IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES AND IN. PREPARING TABLETS OR SURFACES FOR PRINTING FROM
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ferdinand Rath of Aldersgate Street in the City of
London for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES AND IN
.
"
"
Communicated to
PREPARING TABLETS OR SURFACES FOR PRINTING FROM
him from abroad by Michel Komáromy of Budapest Hungary
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ferdinand Ráth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1882.
"
FERDINAND RATH of Aldersgate Street in the City of London: "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROCESSES AND IN PREPARING TABLETS OR SURFACES FOR PRINTING FROM
(a communication to me from abroad by Michel Komáromy of Budapest,
Hungary.)
"
These improved tablets or printing surfaces have for their base a solid paper
covered with a body composed of 100 parts of gelatine 100 to 200 parts of water
and 300 to 400 parts of glycerine or thereabouts. This compound being well
known does, not form an essential part of this invention.
This gelatinous substance being particularly sticky is coated according to these
improvements with an isolating powder such as French or other chalk or other
suitable material in powder.
This expedient has never been employed up to the present time and as it is the
only known means of producing these gelatinous tablets for practical use this
treatment constitutes an essential feature of these improvements.
Before the use of these improved tablets the isolating powder had to be removed
by means of a very wet sponge.
By means of these improved tablets or printing surfaces all manner of
reproductions and multiplication of copies can be reproduced.
The processes herein described are quite original and are founded on the principal
of the (well known) gelatinous copying surfaces.
For this purpose any kind of ink may be used having the property to reject the
mixing with water such as, inks for example containing. tallow or other greasy or
oily compound or autographic ink may be used.
Pencils are also well known to contain tallow and may be used for the purposes
of this invention.
A solution is made of some astringent salts herein called the "durative" viz
"

page_text: acidum tannicum ferrum-cuprum sulfuricum (which are well known in the processes
of multiplying copies from gelatine.)
First of all the original to be reproduced is made wet by the application of the
durative fluid. After 2 or 3 minutes the paper will be found sufficiently wet then
the surplus of the solution must be removed by means of a sheet of tissue paper
until the original is quite dry.
The original is then placed on the prepared gelatine tablet by passing the hand
lightly over the back of the paper. After 2 or 3 minutes the original is removed
and the negative will be fixed on the gelatine tablet.
A white sheet of paper is then fixed on the negative and a small ball or piece of
cotton wool is passed over it several times and pressed lightly on the back of the
paper and removed after about one minute the positive of the original will thus be
reproduced as a gelatinous copy.
By the application of any kind of colour on the gelatinous copy an exact
reproduction will be obtained and photographically true to the original.
Several colours may be used indifferently at the same time.
A luminous substance may also be used and the copy will be luminous at night
or in dark places.
If in place of an ordinary colour, colors of porcelain are taken and deposited on
a gelatinous copy made on glass, porcelain or metal and fixed by heat the color
will unite with the glass or porcelain and the copy will remain indelible.
When aniline colour is deposited on a gelatinous copy, the copy may be
multiplied by placing it on a new tablet, thus the copies may be multiplied
indefinitely.
And if in place of an ordinary or aniline color a powder of astringent salt is
deposited on the gelatinous copy. viz, acid tannic ferrum sulphuricum which is
known in these processes as "durative powder" a copy will be obtained which
being applied on a new tablet will produce the negative of the original,
By this process the infinite multiplication of copies is effected.
When the tablet is quite prepared to take the gelatinous copies, and an aniline
ink being deposited on the negative the parts hardened by the durative solution
will reject the aniline ink, but this ink will penetrate into the gelatinous parts not
affected. By placing a white sheet of paper on the tablet and on removing it a
copy of the original will be obtained in aniline color.
Also in place of the aniline ink, a solution of califerri cyanatum rubrum is
deposited on the tablet prepared as above stated and a copy taken it will be
invisible and will only shew by depositing on the copy a solution of ferrum
sulphuricum.
In writing with ink containing astringent salt and in depositing the original on
the gelatinous tablet a negative will be still obtained from the original. In taking
a gelatinous copy prepared in that way and covered with a coloured powder the
negative will be obtained from the original. If aniline ink is placed on a tablet
prepared as stated, the negative will be obtained from the original in aniline
colour.
According to another part of these improvements alphabetical letters and
characters may be arranged upon the gelatine tablets so as to be printed from to
produce printed sheets such as bills and posters similar in appearance to those
composed and produced from ordinary type.
For this purpose letters of the alphabet numerals and other characters
representing type of various designs are stamped or cut from a number of layers
of tissue paper at one operation. These individual letters are placed and arranged
in the order required to compose a bill or poster upon the gelatine tablet and are
treated in the manner previously described with the solution and remain fixed
upon the tablet so as to serve as a negative to print from as previously described.
+

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent & of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Ferdinand Ráth in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th December 1882.
FERDINAND RÁTH of Aldersgate Street in the City of London
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROCESSES AND IN PREPARING TABLETS OR SURFACES FOR PRINTING FROM
"
A Communication to me from abroad by Michel Komáromy of Budapest Hungary
These improved tablets or printing surfaces which are denominated "Phoenix
tablets" owing to their universal application have for their base or foundation a
surface of solid paper the substance of which is impregnated with alum the reverse
or outer side being coated with tar or other similar impermeable ingredient.
Instead of the paper base other suitable substances such as linen oil cloth leather
india-rubber may be employed.
This paper base or foundation is covered with the following or a similar
compound with an evenness resembling a mirror.
100 parts animal gelatine,
100 parts of water and about
300 to 400 parts of glycerine according to the requirements of the climate these
ingredients being dissolved and then melted together as is well understood.
This sticky and elastic multiplying compound or similar multiplying compounds
have been known for many years in different modes of multiplication of printed
copies therefrom and does not in itself form an essential part of this invention
except in the treatment and preparation thereof with certain materials as herein
after described in the process of printing therefrom in accordance with these
improvements.
The surfaces of these improved multiplying tablets being particularly sticky is
coated according to part of these improvements with an "isolating powder" such
as french or other chalk or other suitable material which will not alter or affect the
nature of the compound but always have the capacity of "isolating" and preventing
the surface of the compound from sticking to other bodies with which it may come
in contact.
The above expedient has never been employed up to the present and as it is the
only known means of producing and preparing these gelatinous tablets for practical
use this treatment constitutes an essential feature of these improvements.
Before using these improved tablets the "isolating powder" must be removed
by means of a very wet sponge.
By means of these improved tablets or printing surfaces not only are the herein-
after described methods of reproduction and multiplication of copies effected but
also all hitherto known methods of reproduction and multiplication of copies by
similar means can be effected.
The processes hereinafter described are quite original and are founded on the
principle of the well known gelatinous copying surfaces and surpass all hitherto
known multiplying apparati for copying by the universal capacity of reproduction
and extreme simplicity of performance the intensity sharpness clearness and the
great number of copies which can be produced.
The great superiority of these improved multiplying processes over all other
known apparati consists in the multiplying compound before described having the
paper base or foundation saturated with alum and the reverse under side tarred or
made waterproof by this means the tablets can be made in any size required and
by means of the isolating powder they can be either rolled up or laid by hundreds
one upon the other thus facilitating their being packed in a small compass for easy
and safe conveyance from injury.

page_text: These tablets offer this advantage that they can be used a great number of
times as they always keep their smooth surface which is not disturbed by the
tedious washing process which renders the gelatinous surface rough and uneven.
By these improved multiplying tablets copies can be reproduced not only on
paper but on card board linen silk or any other textile fabric leather wood bone
ivory stone metal clay porcelain glass crystal or china enamel and for these
purposes any kind of ink may be used having the property to reject the mixing
with water such as inks for example containing tallow or other greasy or oily
compound or autographic and aniline inks may be used or printing inks.
Pencils which contain tallow may also be used for the purposes of this invention
also powders of every colour bronze gold or silver luminous or phosphorous
substances which if put on metal with metal powder or on glass or china with
glass or china powder may be burnt in and thus amalgamate one with the other.
Originals can be reproduced written or drawn also impressions from the finest
wood cuts lithographs copper plates and prints in a remarkably short time both in
a positive and negative manner not only on flat but also on concave and convex
objects in this case instead of putting the impression on the tablet the tablet is put
on the object.
For these different purposes the original for example is written or drawn on
paper with a solution of about one part natrium silicicum one part water and
sufficient black ink or
10 parts therebinth veneta dissolved and mixed by heat and made into a crayon
by which the original is drawn or written or it may be written or drawn with the
inks before described containing greasy matter.
..
- For the reproduction of impressions wood cuts lithographs copper plates and
prints a solution is made of some astringent salts, herein called the "durative" viz,
for example.
•
1 part acidum tannicum ferrum cuprum sulphuric alum chromkali ferrum
sesquicloratum.
5 parts glycerine.
5 parts water which are well known in the processes of multiplying copies from
gelatine.
First of all the original to be reproduced is made wet by the application of the
above described durative fluid.
After two or three minutes the paper will be found sufficiently wet then the
surplus of the solution must be removed by means of a sheet of tissue paper until
the original is quite dry.
1
The original is then placed face downwards on the prepared gelatine tablet
passing the hand or a handkerchief or ball of wadding lightly over the back of
the paper.
After two or three minutes the original is removed and the negative will be
fixed on the gelatinous tablet.
Those parts of the paper covered' by the design being of a greasy nature have
resisted the astringent salts whilst all other parts of the paper have been saturated
with it thus the original laying on the tablet has coinmunicated to it all the
astringent salts it contained and hardened it' leaving therefore all the "drawn
written or printed lines untouched on the tablet which retains its sticky nature.
T
The negative matrice or matrix being now ready for reproduction a clean sheet
of paper is then placed on the negative and a small ball of cotton wool or a
handkerchief is passed over it several times and pressed lightly on the back of the
paper which is removed after about one minute the stickiness of the compound
being thus communicated to the paper on which the positive of the original will
thus be reproduced as a gelatinous copy and by the application of any kind of

page_text: coloured powder on the gelatinous copy an exact reproduction will be obtained and
photographically true to the original.
Several colours may be used indifferently at the same, time so as to obtain a
variation of colours on the same copy a result never obtained hitherto in one
process and as many as 150 to 300 copies may be drawn from the same negative..
A luminous substance or material may also be used and the copy will be luminous
at night or in dark places.
...If in place of an ordinary colour colours in powder of porcelain are taken and
deposited on a gelatinous copy.made on porcelain glass or. metal with glass or
metal powder and fixed by heat the colour will unite with the glass porcelain or
metal and the copy will remain indelible.
If instead of paper copies are taken on such materials as canvas cardboard.or
wooden board as are used by artists (painters) and instead of usual coloured
powders I take asphalte powder to make the drawing wood cut lithograph or other
design appear these reproductions can then be painted in oil or water colours.
In order to reproduce copies.on .glass glass powders in colours are used being
fixed by heat and these reproductions which have never been accomplished before
are the more valuable not only on account of the rapidity and cheapness of the
process but the artistic appearance of the picture is also obtained.
If it.is not desired that such reproductions on glass be absolutely indelible a still
cheaper reproduction can be obtained. by taking graphite powder instead of glass
powder and fixing the same on the glass by pouring over it a solution of alcohol
and shellac and dry the same by heat.
If instead of an ordinary coloured powder aniline powder is or may be used of
whatever colour desired and copies are obtained therefrom each of which can also
be employed as originals for printing from.
By this process more than 100 aniline powdered copies are obtainable from the
original and from each copy 80 to 100 new copies can be obtained by placing it on a
new tablet and thus the copies can be multiplied indefinitely and if in place of
an ordinary or aniline powder a powder of astringent salt is deposited on the
gelatinous copy. viz, acidum tannic or ferrum sulphuricum which is known as
durative powder" a copy will be obtained which being applied on a new tablet
will produce the negative of the original.
"6
By this process the infinite multiplication of copies is effected because where the
astringent powder touches the gelatinous tablet it makes it hard whilst all other
parts remain sticky.
If therefore I take a copy from such a matrice or matrix it forms the negative
of the positive original and vice versa and this proves that which was before stated
that by this new process the multiplication may be continued indefinitely.
When the tablet is quite prepared to take the gelatinous copy and an aniline
ink of any colour being deposited on the negative the part hardened by the
durative solution will reject the aniline ink but this ink will penetrate into the
gelatinous parts not affected the surplus of such aniline ink is removed by means
of blotting paper and by placing a clean sheet of paper on the tablet pressing it
lightly and on removing it a copy of the original will be obtained in any aniline
colour.
Also in place of aniline ink a concentrated solution of kalium ferri cyannatum
rubrum is deposited on the tablet prepared as above stated and a copy taken it
will be invisible and will only show by depositing on the copy.a concentrated
solution of ferrum sulphuricum."
i
In writing with ink containing astringent salts and in depositing the original
on the gelatinous tablet a negative will be still obtained from the original.
In taking a gelatinous copy prepared in this manner and covered with.coloured
powder the negative will be obtained from the original. Of such negatives copies
may be taken in all of the previously. described processes.
If aniline ink is poured on to so as to coat or otherwise cover a tablet prepared
as above stated the negative will be obtained from the original in aniline colour.

page_text: ? According to another part of these improvements alphabetical letters numerals
characters and other devices may be arranged on the gelatinous tablet as also lace,
leaves, pressed flowers, and other objects articles or materials capable of being
printed from to produce printed sheets such as bills and posters or sheets with
ornamental borders patterns of lace and botanical or other specimens thus saving
the drawing of the same first on paper by which the original could not be produced
so photographically true and this natural self print is. so accurate and true that
even the finest cobweb can be reproduced and this proceeding is of great importance
to scientific men and professors of natural history.
When therefore it is desired to reproduce a plant or leaf exact to the original
without first making a drawing of it the leaf is first partially dried then soaked in
a thick aniline solution until it has absorbed sufficient colour such leaves are then
first pressed between two blotting papers and then carefully put on the tablet and
smoothed down on it then drawing them off a minute afterwards.
A clean sheet of paper is then slightly rubbed on the tablet which if drawn off
will show such a true copy of the object that the finest fibres of the plant are
reproduced even those which can only be discovered by a magnifying glass.
If on the above described tablets parts of which have been hardened by
astringent salts ordinary printing ink is applied by means of a roller the hardened
parts of the tablet will accept the printing ink whilst the soft parts will reject it
because moist compounds always reject oily matters.
If clean sheets of paper are successively placed on the tablet the printing ink
will clearly show on the paper and numbers of copies can be taken equal in
sharpness and clearness to lithographic prints.
In this process the reproduction from the tablets may be discontinued and taken
up at any time.
Having thus described the nature of the invention communicated to me from
abroad and the manner of performing or carrying the same into practice I would
remark that I am aware that the use of gelatine multiplying compounds and
also aniline inks have been for many years past proposed by various persons and
recently amongst others by one Joh Guy Wilson and I am aware of the patent
of John Guy Wilson dated the 13th November 1878 N° 4606. and do not claim
anything covered by that patent and no claim is made separately to any part or
parts of the processes or apparatus herein described which are well known and in
common use, but what I claim on behalf of the said Michel Komaromy is;
First. The improved method of mounting prepared tablets or gelatinous compound
printing surfaces upon or in combination with a paper base or other suitable
foundation to absorb the ink and having a waterproof back such prepared tablets
being flexible so as to roll up substantially as and for the purposes herein fully
described.
Second. I claim the coating and preparing of gelatinous tablets or printing
surfaces with an isolating powder such as french or other chalk or other suitable
powder to prevent them from sticking to anything or to one another. when
packed for transit or otherwise substantially as and for the purposes herein before
.described.
Third. I claim the use and application of powdered materials of various colours
to develope and fix the impressions obtained from gelatinous printing surfaces
substantially in the manner herein before described.
Fourth. I claim the new processes and means employed for preparing originals
with astringent salts which harden part or parts of the gelatinous surface
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Fifth. I claim the reproduction of copies in various colours from prepared
gelatinous printing surfaces by dusting coloured or bronze powders, thereon
substantially in the manner herein described. I also claim the production of
luminous copies from, prepared gelatinous printing surfaces substantially in the
manner herein described.
Sixth I claim the production of permanent copies on glass crystal enamel

page_text: porcelain earthenware clay and metal from impressions obtained from prepared
gelatinous printing surfaces and dusted over with coloured glass porcelain or
metallic powder and fixed by heat substantially in the manner herein before
described.
Seventh. I claim the production of copies from prepared gelatinous tablets or
printing surfaces by the use and application of aniline powder dusted thereon.
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described.
I also claim the reproduction of unlimited numbers of negative and positive
copies from prepared gelatinous tablets or printing surfaces with astringent
powders substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
Eighth. I claim the new process of obtaining coloured copies from prepared
gelatinous tablets or printing surfaces treated with a durative solution and
concentrated solution of aniline colours substantially in the manner herein
described.
.
I also claim the new process for the production of invisible copies from prepared
gelatinous tablets or printing surfaces substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.
Ninth. I claim the production of copies from prepared gelatinous tablets or
printing surfaces the originals of such copies being written with an ink containing
astringent salts substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore fully described.
Tenth. I claim the production of copies from prepared gelatinous printing
surfaces where the original has been prepared with astringent salts by means of
printing ink applied to the hardened parts of the surface by an inking roller
substantially as and for the purposes herein before fully described.
Lastly I claim the new processes and means used separately or in combination
for producing copies of various kinds from prepared gelatinous tablets or printing
surfaces substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said Ferdinand Rath have hereunto set my band
and seal this fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness
J. G. TONGUE
Patent Agent
34 Southampton Buildings
WC
F. RÁTH (L.S.)