IMPROVEMENTS IN STAINING, ORNA- MENTING, AND DECORATING WOOD, METAL, AND OTHER SURFACES."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Sutherland, of the City of Manchester, Decorator
and Glass Painter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STAINING, ORNA-
MENTING, AND DECORATING WOOD, METAL, AND OTHER SURFACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Sutherland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1870.
WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, of the City of Manchester, Decorator and Glass Painter.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STAINING, ORNAMENTING, AND DECORATING WOOD, METAL, AND
OTHER SURFACES."
This Invention consists in a new and improved method of printing upon colour
laid upon the surface of the wood or metal, or other surfaces, by which method the
most elaborate and beautiful, as well as the most simple designs, can be produced
in as many colours as may be desirable.
In order to carry out this Invention I proceed as follows:-I prefer to use light
coloured woods, such as white pine, pear tree, deal, pitch pine, box, oak, ash, or any
other light coloured wood, the surface of which is made smooth in the usual
manner. I then coat the surface of the wood with white or brown shellac dissolved
in wood naphtha, spirits of wine, or any other suitable spirits, or with ordinary
varnish.
In order to simplify the description I will proceed to describe the modus operandi
used in printing on one colour, it being understood that any number of colours can
be printed in the same manner.
I cause a design to be engraved in a suitable manner upon copper, steel, zinc, or
other metallic plate. I then coat over the surface of the wood with the colour,
pigment, or solution required. I prefer to mix the same in distemper, using
ordinary beer, porter, a weak solution of isinglass, glue, or other glutinous sub-
stances as a medium to bind the colour sufficiently for the purpose. I now take a
print off the engraved plate in a suitable ink on specially prepared paper, I lay the
print down upon the colour which is on the surface of the wood and rub the paper
well down with a flannel rubber. I then take a soft sponge and water and wash
off the paper, leaving the ink upon the colour previously spread upon the wood,
thus cleaning off all the paper and superfluous colour, leaving no colour upon the
wood but that covered by the printing ink. I now cover all the parts of the wood
Price 4d1

page_text: which are to remain of its natural colour with Brunswick black, Candia balsam, or
any other suitable medium; this being dry I proceed to cover the whole of the
surface with black, brown, red, or any other colour or tint of colour mixed with
beer, isinglass, glue, or any other glutinous medium. When this colour is thoroughly
dry I lay the ornamented wood in a bath of turpentine or other suitable spirit;
the turpentine or spirit softens the Brunswick black and the printing ink which is
all washed off clean with the turpentine, so that there is nothing left on the wood
but the various distemper colours before named. The work may then be French
polished or varnished in the usual way.
If I require to print a design in two or more colours I make separate engravings
of the various parts of the design and print on the wood in succession, washing off
the colours first printed upon and then colouring the wood with the next colour
and printing upon that also, repeating the process until all the required colours are
printed. I then wash off the printing ink with turpentine or other spirit, as
before described, and polish or varnish in the usual manner.
The same process will apply to all painted surfaces and to the surface of tiu,
brass, zinc, or other metallic surfaces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Sutherland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th September
1876.
tr
WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, of the City of Manchester, Decorator and Glass Painter.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STAINING, ORNAMENTING, AND DECORATING WOOD, METAL, AND
OTHER SURFACES."
This Invention consists of a new and improved method of printing upon colour
or preparation laid upon the surface of wood, by which method or process the most
elaborate as well as the simplest designs can be produced in as many colours as may
be desirable.
In order to carry out this Invention I proceed as follows:-I prefer to use light
coloured woods, such as white pine, pear tree, deal, pitch pine, box, oak, ash, or any
other light coloured wood, the surface of which is made smooth and level in the
usual manner.
I now prepare the surface of the wood with a coating of glue, size,
or any other glutinous medium, and then with a thin coat of white or brown shellac
dissolved in methylated spirits, naphtha, spirits of wine, or any other suitable
spirit, or with ordinary varnish.
In order to simplify the description of any process I will proceed to describe the
modus operandi used in printing and staining one colour, it being understood that
any number of colours can be printed in the same manner.
I cause a design to be engraved on a copper, steel, zinc, or other metal plate. I
then coat over the surface of the wood with the colouring pigment, stain, or
solution required. I prefer to nix the same in distemper or water colour, using
ordinary beer, porter, a weak solution of glue, isinglass, or gum as a medium to
bind the colour sufficiently for the purpose. I now take a print off the engraved
plate with ink made with boiled linseed oil, Stockholm tar, and black or red colour,
the paper being thin tissue prepared with a sizing of soft soap lees. I now lay
the print down upon the surface of the wood to be decorated and rub the same
well with a flannel rubber. I then take a soft sponge and water and wash off the
paper, leaving the ink upon the colour previously spread upon the surface of the
wood, thus cleaning off all the paper, the superfluous colour, and the preparation,
leaving no colour upon the wood but that which is covered by the lines of the
engraving. I now proceed to cover all the parts that are to remain of the natural
colour of the wood with white varnish, Canada balsain, Brunswick black, or any
other suitable medium. This being dry I cover the whole of the surface of the

page_text: wood or parts thereof with black, brown, red, or any other stain or tint of colour
or dye that may be suitable. When this colour is thoroughly dry I lay the
ornamented wood in a bath of turpentine or other suitable spirit. The turpentine
or spirit softens the varnish and the printing ink, which is all washed clean off the
wood with the turpentine, so that there is nothing left upon the wood but the
various distemper colours before named. The work may then be French polished
or varnished in the usual manner.
If I wish to form a white outline on the wood I print upon the prepared wood
without first colouring the surface, as before described, and while the printing ink
is on the wood I put in all the colours required and then wash off the ink with
turpentine. Those parts that have been covered by the engraving will in this caso
be the original colour of the wood forming a comparatively white outline.
If I desire to print a design on the wood with two or more colours I make
separate engravings of the various parts of the design and print on the wood in
succession, washing off the colour first printed upon, then colouring the wood with
the next colour, and repeating the process until all the colours required aro
printed.
By my improved process I first prepare the wood, then print upon it, I then
paint in all the colours required, using distemper colours or aniline dyes or stains
dissolved either in water or methylated spirits, which dyes or stains sink into the
body of the wood. I then wash off the print, which leaves either a coloured or
white outline, as may be desired, it is then French polished or varnished in the
usual manner.
The same process will apply to metal and other surfaces, and to tiles for wall
linings, decorations for doors, architraves, furniture, book backs, show cards, and
for other purposes.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,―
First. The printing on colour spread upon prepared wood, metal, or other
surface, and the washing off of the print when it has served its purpose in the
manner herein-before described.
Secondly. The printing upon the prepared wood or other surface without first
colouring the same, and the washing off the print, as before described, after the
colours and stains have been put on the wood.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Sutherland, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of September, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-six.
W. SUTHERLAND. (L.S.)