AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR RENDERING CLOTH, PAPER, AND SIMILAR ARTICLES TRANSPARENT AND WATERPROOF
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR RENDERING CLOTH, PAPER, AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES TRANSPARENT AND WATERPROOF."-A communication from abroad
by James Hodgskin, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.
Sealed the 25th September 1868, and dated the 31st March 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st March 1863.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR RENDERING CLOTH, PAPER, AND
SIMILAR ARTICLES TRANSPARENT AND WATERPROOF," a communication to me
from abroad by James Hodgskin, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the combination of boiled linseed oil, india-rubber
cement, and benzine or other equivalent solvent, the proportions of which may
be varied according to the closeness in the manufacture of the cloth or paper.
For most purposes, however, about one part by measure of boiled linseed oil,
one part of india-rubber cement, and six parts of benzine or other equivalent
solvent will be found suitable, but where the material is of a very close texture

page_text: it may be advisable to use an additional proportion of benzine. This mixture
may be applied to the surface of the cloth, paper, or other material, either by
brush, machinery, or other practicable means, after which it is subjected to a
heating process, which is continued long enough to allow the composition or
mixture to penetrate the article undergoing operation and drying. When
perfectly dry and cool, the surface will be free from any lacky or sticky
substance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th September 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVED COMPOSITION FOR RENDERING CLOTH, PAPER, AND
SIMILAR ARTICLES TRANSPARENT AND WATERPROOP," a communication to me from
abroad by James Hodgskin, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to that class of compositions employed chiefly to
render cloths and papers clear and transparent as well as waterproof, for
various purposes for which such cloth and paper is used, among the most
important of which is that of tracing drawings and various descriptions of
designs, but there are however many other purposes to which this composition
may be applied with advantage. The said composition is composed of one
part by measure of linseed oil, one part by measure of india-rubber cement,
and six parts by measure of benzine. This for most purposes constitutes
probably the best mixture, but for a preparation of tracing cloth and tracing
paper of close texture it may be advisable to use an additional proportion of
benzine to avoid producing a gloss on the outside, and also to avoid filling the
pores of the paper too full to retain the ink and colors which may be applied.
This mixture is laid on with a brush, or by other proper machinery or device,
to the surface of the cloth or paper upon which it is intended to operate,
and then the cloth or paper should be subjected to heat, not exceeding
250° Fahrenheit, and for most purposes 200° will answer very satisfactorily;
this heating should be continued till the composition has sufficiently penc-
trated the goods, and become sufficiently dry, that when taken out and cooled
it shall not be sticky. In addition to the preparation of tracing cloth and
tracing paper by this means an article is prepared intended to take tho
place of oiled paper in letter books for copying letters by pressure. A soft
transparent paper to take the place of oiled silk in dressing wounds is also
prepared with it; in this case a strong coating of the material is applied to the
paper so as to produce a gloss. Bank notes may also be prepared with it by
saturating them with this composition, which effectually prevents their being
photographed when any colors are used in printing either side, and also gives
durability to the bill, ease of manipulation in counting, and transparency,
which enables a person to see at a glance the effect of the engraving upon
both sides. There are various other purposes to which this composition may
be applied, but which are obvious applications which would be too tedious in
number to enumerate. The india-rubber cement spoken of is the article
generally and technically known in trade by that name, and is a saturated
solution of india-rubber in naptha, camphine, or other solvent. The linseed
oil should be boiled before being mixed with the other ingredients, though if
this is not done it can be dried by an application of sufficiently strong beat.
Some other essential oil or solvent might be used instead of benzine as a
member of this composition without destroying the effect produced, which is

page_text: due in a great measure to the combination of india-rubber and linseed oil,
but the use of benzine is preferred to any other solvent at present known.
Having thus fully described this Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I claim the combination of linseed oil, india-rubber,
and benzine or some equivalent solvent, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
E. T. HUGHES. (L.8.)