Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-14
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MAKING WALL PAPER.
THE METHOD BY WHICH THE
COLORS ARE APPLIED.

How GrounL Color is Distributed-A
Mica" Coat-SIachines Which Print
from Two to Twelve Co,ors at 4 Time.
Hand Printing.
The paper on which the designs are printed
Is manufactured especially for this purpose,
and is of varying weight 1t is received in large,
heavy rolls, resembling the rolls of paper used
IN newspaper Offices This paper is first
passed through the grounding machine,
where the ground color, be it light or dark,
is applied to the surface of the paper by roll
erS, and then is rubbed in and thoroughly
distributed by means of a set of brushes,
some Of which move from side to side, while
others arc stationary. Some Of the improved
machines can apply this ground color to two
rolls at the same time. II 1t IS desired tuaC
the paper shall have the silvered appearance
seen IN some papers mica coat, rs IL Is
called. IS applied. This coloring matter Is
pulyorized isinrlass mixed with dlte lead.
The colors OF this mixture cannot well be
shaded, and, therefore, IN such cases the diff
ferences in shade are made by using paper Of
different colors
After TIE ground color has been applied
the roll Of paper Is placed on a framework,
and Is slowly unrolled, and then carried Cl
an endless band over q large drum, resenl-
bling the cylinder of a printing press. The
machine or which the paper Is printed, IN
fact, resembles Very closely Il cylinder print
irG press, oxcep5 that the process Of print
ing Is reversed; the paper passes over the
drum or cylinder, and the designs are printed
by the rolls, which are placed on the lower
part OF the framework and rcvOive III the
same direction as the cylinder. Each roller
is stamped with 4 different part Of the figure
forming the general design to he produced,
and each of these portions OF the design Is
printed il a distinct color.
APPLYING TIE CoLORs.
The coiors are applied TO the printing
blocks or rolls by an endless band Of muslin
passing through tank filed with the color
Tor that particular block As the band
covered with the color passes from the tank
it travels over or beneath 4 piece of metal
having toothed edge, technically known as
2 doctor" and all supcrfuous paint IS re-
moved, running back into the tank. The
printing rolls are 50 adjusted that each por-
ton Of the design IS closely joined together,
producing a harmonious effect These
printing machines print from two to twelve
colors at the same time. The colors are
prepared By a special process, SO that they
DO not run or blend. The heavier shades
are applied last, as q general thing, though
the arrangement OF the colorS and the print
ing blocks depends in great measure upon the
design which IS to be produced
After passing over the cylinder the printed
paper is carried to the dryer on an endless
chain. This dryer extends the whole length
Of the factory, ard by an ingenious arrange
no
passes around a pillar and returns to the
other end of the room. As the paper passes
off from the cylinder it IS caught up at in
tervals of about eight feet on wooden sticks
called carriers" These sticks are moved
along by little projections on the endless
chain, the paper hanging in loose looTs or
folds between the carriers" The paper is
carried along for a distance of 200 or 800 feet
over coils Of steam pipe. and thus IS quickly
dried. After hanging for length OF time,
waving from SIX 10 tT.eiItv-fOur hours, the
paper IS taken from the carriers and laid in a
dry room, where il remains until the drying
process is thoroughly complete. 1t is then
taken to another room, where, by ingenious
machinery, i IS rolled in lengths of market
sole size.
\ COAT or BRONZE POWDER.
If it IS desired to apply a coat Of bronze
powder to make figure, the figure which IS
to be thus treated IS stamped on the paper as
it passes through the printing machine with q
heavy coat OF variish. Then, after passing
once over the coil of steampipe II order that
the other colors may be dried. the paper is
sent through a long alright box, in which
this bronze dust is sifted over the surface
from perforated tray, and the paper then
passes around the end OF the traveller and
back over the hot air or steam pipes.
The finest and most elaborate designs, how
ever. are printed by hand Zach color must
be stamped separately, and any one can at
once rlisting uish paper that is printed by hand
from that printed BY machine. In the former
at one of the margins viii be found, at dis
tarceS of about eighteen inches, fine lines or
dots containing the colOrs forming the design.
These are the marks guiding the men in their
work of stamping the pattern. The block o.
die for each separate portion Of the pattern
whichis to be printed in certain coloris eigh-
teen inches in length The workman presses
this de upon pad covered with the color.
and then places it Uoon the paper as it lies on
the table IN front OF him, taking care thatthe
guide at tie edge Of the die joins the mark
left on the margin of the paper. Placing .
swivel over tho block, he presses a lever with
his foot, thus stamping the form OF the die on
the paper. \ boy attendant spreads the paper
on t. rack, where 1t IS permitted TO dry. and it
IS then taken to another machine, where the
same process is gone through in printing
another portion Of the design in another
color. and this process is repeated in some
instances dozen or more times, until the en-
tire design, in ell Its more or less harmonious
blending of colors, IS produced--New York
Evening Post