National Republican., 1883-06-18
The Great Inconvenience Removed by, the
Invention Of PhOtO-LthOgraphy.
The Trouble and Expense Of Copying
the Drawings Twenty Years Ago,
The Demand For Their Publication and the Trouble
EncounIOd in Procuring It.
How and by Whom the Business Has
Been Brought TO Perfection.

washington is tnaJ Oh pnotOlltnOgrapny.
brief history Of the photolithographic art,
as applied TO tho reproduction of the draw
ings of patents in the United States patent
Office may not be uninteresting, especially
since the results obtained have proved of
great utility, as well to the government as to
the public.
1t may be taken as an accepted fact, that
inventions and improvements upon inven
tions, from the largest to the smallest, spring
from necessity, immediate or remote, but regu-
lated by tho inoxorable laws of demand and
supply. The necessity for the preservation of
drawings of patents, issued by the govern
ment, which were perishing from continual
handling and the inroads Of time, as we'll as
the increased demand for copies of drawings,
rendered it imperative that some action
should be taken for their reproduction, in
such form as would preserve tho record and
at the same time supply the public with ex-
emplifcations at reasonable price. This mat
ter was first brought to the attention of cou-
Rress in 1856 by Commissioner Mason.
The only method prior to March, 1861, by
which a copy of patent drawing could be
obtained was to order q tracing, at an ex-
pense varying in accordance with the elabo-
rateness of the drawing, and hence such
tracings were in constant demand for public
and private use, especially by courts in the
adjudication of infringement cases. Under the
law the patent office was required to furnish
these tracings when paid for, but the method
was not only tedious and expensive, hut
sadly destructive Of the original drawings.
Under the act Of March 2, 1861, which au-
thorized the commissioner of patents to print
or cause to be printed ten copies of the de-
fscription and claims of all patents and ten
copies of drawings accompanying the same,
at cost not exceeding, exclusive of station
cry, two cents per hundred words, and fifty
cents per copy for drawings, one copy of
each to be printed on parchment, Commits
sioner Holloway entered into contract with
Mr.. Norris Peters, of this city, for the per-
formance of tho work, commencing with tho
issue of March and ending with that of Nov.
!, 1861. 1t was in accordance with the in
tendment of this law that the first effort to
reproduce these drawings by some cheaper
and more expeditions manner than by
tracing was first made, and TO Mr.. Peters un-
doubtedly belongs the credit of its final sue
cess. Under this contract ten copies of each
drawing were made by the "silver print"
process, and these were retained for use of the
patent office and sale to the pubic, Some of
these copies are still in existence, and COM
pared with the pro.snt complete and artistic
reproductions are really curiositios in their
way.
Mr.. Peters, however, continued his expert
ments in this direction with great assiduity,
and had succeeded in materially advancing
upon tho old process, when the outbreak and
continuance of tho war of the rebellion SO
retarded and checked the business of the
patent office that he was compelled to discon-
tinue the reproduction of drawings. The
great and desirable end had been in the
meantime accomplished and the fact demon
strated that the experiment was practicable
During tho period lfrom 1861 to 1860 the
necessity for this class of work was repeat
edly brought to the attention of congress by
the various commissioners of patents, and all
of these gentlemen agreed as TO the impor-
tance OF printing these reproductions under
the immediate supervision and control of the
office. Nothing, however, was accomplished
until 1869, when Commissioner Fisher, with
the approval of the secretary of the interior,
determined to further experiment in this
matter, and accordingly directed Mr.. Peters
to reproduce twelve copies each, full size,
of the original drawings by the photo
graphic process. These copies, however, did
not fully meet the requirements Of govern
ment and the public, and consequently the
method OF reproducing was changed to the then
comparatively new art of photolithography.
Thereupon the twelve full sized copies of
each drawing were reproduced by photo
lithographic process introduced by Mr.. Peters.
The result was so satisfactory TO the depart.
mont that on July l, 1869, tho first contract
for reproducing under his process twelve
copies each of tho weekly issues of patents
was awarded to Mr.. Peters
Applications for these copies rapidly in
creased, and although the system was yet in
its infancy, it gave such satisfaction and
promised so we'll fer the future that the re-
production of drawings of patents issued prior
to July, 1869, was ordered by the department.
The American Photolithographic company, of
New York, proposed as an experiment., with
out cost to the government, to reproduce ten
copies each, full size, of the issues of June,
1859, which being accepted proved successful.
Experiments made by the process of pho
Biography in the same direction subsequently,
failed and therefore tho superiority of photo
Nthography over all other processes was prac-
tically demonstrated for this class of work.
AS a consequence, II contract was given to
Mr.. Peters to reproduce the drawings of back
issues, commencing with those of March,
1865, and extending to Nov. 26, 1867. Subse-
quently the commissioner decided that, as
there was large demand for copies by classes
of inventions, 1t would be advantageous TO SO
reproduce them, and 300 copies each wero
printed from tracings made by the patent office.
This class of work was attended with great
labor, requiring exceeding care, knowledge,
and skill on the part of the contractor.
Tho necessary appropriations having been
graphic company Of New York made II second
attempt to reproduce the drawings of weekly
issues of patents printing, at first, 300 copies
of each. But, as this number exceeded the
demand, tho edition was reduced to 100
copies, at proportionately advanced rates.
This company received the contracts for the
current work until July, 1874, when it was
awarded to the Graphic company of New York
city, for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1875.
From July, 1915, to Oct 10, 1876 the work
was satisfactorily performed by Mr.. Peters,
of Washington, but as congress had delayed
making the necessary appropriations, adver-
tisement for new proposals were not issued
until Aug, 13, 1876.
Considerable controversy ensued over
awarding this contract, involving questions
Of price, time, and quality of work, but it was
finally giyon to Messrs. James h, Osgood &
Co., of Boston, Mass The result, however,
proved to be not only expensive, but the an
noying delays to the department and to in.
ventors and their attorneys consequent upon
the inability of the contractors TO properly
perform the work seriously retarded the pub
lie business Failing TO comply with the
terms of their contract, Messrs. Osgood & Co.
were set aside, their contract was annulled,
and tho work was again given to the Graphic
company.
The serious trouble of delay not being OBJ
waited by this change Secretary Zach Chan
dler decided TO relet the contract, and propo-
sails were invited for Dec. l3, 1876 When the
bids were opened nj that time and the subject
was again discussed, due consideration was
given to the essential requisites Of promptness
and dispatch the Importance of which was
with great force by the solicitors
practising before the patent office. The |
matter was referred TO committee who ex-
EnprImpng aA xsrtt. h.,