| Description | Soho 15 Decr 1781
Dear Sir-
You perhaps will think we have been long in making the experiments of the cast iron Buttons &c &c but we have had many unforseen accidents vizt: the caster geting drunk R. Kimnel falling ill, and likewise my little Boys have been both very ill. George is pretty well recover'd but poor Jack is now rather on the favorable side; but last week I took (as I expected) my last farewell of him for three successive days; these have been my reasons for not writing you before. I now send you a Card of cast Iron Butts. which are made of Aston Furnace Iron and one particular sort of Bradley foundry iron which very much resembles the Aston Iron, say a close white fine grain, we do not know wch. of the two is best; either will do very well, but for the above reasons we have made very few trials to soften it so as to make it file, Drill, & Screw, but from the trials already we have made, we do not doubt its being made to do them all, and as the difference in expence betwixt it & wrot. Iron or steel is so very great I do not doubt its paying for the expence of a patent provide one can be secured for it will be aplicable to so many purposes, that I think it cannot fail: why not the following articles-Buttons. Buckles. Sword hilts. com. chains: Spurs for Plating upon and also steel Do. Stirrup irons. Bridle and Harness Buckles. Candlesticks. Steel Bottles & trinketts. Snuffers. grate nobs, fire irons. nutcracks. cork screws. Plyers, cloak pins, Bed hooks, knife handles, and why not horse shoes if it can be made soft enough? besides a great many other articles that I do not now recollect. I find Mr. Dearman has got a patent for Garden Hoes, but since the American wares broke out he has dropt the trade. They have made comn: cast iron Buckles and Chapes a long while at Walsall-and Mr. Bingley says he saw a Grate nob at Aston Furnace which they had ground with emery that look'd as well as any wrot: iron. If (in your application for a patent) you can include all these articles at the same expence, it will be right to do so; if not, I wou'd have Buttons & Candlesticks at any rate; but how to express the specification, whether by Saping, handing, Poleshing, softening, or adding phlogiston-I know not; but I doubt not your managing that part or indeed any other; if the scheme appears to you as eligable as it does to us, but I think it shoud not be delay'd a moment, for Thickbroom already knows that Kimnel is trying at Buttons; and I am fearful it it will soon be further known. In the article of Buttons I expect what now costs 4/6 or 5/ (say in the rough ready hardend) may be done for 1/ or 1/2 and the finishing will be about the same, so that I expect a good steel Button may be sold from 8/ to 10/ dble gro and imitation inlaid with Dutch gold perhaps @ 5/ or 6/ the Dble Gro. if this can be done, I think they will be an everlasting trade.
I understand they have cast, iron Buttons for Japaning but they have left it of again because the tin ones come cheaper. If you can get a patent it may be taken out either in your or Mr. Kimnels name-which you please and he will leave it intirely to you. It is now wednesday 19th Decr. and I am very sorry to inform you that Mrs. Boulton still continues very poorly; she has (by Dr. Witherings order) taken pills, Laudenum; been bled with Leeches on her temples, and had a Blister behind her ear, but from none has she found any releif; that violent head ach (which she has often had for a day or so) still continues and she wishes much to see you and the Childern at home. I wou'd not have you be alarm'd in thinking that I give you too favorable an Acct: and that she is really worse than what I say for be assured I have told you just as I think. My poor Jack still remains so ill that I fear he will not overget it. I have sent the Card of Butts here as Mrs. Boulton is so ill I expect you will not stay to do any business.
beleive me
yours Sincerely
Jno Scale |