Improvement in Indelible Ink.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1888
Improvement in Indelible Ink.
I, CHARLES PATTON DIMITRY, residing at 159 Clio Street, in the City of New
Orleans, and Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, in the United States of
America, and a journalist by profession, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
A composition of matter to be used for writing purposes with a pen as any fluid
ink is used, of which the following is a specification: The said composition consists of
a union of various ingredients held in solution in water, thoroughly blended by
agitation, and afterward to be exposed to sunlight, in order that the solution may be
perfected for its intended purpose, composed, in proper proportions, of gelatine or
animal glue, bichromate of potash, a coloring matter, animal, vegetable, or otherwise,
and an anti-septic, the whole producing a composition of matter to remain in a
permanent condition of fluidity, not liable to putrefaction, and which will be a fluid
furnishing a non-rusting, non-corrosive, an acid-resisting and a water-resisting mark,
impression, or stain..

page_text: Improvement in Indelible Ink.
I, CHARLES PATTON DIMITRY, residing at 159 Clio Street, in the City of New
Orleans and Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, in the United States of
America, and a journalist by profession, 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 stateinent :-
A composition of matter to be used for writing purposes with a pen as any fluid
ink is used, consisting of a union of various ingredients held in solution in water,
thoroughly blended by agitation and afterward to be exposed to sunlight, in order
that the solution may be perfected for its intended purpose, composed, in proper
proportions, of gelatine or animal glue, bichromate-of-potash, a coloring matter,
animal, vegetable, or otherwise, and an anti-septic, the whole producing a
composition of matter to remain in a permanent condition of fluidity, not liable to
putrefaction, and which will be a fluid furnishing a non-rusting, non-corrosive, an
acid-resisting, and a water-resisting, mark, impression, or stain.
In order to produce a quantity of this fluid composition of a black color equal to a pint
measure the following ingredients, in about the proportions mentioned may be used, to-
wit Black aniline powder (the product of coal tar) of the best quality, ounce; gelatine
of a good quality, ounce; bichromate-of-potash, 60 grains; creosote, 5 to 8 drops.
These ingredients, the weight being determined by apothecary's measure, are to
be thoroughly blended and dissolved in a pint of clear water.
In preparing this composition for its designed use I base my invention and its
utilization on the known fact that gelatine or animal glue in a water solution with
bichromate-of-potash becomes insoluble after exposure, when dry, to sunlight. The
coloring matter is added to render the mixture adaptable to use as a writing-ink, and
the creosote is added to prevent the gelatine from putrefying.
In manufacturing a pint measure of this composition according to the formula
previously given, the bichromate-of-potash should first be dissolved in a pint of clear
water; then the gelatine, having been put to soak in cold water and allowed to absorb
as much water as it will contain, and afterward dissolved by a gentle heat into a thin
fluid, should be poured into the vessel containing the bichromate-of-potash solution,
which solution should be in a lukewarm condition so that the gelatine may easily blend
with it. The whole should then be well stirred together and the vessel containing the
solution should then be exposed to the sunlight for a half hour or so. Next, having
dissolved the aniline powder in a small quantity of cold water, this dye-solution should
be poured into the solution of water, gelatine and bichromate-of-potash and stirred
thoroughly. The whole solution should then be allowed to stand for a few hours with
occasional stirring, when, after straining (if desired) it is ready for use.
I claim this composition of clear water, gelatine or animal glue, bichromate-of-
potash, a coloring matter, and an anti-septic, combined in a permanent solution not
liable to putrefy, as an original invention of mine, for the reason that I am not aware

page_text: that all the ingredients of my composition, in the proportions stated, or otherwise, and
having for a resultant a permanent solution adaptable to the purposes designed, have
been used together heretofore, or have been suggested in any way, in a publication or
otherwise, for use for the purposes named in this specification or for any other purpose.
I am aware that gelatine or animal glue is frequently combined in solution with
bichromate-of-potash for use in the arts, and that it also is used in the composition of
India-ink; but it never has come to my knowledge that it has formed a part of
a solution composed, in addition to itself, of the ingredients, to-wit: bichromate-of-
potash, a coloring matter, an anti-septic, which solution, as a whole, constitutes my
invention.
Having fully described my invention, the claim that I especially desire to make and
secure by Letters Patent in connection with my invented composition is :-
An indelible ink approximately in the proportions heretofore set forth and described,
composed of clear water, gelatine, bichromate-of-potash, black aniline powder (the
product of coal tar), and creosote, the whole to be well stirred together and subjected
to exposure to sunlight, substantially as, in the manner, and for the purposes,
hereinbefore set forth and described.
Dated thin 1121
mban 1000
Witnesses,
H. H. BAKER.
J. D. BROWN.
CHARLES PATTON DIMITRY.