Improvements relating to the Production of Ornamental and Acous- tical Figures or Designs upon Glass and other Surfaces, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Production of Ornamental and Acous-
tical Figures or Designs upon Glass and other Surfaces, and to
Apparatus therefor.
We, MARGARET WATTS-HUGHES, of 19 Barnsbury Park, Islington, in the County
of Middlesex, and JOSEPH ELLIOTT VINEY, of 1 Creed Lane, in the City of London,
Printer, 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 statement :-
Our invention relates to the production of ornamental and acoustical figures or
designs on glass, paper, woven fabrics and other surfaces by the distribution upon the
said surfaces, of lycopodium, artists' colours and other substances in the form of powder
or in a liquid or semi-liquid or plastic state, by vibration, or by pressure and adhesion,
or both by pressure and adhesion and by vibration. Our said invention, moreover,
comprises improved apparatus for use in the production of such ornamental and
acoustical figures or designs.
It has long been known that acoustical figures can be produced by subjecting sand
to the action of musical sounds; and many interesting experiments have been made
by Savart, Faraday and others to illustrate the results thus produced. An apparatus
has more recently been constructed for illustrating figures produced by the action of
vocal impulses or voice-vibrations upon a thin film of a soap-bubble, and for
indicating, by this means, variations in the pitch and other qualities of vocal sounds.
The want of a simple and effective apparatus. for indicating the qualities of musical
sounds is, nevertheless, greatly felt at the present time, and one object of our present
invention is to provide apparatus suitable for this purpose.
Our present improvements are, however, chiefly designed to provide for the
production of permanent figures or designs for ornamental or decorative purposes by
the arrangement or distribution of powdered or liquid or semi-liquid substances as
hereinafter explained, by means of air-waves or vibrations. The production of per-
manent figures or designs in this manner has not, so far as we are aware, been
suggested previous to the date of our invention.
The said Margaret Watts-Hughes has discovered, moreover, that by applying the
said liquid or semi-liquid substances to one or both of. two surfaces and then placing
such surfaces in contact and subjecting the said substances to more or less pressure
between them and then detaching the said surfaces, curious and beautiful figures or
designs can be produced. And, in some instances, we adopt this method of producing
the figures or designs, either alone or in combination with the method hereinafter
described of utilizing air-waves or vibrations.
Although we prefer to produce the vibrations by means of musical sounds, we can
obtain somewhat analogous results by vibrations produced by mechanical means or by
hand as hereinafter explained.
Our improved apparatus is constructed as follows, riz. :-A sheet of thin india-
rubber or other suitable material is stretched more or less tightly over the open
end or mouth of a vessel of any convenient shape, and is securely attached around
its edge to the said vessel. The said vessel is provided with one or more tubes
connected at one end with an orifice or orifices in the bottom or side of the same,
and provided at the other end with a mouth-piece or other suitable device for
facilitating the introduction of the musical sounds into the said vessel.
We sometimes provide each tube with a flexible portion, or otherwise so construct
the same that, during the introduction of the air-waves into the vessel, the air
therein may be compressed by forcing in more air or by moving one part of the

page_text: said tube end wise towards the vessel, the stretched sheet or diaphragm is thus
caused to bulge outward for the purpose hereinafter specified.
In producing the figures or designs according to one method or process, we first
strew, rub or pour upon a stretched sheet or diaphragm, such as that employed in the
apparatus above described, a suitable quantity of fine powder, such as lycopodium, or
of other suitable substances such as artists' colours, either dry, or in a liquid or semi-
liquid state. We then cause the said stretched sheet or diaphragm to vibrate with
great rapidity and regularity. By means of this vibration, the powdered or liquid or
semi-liquid substance is distributed or arranged upon the surface of the stretched
sheet or diaphragin, thus producing figures or designs of various descriptions,
according to the rapidity and amplitude of the vibrations and other circumstances.
The figures produced in this manner can be varied by changing the rapidity or other
quality of the vibrations, or by changing the shape of the vessel over which the sheet
of india-rubber or other material is stretched, or the kind of powder or other
substance placed thereon.
We effect the required vibration of the stretched sheet or diaphragm by tapping the
same by mechanical means or with the fingers, or by applying to the stretched sheet
or diaphragm a tuning-fork after the latter has been sharply struck and thrown into
vibration. We prefer, however, to effect such vibration by the movements of the air
produced by the voice or by the action of wind instruments, such for instance, as
trumpets. We introduce the air-waves or sound-vibrations thus produced, into the
aforesaid vessel through the tube connected therewith. When voice-vibrations are to
be used, the said tube is provided with a mouth-piece of any suitable size and shape
for singing into. When the stretched sheet or diaphragm is to be vibrated by more
than one operator at a time, the said vessel is provided with two or more tubes-for-the-
purpose above specified.
The air-waves or sound-waves are introduced into the vessel through the said tube
or tubes, by singing or otherwise producing a steady and prolonged note, where-
upon the said diaphragm is thrown into rapid and regular vibrations, and the powder
or other substance upon the said diaphragm arranges itself into a figure or design
according to the intensity, quality and pitch of the voice, or the rapidity of the vibration.
Some of the figures produced in this manner are very beautiful and of great interest
from their resemblance to natural forms, such as those of flowers, c.g. the daisy and
the pansy. Figures of this kind require that the note sung shall be carefully
sustained in moderate intensity and unvarying pitch. Varieties of these floral forms
of figures may be produced by increasing or diminishing the quantity of moisture or
degrees of fluidity of the colour-paste or other substance used."
As the figures formed on the diaphragm by the voice-vibrations vary with every
change of pitch and intensity in the notes sung, the apparatus will indicate in a very
effective and interesting manner the pitch and quality of vocal sounds; the said
apparatus may, therefore, be usefully employed in the musical profession by artistes and
teachers to aid in voice-training.
We sometimes produce permament ornamental or acoustical figures or designs
with lycopodium or other substances in the form of fine powder. For this purpose
we employ a diaphragm of thin india-rubber or other material to which the said
powder will adhere. We place the powder on the said diaphragm and cause the
arrangement or distribution of the powder thereon by means of air-waves or sound-
vibrations in the manner above described, and we then carefully place over the said
diaphragm a sheet of glass or other suitable transparent substance, uniting the said
diaphragm around its edge to the said glass or other substance by means of glue o
other adhesive-material. We then detach the diaphragm from the vessel over which
it is stretched. Care must be taken in these operations not to disturb the arrange
ment of the powder. The glass or other transparent substance with the diaphrag
attached thereto, may,
if desired, be secured in a suitable frame. Figures or design
produced in this manner may be advantageously used for comparing the figure
produced by musical notes differing in pitch or other qualities. In making thes

page_text: permanent figures or designs, we prefer to use thin india-rubber stretched with
sufficient tightness to form a very flexible and elastic diaphragın. In this case, the
diaphragm must be securely attached around its edge to the glass or other substance
before it is removed from the said vessel.
According to another method or process, we produce the figures or designs by
pressure and adhesion as follows, viz. :- -We place upon a stretched sheet or
diaphragm of india-rubber or similar material, powdered colour mixed with water or
other liquid so as to bring it to a pasty or semi-fluid consistency, and we then lay
thereon a sheet of glass; or a china plate, a globe, a vase, a card or other object upon
which the figures or designs are to be produced. The moist colour causes the said
object to adhere to the diaphragm, and the weight or pressure of the object upon the
colour produces a peculiar distribution or arrangement thereof upon the two surfaces
in contact therewith. Upon removing or withdrawing the object abruptly from the
diaphragm, a distinct figure will be found to have been produced upon it and also
upon the said sheet or diaphragm. These figures can also be varied indefinitely and
are often of remarkable beauty and intricacy, highly suitable for ornamental or
decorative purposes.
We sometimes apply the colour to the glass or other surface instead of to the sheet
or diaphragm. Or we apply it both to the glass or other surface and to the sheet or
diaphragm. Moreover we produce very beautiful and curious figures by applying
different colours to the two surfaces to be pressed together, and then proceeding as
above described.
According to another part of our said invention we produce the figures or designs
by combining the two methods or processes hereinbefore described.
For instance, we apply the moist colour to the surface of glass, paper or other
suitable material and also to a diaphragm stretched over the mouth of a vessel
provided with one or more tubes as above described, and we then press the said
diaphragm very lightly upon the coloured surface of the said glass or other material,
at the same time causing the said diaphragm to vibrate in, the manner above
specified.
We produce, moreover, a great variety of figures or designs on the surface of glass
or other material by moving the diaphragm in rectilinear or curvilinear paths over
the said surface, keeping the said diaphragm lightly pressed against the said surface
and at the same time causing the said diaphragm to vibrate in the manner above
specified.
We find that, by imparting a circular, or approximately circular movement to the.
diaphragmn and gradually diminishing the pressure of the same against the coloured
surface until it is entirely removed therefrom, we can produce very beautiful shell-
like figures having wave-lines which are finer or coarser and which vary appearance
according to the pitch and other qualities of the air-waves or sound-vibrations acting
upon the diaphragm, and according to other circumstances.
in
The stretched sheet or diaphragm may, during this operation, be caused to bulge
outward as above explained so that it will act more efficiently upon, or can be more
easily applied to, the coloured surfaces.
In other instances, we first place a glass or other object against a stretched sheet
or diaphragm with the colour between them as above described, and then detach the
said object from the stretched sheet or diaphragm and thus produce figures or designs
upon the said object by pressure and adhesion; and we then form other figures or
designs upon the said object by applying a coloured diaphragm to, or moving it over
the surface of the said object, at the same time keeping the said diaphragm in
vibration. The result is that shell-like and other figures having beautiful wave-lines are
produced by the vibrations and appear in combination with the figure produced by the
pressure and adhesion, thus adding greatly to the beauty of the whole. An infinite
variety of figures or designs can be produced in this manner.
Ornamental figures or designs can be produced as above described at a very low.
cost.

page_text: It is obvious that the details of construction of our improved apparatus can be
modified according to the purpose for which it is required."
'
Although we prefer to use very flexible india-rubber for the diaphragm in our
improved apparatus, as this material is strong and waterproof and is easily affected
by movements of the air, yet it is obvious that the said diaphragm may be made of
any other suitable, material which is sufficiently close-grained and flexible. 'We have
found that velvet serves the purpose very well in cases where sand is employed as the
medium in producing, the figures or designs. Silk, cálico, and other woven fabrics
may also be-used with more or less advantage.
Various, kinds, of colours or materials may be advantageously employed on, the
diaphragm for instance flake white, plaster of Paris or Terra-cotta clay, for fernlike
figures and other coarse designs; or finely divided colours, such as 'Prussian blue or
Madder lake, for, the more complex and delicate designs.
"Having now 'particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it understood.
that we claim :-
First. The herein described method of producing permanent ornamental or acoustical
figures or designs by subjecting substances in a liquid or semi-liquid or plastic
condition to rapid vibration by means of musical sounds or otherwise.
Second. The herein described method of producing permanent ornamental or
acoustical figures or designs by the action of musical sounds upon substances in the
form of powder.
Third. The herein described method of producing ornamental or acoustical figures
or designs, by subjecting substances in a liquid or semi-liquid or plastic condition to
pressure between two surfaces and then separating such surfaces, with or without
simultaneously subjecting the said substances to rapid vibration, for the purposes
abovo.specified.
Fourth. The method of producing ornamental or acoustical figures or designs,
consisting in coating glass or other surfaces with colour or other substances in a
..liquid or semi-liquid or plastic condition and then applying a vibrating diaphragm to,
or moving it over such surfaces, substantially as hereinbefore described.
"
Fifth. The method of producing ornamental or acoustical figures or designs,
consisting in first subjecting substances in a liquid or semi-liquid or plastic condition
to pressure between two surfaces, and then separating such surfaces and applying to,
or moving over the surface on which the figures or designs are to be produced a
vibrating diaphragm, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Sixth. The improved apparatus herein before described, comprising the vessel
having the india-rubber or other flexible or elastic material stretched over its open
end and having one or more tubes connected with it for the admission of the air-
waves or sound-waves, for the purposes above specified.
Seventh. As an article of manufacture, an ornamental or acoustical figure or
design produced substantially as hereinbefore described, on the surface of india-
rubber, glass, paper or other suitable material.
MARGARET WATTS-HUGHES.
J. ELLIOTT VINEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton, Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.