gS2 USEFUL PRODUCTS FReM COAL. 



II. 



Method of producing Heat, Light, and various useful 

 Articles, from Pit-coaL By Mr. B. Cook, of Birmingm 



ham *. ■% 



SIR, 



Products from Xjl A VING paid much attention to the procuring of gas, and 

 other products, from pit-coal, I now beg leave to lay before 

 the Society for the Encouragement of Arts &c. the results 

 "^ of some of my experiments on pit-coal, and the methods of 

 producing the sundry articles, of which I have sent samples, 

 and a japanned waiter varnished therewith. The quantity 

 of clear tar, which may be produced from every hundred 

 weight of coal, is about four pounds ; from which a liquor, 

 or volatile oil, may be distilled, which answers the purposes 

 of oil of turpentine in japanning. Every gallon of tar will 

 7)roduce nearly two quarts of this oil by distillation, and a 

 residuum will be left nearly, if not quite, equal to the best 



Japan varnish, asphaltum. I have sent a waiter, or hand-board, japanned 

 with varnish made from this residuum, and the volatile oil 

 above-mentioned. This dries sooner, and will be found to 

 answer as well as the best oil of turpentine, a circumstance 

 which will be of immense advantage to this country; as, in 



Quantity of the vicinity of Birmingham only, nearly ten thousand tons 



valuable pro- ^f pit-coal are coked or charred per week ; and all the tar 

 has hitherto been lost: but by my process, I dare venture to 

 say, that, from the various coal works in this kingdom, 

 more tar might be 'produced than would supply all our dock, 

 yards, boat builders, and other trades, with tar and pitch, 

 beside furnishing a substitute for all the oil of turpentine 

 and asphaltum used in the kingdom, and improving the coke 

 so as to make iron with less charcoal. 



I have sent a large specimen of the asphaltum, and three 

 vial bottles containing as follows; — 



No. 1. — A sample of the oil or spirit, being part of that 

 which was used in making the varnish, with which the 

 waiter sent was japanned. 



* Transactions of tlie Society of Arts, vol. xxviii. p. 73. The 

 silver medal was voted to Mr. Cook. 

 . ■ ^ No. 2. 



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