IMPROVEMENTS IN IMITATING NIELLO ON METALLIC PANELS, PLATES, OR OTHER ORNAMENTAL OR ARTISTIC ARTICLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the firm of Wirth and Company,
Patent Solicitors, at Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for
an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN IMITATING NIELLO ON METALLIC PANELS,
PLATES, OR OTHER ORNAMENTAL OR ARTISTIC ARTICLES."-A communication
from Friedrich Beck, of New York, in the United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1882.
"t
FRANK WIRTH of the firm of Wirth and Company Patent Solicitors at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. IMPROVEMENTS IN
IMITATING NIELLO ON METALLIC PANELS, PLATES OR OTHER ORNAMENTAL OR
ARTISTIC ARTICLES.' [A communication from abroad by Friedrich Beck, of New
York, in the United States of America.]
"
This invention relates to improved metallic panels or plates, made in imitation
niello whereby ornaments, engravings and other works of art can be reproduced on
the surface of the panel or plate with a highly artistic effect, so as to be applicable
to placques, panels for furniture, book covers, jewellery caskets, sleeve-buttons, and
other purposes.
The invention consists in producing the desired design upon the panel or plate
by means of photo-engraving or photo-etching, then coating the so engraved surface
with japan or other soft enamel and drying the same, then removing the surplus of
the enamel by grinding or other means until the surface of the enamel is even
with the surface of the metal, and finally plating the surface of the metal by electro
deposition.
In order to transfer the desired artistic design to the surface of the metallic
plate or panel, the design, engraving, or other work of art is first photographed
and the negative or positive, as required, is placed upon a sensitized gelatine film.
The light passing through the transparent parts of the negative or positive, renders
the corresponding portions of the film insoluble. After sufficient exposure the film
is treated in water whereby the parts not affected by light are swilled. The film

page_text: after being treated in the usual manner for electro-deposition, is placed in the
copper bath and a copper-plate of the required thickness deposited thereon. This
plate shows the lines of the design, engraving or other work intended to be
reproduced in intaglio, or relief, according as a negative or positive was employed.
In place of the photo-engraving process just described the engraved plate may be i
produced by photo-etching or by any other approved method.
The photo-engraved or photo-etched plate is then covered with a japan or
any suitable enamel and after thoroughly drying and hardening it, the surplus
of the enamel is removed from the surface of the plate by grinding or other means,
until the surface of the metal appears and the enamelled portions are even
therewith.
The surface of the enamalled plate is then electroplated, the whole producing a
very striking and artistic effect, as the enamelled portions, representing the original
design, engraving or work of art, appear on a ground of gold or silver. The plate
so obtained is now applied to the purpose for which it is intended, forming a panel
for artistic furniture, placques and other articles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st August
1882.
FRANK WIRTH, of the firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN IMITATING
>>
NIELLO ON METALLIC PANELS, PLATES, OR OTHER ORNAMENTAL OR ARTISTIC
ARTICLES A communication from Friedrich Beck, of New York, in the United
States of America.
This invention relates to improved metallic panels or plates, made in imitation
niello whereby ornaments, engravings and other works of art can be reproduced on
the surface of the panel or plate with a highly artistic effect, so as to be applicable
to placques, panels for furniture, book covers, jewellery caskets, sleeve-buttons, and
other purposes.
The invention consists in producing the desired design upon the panel or plate
by means of photo-engraving or photo-etching, then coating the so engraved surface
with japan or other soft enamel and drying the same, then removing the surplus of
the enamel by grinding or other means until the surface of the enamel is even
with the surface of the metal, and finally plating the surface of the metal by electro
deposition.
In order to transfer the desired artistic design to the surface of the metallic
plate or panel, the design, engraving, or other work of art is first photographed
and the negative or positive, as required, is placed upon a sensitized gelatine film.
The light passing through the transparent parts of the negative or positive, renders
the corresponding portions of the film insoluble. After sufficient exposure the film
is treated in water whereby the parts not affected by light are swilled. The film
after being treated in the usual manner for electro-deposition, is placed in the
copper bath and a copper-plate of the required thickness deposited thereon. This
plate shows the lines of the design, engraving or other work intended to be
reproduced in intaglio, or relief, according as a negative or positive was employed.
In place of the photo-engraving process just described, the engraved plate may be
produced by photo-etching or by any other approved method.
The photo-engraved or photo-etched plate is then covered with a japan or
any suitable soft enamel and after thoroughly drying and hardening it the surplus
of the enamel is removed from the surface of the plate by grinding or other
means, until the surface of the metal appears and the enamelled portions are even
therewith.
The surface of the enamelled plate is then electro-plated, the whole producing a
very striking and artistic effect, as the enamelled portions, representing the original
design, engraving, or work of art, appear on a ground of gold or silver. The plate
so obtained is now applied to the purpose for which it is intended, forming a panel
for artistic furniture, placques, and other articles.
Having now described the said invention and the manner of performing the
same I wish it to be understood that what is claimed and intended to be protected
by the berein-in-part recited Letters Patent is :-
Firstly. The process for reproducing engravings or designs on metallic plates by
first producing the desired design by means of photo-engraving or photo-etching
on a metallic plate in the manner described then coating this plate with a suitable
japan or enamel and afterwards removing so much of the japanned or enamelled
surface until the metallic surface appears and by then gold or silver electro plating

page_text: the surface whereby the lines of the design appear on a silver or gold ground
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. Metallic plates or panels with designs formed thereon by intaglio lines
filled up with japan or other suitable soft enamel and a gold or silver electro plated
metallic surface as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said Frank Wirth have hereto set my hand
and seal this twenty sixth day of August in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
FRANK WIRTH. (L.S.)