. When iron or steel dies are nevertheless intended to be used
they should be thoroughly coated or plated with a suitable other superior metal in
order to prevent the formation of oxides on the engraved surface. I have ascer-
tained that the formation or presence of oxides on the surface of the engraved
metal die is inter alia a cause which interferes very materially with both quality
and color of the work and has in some cases an absolutely injurious effect upon the
general appearance of the compressed surfaces. The heating of the die assists

page_text: the formation of oxides particularly when as at present wood is used which has not
previously been steamed and that is especially the case with dies of iron or steel
but as it applies also though in a lesser degree to copper or alloys of copper it is
obvious that it is expedient and useful that dies of such metals should likewise be
plated or coated with a less oxidisable metal. I have employed respectively gold
silver nickel and platinum for such plating and of these I prefer the latter as it is
itself of the least oxidisable nature.
Before the wood is compressed it is thoroughly steamed (or boiled if preferred)
in closed vessels. For generating the steam water may be employed in the ordinary
way but preferably with a dissolution therein of alum or the like; the strength of
such solution may vary up to the point of cold saturation. I have obtained good
results with a half-cold-saturated solution.
The object of adding the alum is that it may both aid in preventing the surfaces
becoming charred in all such cases where clean self coloured mouldings or the like
are produced and also in better fixing the carbon colour on or under the wooden or
other surfaces in sharply defined and clear outlines when two-colored or pyro-
graphic designs are produced. In the first mentioned case the alum exercises its
well known apyrous properties and in the latter it acts simultaneously also as a
mordant.
In place of or in combination with alum other substances capable of acting in
like manner to alum upon the surfaces may be employed such for example as the
liquid known to dyers by the name of red liquor (10 parts of alum, 10 parts of
sugar of lead, 1 part of soda-all by weight). I have obtained good results with
a mixture of equal parts by weight of alum and borax.
The wood having been steamed is then preferably kept for about three days in a
cool damp place.
The manufacture which I will now first describe of self coloured mouldings and
the like in high relief differs according to this invention materially from that of
flat or plane ornamental work with scorched effects on its surface. I proceed as
follows:-
Immediately before it is compressed between heated cylinders I pass the wood
through a heated flue or chamber preferably constructed of iron and of cylindrical
shape in which it is exposed to a dry heat and in that state it is fed through the
chamber under the dies. The temperature in such chamber may be high but it
must be so regulated that the wood cannot become burnt or scorched resinous woods
requiring or allowing of less heat than very hard dry kinds such for example as
teak. By this means the wood is rendered soft or pliable and a moderate amount
of graduated pressure suffices then for the purposes of this invention to produce
sharp and clean ornaments such as mouldings in high relief by the application of
heated dies which do not require to be heated to so high a degree of temperature
as would scorch or burn the surface.
The said chamber which is preferably open at both ends is placed in closest
proximity to the pressing apparatus and its outlet is on a level with the lower part
of the engraved pattern mould or roller die which presses on the wooden surface.
I preferably arrange this by securing the die on the surface of the upper roller
which revolves on a shaft in fixed bearings. The lower roller which serves to give
the pressure and revolves likewise on a shaft but in adjustable bearings can be
lowered or raised from underneath by means of a screw, or a pair of screws or other
suitable mechanism and the said chamber is firmly secured to the sides of the said
bearings which carry the shaft of the roller and the chamber thus follows the
movements of that roller when raised or lowered. The heating of the chamber is
preferably effected by means of a perforated pipe longitudinally fitted inside on
the bottom part of the chamber and supplying jets of atmospheric gas. Slabs of
refractory material such as fireclay of suitable thickness are fitted as heat deflectors
over the gas pipe and over these transverse iron rods or bars are fixed through the
entire length of the chamber about six inches apart to serve as supports for the
lengths of wood in their passage to the cylinder. I usually construct the chamber

page_text: about 8 inches in diameter and about 7 feet long on each side of the roller; but
this may vary. For the reason as hereafter described that the wood has to be
rolled forward and backwards it is however obvious that the chamber must be
arranged both in front of the cylinder and on the opposite side.
The length of wood to be operated upon having previously been cut to any
desired profile by suitable machinery is then subjected at first to only so much
pressure as may be required to indent the same approximately with the pattern of
the die and without crushing it. Before the last part of the length under
operation has thus passed from between the cylinders and say one inch thereof
remains still unindented I slightly increase the pressure and simultaneously I reverse
the operation of the cylinders until the other end of the length save about one inch
thereof. has passed and I then in like manner repeat this operation as often as
may be required which must in each case depend upon the nature of the pattern on
the die and the depth of its relief until on inspection the pattern is found to be
rendered in continuity upon the wood in sufficiently sharp and clean outline. The
die is kept lightly oiled during the process. By this combined means I avoid
scorching the surface and crushing the wood.
For the production of such other ornamental work pyrographic designs or
mechanical poker work as described with two-colored effects in imitation of
inlaying or painting it is not always desirable to pass the steamed wood also
through a heated chamber before it is compressed but it is necessary to manipulate
the same in the following manner :-
The boards or strips of steamed wood are first carefully planed on both sides on
the surface and the back and it is also most useful to glass paper the surface
besides the object of this being to produce an even thickness and a perfectly
uniform level and thus obviate the difficulty now experienced of sometimes missing
the design partly or altogether.
The surface is then washed over with or the wood may be soaked in a hot
solution of alum or the like provided such substances have not previously already
been dissolved in the water used for steaming the wood as already described.
Boards of wood-pulp and the like are merely washed over and not soaked nor
steamed. Subsequently when this has dried or nearly so but preferably not more
than about twelve hours before it is compressed the wood or analogous material is
washed all over its surface with a suitable liquid or material which will itself
become carbonised burnt or scorched and blackened (or assist such result when
compounded with other materials) by the action of the heat more intensively and
more rapidly at the same or at a lower degree of temperature than the wood and
thus blacken the surface correspondingly wherever the heated die touches.
It is obvious that such liquid or material should be if not absolutely colourless
yet of such a nature as not to interfere materially when it has dried by spontaneous
evaporation with the natural colour of the surfaces to which it is applied. It is also
obvious that the most suitable substances for such purpose are those which will
carbonise most readily into a dark layer of charcoal of considerable density.
Nitrogenous substances of animal origin or source being of that nature, notably
albuminous matter, are very useful provided they answer the already mentioned
requirements not to discolor the surface (blood in its natural state for example
would be unsuitable) and they may in some cases also be usefully employed in
combination mixture or emulsion with kindred materials of vegetable origin which
by themselves alone would not answer the purpose so well.
Amongst such suitable animal substances I particularise milk of mammiferous
animals, and such substances of which the white of eggs is the type which are
soluble in water and coagulate in heat, vist albumen of eggs, blood albumen or
dried serum of blood, fibrin; and also ferrocyanide of potassium or its chemical
equivalent an addition of which assists such required result; and of vegetable
origin sugar flour and starch or the gluten derived therefrom, white resin
dissolved in hot turpentine, linseed or similar oil, and sometimes ordinary salt is
also added when pure albuminous matter is employed in larger proportions. In

page_text: some cases I also mix part of the solution of alum with the other liquid.
matter.
The proportions to be employed may be varied considerably as also the materials
hemselves whereby different kinds of uniform shades may be obtained without
leparting from the principle of this part of the invention, as stated, vist. to apply
o the respective surfaces suitable readily carbonizing nitrogenous substances of
nimal origin either alone or in combination with similar or kindred materials of
egetable origin which by the action of applied heat or heat and acid coagulate or
carbonise together and thus combining become incorporated with the surfaces.
The following are suitable mixtures whereby have obtained satisfactory
results :-

page_text: combination with a stationary table and adjustable guides and the heated chamber
is dispensed with. The table extends to a suitable length on both sides of the
cylinders. The guides on the table consist of two longitudinal bars laterally
adjustable to suit the width of the work by the operation of right and left handed
screws. The wood is fed between the guides and is passed between the two
cylinders; it is pressed lightly but yet sufficiently firmly to prevent any oscillation
or vibration against the die by a screw or a pair of screws or other suitable
mechanism fitted underneath.
The construction of gas heated pressure cylinders being however well under-
stood not novel in itself and not forming save as follows any part of my invention
I abstain from further detailed description thereof.
In operating with such hollow metal roller dies or cylindrical moulds as described
heated by atmospheric gas or hot air very great waste of caloric is now experienced
and the resulting unequal distribution and radiation of heat upon and respectively
from the mould or cylinder has moreover an injurious effect upon the product which
frequently becomes too much burnt in some and not at all or very indifferently
blackened or colored in other parts.
According to this invention I obviate these defects by constructing hollow metal
roller dies which are lined around the inside surface or packed with a suitable
refractory material such as burnt fireclay or a mixture of such materials Kieselguhr
and the like upon which I cause the jets of atmospheric gas burners to play from
the centre of the roller. For that purpose I prefer to construct the hollow rollers
or cylinders in steel lapwelded with longitudinal thin ribs on the inner surface.
These ribs are integral parts of the cylinder and may vary in height and number.
I refer to the accompanying drawing forming part of this Specification which
shews a section of a cylinder of 4 inches outside diameter with R eight ribs
inches high; C are lumps of refractory material and P is the central perforated
gas pipe for introducing atmospheric gas into the cylinder. The refractory
material C is so shaped that it fits approximately the open space between the ribs
and its own taper shape secures it sufficiently between the same when the rollers
revolve. In the drawing only some of the open spaces are fitted with the refractory
material but in practice all the spaces are so fitted. Other modes for securing the
refractory material to the inner surface may be adopted if desired or the rollers
especially when of larger diameter may be constructed of suitable iron without
such ribs and lined with only one and cylindrically shaped piece of refractory
material to fit the inner surface of the roller to which it may be fixed by any
suitable means.
I ensure thus an equal distribution of heat on the surface of the cylinder and on
the die and much waste of caloric is prevented.
The lower or pressure roller employed for flat pieces of pyrographic work is
preferably very highly polished for the purpose of assisting an easy passage of the
strips of wood which is now frequently impeded by a rough surface of such roller.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
any foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :
First. The improved process of ornamenting or decorating surfaces of wood and
analogous materials with pyrographic configurations or designs, substantially as
herein described.
Second. The improved manufacture of embossed mouldings in high relief
substantially as herein described.
Third. In the manufacture by mechanical means of pyrographic designs or
configurations and of embossed mouldings in relief the employment of dies or
moulds of a base metal covered coated or plated with a superior metal substantially
as herein described.
Fourth. In the manufacture of embossed mouldings in relief the employment
of an apyrous substance substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

page_text: Fifth. In the manufacture of pyrographic designs or configurations the employ-
ment of a solution which will act both as an apyrous agent and as a mordant
substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Sixth. In the manufacture of pyrographic designs or configurations the employ-
ment of nitrogenous substances of animal origin or source, substantially as and for
the purpose herein described.
Seventh. In a machine such as described for producing embossed mouldings in
relief and pyrographic designs or configurations the combination of hollow metal
cylinders lined or packed on the inner surface with refractory substance substantially
as and for the purpose herein described.
Eighth. In a machine such as described for producing embossed mouldings in
relief the combination of a heated chamber substantially as and for the purpose
herein described.
Dated this Olot Jr. of T1000
AMBROSS SMITH.