IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF LACE CURTAINS AND OTHER ANALAGOUS OR SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Cullen Horne, of Bexley, in the County of
Kent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR
TREATMENT OF LACE CURTAINS AND OTHER ANALAGOUS OR SIMILAR
ARTICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Cullen Horne at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1881.
WILLIAM CULLEN HORNE, of Bexley, in the County of Kent.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF LACE CURTAINS AND OTHER ANALAGOUS
OR SIMILAR ARTICLES."
According to this Invention lace and muslin curtains and analagous articles are
rendered both luminous and damp proof. For this purpose they are treated with a
phosphorescent substance (or with phosphorescent substances) carried in a liquid
vehicle, which vehicle also carries in solution a compound or substance having the
property of becoming afterwards damp proof.
In some cases there is employed also a second damp proof solution apart from the
phosphorescent material.
In carrying out this Invention the phosphorescent substance I at present prefer
to use is the phosphorescent powder sold by William Puzey, of 5, Aldermanbury
Postern, London, or by his agents, but any phosphorescent powder of which the
phosphorescence is of a practical enduring quality, that is, one in which the phos-
phorescence continues for several hours after exposure to light, may be employed.
The vehicle may be any suitable liquid, such as water and gelatinous or mucilaginous
matter in combination with a sul stance or substances by which it is rendered
insoluble under the action of light; such substances are gelatine and bichromate of
potash or of ammonia. The proportions used may be considerably varied. A
suitable mixture is phosphorescent powder (which may be slacked), 150 parts;
gelatine, 50; water, 200; bichromate of potash in crystals, 1 part; but I do not
confine myself to these proportions.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Cullen Horne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd March 1882.
WILLIAM CULLEN HORNE, of Bexley, in the County of Kent. “IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF LACE CURTAINS AND OTHER ANALAGOUS
OR SIMILAR ARTICLES."
According to this Invention lace and muslin curtains and analagous articles are
rendered both luminous and damp proof. For this purpose they are treated with a
phosphorescent substance (or with phosphorescent substances) carried in a liquid
vehicle, which vehicle also carries in solution a compound or substance having the
property of becoming afterwards damp proof.
In some cases there is employed also a damp proof solution apart from the
phosphorescent material.
In carrying out this Invention the phosphorescent substance I prefer to use is
phosphorescent powder, such as that now ordinarily sold as "Puzey's luminous
powder," but any phosphorescent powder of which the phosphorescence is of a
practical enduring quality, that is, one in which the phosphorescence continues for
several hours after exposure to light, may be employed. The vehicle may be any
suitable liquid, such as water and gelatinous or mucilagenous matter in combi-
nation with a substance or substances by which it is rendered insoluble under the
action of light or otherwise; such substances are gelatine and bichromate of potash
or of ammonia. The proportions used may be considerably varied. A suitable
mixture is phosphorescent powder; such as above specified (which may be slacked),
150 parts; gelatine, 50; water, 200; bichromate of potash in crystals, 1 part.
In some enses I find it advantageous to employ two baths, the first being a
solution of three parts of phosphorescent powder, such as above specified, and one
part of gelatine in twelve parts of boiling water, and the second bath a weak gum
dammar varnish. I dip or soak the curtain length in the first bath to render it
luminous, and after it has dried I dip it in the second bath to render it water
proof.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be or may be performed, I would havo it understood that what is
considered to be novel and original, and is therefore claimed as secured to me under
the Letters Patent hereinbefore in part recited is,-
1. In the manufacture or treatment of lace curtains and other analogous or
similar articles, the use of phosphorescent powder of the kind above referred to in
combination with a substance or substances having the property of becoming damp
proof in such a manner as to render the curtains or analagous articles so treated
damp proof, and also to impart to them the property of presenting a luminous
appearance for several hours after exposure to light, substantially as described.
2. The manufacture of lace curtains and other analogous or similar articles of a
novel and improved character by the use of phosphorescent powder of the kind
above specified, substantially as described.
In witness whercof, 1, the said William Cullen Horne, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty first day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
WILLIAM CULLEN HORNE. (L.S.)