Improvements in and relating to Photographic Printing Surfaces
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1901
66
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Photographic Printing Surfaces."
We, OTTO FULTON and MOUNTSTEVEN GILLARD, both of Main Street, Port
Elizabeth, Cape Colony, Photographers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the production of photographic printing surfaces in
a simple economical and expeditious manner without requiring any special
Furthermore the
ability on the part of the person making and using the same.
printing surfaces are so former that a great number of prints or impressions
can be obtained therefrom without the aid of any expensive apparatus or
machinery upon any desired material and in various colours or tints. More-
over the said printing surfaces do not materially deteriorate by being placed
on one side and remaining out of use for a considerable length of time.
According to our invention we obtain what is known as a collotype printing
surface upon a sheet of celluloid or other non-flaccid but semi-rigid material
which is elastic yet flexible, so that it can be freely handled like a card and
printed from without either being cemented to a mounted block or stretched at
the two ends as is usually necessary with films that are flaccid.
One of the surfaces of the aforesaid sheet must be rough or matt and to this
surface we apply a gelatinous solution, and dry the coated sheet in such a
manner that perfect adhesion of the dried gelatinous film or coating to the
said sheet will be attained as hereinafter explained. It is important that the
gelatinous solution from which the said film is formed should contain formalin,
citric acid (together or separately) or some other substance that will tend to
harden the film.
The said celluloid sheet provided with its gelatinous film is then ready to be
sensitized by means of a solution of a bi-chromate or a chromate, in the way
well known to collotype printers after which it is placed into an ordinary
printing frame together with a negative and exposed to light in the manner
which is well understood. After exposing the same for a sufficient length of
time the negative is removed from the frame and the back of the sheet exposed
to the light for a short time in order to completely indurate that portion of the
gelatinous film which is in immediate contact with the said sheet. After this
operation the sheet is soaked in water and dried. The surface upon which the
photographic picture has been obtained is then treated with a mixture of
After this treatment, and when all super-
glycerine and ammonia and water.
Huous moisture has been removed, the sheet is ready to receive the printing ink
which may be applied in any ordinary and well known manner.
In carrying our invention into practice we take a sheet of celluloid, which is
rough or matt on one side, and thick enough to be rigid in the same senso as a
sheet of ordinary thin card is rigid. The thickness of the sheet we prefer to use
is about one hundredth of an inch. Extremely thin celluloid like that used in
photographic roll holders is not satisfactory, neither are sheets the thickness of
which reaches one-thirteenth of an inch.

page_text: as follows:-A perfectly at support preferably consisting of plate glass is
coated with an adhesive solution composed of
: Water
Glue (French)
Glycerine
Formalin
such solution being prepared in the following way:-
.
-
8 ozs.
½ oz.
3 ozs.
60 minims
The glue in small pieces is placed into the water and allowed to stand for
some hours and when the glue is thoroughly softened, the vessel is gently
warmed until the glue is dissolved. The formalin and glycerine, mixed
together, are then added slowly, the whole being well stirred. The solution is
then filtered through a piece of muslin. When filtering it is desirable to warm
the muslin and the vessel intended to contain the adhesive solution. A quantity
of this adhesive solution is then poured upon the plate glass and evenly spread
over the entire surface by the aid of a warmed glass rod, to form a thin coating.
The support thus coated is then placed upon a perfectly level slab and allowed
to stand for a few minutes until the adhesive surface has set and cooled. The
celluloid sheet is next applied to the adhesive surface of the support and is
slightly pressed down with the rough side upwards onto the adhesive surface by
the hand with the aid of a cloth, great care being taken that no air bubbles
are left between the celluloid sheet and the adhesive surface.
When the celluloid sheet has been thus mounted upon the adhesive surface
we coat the said sheet with a gelatinous mixture which is prepared as follows:-
Gelatine
Formalin
Citric acid
Water
180 grains
15 minims
5 grains
5 ounces
The gelatine is cut into small pieces, placed in 4 ounces of the water and
allowed to soak. It is then warmed to a temperature of about 120° F. and
stirred until dissolved. The vessel containing the mixture should be heated in a
waterbath and not directly by a flame. When the gelatine has completely
melted the formalin and citric acid are mixed with the remaining ounce of
water and this liquid is added slowly to the gelatinous mixture and at the same
time is well stirred. The solution is afterwards strained, with similar precau-
tions to those already mentioned.
We now coat the sheet of celluloid, while it is still mounted on the ashesive
support, by pouring upon it a sufficient quantity of the solution to cover the
sheet with a thin layer, the solution being spread thereon by the aid of a warmed
glass rod.
A surface 8 inches by Ginches (Photographic whole plate")
will ordinarily require about one ounce of the gelatinous solution. The solu-
tion is now allowed to set while the celluloid is still on the level adhesive
support, and the coating is afterwards dried at a temperature of about 85°F.
Provided that the coating has thoroughly set, there is no objection to placing
the support vertically when drying.
It
When perfectly dry the coated celluloid sheet with its gelatinous film is
removed from the adhesive support by drawing it off by one of its corners.
will be found advantageous to place a fresh sheet of celluloid upon the adhesive
support immediately after the removal of the first mentioned one, so as to
protect the adhesive surface from air and dust. It can then be used a great
number of times or after standing on one side for a considerable length of time.
The coated celluloid sheet thus obtained is then placed in a sensitizing solution
or bath with the gelatinous film uppermost, this solution being an ordinary
bichromate or chromate sensitizing bath, such as

page_text: In hot weather it may be necessary to cool the sensitizing solution.
The sheet is allowed to remain in the sensitizing solution for about two-and
a half minutes. It is then removed and placed between folds of damp blotting
paper for the purpose of removing superfluous moisture and the sheet is then
dried in the dark.
When perfectly dry the sheet is placed with the photographic negative in an
ordinary printing frame with the yellow or sensitized side of the celluloid sheet
against the negative.
**
Before printing however we prefer to place between the printing frame and
the negative a mask so as to leave a margin around the celluloid sheet of about
half an inch; this mask being similar to the safe edge" used by carbon
We then
printers. The margin may be broader, but should not be narrower.
expose the negative in a soft light or in the shade, until the celluloid sheet
exhibits the picture in all detail and gradations. We then remove the negative,
still keeping the mask in the frame. We then reverse the celluloid sheet so
that its unsensitized side is towards the glass of the.frame. The sheet is then
exposed to the light for about 3 minutes to harden the gelatinous material
which is in immediate contact with the celluloid sheet.
We now remove the celluloid sheet from the printing frame and place it with
the yellow side uppermost in a bath of water, changing the water about every 5
or 10 minutes, till all the free bichromate is washed out and no trace of yellow
left. The sheet is then removed from the water and after the superfluous
moisture has been removed by a cloth, the sheet is allowed to dry.
Upon the dried sheet we pour a solution consisting of:
the quantity of this solution used being sufficient to just cover the picture and
a small margin around the same. It is allowed to stand for 40 or 50 minutes
according to the softness or hardness of the negative employed.
After sponging and removing all superfluous moisture the sheet is then ready.
to receive the printing ink which may be of the ordinary lithographic or typo-
graphic kind mixed with varnish. It may be applied to the printing surface of
the celluloid sheet in any ordinary manner. The impressions from the printing
surface can be made on any kind of material and in almost any color and with
only a slight pressure obtained by a handroller or a letterpress or in any other
convenient way.
From time to time the printing block should be sponged with a mixture of
glycerine and water, in about equal proportions.
Hatad this 18th day of November 1899.
HASELTINE LAKE & Co
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicants.
"Improvements in and relating to Photographic Printing Surfaces,"
We, OTTO FULTON and MOUNTSTEVEN GILLARD, both of Main Street, Port
Elizabeth, Cape Colony, Photographers, do hereby declare the nature of this

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to the production of photographic printing surfaces in
a simple economical and expeditious manner without requiring any special
ability on the part of the person making and using the same. Furthermore the
printing surfaces are so formed that a great number of prints or impressions
can be obtained therefrom, without the aid of any expensive apparatus or
More-
machinery, upon any desired material and in various colours or tints.
over the said printing surfaces do not materially deteriorate by remaining out
of use for a considerable length of time.
According to our invention we obtain what is known as a collotype printing
surface upon a sheet of celluloid or similar non-flaccid but semi-rigid water-
proof material which is elastic and flexible, so that it can be freely handled like
card and printed from, without either being cemented to a mounting block
or stretched at the two ends as is usually necessary with films that are flaccid.
One of the surfaces of the aforesaid sheet must be rough or matt and to this
surface we apply a gelatinous solution, and we dry the coated sheet in such a
manner that perfect adhesion of the dried gelatinous film or coating to the
said sheet will be ensured as hereinafter explained. It is important that the
gelatinous solution from which the said film is formed should contain formalin,
citric acid (together or separately) or some other substance that will tend to
harden the film.
The said celluloid sheet, provided with its gelatinous film, is then ready to
be sensitized by means of a solution of a bi-chromate or a chromate, in the way
well known to collotype printers after which it is placed in an ordinary printing
frame together with a negative and exposed to light in the manner which is
well understood. After exposing the same for a sufficient length of time the
negative is removed from the frame and the back of the sheet is exposed to the
light for a short time in order to completely indurate that portion of the
gelatinous film which is in immediate contact with the said sheet. After this
operation the sheet is soaked in water and dried. The surface upon which the
protographic picture has been obtained is then treated with a mixture of
glycerine, ammonia and water. After this treatment, and when all superfluous
moisture has been removed, the sheet is ready to receive the printing ink which
may be applied in any ordinary and well known manner.
In carrying our invention into practice we take a sheet of celluloid, which
is rough or matt on one side, and thick enough to be rigid in the sense in which
a sheet of ordinary thin card is rigid. The thickness of the sheet we prefer to
use is about one hundredth of an inch. Extremely thin celluloid like that used
in photographic roll holders is not satisfactory, neither are sheets the thickness
of which reaches one-thirteenth of an inch. It is necessary that the natural
translucency of the sheet of celluloid employed shall not be entirely destroyed
by the addition or incorporation of pigments.
In order to coat the celluloid sheet evenly with the gelatinous film we
proceed as follows:-i. A perfectly flat support preferably consisting of plate
glass is coated with an adhesive solution composed of
Water
Glue (French)
Glycerine
Formalin
eight (8) ozs.
one half () oz.
three (3) ozs.
sixty (60) minims.
such solution being prepared in the following manner:-
The glue in small pieces is placed in a vessel containing the water and allowed
to remain therein for some hours and when the glue is thoroughly softened, the
1
Hanslod The formalin and clvce.

page_text: desirable to warm the muslin and the vessel intended to contain the adhesive
solution. A quantity of this adhesive solution is then poured upon the plate
glass and evenly spread over the entire surface by the aid of a warmed glass
rod, to form a thin coating. The support thus coated is then placed upon a
perfectly level slab and allowed to remain for a few minutes until the adhesive
surface has set and cooled. The celluloid sheet is next applied to the adhesive
surface of the support and with the rough side upwards is slightly pressed down
onto the adhesive surface by the hand, with the aid of a cloth, great care being
taken that no air bubbles are left between the celluloid sheet and the adhesive
surface.
When the celluloid sheet has been thus mounted upon the adhesive surface
we coat the said sheet with a gelatinous mixture which is prepared as follows:-
one hundred and eighty (180) grains
Gelatine
Formalin
Citric acid
Water
fifteen (15) minims
five (5) grains
five (5) ounces.
The gelatine is cut into small pieces, placed in four ounces of the water and
allowed to soak. It is then warmed to a temperature of about 120° F. and
stirred until dissolved. The vessel containing the mixture should be heated in
a water-bath and not directly by a flame. When the gelatine has been com-
pletely melted the formalin and citric acid are mixed with the remaining ounce
of water and this liquid is added slowly to the gelatinous mixture and at the
same time is well stirred. The solution is afterwards filtered with similar pre-
cautions to those already mentioned.
We now coat the sheet of celluloid, while it is still mounted on the aforesaid
support, by pouring upon it a sufficient quantity of the solution to cover the
sheet with a thin layer, the solution being spread thereon by the aid of a
warmed glass rod. A surface 8 inches by 6 inches (photographic "whole
plate" will ordinarily require about one ounce of the gelatinous solution. The
solution is now allowed to set while the celluloid is still on the level adhesive
support, and the coating is afterwards dried at a temperature of about 85° F.
Provided that the coating has thoroughly set, there is no objection to placing the
support vertically when drying.
It
so as to
When perfectly dry the coated celluloid sheet with its gelatinous film is
removed from the adhesive support by drawing it off by one of its corners.
will be found advantageous to place a fresh sheet of celluloid upon the adhesive
support immediately after the removal of the first mentioned one,
protect the adhesive surface from air and dust. It can then be used a great
number of times or after remaining disused for a considerable length of time.
The coated celluloid sheet. thus obtained is then placed in a sensitizing solu-
tion or bath with the gelatinous film uppermost, this solution being an ordinary
bichromate or chromate sensitizing bath, such as
Bichromate of potash
Ammonia
'Water
one (1) oz.
ten (10) drops
forty (40) ozs.
In hot weather it may be necessary to cool the sensitizing solution.
The sheet is allowed to remain in the sensitizing solution for about two and a
half minutes. It is then removed and placed between folds of damp blotting
paper for the purpose of removing superfluous moisture and the sheet is then
dried in the dark.
When perfectly dry the sheet is placed with the photographic negative in
an ordinary printing frame with the yellow or sensitized side of the celluloid
sheet against the negative.
Before printing, however, we prefer to place between the glazed opening of
the printing frame and the negative, a mask so as to leave a margin around

page_text: "
the celluloid sheet of about half an inch; this mask being similar to the "safe
edge used by carbon printers. The margin may be broader, but should not
be narrower. We then expose the negative and the celluloid sheet in a soft
light or in the shade, until the said celluloid sheet exhibits the picture in all
details and graduations. We then remove the negative, still keeping the mask
in the frame. We then reverse the celluloid sheet so that its unsensitized side
is towards the glass of the frame. The sheet is then exposed to the light for
about three minutes (or generally about one fifth of the time of the chief
exposure) to harden the gelatinous material which is in immediate contact with
the celluloid sheet.
We now remove the celluloid sheet from the printing frame and place it with
the yellow side uppermost in a bath of water, changing the water about every
five or ten minutes, till all the free bichromate is washed out and no trace of
yellow left. The sheet is then removed from the water and after the super-
fluous moisture has been removed by a cloth, the sheet is allowed to dry.
Upon the dried sheet we pour a solution consisting of:
August 1900.
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: QUALI LEIE DI MULTICATION
Improvements in Apparatus for Opening or Treating Silk Waste.
1, LOUIS BORRIS MAGID, of No. 53, State Street, Boston, in the County of Suffolk
and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:
This invention has for its object to provide an improved apparatus or machine
for treating silk waste so as to transform and utilize in various arts the large
amount of this valuable material which has heretofore been regarded as practi-
cally worthless, owing to the crude methods and insufficient machinery hitherto
employed.
By the term silk waste" 1 mean especially the tangled and knotted, as well
as twisted odds and ends of unwoven silk threads, the same being unfit for weaving,
or for any other like use, and therefore practically useless in the market, but
having full length and strength of staple, and hence much too valuable to be
thrown aside as useless. The several silk mills of the country accumulate, from
time to time, large quantities of this material, namely, silk waste in the form
of twisted and knotted threads, which under my mode of treatment is converted
again into fibre and adapted to be transformed into various useful forms by the
usual operations of spinning, weaving, etc.
Heretofore, it has been common to treat various kinds of fibrous material in
carding machines, to separate and re-arrange the fibres preparatory to other
mechanical manipulations, but such machines are not adapted for my purpose,
namely, to convert silk waste back to a fibre adapted to be spun and woven, because
they unnecessarily break up and injuriously shorten the fibre, and do not leave it
open and free from twisted and knotted imperfections, the product heretofore
produced by such machines being incapable of proper use in the manufacture of
yarn or thread. A machine of special construction is required, owing to the
peculiar nature of silk waste; and such a machine I have devised, after a long
period of experiment and study, the said machine forming an essential feature of
my present invention.
I employ a series of large drums, preferably five in number, having their
peripheries provided with rigid teeth adapted to separate and open the fibres of

page_text: fancies"
silk waste. These cylinders are driven by power, and rotated at successively
increasing rates of speed, the last of the series running much faster than the first.
Over each cylinder is a closely set series of small toothed cylinders or workers,
also having rigid teeth adapted to co-operate with the teeth of the cylinder. Other
toothed cylinders corresponding to the so-called "fancy" cylinders, or
of carding machines, are also preferably employed in connection with the main
cylinders, the said fancies also having rigid teeth, and the entire series, namely, the
main cylinders, the workers, and the fancies, co-operating to progressively dis-
integrate or reduce the material under treatment to its original condition of
disassociated fibre. These have a lateral clinging tendency, somewhat akin to
the felting of wool fibres, and they may be readily spread to form a uniform lap,
divided into slivers, bleached if desired, elongated and spun, and afterward woven
or knitted into fabrics or garments of various kinds.
Suitable means are employed for feeding the material to the first toothed
cylinders, and doffing-cylinders are employed to transfer the material from one
cylinder to the next.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,―
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a silk-waste opening machine embodying
my invention.
Figure 2 is a view, in elevation, partly broken away, of one of the cylinders.
Figure represents an end elevation of one of the cylinders.
4
Figure represents a detail perspective view of a portion of one of the toothed
strips hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings,-
aa¹² a³ a represent a series of five toothed cylinders, which are hereinafter
referred to as the main cylinders. These are supported by: shafts which are
journalled in bearings in a suitable supporting frame, and are provided with rigid
acute-angled teeth, which are preferably formed by placing a plurality of strips b
of sheet metal upon the peripheries of the cylinders, the outer edges of said strips
being serrated to form acute-angled teeth. The strips 6 may be in the form
of rings, strung together, side by side, on the cylinders, or a continuous strip b
may be employed for each cylinder, the same being wound helically upon the
cylinder. prefer to make the teeth upon the first cylinder thicker than those
upon the second, and so on, the preferred variation in the thickness of the teeth
being expressed by the statement that the gage of the strips on the first cylinder
may be 12, while the gases of the strips on the succeeding cylinders a¹ a² a³ and a
may be respectively 16, 20, 24, and 28. The cylinders are rotated at successively
increasing rates of speed, the preferred rates being as follows: The first cylinder a,
one hundred and eighty revolutions per minute; the cylinder a two hundred
per minute; the cylinder a², two hundred and fifteen per minute; the cylinder a³,
two hundred and thirty per minute; and the cylinder a two hundred and forty-five
per minute. Therefore the teeth of each faster-rotating cylinder are of finer
gage than those of the preceding or slower-rotating cylinder..
In connection with each of the main cylinders, I employ a series or plurality
of small toothed cylinders or workers c, the teeth of which have the same
characteristics as those of the main cylinders. These workers are rotated at
rates of speed corresponding to those of the cylinders which they accompany,
the workers being, however, rotated slightly slower than the cylinders.
and represent toothed cylinders corresponding in position and arrangement
with the fancies of carding machines, and having teeth resembling those of the
main cylinders and workers, these fancies being rotated at about the same speed
as the cylinders with which they co-operate.
e o represent a series of doffer-cylinders, arranged to transfer the material
from each main cylinder to the next, each doffer-cylinder having teeth resembling
those of the main cylinders, and rotated at substantially the same rate as the main
cylinder from which it receives the material.

page_text: The material to be treated is delivered by a feed-apron g to positively-rotated
feed-rolls f f f f¹, which deliver the material to a licker-in cylinder h, which
in turn delivers the material to a second licker-in cylinder h¹, the latter delivering
the material to the first main cylinder a. The cylinders h h have teeth resembling
those of the other cylinders above described.
The feed-rolls are positively rotated at a slower rate of speed than the first
cylinder a and the licker-in cylinders, and they therefore exert a holding-back
action on the material while feeding it, so that the first licker-in cylinder, which
rotates more slowly than the first main cylinder a, effects an initial opening of
the fibres, the pull exerted by the teeth of the first licker-in cylinder being gentle,
so that there is no breakage of the fibres. The second licker-in cylinder, rotating
somewhat faster than the first, and slower than the first main cylinder, continues
the opening operation, and presents the fibres partially open to the first cylinder a,
which co-operates with the workers and fancies in continuing the progressive open-
ing action. This action is continued throughout the entire machine, the successively
increasing speed of the parts successively encountered by the fibres causing their
complete opening and the complete separation of the fibres by the time they reach
the ends of the machine, and without breakage or shortening of the fibres.
It will be seen that the plurality of main cylinders and the co-operating workers
and fancies, and the acceleration of speed successively imparted to them, give
the machine an effect in the complete recovery of fibre from silk waste, not attain-
able by any apparatus heretofore known. A long staple is obtained, suitable
for yarn and goods made therefrom, the fibres being suitable for spinning and
weaving, without being mixed with any fibres of different material. Heretofore
the means employed for opening silk waste so shortened the fibrd as to make it
unfit for anything but battings, or for mixture with wool or other long-staple
fibre for spinning and weaving.
Each main cylinder and the toothed cylinders accompanying it may be con-
sidered a fibre-opener or separator, so that the machine illustrated in the drawings
comprises a series of fibre-openers or separators, the toothed surfaces of which
are driven at successively increasing rates of speed.
Owing to the fact that the successive cylinders are driven at a slightly constantly-
increasing speed, a drawing action is obtained at the point where each cylinder
takes the fibres from the doffer-cylinder preceding it, which drawing action is
slight, and not such as to tear or break the fibre; and owing to the fact that the
teeth of each cylinder are of finer gage than those of the preceding or slower-
rotating cylinder, the fibres, as they are gradually opened out or drawn, are more
individually treated than would be the case with teeth of uniform gage throughout
the entire series of cylinders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is:
-
1. A machine for opening silk-waste, comprising a series of fibre-openers or
separators, each including a toothed cylinder and a series of toothed workers
co-operating therewith, the teeth of said series of fibre-openers being of gradually
increasing fineness, and means for rotating the said openers at different rates of
speed.
2. A machine for opening silk-waste, comprising a series of cylinders having
rigid teeth, a plurality of series of workers having rigid teeth, each series co-
operating with one of the cylinders, means for rotating the cylinders, and workers
at different rates of speed, and means for transferring the material from cylinder to
cylinder, each cylinder and the accompanying series of workers after the first
rotating faster than the preceding cylinder and series of workers, the teeth of
each of the faster-rotating cylinders being finer than the teeth of the preceding
cylinder of the series.
3. A machine for opening silk-waste, comprising a series of cylinders having

page_text: rigid teeth, a plurality of series of workers having also rigid teeth, means for
rotating the cylinders and workers at different rates of speed, means for transferring
the material from cylinder to cylinder, feed-rolls rotated at a slower rate of speed
than the first cylinder and located adjacent thereto, and toothed transferring
cylinders located between the feed-rolls and first cylinder and rotated at substan-
tially the same speed as the latter, the teeth of each of the faster-rotating cylinders
being finer than the teeth of the preceding cylinder of the series.
·היי
601
1
LOUIS BORRIS MAGID,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant,
LOUIS BORRIS MAGID,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant,