IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING LUMINOUS EFFECTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Norman Aronson, of 37, Bedford Row, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRODUCING LUMINOUS EFFECTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Norman Aronson, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1878.
JOSEPH NORMAN ARONSON, of 37, Bedford Row, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING LUMINOUS EFFECTS."
This Invention relates to improvements in producing luminous effects.
According to my Invention I employ a phosphorescent substance and treat and
apply it as hereinafter described according to the luminous effect desired.
The phosphorescent substance or substances I prefer are such as calcined oyster
shells combined with sulphur by exposure to sufficient heat, or a paste formed of
neutral arseniate of baryta and gum-tragacanth, or sulphate of strontia, or sulphate
of barium in combination with a small per-centage of magnesia.
For rendering walls, or ceilings, or surfaces for advertising or other purposes
luminous and visible in the dark, and more or less capable of imparting light to
other objects, I first coat such surface or article with an adhesive substance such as
a wash, or paste, or plaster. The phosphorescent substance in the form of a powder,
or paste, or plaster is then spread over the surface by any suitable means, and more
or less pressed on thereto so as to cause as much as possible to adhere when it is
well smoothed on the surface. It is then coated with transparent varnish or other
transparent substance or material such as some silicate, or glass, or talc. A surface
thus prepared will absorb daylight or artificial light a present a luminous appear-
ance in the dark and remain so for many hours. Any illuminated pattern, design,
lettering, or representation may thus be obtained on a non-luminous ground, or the
ground may be luminous and the lettering or design non-luminous. Paper and
fabrics may also be thus coated and treated, or they may be impregnated by the.
phosphorescent substance in the process of manufacture,

page_text: In other applications of my Invention the phosphorescent substance is moulded
or otherwise formed into any required shape, and if desired coated or covered as
before described by any suitable transparent covering. The covering, say, of glass
may take the form of the shaped phosphorescent substance fitting it closely or not,
or may simply otherwise cover it to protect it from atmospheric or other influence
likely to injure it.
.
Colouring may be imparted to the phosphorescent substance and so to the surface
illuminated by the introduction of certain suitable chemicals. In using oyster
shells and sulphur to produce the different colors a sprinkling of artificial tursul-
phuret of arsenic will produce a blue; oxide of antimony will produce white; oxide
of zinc, green; oxide of cadmium, a deep yellow; a solution of arseniate of ammonia,
a firey red; and other colours may be produced in like manner by using the appro-
priate chemicals.
In some cases the phosphorescent substance may be reduced to a liquid state by
chemical means and applied in liquid form to the surface or material to be
illuminated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Norman Aronson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
May 1879.
JOSEPH NORMAN ARONSON, of 37, Bedford Row, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING LUMINOUS EFFECTS.'
"
This Invention relates to improvements in producing luminous effects.
According to my Invention I employ a phosphorescent substance and treat and
apply it as hereinafter described according to the luminous effect desired.
The phosphorescent substance or substances I prefer are such as calcined oyster
shells combined with sulphur by exposure to sufficient heat, or a paste formed of
neutral arseniate of baryter and gum tragacanth, or sulphate of strontia, or sulphate
of barium in combination with a small percentage of magnesia.
For rendering walls, or ceilings, or surfaces for advertising or other purposes
luminous and visible in the dark, and more or less capable of imparting light to
other objects, I first coat such surface or article with an adhesive substance such as
a wash, or paste, or plaster. The phosphorescent substance in the form of a powder,
or paste, or plaster is then spread over the surface by any suitable means, and more
or less pressed on thereto so as to cause as much as possible to adhere when it is
well smoothed on the surface. It is then coated with transparent varnish or other
transparent substance or material, such as some silicate, or glass, or tale. A surface
thus prepared will absorb daylight or artificial light and present a luminous appear-
ance in the dark and remain so for many hours. Any illuminated pattern, design,
lettering, or representation may thus be obtained on a non-luminous ground, or the
ground may be luminous and the lettering or design non-luminous. Paper and
fabrics may also be thus coated and treated, or they may be impregnated by the
phosphorent substance in the process of manufacture.
In other applications of my Invention the phosphorescent substance is moulded
or otherwise formed into any required shape, and if desired coated or covered as
before described by any suitable transparent covering. The covering, say, of glass,
may take the form of the shaped phosphorescent substance, fitting it closely or not,
or may simply otherwise cover it to protect it from atmospheric or other influence
likely to injure it.
Colouring may be imparted to the phosphorescent substance and so to the surface
illuminated by the introduction of certain suitable chemicals. To produce the
different colours a sprinkling of artificial tursulphuret of arsenic will produce a
blue; oxide of antimony will produce white; oxide of zinc, green; oxide of cad-
mium, a deep yellow; a solution of arseniate of ammonia, a fiery red; and other
colours may be produced in like manner by using the appropriate chemicals.
In some cases the phosphorescent substance may be reduced to a liquid state by
the introduction of spirits of wine or ether, and applied in liquid form to the surface
or material to be illuminated.
Having thus fully ascertained the nature of my said Invention, I wish it under-
stood that I claim the use of the phosphorescent substances or liquors for the purposes
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Norman Aronson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight bundred and seventy nine
JOSEPH NORMAN ARONSON. (L.S.)