Figs. 484 to 491.—Productions of the Cauldon Place Works.
Figs. 492 to 499—Philadelphia Exhibits of the Cauldon Place Works.
In 1825 Messrs. John and William Ridgway took out a patent for “an improved cock, tap, or valve, for draining off liquors:” in 1840, John Ridgway took out another for “certain improvements in the moulds used in the manufacture of earthenware, porcelain, and other similar substances, whereby such moulds are rendered more durable” by having a face of “pitcher;” in the same year, in conjunction with George Wall, for “certain improvements in the manufacture of china and earthenware, and in the apparatus or machinery applicable thereto;” in the same year again, the same two, for “certain improvements in the mode of preparing bats of earthenware and porcelain clay, and of forming or shaping them into articles of earthenware and porcelain, and in the machinery or apparatus applicable thereto;” in 1847, John Ridgway, for “certain improvements in the manufacture of paste boxes, and other similar articles in china or earthenware, or other plastic materials”; and in 1852 for “certain improvements in the method or process of ornamenting or decorating articles of glass, china, earthenware, and other ceramic manufactures.” These are, applying “the art of electrotype or electro-metallurgy” for the above purpose, applied as “described, or by any other suitable process; provided always that the surface of the non-conducting body is so prepared that the metal deposited thereon shall become alloyed or combined therewith.” The invention, however, is said to consist “in the application of certain novel and peculiar media,” “whereby such surface may be caused to combine with gold, silver, copper,” &c. Before coating with the metals, the vessels are covered thinly with some varnish, dried, and immersed, first in a solution “of phosphorus reduced by bisulphuret of carbon,” then in nitrate of silver, and set aside to dry. Instead of this, “phosphoric vapour” or “a solution of phosphorus in sulphuric ether” may be employed; but the method preferred is brushing them over with “an impalpable powder of carburet of iron and sulphate of copper” in certain proportions; afterwards the vessels are “corroded by means of the fumes of hydrofluoric acid.”
It may be added, that in the application of photography to the decoration of porcelain this firm has achieved a perfect success so far as the art is concerned, and has produced some splendid specimens, which show how completely and how thoroughly they are artists as well as manipulators. This feature, although not one, unfortunately, at present made to much extent commercially available, is one which cannot but attract attention, along with the sanitary and other classes of goods, to this establishment.
The marks used by the Cauldon Place Works, so far as I am aware, are the following:
Figs. 500 to 502.
A shield, quarterly, 1 and 4 gules, 2 or, 3 azure, over all on a bend argent B-W. M. & Co.; the shield surmounted by a crown, and surrounded by a garter with the name of the pattern.
