IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AUTOGRAPHIC TRANSFERS FOR LITHOGRAPHIC AND ZINCOGRAPHIC PRINTING, IN THE REPRODUCTION OF PRINTED MATTER BY LITHOGRAPHY AND ZINCOGRAPHY, AND IN THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PRODUCTION OF AUTOGRAPHIC TRANSFERS FOR LITHOGRAPHIC AND
ZINCOGRAPHIC PRINTING, IN THE REPRODUCTION OF PRINTED MATTER BY
LITHOGRAPHY AND ZINCOGRAPHY, AND IN THE MATERIALS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
France.
A communication from abroad by Jean Jacques Magne, of Paris,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AUTOGRAPHIC
TRANSFERS FOR LITHOGRAPHIC AND ZINCOGRAPHIC PRINTING, IN THE REPRO-
DUCTION OF PRINTED MATTER BY LITHOGRAPHY AND ZINCOGRAPHY, AND IN THE
MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN." [A communication from abroad by Jean Jacques
Magne, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to the production of autographic transfers for lithographic
and zincographic purposes, and to the reproduction of printed matter by lithography
and zincography, and it also comprises the preparation of the inks and crayons,
and of the liquid, whose respective compositions are hereafter specified.
The process of producing autographic transfers consists essentially in writing or
drawing upon unprepared paper with the said inks or crayons, then moistening
the paper with the said liquid, inking up the writing or drawing with a
lithographic roller and transferring to stone or zinc, all as hereafter more fully
described.
The said ink or crayon has an affinity for and retains the fatty lithographic ink
which is repelled by the liquid which moistens without attacking the cellulose of
the paper, and the transfer to stone or zinc is made without injury to the original
manuscript.

page_text: For the reproduction of printed matter by lithography or zincography the same
liquid is used. Ordinary printing ink has the same properties as the inks of this
Invention, and by moistening the printed paper with the same liquid and rolling
up with lithographic ink the printed characters may, without injury to the original,
be transferred to stone or zinc, all as hereafter more fully described.
The composition of the said liquid is as follows:-
-
זה
These proportions may however be varied, but it is essential that the proportion
of alcohol should be high in order to avoid injury to the original.
For the production of autographic transfers I may use any kind of paper of
medium thickness, sized or not, or other material. The inks employed are
composed of proteine substances (albumens, caseines, fibruis, &c.), and of bichro-
mates, prussiates, alums, &c., forming liquid compositions, capable when dry of
retaining fatty inks. The following is the method of preparation:
I dissolve in a quantity 2 to 3 times greater than the quantity of albumen (or
other proteine substance) a mixture of 2 parts of bichromate, prussiate, or alum, &c.,
to 1 part of ferro-cyanide of potassium, by which a limpid brown solution is
obtained; I beat up separately a certain quantity of albumen and its equivalent of
water, The proportion of the mixture of salts relatively to the albumen employed
'should be about 6 per cent. The two liquids are intimately mixed together with
the addition of a suitable quantity of coloring matter.
The ink thus made is
. unalterable, remains constantly fluid, and drawings or writings may be executed
in it with a pen, brush, or drawing pen upon any paper, avoiding however
'cardboard and tissue paper.
The crayons to be employed for the same purpose are of paraffine or its congeners
and lamp black, bone black, ivory black, &c.,. or other impalpable coloring matter
so as to form crayons marking like those of black lead, red chalk, or charcoal.
The proportions for lamp black crayons are about 100 parts of paraffine to 16 parts
of lamp black, but may be varied according to the depth-of-color desired. To
produce crayons of different degrees of hardness, there should be melted with the
paraffine before mixture with the coloring matter a certain quantity of common or
other resin regulated by experience, but which should not in most cases exceed
10 per cent. The melted mixture is run into moulds, and after cooling the crayon's
are cut into lengths and either enclosed in stiff paper or cased in wood in the
inanner of ordinary lead pencils.
I will now describe in detail the process of producing an autograph transfer
with the inks or pencils of this Invention, or with a combination of the two. If
the drawing has been executed with ink alone it may be used as soon as it is dry,
but if executed with ink and crayon or crayon only the face of the drawing should
be held for one or two seconds over a vessel containing boiling water; the paper
is then allowed to dry by exposure to the air, more especially if the drawing be
done both in ink and crayon, after which the paper is placed face upwards in a
bath of water, acid, and alcohol, as before specified, and allowed to remain until it
is thoroughly saturated, which is known by a sort of exudation of the liquid
through the pores; the paper is then carefully spread out upon a glass plate or on
a board and an inked lithographic roller passed over it, whereby all the lines of
the drawing are coated with fatty ink. When sufficiently inked a damp sponge
is passed over those parts of the paper which have retained any of the ink, taking
care not to blur the drawing, which is then washed and placed to drain upon a slab
of plaster, and when sufficiently dry it is laid upon the stone or zinc plate and the
transfer pulled through the press.

page_text: In order to preserve the drawing in an unaltered condition it is necessary (1) to
wash it with carbonate of ammonia or of soda filtered; (2) to rinse it in pure
water; (3) to drain upon a plaster slab or blotting paper; (4) to dry it by strong
pressure between blotting paper.
The process of reproducing printed matter is as follows:-The mixture of
alcohols and sulphuric acid before referred to is applied with a brush either upon
the front or back of the printed matter to be reproduced; the paper becomes
instantly saturated with the liquid, and the surface is immediately washed by
applying or plunging in pure water. The sheet is then spread carefully upon a
glass plate or board previously wetted, and a lithographic ink roller passed over
the print, taking care to moisten the surface of the latter with pure or slightly
acidulated water to prevent the paper adhering to the roller. If this operation,
which is very simple, has been performed by a skilled hand it is only necessary to
lightly wash the print to remove the excess of acid which would otherwise etch
the stone too deeply, then to drain upon a slab of plaster, and when sufficiently
dry to lay it down upon the stone and pull it through; the transfer is then
complete, and the ordinary lithographic process proceeded with.
When it is desired to reproduce both sides of a sheet one side is inked and
transferred first, and then the other side is inked and transferred. For the repro-
duction of typographic printing the transfer would be made upon a polished zinc
plate, and then bitten in with acid in the ordinary way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th February 1882.
"s
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF AUTOGRAPHIC
TRANSFERS FOR LITHOGRAPHIC AND ZINCOGRAPHIC PRINTING, IN THE REPRO-
DUCTION OF PRINTED MATTER BY LITHOGRAPHY AND ZINCOGRAPHY, AND IN THE
MATERIALS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Jean Jacques
Magne, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to the production of autographic transfers for lithographic
and zincographic printing, and to the reproduction of printed matter by litho-
graphy and zincography, and it also comprises the preparation of the inks and
crayons, and of the liquid whose respective compositions are hereafter specified.
The process of producing autographic transfers consists essentially in writing or
drawing upon unprepared paper with inks or crayons having an affinity for fatty
lithographic ink, then moistening the paper with a liquid having a repellant action
for such ink, then inking up the writing or drawing with a lithographic roller, and
finally transferring the stone or zinc, all as here-after more fully described. The
fatty lithographic ink is retained by the ink or crayon, but repelled by the liquid
that moistens without attacking the cellulose of the paper, and the transfer is thus
made without injury to the original manuscript, which may be preserved for an
indefinite period.
For the reproduction of printed matter by lithography or zincography, the same
liquid is used, inasmuch as ordinary printing ink has the same properties
as the
inks of this Invention. By moistening a printed paper with the said liquid, and
rolling up with lithographic ink, the typographic or other impression may without
injury to the original be transferred to stone or zinc, all as hereafter more fully
These proportions may however be varied, but it is essential that the
proportion of alcohol should be high in order to avoid injury to the original.
The formula above indicated gives good results, but it must be understood that
the process is not limited to the employment of the precise ingredients herein
mentioned, as this part of the Invention consists essentially in the protective
intervention of a substance (alcohols or other) in an acid liquid for the purpose of
repelling the fatty ink. Under the term acid liquid I include not only acids
properly so called, but also combinations of these acids with substances which as
they do not neutralize the acids permit the combinations to act in the same
manner as if the acids were pure. I am thus enabled to use salts which by reason
of their acid nature will repel fatty ink. I may also add to the composition which
fulfils the double purpose of preserving the paper and of repelling fatty ink certain
substances of a hygrometric nature, which will retard the evaporation of the com-
position and keep the material impregnated therewith at a suitable degree of
moisture. These substances may be briefly stated as being either of organic origin,
such as gelatine rendered soluble, either hot or in the cold, soluble gluten, starch,

page_text: dextrine, mucilages, gums, sugars, and glucosides, &c., or of inorganic composition,
such as deliquescent salts, &c.; and in short all substances capable of retarding
the desiccation of materials impregnated with the composition of this Invention.
These substances may either be mixed directly with the composition, or they may
be applied upon the originals to be reproduced either before or after impregnation
with the composition.
For the production of autographic transfers I may use any kind of paper of
medium thickness, sized or not, or other material. The inks employed are com-
posed of proteine substances (albumens, caseines, fibrines, &c.), and of bichromates,
prussiates, alums, &c., forming liquid compositions capable when dry of retaining
fatty inks. The following is the method of preparation :-
I dissolve in a quantity of water 2 to 3 times greater than the quantity of albu-
men (or other proteine substance) a mixture of 2 parts of bichromate prussiate or
alum, &c., to 1 part of ferro cyanide of potassium, by which a limpid brown solution is
obtained. I also beat up separately a certain quantity of albumen and its equi-
valent of water. The proportion of the mixture of salts relatively to the albumen
employed should be about 6 per cent. The two liquids are intimately mixed
together with the addition of a suitable quantity of coloring matter. The ink thus
made is unalterable; remains constantly fluid, and drawings or writings may be
executed in it with a pen, brush, or drawing pen upon any paper of medium
thickness, avoiding card board and tissue paper.
The crayons to be employed for the same purpose are of paraffine or its congeners
and lamp black, bone black, ivory black, &c., or other impalpable coloring matter,
so as to form crayons marking like those of black lead, red chalk, or charcoal. The
proportions for lamp black crayons are about 100 parts of paraffin to 16 parts of
lamp black, but may be varied according to the depth of color desired. To produce
crayons of different degrees of hardness there should be melted with the paraffine
before mixture with the coloring matter a certain quantity of common or other
resin, regulated by experience, but which should not in most cases exceed 10 per
cent. The melted mixture is run into moulds, and after cooling the crayons are
cut into lengths and either enclosed in stiff paper or cased in wood in the manner
of ordinary lead pencils.
I will now describe in detail the process of producing an autographic transfer of
a drawing executed with the inks or pencils of this Invention, or with a com-
bination of the two. If the drawing has been executed with ink alone it may be
used as soon as it is dry, but if executed with ink and crayon, or crayon only, the
face of the drawing should be held for one or two seconds over a vessel containing
boiling water. The paper is then allowed to dry by exposure to the air, more
especially if the drawing be done both in ink and crayon, after which the paper is
placed face upwards in a bath of water, acid, and alcohol, as before specified, and
allowed to remain until it is thoroughly saturated, which is known by a sort of
exudation of the liquid through the pores. The paper is then carefully spread out
upon a glass plate or on a board and an inked lithographic roller passed over it,
whereby all the lines of the drawing are coated with fatty ink. When sufficiently
inked a damp sponge is passed over those parts of the paper which have retained
any of the ink, taking care not to blur the drawing, which is then washed and
placed to drain upon a slab of plaster, and when brought to the proper degree of
humidity it is laid down upon the stone or zinc plate, and the transfer pulled in
the ordinary way.
In order to preserve the drawing in an unaltered condition it is necessary, (1), to
wash it with carbonate of ammonia or of soda filtered; (2), to rinse it in pure
water; (3), to drain upon a plaster slab or blotting paper; (4), to dry it by strong
pressure between blotting paper.
The process of reproducing printed matter is as follows:-The mixture of alcohols
and sulphuric acid, before referred to, is applied with a brush either upon the front
or back of the printed matter to be reproduced. The paper becomes instantly

page_text: saturated with the liquid, and the surface is then immediately washed by applying
or plunging in pure water.
The sheet is then spread very carefully upon a glass plate or board previously
wetted, and a lithographic ink roller passed over the print, taking care if the roller
is passed more than once over the print to moisten the surface of the latter with
pure or slightly acidulated water to prevent the paper adhering to the roller. If
this operation, which is very simple, has been performed by a skilled hand, it is
only necessary to lightly wash the print to remove the excess of acid, which would
otherwise bite the stone too deeply, then to drain upon a slab of plaster, and when
brought to the proper degree of humidity to lay it down upon the stone and pull it
through. The transfer is then complete, and the ordinary lithographic process
proceeded with in the usual way.
When it is desired to reproduce both sides of a sheet one side is inked and
transferred first, and then the other side is inked and transferred. For the repro-
duction of typographic printing the transfer would be made upon a polished zinc
plate, and then bitten in with acid in the ordinary way.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The improved process of producing autographic transfers, herein specified,
for obtaining any number of copies of an original writing or drawing without
injury to the said original, the said process consisting essentially in writing or
drawing on an unprepared surface with ink or crayon having the property of
retaining fatty ink; then moistening the paper so written or drawn upon with a
liquid having a repellent action for such fatty ink, and consequently a protective
action for the blank portions of the paper; and, finally, inking up the writing or
drawing, which is then to be transferred to stone or zinc, substantially as herein
before described.
2nd. The process of transferring printed matter for reproduction by lithography
or zincography, herein specified, consisting essentially in moistening the printed
matter with a liquid having a repellent action for fatty ink, and consequently a
protective action for the blank parts of the paper, and then inking up the print;
and, finally, transferring to stone or zinc, substantially as herein described.
3rd. The manufacture of inks and crayons of the ingredients and in the manner
-herein-specified, and-their-employment in the herein described autographic transfer
process.
4th. The preparation of the liquid composition having a repellent action for fatty
ink and a protective action for the blank parts of the paper of a mixture of water,
acid, and alcohol, or its congeners, as described, and the employment of the said
liquid in the herein described transfer processes, as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.