Chatterton's compound
Encyclopedia
Chatterton’s compound was an adhesive waterproof insulating compound
that was used in early submarine telegraph cables.
Its constitution is as follows:
Chatterton's Compound was also used to stick insulating paper to armatures, for example those on Synchronome
clocks; the most accurate clocks made in the early part of the 20th century. If the paper looked in a bad condition it could be removed by warming up the armature near a flame and replacing it.
Chatterton's Compound was used in the manufacture of pneumatic pipe organs to seal lead tubing into wooden blocks for the pneumatic action. It is still used in historical restoration jobs for this purpose but has been replaced with modern materials on more recent builds.
It was much used by submarine Cable Technicians for various purposes around oversea telegraph offices prior to the 1960s for general adhesive purposes and was available in round black sticks of about 3/4 inch diameter which responded to heat from a spirit lamp. It was used in jointing gutta percha insulated submarine telegraph cables.
It was known to telegraph technicians as 'chats'.
In France, the normal black PVC electrical insulating tape
is often referred to as "Chatterton".
Electrical insulation
thumb|250px|[[Coaxial Cable]] with dielectric insulator supporting a central coreThis article refers to electrical insulation. For insulation of heat, see Thermal insulation...
that was used in early submarine telegraph cables.
Its constitution is as follows:
- 3 parts gutta-perchaGutta-perchaGutta-percha is a genus of tropical trees native to Southeast Asia and northern Australasia, from Taiwan south to the Malay Peninsula and east to the Solomon Islands. The same term is used to refer to an inelastic natural latex produced from the sap of these trees, particularly from the species...
- 1 part rosinRosin.Rosin, also called colophony or Greek pitch , is a solid form of resin obtained from pines and some other plants, mostly conifers, produced by heating fresh liquid resin to vaporize the volatile liquid terpene components. It is semi-transparent and varies in color from yellow to black...
- 1 part Stockholm tarPine tarPine tar is a sticky material produced by the high temperature carbonization of pine wood in anoxic conditions . The wood is rapidly decomposed by applying heat and pressure in a closed container; the primary resulting products are charcoal and pine tar.Pine tar consists primarily of aromatic...
Chatterton's Compound was also used to stick insulating paper to armatures, for example those on Synchronome
Shortt-synchronome clock
The Shortt-Synchronome free pendulum clock was a complex precision electromechanical pendulum clock invented in 1921 by British railway engineer William Hamilton Shortt in collaboration with horologist Frank Hope-Jones, and manufactured by the Synchronome Co., Ltd. of London, UK...
clocks; the most accurate clocks made in the early part of the 20th century. If the paper looked in a bad condition it could be removed by warming up the armature near a flame and replacing it.
Chatterton's Compound was used in the manufacture of pneumatic pipe organs to seal lead tubing into wooden blocks for the pneumatic action. It is still used in historical restoration jobs for this purpose but has been replaced with modern materials on more recent builds.
It was much used by submarine Cable Technicians for various purposes around oversea telegraph offices prior to the 1960s for general adhesive purposes and was available in round black sticks of about 3/4 inch diameter which responded to heat from a spirit lamp. It was used in jointing gutta percha insulated submarine telegraph cables.
It was known to telegraph technicians as 'chats'.
In France, the normal black PVC electrical insulating tape
Electrical tape
Electrical tape is a type of pressure-sensitive tape used to insulate electrical wires and other material that conduct electricity. It can be made of many plastics, but vinyl is most popular, as it stretches well and gives an effective and long lasting insulation...
is often referred to as "Chatterton".