Improvements in the Application of Sulphide of Silver to Metallic Surfaces Applicable to Jewellery and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Application of Sulphide of Silver to Metallic
Surfaces Applicable to Jewellery and the like.
I, EUGÈNE AMEDEE BILLAULT Manufacturer of 22 rue de la Sorborne, Paris
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Sulphide of silver being sufficiently hard and susceptible of taking a beautiful polish
has heretofore been applied for giving jewellery trinkets and the like a very neat
appearance. But it has the grave defect of being very fragile because of the entire
absence of adhesion between the sulphide of silver and the metal foundation or body to
which it is applied. The sulphide of silver was simply placed on the metal and polished
with a hot iron tool, taking advantage of the fact that sulphide of silver is rendered
soft by a heat much below the point of fusion. As a consequence the sulphide of silver
simply formed a kind of sheath envelope, or cover enclosing or covering the metal, and
the strength of the article of jewellery depended mainly on the cohesion of the sulphide
of silver. On the other hand-the process was not applicable to some kinds of jewellery.
In all cases the cost was comparatively high because of the need of employing skilled
manual labour in this manufacture.
By my process all these defects are done away with.
My invention consists in applying the sulphide of silver by fusion, whereby I ensure
perfect adhesion to the metallic surface upon which it is run, and attain a considerable
saving in manual labour, casting. being a much more rapid operation which also admits
of the production of a number of articles in the same casting operation.
In the mode of operation I observe certain important precautions. As the sulphide
of silver melts at a high temperature approaching the melting point of silver itself, and
as it when melted oxydises by contact with the air, and thus transforms itself into
sulphurous acid and metallic silver, 1 carry on the fusion in a reducing atmosphere.
Also the casting is performed in a red hot muffe in which the moulds are placed and
into which are passed the gases from the furnace which has furnished the necessary
heat for fusing the sulphide of silver.
Or I conduct into the muffle a current of carbonic oxyde or carbon dioxide from any
convenient source.
In this manner the casting is always carried on without contact with air.
The castings when taken out of the mould may not only be polished but as required
touched up with a hot iron tool or in any other suitable manner.
The sulphide of silver may by this process be applied to all metals say gold, silver,
copper or iron, and all modes of ornamentation compatible with mould casting may of
course be made use of.
Dated this 5th day of Dec 1980
EUGENE AMÉDÉE BILLAULT.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
0 Improvements in the Application of Sulphide of Silver to Metallic
Surfaces Applicable to Jewellery and the like.
I EUGÈNE AMEDEE BILLAULT Manufacturer of 22 Rue de la Sorbonne Paris France
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
15 statement :-
. Sulphide of silver being sufficiently hard and susceptible of taking a beautiful

page_text: polish has heretofore been applied for giving jewellery trinkets and the like a very neat
appearance. But it has the grave defect of being very fragile because of the entire
absence of adhesion between the sulphide of silver and the metal foundation or body to
which it is applied. The sulphide of silver was simply placed on the metal and polished
with a hot iron tool, taking advantage of the fact that sulphide of silver is rendered
soft by a beat much below the point of fusion. As a consequence the sulphide of silver
simply formed a kind of sheath envelope or cover enclosing or covering the metal, and
the strength of the article of jewellery depended mainly on the coliesion of the sulphide
of silver. On the other hand the process was not applicable to some kinds of jewellery.
In all cases the cost was comparatively high because of the need of employing skilled
manual labour in this manufacture.
By my process all these defects are done away with. My invention consists in
applying the sulphide of silver by fusion, whereby I ensure perfect adhesion to the
metallic surface upon which it is run, and attain a considerable saving in manual labour,
casting being a much more rapid operation which also admits of the production of a
number of articles in the same casting operation.
In the mode of operation I observo certain important precautions. As the sulphide
of silver melts at a high temperature approaching the melting point of silver itself, and
as it when melted oxydises by contact with the air, and thus transforms itself into
sulphurous acid and metallic silver, I carry on the fusion in a reducing atmosphere.
Also the casting is performed in a red hot muffle in which the moulds are placed and
into which are passed the gases from the furnace which has furnished the necessary
heat for fusing the sulphide of silver. Or I conduct into the muffle a current of
carbonic oxide or carbon dioxide from any convenient source. In this manner the
casting is always carried on without contact with air.
The castings when taken out of the mould may not only be polished but as required
touched up with a hot iron tool or in any other suitable manner.
The sulphide of silver may by this process be applied to all metals say gold, silver,
copper or iron, and all modes of ornamentation compatible with mould casting may of
course be made use of.
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 I claim is :-
First: The process of enveloping coating or covering metallic articles with sulphide
of silver consisting in running inolten sulphide of silver into a mould containing the
article to be enveloped coated or covered therewith, the melting and subsequent casting
operation being carried on in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
Second: As new articles of manufacture metallic bodies enveloped coated or covered
with sulphide of silver by casting substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.