Figs. 230 to 233.

“Mr. George Berks,” says Mr. Stringer, to whom I am indebted for the following notes, “who was a man of good general attainments, did what modelling was required. One of the earliest improvements effected by Mr. Minton was the substitution of brass moulds for the plaster ones used by Mr. Wright, which enabled the maker to beat up the clay so as to give a sharper edge to the tile. Before that alteration the edges had to be cut after they were taken from the plaster mould. A decided advantage was thus gained; but innumerable other difficulties had to be encountered, chiefly arising from the irregular contraction of the clays. Sometimes the inlaid parts would at a slight tap at the back of the tile fall out, or the tiles would become stained in the firing; and in short all sorts of ill luck and misadventures were the weekly result. The tiles were at first fired in a small oven at the china works which would hold about 700 tiles, and he and his fellow labourers used regularly to go there to witness the drawing of the oven. Time after time they found nearly the whole contents spoilt in one way or other, and they were carted away to form part of the foundations on which many of our pottery streets now stand. If it so happened that 100 out of the 700 proved fairly good, the fact was a source of encouragement to all concerned. Repeated failures were, however, only followed by further experiments. Mr. Minton was ever confident that skill and perseverance would in the end prove a success; but surely never was any man’s patience or pocket more sorely or severely tried. Occasionally a few orders were satisfactorily executed, but they were on a comparatively small scale. In April, 1836, Mr. Minton sent to Mr. Josiah Booker, of Liverpool, a plan for tiling his hall, and this gentleman adopted Mr. Minton’s suggestions; and it would seem gave the order with the view of forming an opinion of the tiles for the purpose of exportation; little imagining the difficulties that had to be got over before they could be successfully introduced at home. The prices quoted to Mr. Booker were 15s. per square yard, and 6d. per tile of 6 inches square for the border, being about one-half the prices Mr. Wright had charged them. In 1837, a hall pavement was laid in the mansion of Sir John P. Orde, Bart., at Kilmoray, Loch-Gilp-Head, N.B. It should be remarked that, at this time, the only colours made use of were buff, red, and chocolate. In November, 1836, after the death of his father, Mr. John Boyle joined Mr. Minton as partner, and so continued until December, 1841. This gentleman had a keen eye to the profitable working of the manufactures, and often cast uneasy glances at the corner near the throwing-house, and at length began to urge that that department ought to be abandoned. It was on one of these occasions that Mr. Minton uttered the well-known words, “Say no more on the subject, Mr. Boyle. I will make these tiles if they cost me a guinea each!” We do not hear that any other remonstrance followed this rebuke. The late Harriette, Duchess of Sutherland, was one of the early patrons of the tile manufacture; and, indeed, the Staffordshire potteries generally are much indebted to her Grace for the great encouragement she ever gave, and the interest she ever took in every improvement calculated to elevate the character of our manufactures, and advance the prosperity of the district. Her example and influence amongst the nobility afforded much encouragement to the British potter, and tended greatly to the attainment of that success in the art which has been so marked of late years. The tiles were extensively introduced at Trentham Hall, and some of the finest of the early specimens are to be found there. The first work of great importance that was undertaken was the floor of the Temple Church, London. Lewis N. Cottingham, Esq., F.S.A., made an examination of the Chapter House, Westminster, in January, 1841, in order to procure suitable examples for the tiles proposed to be used in the restoration of the Temple Church. On the removal of portions of the boarded floor the pavement was found to be in a very perfect state, few tiles being broken, and the colours in many parts as brilliant as when laid down. Mr. Minton undertook to reproduce the various designs composing this ancient pavement. It was a work of great labour and difficulty; but was accomplished to the satisfaction of the architect, and all others interested in the work. The charge made was merely nominal, taking into account the great expenditure necessarily involved at a time when so many difficulties still attended the manufacture. Mr. Minton was a diligent collector of old tiles, and friends amongst the nobility, gentry, and clergy, in all parts of the country, ministered to his taste, and sent him either examples or sketches of such as they met with in their travels; nothing pleased him better than to receive choice specimens and to superintend their reproduction. The late Mr. Welby Pugin furnished Mr. Minton with many tile drawings, some of which he had designed during his many night journeys to Staffordshire, whilst engaged in the extensive works for Lord Shrewsbury, at Alton Towers and Cheadle Church.”

Figs. 234 to 239.—Minton’s productions.

Figs. 240 to 243.

In June, 1840, Mr. Richard Prosser took out a patent for making a variety of articles from clay in a powdered state, viz., buttons, tesseræ, floor tiles, glazed tiles, &c., by pressure; by preference using screw presses of different powers for articles containing up to and including fifty square inches of surface in each piece; articles of larger surface, and of course requiring a greater pressure, being made by hydraulic press, the pumps of which were worked by steam. Patents were taken for England, France, and America. That for France lapsed in consequence of a condition of the French patent law requiring the process being worked in that country within six months of its date; the political condition of France at that time, in the opinion of the patentee, not being safe for the investment of capital. Of this patent and its application, the following notes, drawn up for me by Mr. John Turley, are of especial interest.

“The English patent was very early introduced to the firm of Minton and Boyle, of Stoke-on-Trent. Mr. Minton took a lively interest in it, but not so Mr. Boyle. Mr. Prosser sold the half part of the English patent to Mr. Minton. Arrangements were made for the prompt commencement of making glazed tiles, tesseræ, and buttons, at Messrs. Minton and Boyle’s works. Two work-rooms were given up to Mr. John Turley, engineer, who at first placed six button presses in one, and a large tile-press in the other, and commenced making white glazed tiles (6 in.) and buttons in these works in August, 1840. Prior to this time, white glazed or Dutch tiles (6 in.) could be bought in the London market for less money than paid to the journeyman potter for making this article at Stoke. The demand for white glazed tiles was soon very great, and has subsequently become a staple article of manufacture in most potting districts by this process. Buttons, tiles, and tesseræ continued their progress in numbers manufactured until 1843, when, on March 8th, the process of making tesseræ was exhibited by Mr. Turley at the Society of Arts, London—Lecture by Cowper; Paper read by Blashfield—and 290 boxes of buttons, three dozen in each, given away at the doors. March 11th, 1843, the same press and process was exhibited by Mr. Turley at the Marquess of Northampton’s soirée, as President of the British Association—a brilliant gathering, at which were present Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, a number of bishops, and about thirty foreign princes. The late Prince Consort took so much interest in the process, that Mr. Prosser and Mr. Minton decided that a description of the process and a drawing of the press as then seen at work should be prepared forthwith, and presented to his Highness, which was done, and presented on the 15th of March, 1843. This paper, with copy of drawing of the press, was reproduced in Dr. Ure’s ‘Dictionary of Arts and Manufactures,’ edited by Robert Hunt. After this introduction to the Society of Arts and the British Association, Mr. J. M. Blashfield, Digby Wyatt, and Owen Jones, by their designs and favourable influences, brought the geometrical floor tile with its many colours, in combination with the encaustic floor tile, into extensive use in the rebuilding of churches, noblemen’s mansions, and other public buildings.

“In August, 1840, he commenced making buttons and tesseræ with six presses, and continued progressing until December, 1841, when twenty-five presses were at work; September 5, 1842, sixty-two presses at work; and at March, 1844, ninety presses at work, with ninety women and one hundred and eighty girls. The girls working half-days and at school half-days—one girl being required to place on setters for firing the produce of one press. The first six months of 1844 the firm received orders for 27,123 great gross, and sold 22,519 great gross. Infringements were now rife in various directions. Most of them were stopped on receipt of notice. Two were costly suits: one, by Mr. Thomas Prosser (who held the American Patent) versus Mr. Henry Van Wart, as an American merchant, for sending into the States buttons made in England irrespective of the American patentee; the other suit was for infringement in making—R. Prosser and H. Minton versus Chamberlain and Lilly. This trial ended August 22, 1845, at Bristol, and its issue was, that Chamberlain and Lilly should work under license. February 3, 1845, an arrangement was made between Minton and Prosser and Mr. H. Van Wart to close the American suit. The course for the sale was again clear for buttons, and progress was made in the manufacture and sale thereof for a few years, when an abrupt termination took place from the unfavourable surroundings and the inability of the patentees to agree as to the future manufacture.