IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING FABRICS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."-A communication.
Sealed the 26th May 1854, and dated the 1st April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st April 1854.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING FABRICS, AND IN
THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication from abroad,
to be as follows:-
In printing fabrics, the metal rollers now employed are found to be easily
affected by the chemical action of the mordaunts, colors, &c., employed in
the printing processes; and one great expense in printing is occasioned by the
large outlay necessary for the production of the metallic engraved rollers,
which are not only very expensive, but, from the reason above named, are not
durable.
This Invention relates to the application of caoutchouc, either more or less
hard, and in combination or not with other matters, or gutta percha, when
hardened in a similar way, to the manufacture of printing rollers or cylinders
which are to be engraved, either embossed or hollow; the work is thus ren-
dered extremely simple, and much more economical than by the modes at
present in use.

page_text: The core or inside of these cylinders or rollers may be of wrought or cast
iron, or of any other material, and the outside alone may be formed with a
coating of the caoutchouc, &c., more or less thick.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PRINTING FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,"
a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to the application of caoutchouc, either more or
less hard, and in combination or not with other matters, or gutta percha, when
hardened in a similar way, to the manufacture of printing rollers or cylinders,
such rollers or cylinders being afterwards engraved either in intaglio or relief.
In printing fabrics by the ordinary system, the copper rollers employed are
found to be easily affected by the chemical action of the mordants, colors, &c.,

page_text: employed by printers; and one great expense in printing is occasioned by the
large outlay necessary for the production of the metallic engraved rollers,
which are not only very expensive, but from the reason above named are not
durable. All these objections and disadvantages are obviated by this Invention,
the practical application of which I shall now proceed more fully to describe.
A cylinder of wood or metal is covered with a coat of prepared caoutchouc in
a soft state, and then submitted to a high degree of heat, as described by
Charles Goodyear in his several Patents for the manufacture of a hard
material from caoutchouc. These cylinders having been thus hardened, are
engraved in the same manner as ordinary copper printing cylinders or rollers,
either in intaglio or in relief. Such printing surfaces are produced with facility
and economy, whilst their printing action is sharp and effective, and are not
subject to injury from the action of the acids, alkalies, and other agents used
by the printer. As the coating herein-before described contains a very large
amount of acid, the operation of printing may be effected with acid, as a direct
printing medium; and, for example, a white figure may thus be printed direct
upon a blue or other colored ground; by which great economy is effected in
the process of printing, not attainable by the use of copper cylinders only.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrange... nts which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without devi-
ating from the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
The application and use of caoutchouc or gutta percha, rendered hard, as
herein-before described, and either alone or in combination with each other,
or of compounds wherein these materials are the principle ingredients for the
production of printing surfaces.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)