IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR DECORATING FRAMES AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE, WHICH IMPROVED DECORATIONS ADD ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES AND IN THE PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Moritz Hartmann, of Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of
Holland, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR
DECORATING FRAMES AND OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE, WHICH IMPROVED
DECORATIONS ADD ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES AND IN THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Moritz Hartmann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1880..
MORITZ HARTMANN, of Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR DECORATING FRAMES AND OTHER ARTICLES OF
FURNITURE, WHICH IMPROVED DECORATIONS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SUCH IMPROVED COMPOSITIONS."
This Invention has for its object an improved method of decorating the surfaco of
wood, marble, glass, metal, stone, brick, plaster, or any other solid material, and
whether such surface be flat or raised, with a combination of any number of colors
variegated or blended in any desired manner, and imparting thereto a highly
brilliant and polished surface.
•
It is equally applicable to the decoration of walls and other portions of buildings,
as also to articles of furniture, such as frames, tables, the covers of books, or any
other article manufactured from a solid or hard substance.
Hitherto it has only been practicable to produce a very limited number of colors
having a polished surface, whereas by my improved process I can readily produce
imitations of any kind of marble or fancy colors either singly or blended in any
desired pattern.
This I effect in the following manner :-I make a composition consisting of
about 60 parts of finely pulverised chalk, 34 parts distilled water, and 6 parts
nudellime. I first boil the water and nudellime together, and during the boiling I
gradually add the chalk thereto and gently stir the composition.
The composition then becomes white, but if any other color be required for a
ground color, such as black or chocolate, for instance, I then gradually add the

page_text: required color while the composition is boiling, and gently stir in the same in the
manner already described.
I then, while the composition is hot, by means of a brush, apply a first coating of
the same to the surface to be decorated. When such first coating is thoroughly dry
I then apply a second coating of the composition when in a lukewarm condition, and
after such second coating has become perfectly dry I apply a third coating of the
composition in a perfectly cold state.
This method of applying the composition is chiefly applicable to perfectly flat
surfaces, such as those of walls, tables, and counters, but where the surface is raised
or diversified, as, for instance, in the case of looking glass frames, roof mouldings,
window frames, ornamental mantel pieces, and otherwise, I cut out a piece of sheet
iron or other suitable metal to the required pattern, and apply the composition
(which is placed in a suitable feeding box or its equivalent) therewith instead of
with a brush as before mentioned.
By so doing I dispense with all necessity for preparing a moulding profile or
pattern as hitherto practised.
After the composition has been applied in either of these methods I allow it to
become perfectly dry and then polish the same with pumice stone, sand paper, or
other suitable equivalent.
I then apply thereto a varnish consisting of about 2 pounds of gum arabic to
4 pints of spirits, which varnish is applied in a cold state, and when dry produces
a hard glossy surface, which forms the foundation of the subsequent brilliant
finish.
I then apply the color or colors necessary to produce the species of decoration
desired, the hard glossy surface causing overy separate color to appear distinct from
the other or others, thus allowing of the most variegated and brilliant patterns being
produced.
When the color or colors so put on have become quite dry I first apply thereto a
coating of the varnish above mentioned, and when the same has become perfectly
dry I apply a conting of varnish composed of a solution of about 80 parts of spirits,
15 parts shellac, 21, parts calipot, 1 part mastic, and 11/ parts sandrak.
When this final coating of varnish is dry I polish the same with a polish composed
of suitable parts of benzine, white shellac, and alcohol, taking care to moisten the
polishing rubber with petroleum, and by this means I obtain a surface possessing
the utmost brilliancy.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Moritz Hartmann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
April 1881.
MORITZ HARTMANN, of Amsterdam, in the Kingdom of Holland.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN COMPOSITIONS FOR DECORATING FRAMES AND OTHER ARTICLES OF
FURNITURE, WINCH IMPROVED DECORATIONS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES AND IN THE APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SUCH IMPROVED COMPOSITIONS.'
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in compositions for decorating the
surface of wood, marble, glass, metal, stone, brick, plaster, or any other solid
material, whether the surface be flat or raised, with a combination of any number
of colors variegated or blended in any desired manner, and possessing a highly
brilliant and polished surface, and in apparatus for applying the same.
Such
decorations are equally applicable to walls and other portions of buildings, as
also to articles of furniture, such as frames, tables, the covers of books, or any other
article manufactured from a solid or hard substance.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now with the aid of the accompanying Drawing proceed more
particularly to describe and ascertain the same.
Hitherto it has only been practicable to produce polished surfaces made in com-
position in a very limited number of colors, whereas by my improved process I can
readily produco imitations of any kind of marble or fancy colors either singly or
blended in any desired pattern.
To carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-I make a composition hereafter
termed the primary composition consisting of, say, 60 parts finely pulverised chalk,
34 parts distilled water, and 6 parts nudellime. I first boil the water and nudellime
together, and during the boiling I gradually add the chalk thereto and gently stir
the composition, which then becomes white, but if any other color be required to
form a ground, such as black or chocolate, for instance, I then gradually add the
required color to the composition while boiling, and gently stir in the same in the
manner already described.
Having first prepared the surface of the article to be coated so that it is smooth
and even, I then, while the composition is hot, by means of a brush, apply a first
coating of the same to the surface to be decorated, and allow such first coating to
thoroughly dry. I then in a similar manner apply a second coating of this
composition in a lukewarm state, and after this second coating has become
perfectly dry, I in a similar manner apply a third coating in a perfectly cold
state.
This method of applying such primary composition is moro particularly applicable
to flat surfaces, such as those of walls, tables, and counters, but where the surface is
raised or diversified, as, for instance, in the case of looking glass and other frames,
roof mouldings, ornamental mantel pieces, and otherwise, I apply the primary
composition in the following manner :-I take a piece of sheet iron, say, 1/8th of an
inch thick and a little wider and higher than the required pattern. In this plate
I then cut with a file the exact pattern desired, say, for a frame, as shewn by dotted
lines in the accompanying Drawing, which shows a view of such plate, and which
plate is of such a width as to allow of its easily fitting over the surface of the frame
or other object to be operated on. I then apply the primary composition thickly
with a brush and in a hot state to such surface, after which I take the iron pattern
plate, place it on one end of the frame, and holding it close to the front edge, push
it along gradually and evenly over the entire surface of the frame up to the other
end. By this means an exact counterpart of the pattern cut in the iron plate is
produced in the primary composition wherewith the surface of the frame is coated,

page_text: the pattern plate shaping out the composition to the exact pattern of the design cut
therein as it travels over the surface of the frame. When such first coating is dry
I apply a second coating of the composition in a lukewarm state, after which I
shape it with the pattern iron as already described, and when such second coating
is dry I apply a third coating of the composition in a cold state, again shaping it
with the pattern iron. By this means I can readily produce any desired form,
whether rectangular, circular, oval, or spherical, at the same time that I dispenso
with all necessity for preparing a moulding profile or pattern as hitherto practised.
After the primary composition has been applied in either of the above methods I
allow it to dry and set, when it becomes hard like stone. I then polish the same
with a smooth stone or its equivalent, and wash it with a little water.
I then apply thereto a secondary composition or varnish consisting of, say, 2 lbs.
of gum arabic dissolved in 4 parts of spirits, the spirits being gradually heated and
the gum arabic added thereto and allowed to dissolve. This secondary composition
or varnish is applied in a cold state, care being taken that it is evenly and equally
applied over the entire surface of the object. When dry a hard glossy surface is
produced, which forms the foundation of the subsequent brilliant finish, as the
porous ground then becomes closer and prevents the colors from sinking in.
I then apply the color or colors necessary to produce the species of decoration
pattern or design desired, the hard glossy surface causing every separate color to
stand out distinct and bright from the other colors employed, and thus allowing of
the most variegated and brilliant patterns being produced.
After the color or colors so put on are quite dry I first apply a coating of the
secondary composition or varnish above mentioned, and when the same has become
perfectly dry I apply a coating of a tertiary composition or varnish composed of a
solution of, say, 80 parts spirits, 15 parts shellac, 2 parts of a special kind of resin
called calipot, 1 part mastic, which is another special kind of resin, and 1 parts
sandrak. Such various ingredients are placed together in a bottle and well shaken
until they are quite dissolved, when I filter the liquid and use it as a varnish as
already mentioned.
When this final coating of composition or varnish is dry I polish the same with a
polish composed of suitable parts of benzine, white shellac, and alcohol, taking care
to moisten the polishing rubber with petroleum in order to produce a brilliant gloss,
and by this means I obtain a surface possessing the utmost finish and brilliancy, and
calculated to withstand both the action of the atmosphere and the effects of time.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim as
my Invention and desire to secure by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,
Firstly. The improved compositions for decorating solid surfaces, whether flat or
raised, with any design in one or more colors possessing the greatest brilliancy and
durability, and whereby a brilliant and durable polished surface is obtained,
composed and manufactured respectively as herein before set forth and described.
Secondly. The pattern iron or plate for applying the primary composition to
raised or shaped surfaces, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Moritz Hartmann, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 30th day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
MORITZ HARTMANN. (L.S.)