Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-03
INDEsTRUCTIBLE PICTURES.
Porcelain Photography the Invention
OF a Deceased NashViIIian-
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~ oN CAAtA aAA aA4CAAldM.
MAUNCH CHUNK, Pa, March so, 1874
Dear sir: In a copy Of your issue Of the
10Th inst, sent to me by a friend, l see
under the heading understandable Pic
tureS" that a photographer of your city has
received sOme porcelain from SaxOny on
whichpictUTeS have been painted from photo
graphs and made indellibile, thereby resist
ing the action Of hot water, etc.
This is an important invention and its
assumption of a practical realization be-
comes one more example that reveal them
selves from time to time where the real
source of the discovery is forgotten, and all
the intelligent efforts, devOtiOns and sacri-
fees Of a gifted life are ignored.
Ii is many years ago that your former
tOWnsmIn, Andre BelOt, nOw deceased, first
made me acquainted with his invention,
and explained TO me in detail the manner
in which photographs could be transferred,
not only to porcelain in various forms for
domestic use, but also those of departed
friends whose memory we cherish could be
indestructibly printed on their tombstone
or monument. l was greatly impressed
with the beauty, correctness and clearneSS
of the several specimens shown to me at
the time, som in dark and light similar to
the originals, others in bright and durable
tints, showing high artistic skill and cuI-
tured taste. a number of these specimens
are yet treasured as precious mementOeS by
his bereayed widow and children, still
living in your city.
Andre BulOt had distinguished himself
in France, his native country, as a superior
artist in all decorations pertaining topOrce-
lain. 1t was in the justly celebrated works
at Seyres that he gained his knowledge and
perfected his art. In 1854, letters patent in
France and England were granted to him
for theinventiOn OftranSferTiug photographs
to porcelain or other hard substances which
could be submitted to heat and indellibly
fixing them in dark and light or in mineral
cOlOTs- He made repeated efforts to have
the value of this invention recognized in
this country so as TO secure capital for its
introduction. To this end he visited New
York and other cit les, but withnOpracticsl
results. \ foreigner, without friends or
influence, UnacIUainted with the language,
unable to explain his process save through
an Interpreter and utterly incapable Of pre-
senting his invention in = light which
would attract interest in a commercial
point Of view, he was forced TO abandon it
for a time, which hope alone could see any
termination to in the SOmbre futgrs. Ae
cOTding to the foreign patent laws, fees had
10 be paid al intervals Of time, and the in
ventiOa put into practical operation in or
to have the projections granted continue.
For want of capital, this expense could not /
re met, hencefOrward his h~ard-earned lis.
cOvery is the property of the world, and N
that can now be done, though iMDc' NJ
IS to tell this same w0gsd wbo,5
are indebted. 90 "hom
The father, .he mother .,,
more ilterest in ~ The children have
ho.ltjcI1 ~ g development of this
-" 'nhnlJi 40 more than they have in
~ of the creations of nature
- n; the forms which elevate and
Aors which delight the senses. The
.sner is dead, but his memory lives. The
mother and the children revere this memo
ny which we honor, so crowded with unset
fish devotion, whether in the family or
among friends, whether in the daily toll for
sustenance or in the higher reaches of his
investigating mind, and all under physical
agOnies which made life hardly endurable.
The patent laws should be modified, or
rather, have a wider embrace, so as to take
cOgnizance Of cases like this, where an in
yentiOn lying dormant, for any reason
whatsoever, becomes OF Importance after
the death of the inventor, a percentage on
all articles manufactured under such an
invention should be paid to the rightful
heirs, and a provision of this kind, proper (
ly made and guarded, could do no hahn
and would be a simple act of Justice to the
deserving. Respectfully yours,
Z. f. LOIsEAU.