Practical hints to builders and those contemplating building / Facts worth considering relating to foundation, cellar, kitchen, chimney, cistern, brick-work, mortar, heating, ventilation, the roof, and many items of interest to builders.

by National Sheet Metal Roofing Co.

THE WALTER’S PATENT, AND WHAT IT IS.

Previous to the granting of a patent to John Walter, in 1882, there were no tin shingles manufactured for the trade in the United States, with the exception of those which covered more than two-thirds of their surface to get one-third exposed to the weather; the same is commonly done with wood shingles. This made them too expensive for general use. The Walter’s patent made it practical to expose five-sixths of the surface and only conceal one-sixth of the shingle. This great saving at once reduced the cost of metal shingles over one-half, and enabled the National Sheet Metal Roofing Co., which controls this patent, to put on the market the best metal roofing in the world, at prices that compete with ordinary wood shingles. (See “Comparative Cost,” [pages 26 and 27].)

How this was done is best expressed in the claim granted the patentee, copied from the United States Official Gazette:

“A metal roofing plate having a gutter formed by corrugations at one side, and a perforated flange at the side of the gutter, whereby it shall be nailed to the roof of a house; a broad corrugation at the other side adapted to form a seam with the adjoining edge of a corresponding plate, substantially as shown and described.”

The advantage of this lock is that it makes a water-tight seam without soldering or hammering down. The plates are joined as easy as crossing two sticks, with ample provision for expansion and contraction. This lock is the perfection of simplicity; there is no exposed seam where water is liable to lodge and cause rust; no cleats are used, and no tin springs are necessary to hold the side edges of connecting plates to prevent water seeping through.