An Improved Method or Means of Preserving Oil Paintings, Water Colour Drawings, Engravings, Photographs, Prints, and Printed Matter from Atmospherical Deterioration and from Decay.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method or Means of Preserving Oil Paintings, Water
Colour Drawings, Engravings, Photographs, Prints, and Printed
Matter from Atmospherical Deterioration and from Decay.
I, WILLIAM SPEIRS SIMPSON, of 49 Battersea Park Road, London, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention has for object, an improved method or means of preserving oil
paintings, water colour drawings, engravings, prints, photographs, and printed
matter generally from atmospherical deterioration, and from decay.
For the purpose of this invention, a frame is made with inside dimensions of the
picture, or like object to be preserved, and with a bezel both at front and at back
for the insertion of glass, or one only of glass, the other being of metal, or other
material, so that a space is left between the picture on either side. The fitting is
rendered air tight by any suitable means.
The frame is provided with apertures for affixture of nozzles, or their equivalents
for attachment to an exhauster for extracting the air from the casing, so that the
picture is in a vacuum, the nozzles are then closed and sealed.
In this condition, the colour of the picture is rendered unassailable by light or
by sun rays, also by dampness or other damaging external influence.
The frame can be inserted into an ordinary gilt, or other border frame, and hung
in the usual manner.
1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Speirs Simpson.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method or Means of Preserving Oil Paintings, Water
Colour Drawings, Engravings, Photographs, Prints, and Printed
Matter from Atmospherical Deterioration and from Decay.
I, WILLIAM SPEIRS SIMPSON, of 49 Battersea Park Road, London, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 has for object, an improved method or means of preserving oil
paintings, water colour drawings, engravings, prints, photographs, and printed
matter generally from atmospherical deterioration, and from decay.
For the purpose of this invention and as I show on the annexed drawing, a
casing A is made with inside dimensions of the picture B, or like object to be
preserved, and with a lip or bezel C for the insertion of the glass D, so that a
space is left between the picture B on either side. The fitting is rendered air tight
by any suitable means.
The casing A is provided with apertures for affixture of one or more nozzles E
or their equivalents for attachment to an exhauster for extracting the air from the
casing, so that the picture will be in a vacuum, the nozzles are then closed and
sealed.
In this condition, the colour of the picture is rendered unassailable by light, or
by sun rays, also by dampness, or other damaging external influence.
The casing can be inserted into an ordinary gilt or other border frame F and
hung in the usual manner.

page_text: In the example shown by the annexed drawing, I lute or fix the glass D in the
frame A by an asbestos and cement putty of an air tight character when set, but
any kind of putty cement, or other body, not affected by climate, can be adopted
and in order that should the vacuum be broken from any cause, I purpose fixing an
aneroid disc to the casing A in such manner that a pointer hand & shall come into
view, somewhat in the manner represented as an indication.
I have shown the front glass D at a distance from the picture B which here is
supposed to be an oil painting on canvas stretched over a frame H, a liner I
being between them for keeping them apart, but which can be dispensed with as
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein before described method of preserving oil paintings, water colour
drawings, engravings, photographs, prints, and printed matter from atmospherical
deterioration and from decay by apparatus constructed substantially in the manner
represented, in which apparatus a vacuum is, or may be established and maintained
for the purpose set forth.
The oth day of January 1893.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William Speirs Simpson.