A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR DECORATING, ORNAMENTING, AND ENHANCING OR IMPROVING EFFECTS ON GLASS AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, BENJAMIN EDWIN FOSTER, of 23, Burnley Road, Stockwell, in the County
of Surrey, Sign and Glass Writer, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention
"A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR DECORATING, ORNAMENTING, AND
ENHANCING OR IMPROVING EFFECTS ON GLASS AND OTHER SURFACES," to be as
follows:-
for
The object of my Invention is so to treat glass and other surfaces that I am
enabled to obtain a surface thereon which has the effect of breaking up the light
and improving or enhancing the whole effect. This I produce according to my
Invention by the employment of a crystalline surface interposed between the
actual design or plain surface and a bright or lustrous backing.
In carrying my Invention into effect and as applied to the treatment of glass
I take a sheet of clear glass, of any size, thickness or quality, which I either leave
quite plain, or upon which I paint, draw, print, etch, or otherwise produce any
design of ornament or lettering in gold or colors or both, according to the well
known methods, I then produce upon the sheet of glass (whether decorated or
plain) the crystalline surface by applying an even coat (wholly or partially) to the
glass, of a solution composed of the sulphates of zinc, alumina, soda, magnesia, and
other sulphates, or other readily crystallizable salts, singly or in combination,
varying the proportions according to the character of the crystallization to be
produced in accordance with or in keeping with the design and I render this
coating permanent by mixing it with mucilage, gum arabic, gum tragacanth,
starch, or other substances having similar properties. When this crystalline
surface is quite dry I protect it from damp or atmospheric action with a coating
of a clear, colorless, hard drying varnish, as for example mastic varnish, but
cheaper kinds will answer the purpose. I either use the sheet of glass so treated,
as a transparency for the decoration for example of window panes, advertising
tablets, and so forth, or I back it up with ordinary looking-glass silvering, silver-
leaf, silvered glass, or any other bright and lustrous surface, metallic or otherwise.
The appearance thus produced is that of a frosted or crystalline metallic surface
and under some conditions something of the lustre of silk or satin, without color
other than that of the backing up surface is obtained; I can, however, effect any

page_text: coloring, either by painting directly upon the crystallized surface itself with
transparent colors in oil or otherwise, or by painting with such colors upon the
bright backing-up surface, or by a combination of both; and if an ornamental
background (as for example a diaper) be desired in addition to color, I either paint
same by hand or produce patterns in the ordinary manner by the use of, for
example, stencil plates. I may complete the operation by placing the sheet of
glass in front of the bright surface, in a frame, or by cementing them at their
edges.
For painted, metallic, or other surfaces I reverse the process before described.
I, BENJAMIN EDWIN FOSTER of 23 Burnley Road, Stockwell in the County of
Surrey, Sign and Glass Writer do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED PROCESS FOR DECORATING, ORNAMENTING, AND ENHANCING
OR IMPROVING EFFECTS ON GLASS AND OTHER SURFACES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
By this new or improved method of decorating glass and other surfaces I produce
on such surfaces a superficial crystalline or crystallized coating possessing the
property of breaking up the light and thereby enhancing or beautifying all effects
of coloring, design, ornament and the like.
For the purpose of my invention, I take, for example, a sheet of clear glass (that
is to say clear in contradistinction to opaque). The glass may be of any color,
tint, size, thickness or quality whatsoever and I either leave it quite plain (that is
without superficial decoration) or I paint, draw, print or etch with bydro-fluoric
acid upon it or otherwise produce any design of ornament lettering and the like, of
any character or style whatsoever, in gold, silver, or colors, or all combined,
according to well known methods. After allowing sufficient time for the decoration
(if any) to become thoroughly dry and hard, so as to completely resist the action
of the various substances hereinafter described, I proceed to produce on the same
surface or side of the sheet of glass (which usually would be the back) the
crystalline or crystallised and more or less transparent coating, by painting with

page_text: a brush or otherwise applying an even layer sparingly or liberally (for reasons
hereinafter stated) either wholly, or in parts of same only, on to the surface. This
layer or coating consists of a solution or solutions, composed of the sulphates of
zinc, alumina, soda, magnesia and other sulphates, nitrates, acetates or any other
suitable soluble and crystallisable salt, singly or in combination. I control or
modify the force of crystallisation by mixing the salt or salts in solution, in various
proportions, with solutions of any suitable binding or fixing substances, such as for
example, solution or mucilage of dextrin, gum arabic, gum tragacanth, starch,
gelatine, albumen and any other substance possessing similar properties or
characteristics that is to say binding and fixing properties and especially exerting
the required force of contraction whilst parting with the water of solution. I vary
the ingredients and proportions according to the character of the crystallisation
I desire to produce. I employ the aforesaid mixture of the crystallisable salt or
salts (hereinafter called the crystallising agent) with any of the solutions of gum
and the like (hereinafter called the controlling agent) to render the crystalline
coating tangible and permanent.
When the coating has crystallised and become thoroughly dry, I protect it from
damp or other atmospheric influences, by means of a coating of a clear and colorless
hard drying varnish, such for example as Mastic varnish but cheaper kinds will
answer. I either employ the sheet of glass, thus treated, as a transparency for the
decoration, for example, of window panes, advertising tablets, and so forth, or
I back up the crystallised surface with ordinary looking glass or mirror-silvering,
or with gold or silver leaf or with any other bright and lustrous surface coating,
metallic or otherwise-Or I may provide the crystallised surface with a backing
consisting of a sheet of glass or metal or other body having light reflecting
properties. The appearance thus produced is that of a frosted or crystalline
metallic surface, under certain conditions possessing the lustre of silk, satin, plush
and the like, without color other than that due to the tint of the glass or that of
the backing up surface or of what I shall hereafter call the reflective backing.
I can and do however effect any desired coloring by painting either directly upon
the crystalline surface itself with transparent or opaque colors in oil or otherwise,
or by painting with transparent or opaque colors in oil or otherwise upon the
bright backing up surface or the reflective backing or by a combination of both
methods;
and if an ornamental back ground, as for example a diaper be desired in
addition to color, I either paint such back-ground by hand on the reflective
backing, or otherwise produce patterns in the ordinary manner, by the use of, for
example, stencil plates. I complete the operations (in this case) by placing the sheet
of glass having upon its back surface the crystalline coating, in front of the
reflective backing securing them in a frame or by cementing or otherwise uniting
at their edges.-The coating is thus protected.
According to a modification I take a sheet of clear glass, colored or otherwise,
decorated or plain, apply to the surface any one of the crystallizing solutions;
sparingly or liberally wholly or in parts only but being much diluted with clean
cold water preferably the combination N° 10 hereinafter to be specified and while
this coating is quite wet and in a fluid state I lay upon it gold or silver leaves or
both in the usual method of water gilding or silvering. In the process of drying
the gold or silver leaf will conform to the crystallising action and adhere to the
surface of the crystallised coating but it will also to a certain extent alter the
character of the crystallisation. When crystallisation has taken place and the gilded
or silvered surface is quite dry I protect the latter from damp & by applying a
coating of the hard drying paint composition above described or other similar
materials.
In lieu of the above described method of carrying out my invention I may, and,
under some circumstances, do prefer to vary it that is to say I take, for example, a
sheet of clear glass (that is clear only as opposed to opaque) of any suitable color,
tint, size, thickness or quality, which I either leave plain or decorate by painting,
drawing, printing, etching or otherwise, and producing any design of ornament or

page_text: lettering in gold, silver or colors or all combined, according to well known methods,
and I apply to this sheet of glass an even coating (wholly or in parts only) with a
brush or otherwise of a good quality of oil varnish such, for example, as Copal
varnish or any description of varnish of pale color and good body or I may use
gelatine or gelatinous substances. I allow this coating of varnish to become dry,
in ordinary temperatures from 12 to 24 hours. I then produce on this varnish
coating the crystalline or crystallised coating by applying, with a brush or other-
wise sparingly or liberally an even layer (wholly or in parts only) of any of the
solutions and combinations of the crystallizing and controlling and fixing agents
as herein before stated-I allow this coating ample time to crystallize and to become
thoroughly dry. At ordinary temperatures this takes about 48 hours. I then
back up the sheet of glass, so treated, with any bright and lustrous surface or
reflective backing metallic or otherwise, colored or otherwise.
Or I remove entirely, by liberally washing with cold water, the dried crystallising
agent leaving only the varnish coating, which will have received a perfect
impression of the crystallised coating by reason of the contracting and crystallising
forces exerted on the varnish coating during the drying of the crystallising mixture.
On this varnish surface I may then proceed to lay leaves of gold or silver or both
according to the well known methods of water gilding or silvering. After allowing
the gilding or silvering or -both to become dry, I may apply upon it a protective
coating of some kind of hard drying paint, such as, for example, a mixture of
white lead, red lead, gold size and turpentine or similar hard drying paint
composition. Or instead of covering this varnish coating bearing the impression
of the crystallising compounds with gold or silver leaf--I back it up with a bright
reflecting surface or reflective backing, metallic or otherwise, colored or otherwise,
securing the two in a frame or cementing at the edges as before described or I use
the varnished sheet of glass bearing the impression of the crystallisation as a
transparency in which case no backing up surface or reflective backing is required.
Or in lieu of either of the foregoing methods I may, and, under some conditions,
do, prefer to pursue the following course, that is to say, I coat the sheet of glass
(either left plain or decorated in any of the before-mentioned and well known
methods) with copal varnish or other kind of equal quality or effect and when this
varnish coating has been allowed to dry to a state, or condition, of adhesiveness
sufficient only to hold gold or silver leaf, I proceed to lay leaves of gold or silver
or both upon the varnish coating the tenacity of which at this stage is sufficient to
firmly hold the said gold or silver.-I smooth this gilded or silvered surface by
gently passing over it a pad of cotton wool silk or similar materials and I then
produce upon this gilded or silvered surface the beforementioned crystalline or
crystallised coating, by applying an even coating, sparingly or liberally wholly
or in parts only, of any of the crystallising and controlling agents hereinafter described.
After allowing time for this coating to crystallise and become thoroughly dry
(usually about 48 hours) I allow the dried crystallised coating to remain, protecting
it with a coating of the hard drying paint composition herein before described.
Or I may entirely remove the dried crystallised coating by liberally washing
with clean cold water-the impression of the crystallising agent will be found to
have penetrated the gold or silver leaf and to have taken effect upon the varnish
coating beneath. I then protect it by coating with the before described hard
drying paint composition.
Or I may, and, under some circumstances, do, prefer to employ this crystallised
gold or silver coating upon the one sheet of glass, as a backing up surface to another
sheet of glass not crystallised, by which means I obtain an effect on both sides
with but one surface actually treated.
I may, when desirable, effect various changes in the disposition or arrangement
of the crystallised coating, by the following modified method-that is to say,
I take a sheet of glass colored or otherwise, plain or decorated, apply an even
coating of copal or other varnish to the surface, gild or silver it when sufficiently
dry, and smooth the gilded or silvered surface with a pad of cotton-wool or the

page_text: like, as hereinbefore described. I then describe lines, diagonal or otherwise, or
produce any ornament of diaper pattern or the like by the aid of, for example,
stencil plates, upon the gilded or silvered surface with a mixture in about equal
parts of dry white lead and ultramarine blue in powder, ground in turpentine to
a fine paste, to which I add sufficient cabinet varnish (or other varnish soluble in
turpentine) to render the mixture fit for use in a sable pencil or brush or stencil
brush.When this application is quite dry I proceed to produce the crystalline
coating by applying as hereinbefore described an even layer sparingly or liberally,
of any of the hereinafter mentioned solutions of the crystallising and controlling
or fixing agents-The lines of the varnish and lead mixture now exert upon the
crystallising solution the force of repulsion while the parts covered by the lead
mixture are not acted upon, and the effect produced is that of brocaded silk. I
then back it up as before described or remove entirely the dried crystallising agent
by washing with clean cold water, after which I protect it from injury by coating
it with the hard drying paint mixture herein before described (viz red lead, white
lead, gold size and turpentine).
Or if I do not employ the gold or silver leaf I use the glass so treated as a
transparency removing the repelling lines with turpentine and washing with soap
and water.
For plain or painted wood or for opaque glass or for metallic or other surfaces
other than transparent glass I reverse the process first described; for example,
I take a panel of wood which may first be coated with paint of the desired color
or colors, applying as many coats of paint as may be necessary to produce an even
surface. This being thoroughly dry I coat the surface with good copal varnish or
other varnish of similar quality or effect, wholly or in parts only, upon which when
dry, usually after 24 hours, I produce the crystalline or crystallised coating as
described for the treatment of glass.-After about 48 hours I entirely remove the
dried crystalline coating by liberally washing with clean cold water. The varnish
surface will then be found to bear a faithful impression of the crystallising agent
or agents and can now be decorated in any style of coloring, design of ornament or
lettering whatsoever of gold silver or both combined according to the well known
methods.
Or, instead of removing the dried crystalline coating by washing, I allow it to
remain and may protect it from damp or other atmospheric influences by applying
a coating of copal or other varnish.
To produce a gold or silver crystalline surface upon wood and other materials,
I prepare the surface in the well-known manner by painting as herein before
described, after which I coat the surface, wholly or in parts only, with copal varnish,
other varnish of similar quality or effect or oil gold size upon which I lay leaves of
gold or silver or both. When the varnish or goldsize has dried to a point of tenacity
or adhesiveness sufficient only to hold firmly the gold or silver leaf (usually about
24 hours) and having smoothed the gilded or silvered surface or lightly rubbing it
with or by gently passing over it with a pad of soft wash leather, silk, cottonwool
or similar materials, I proceed to produce upon this gilded or silvered surface, the
before. mentioned crystalline or crystallised coating by applying as herein before
described, an even layer sparingly or liberally, wholly or in parts only, of any of
the undermentioned crystallising agents singly or in combination, mixed in various
proportions with any of the undermentioned controlling and fixing agents-I allow
this coating to remain during say 48 hours, then either remove it (that is, the dried
crystallised coating) entirely, by liberally washing with clean cold water, or I retain
the dried crystallised coating and protect it from damp or other atmospheric
influences, by applying to the surface an even coating of a clear, colorless (as far
as practicable) varnish such as for example French oil or Italian oil varnish, but
other kinds will answer more or less,-This gilded or silvered surface I may decorate
in any suitable manner with colored varnishes or otherwise.
For other surfaces, such as for. example bright metallic surfaces, polished steel,
brass and the like, I proceed as follows-I polish the surface as perfectly as

page_text: practicable in any convenient and well known manner, then apply to the surface
an even conting of copal or other varnish which I may and under some conditions
prefer to tint by adding thereto any transparent oil or other colors, sparingly or
liberally, wholly or on parts only and having allowed this varnish coating to
become dry (usually about 24 hours) I proceed to produce the before described
crystalline or crystallised coating, by applying the solutions of the mixed crystal-
lising and controlling agents as hereinbefore described. When this crystallised
coating has become dry, that is after about 48 hours, I protect it from damp and
so forth by varnishing as before described or I entirely remove the dried crystallised
coating by liberally washing with clean cold water.
I will now describe various solutions of the soluble and crystallisable salts or
agents and solutions of the various controlling, binding and fixing substances
or agents and the combinations of the same which I have found suitable, in about
the proportions given by weight but I desire it to be distinctly understood that
and under some circumstances do prefer to employ other crystallising agents
as well as other controlling substances having the same or similar properties.
I
may
N° 1 I prepare solution of dextrin, by steeping 4 parts of dextrin in 10 parts of
clean cold river water, during 12 hours, then heat in a water bath for 20 minutes at
boiling point and strain by passing through fine muslin.
No 2 Another solution consists of gum arabic 2 parts gum arabic being steeped
in 3 parts clean cold river water, stirring occasionally during 24 hours then strain
through muslin.
N° 3 I prepare solution or mucilage of gum tragacanth, by steeping one part of
gum tragacanth in 40 parts of clean cold river water during 48 hours then heat in
a water bath for 20 minutes stirring during the operation-then set the solution
aside for at least 4 days.
N° 4 I prepare solution of gelatine by steeping 1 part of clean parchment
cuttings in 20 parts of clean cold river water during 24 hours then heat in a
water bath during half an hour, strain through fine muslin and set aside to cool.
N° 5 I prepare solution of albumen by mixing gently 4 parts albumen, preferably
in the form of the whites of eggs with 1 part of cold distilled water, allow it to
remain during 12 hours and then strain through fine muslin.
COMBINATIONS OF THE VARIOUS CRYSTALLISING AGENTS AND THE VARIOUS
CONTROLLING, BINDING AND FIXING AGENTS.
N° 1 I take 3 parts of solution of crystallising agent No 1 and 5 parts of
solution of controlling agent N° 1 thoroughly mix and strain through fine muslin.
N° 2 I take equal parts of solution of crystallising agent N° 1 and solution of
controlling agent N° 2 thoroughly mix and strain.

page_text: No 3 I take 3 parts of solution of crystallising agent N° 1, 5 parts solution of
controlling agent N° 2, thoroughly mix and strain.
N° 4 I take 5 parts of solution of N° 2 crystallising agent, 3 parts of solution of
controlling agent N° 2 thoroughly mix and strain.
N° 5 I take 25 parts of solution of N° 4 crystallising agent 2 parts of solution
of N° 6 crystallising agent 30 parts of solution of controlling agent N° 1 thoroughly
mix and strain.
N° 6 I take 30 parts of solution of No 4 crystallising agent, 1 part of solution
of N° 7 crystallising agent 25 parts of solution of N° 2 controlling agent thoroughly
mix and strain.
No 7 I take 5 parts of solution of N° 4 crystallising agent, 1 part of solution of
N° 2 controlling agent, thoroughly mix and strain.
N° 8 I take 3 parts of solution of N° 4 crystallising agent, 4 parts of solution of
N° 3 controlling agent thoroughly mix by beating up with a spatula or the like, and
then strain.
N° 9 I take 20 parts of solution of N° 4 crystallising agent, 2 parts of solution
of N° 8 crystallising agent, 15 parts of solution of N° 2 controlling agent thoroughly
mix and strain.
N° 10 I take 3 parts of solution of N° 5 crystallising agent, 2 parts of solution of
N° 2 controlling agent, thoroughly mix and strain.
No 11 I take equal parts of solution of N° 5 crystallising agent, and N° 3
controlling agent, thoroughly mix by beating with a spatula and strain.
N° 12 I take 5 parts of solution of N° 4 crystallising agent 4 parts of solution of
N° 4 controlling agent mix and strain,
No 13 I take equal parts of the solutions of either N° 1, 2, 3 or 4 crystalling
agents and of solution of controlling agent N° 5 mix gently and strain.
N° 14 I add to any of the above combinations 10 parts of solution N° 9 to
100 parts of the crystallising agents to render such combination less soluble when
that is desirable.
I apply these solutions or combinations of solutions sparingly to produce small
effects, liberally to produce large effects of crystallisation.
ATTENUATED SOLUTIONS OR COMBINATIONS OF SOLUTIONS.
:
I take any of the above described combinations (with the exception of N° 5
which is calculated to produce small effects only) and dilute the same by the
addition of from 2 to 12 times the quantity of clean cold river water; I apply
these attenuated combinations in as full or thick a coating as possible, but so as to
avoid flowing off at the edges of the glass or other surface. By these means
I obtain crystallisation of a very extended character, in proportion to the degree
of attentuation and the quantity applied to the surface. Most of the above
mentioned combinations of the solutions of crystallising and controlling agents are
of a liquid character, therefore can only be applied to the surface while in a
horizontal position. I can, however and do under some circumstances prefer to
carry out my process upon surfaces in a slanting or perpendicular position. This
1 effect by employing such of the combinations of solutions of crystallising and
solutions of agents as are of a pasty or thick or viscid consistency.
The above described substances or ingredients their solutions and the proportions
of their combinations are not absolute, as I can, and do, under some conditions,
prefer to employ other substances as equivalents for or in addition to those herein-
before enumerated both in respect of the crystallising agents and the controlling
agents,
Although I have herein before described the application of crystallisable agents in
combination with controlling agents, I wish it to be understood that I may use the
former without the latter, but such combined use is much to be preferred

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I am
aware that glass or vitreous materials have heretofore been treated with chemical
agents by the aid of heat so as to produce a crystalline effect on the glass itself but
it will be observed that my invention the glass itself is left intact, but what
I claim is
First-The application to a surface of glass or other suitable material of a
crystalline or crystallised coating of a concentrated or more or less attenuated
composition consisting of crystallisable material and controlling and binding
material such coating being produced by the reaction between the force of
crystallisation exerted by the crystallising agent or material and the forces exerted
by the controlling material, substantially as described.
Second-The application to the surface of glass or other suitable material of an
attenuated crystallising solution upon which is put a coating of gold leaf or the
like while wet substantially as described.
,
Third-The application to a surface of glass or other suitable material
previously coated with varnish or the like of a crystalline or crystallised coating as
herein before firstly- claimed substantially as described.
Fourth-The application to a surface of glass or other suitable material
previously coated with varnish or the like of a crystalline or crystallised coating
as herein before firstly claimed, then drying the coating and then removing it
and thus leaving a crystalline impression on the varnish substantially as described.
Fifth-The application to a surface of glass or other suitable material previously
coated with varnish or the like and then coated with gold leaf or the like with or
without repellent lines produced thereon, of a crystalline or crystallised coating as
herein before claimed which may or may not be removed, substantially as
described.
Sixth-The combination with surfaces treated or produced as hereinbefore
claimed of a backing surface or reflective backing and with or without ornamentation
on one or both substantially as described.
Seventh-The application of the crystallising agents hereinbefore specified
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth The application of the controlling binding and fixing agents specified
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Ninth The application of the crystallising and controlling solutions or
compositions specified for the production of new forms or characters of crystallisation,
and their various uses or modes of application in combination or not with known
modes of or means for ornamentation substantially as set forth.
Dodd L:L
T
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