IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OR PRODUCTION OF COLORS, MARKS, OR DESIGNS TO OR IN MATERIALS OR ARTICLES OF MINERAL, ANIMAL, OR VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Hand Smith, of South Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex, Doctor of Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE APPLICATION OR PRODUCTION OF COLORS, MARKS, OR DESIGNS TO OR IN
MATERIALS OR ARTICLES OF MINERAL, ANIMAL, OR VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES,
AND THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Hand Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1877.
"
GEORGE HAND SMITH, of South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor
of Medicine, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OR PRODUCTION OF COLORS,
MARKS, OR DESIGNS TO OR IN MATERIALS OR ARTICLES OF MINERAL, ANIMAL, OR
VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My Invention relates chiefly to the sinking or fixing of colors and marks or
designs in color, in, upon, and under the surface of mineral, animal, and vegetable
materials, such for example as marble, stone, bone, ivory, wood, wool, jute, and the
like, and it consists in the stamping or painting in the usual manner of colors or
marks, or designs in colors, upon the surface of the material or article to be treated,
and then subjecting the same to the action of heat and vapour, as herein-after
described, whereby the color or design is caused to penetrate and be fixed upon and
under the surface to an extent depending upon the duration and condition of the
treatment. The surplus color, if any, being subsequently washed away or removed,
leaving the design unaltered, fixed upon and in the object, article, or material
operated upon.
In carrying out the process of sinking or fixing the color or design I employ
apparatus such as is herein-after described, or apparatus so constructed as to be
capable of being used in a like manner to produce like results.
One form of the apparatus which I use consists of an inner chamber or holder of
a sufficient size for the materials or articles to be treated, which holder is closed at

page_text: the bottom, and is surrounded by a series of chambers or heat cells, arranged, the
one outside the other, and open or perforated in the side at their lower ends, the
whole resting in a bath or dish containing water or other suitable fluid, which is
heated and cooled by any convenient means. The height of the fluid rises to within
a short distance of the bottom of the holder, and circulates freely through the
openings or perforations in the bottoms or sides of the heat cells, but above the level
of the openings or perforations, thus cutting off the connection from one heat cell
to the other.
In the bottom or other convenient part of the holder is a valve, by means of
which vapour arising from the fluid underneath may be allowed to enter the holder.
The holder and the heat cells are fitted with thermometers, and the whole apparatus
is provided with taps for the admission and emission of fluid and vapour.
In order that my process may be understood I will describe a mode of carrying
it out that will be practically successful, although the degrees of temperature,
the forms of the apparatus, and other details may be varied. I employ apparatus
such as is herein-before described, the materials or articles to be treated are placed
in the holder, and a suitable cover with which it is provided is then placed on the
top, the valve being maintained in its seat so as to cut off all communication between
the holder and the bath or dish. To the fluid in the bath or dish heat is then
applied, and the temperature is raised quickly or slowly, according to the nature of
the material or article to be treated. The temperature of the holder and of the
materials or articles contained therein will rise with less rapidly than that of the
fluid generating the vapor.
When the materials or articles in the holder and the holder itself have both
attained the same temperature of, say, about 100° Fahrenheit, the vapour outside
having a temperature slightly in excess of 100° Fahrenheit, the valve is then
raised or opened, and vapour is allowed to enter the holder. The fluid is gradually
heated up to say about 212° Fahrenheit, the difference of temperature in the holder
and the bath diminishing, as the higher degrees of heat are attained, and the con-
densation of vapour being thus minimized and controlled at will. The temperature
is then diminished either quickly or slowly, according to the nature of the materials
or articles under treatment, whilst still maintaining the relative difference of tem-
perature, the valve having been wholly or partly closed before or during the lowering
of the temperature. This action may be repeated any required number of times,
and when the operation is completed the design will be found to have been fixed or
sunk into the substance of the material or article under treatment.
My Invention is also applicable to the production of marks, patterns, devices, or
designs in metals, glass, or other like materials.
In carrying out this process I place the design upon the article of metal, glass, or
other material with a dry, or nearly dry acid, or other decomposing substance, so as
to maintain the design sharp, if so desired, and I then introduce the article into the
holder and operate in the manner herein-before described, the valve being raised or
opened at the requisite period for the admission of the vapor into the holder,
whereby activity is imparted to the dry design, which when the operation is
completed will be found to have eaten its way into the material without any alter-
ation in the character or qualities of the design as originally placed upon the
material.
In some cases I use hygroscopic colors and compounds for the design, according
to the result to be attained

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Hand Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
March 1878.
GEORGE HAND SMITH, of South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor
of Medicine. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OR PRODUCTION OF COLORS,
MARKS, OR DESIGNS TO OR IN MATERIALS OR ARTICLES OF MINERAL, ANIMAL, OR
VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES, AND THE APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
My said Invention relates chiefly to the sinking or fixing of colors and
marks or designs in color in or upon and under the surface of mineral, animal, and
vegetable materials, such, for example, as marble, stone, baked clay, bone, ivory,
wood, wool, jute, and the like. It consists in the impressing upon or painting in the
usual manner of colors or marks, or designs in colors, upon the surface of the material
or article to be treated, and then subjecting the same to the action of heat and vapor,
as herein-after described, whereby the color or design is caused to penetrate and be.
fixed upon and under the surface to an extent depending upon the duration and
condition of the treatment. The surplus color, if any, is subsequently washed away
or removed, leaving the design unaltered, and fixed upon and in the object, article,
or material operated upon.
In carrying out the process of "sinking" or "fixing" the color or design I employ
apparatus such as is herein-after described, or apparatus so constructed as to be
capable of being used in a like manner to produce like results.
One form of the apparatus which I use (and which is illustrated in sectional
elevation in the accompanying Drawing) is constructed and arranged in the following
manner: A is an inner chamber or holder constructed of galvanized iron or other
suitable substance, of a sufficient size for the materials or articles to be treated,
which holder is surrounded by a series of chambers or heat cells B, B1, B2, arranged
the one outside the other, and communicating the one with the other by means of
perforations in their sides and those of the central chamber B³, at their lower ends,
as shewn at a. The sides of the holder and the heat cells rest on a common bottom
A¹, above which is a stratum of water or other suitable liquid, into which they dip,
and which is heated by an external water bath C or other equivalent bath, which
in turn is heated outside by the gas jets C¹ or by any other convenient means. The
bottom of the holder A is arranged at a suitable height, so as to leave a space
between it and the bottom A¹; the liquid circulates freely through the openings or
perforations a made in the lower parts of the sides of the heat cells B, B1, B2, and
the central chamber B³, but its height should be above the level of the openings or
perforations a, thus cutting off the connection from one heat cell to the other, and
from the cell B to the central chamber B³, so as to prevent, when required, inter-
communication of vapor.
In the bottom of the holder is a valve D, carried on a stem or spindle b which
passes through the cover E of the holder A, and by the act of operating which the
valve D may be raised, and the vapor arising from the liquid underneath from the
central chamber B³ may be allowed to enter the holder. The cover E, which is
arranged to fit tightly, may be covered or lined with felt, or felt combined with
vulcanized india-rubber; or where high heats are used, non-conductors that are heat-
resisting should be used in order to prevent the radiation of heat. The heat cells
B, B', B, are also provided with a hollow cover E', which in like manner may be
lined with felt covered with vulcanized india-rubber or otherwise protected by non-
conductors of heat, so as to prevent the radiation.
The holder A and the bath C are fitted with thermometers F, G, respectively, for
the purpose of enabling the temperatures to be regulated, and cocks H, I, I, I, are
provided in connection with the holder A and heat cells B, B¹, B³, respectively, for

page_text: emission, when required, of surplus vapor or steam. A cock K is also provided in
order to enable the water or other liquid to be drawn off froin the bottom A', and
the bath is also fitted with cocks K', K, through which respectively the water
contained in the bath may be drawn off and water admitted, so as to enable the
temperature to be rapidly regulated, when required.
Instead of employing water, it may be sometimes found advantageous, having
regard to the articles proposed to be treated, to employ alcohol or ammoniacal or
other liquids wholly or in part instead of water. It will be obvious that in such
cases the perforations made in the sides of the cells may be advantageously dispensed
with. In the place of the heat cells B, B1, B2, it may be found in some cases desirable
to surround BS and the holder A with walls of material that will prevent the
radiation of heat.
In order that my process may be understood, I will describe a mode of carrying
it out that will be practically successful, although the degrees of temperature, the
forms of the apparatus, and other details may be varied. I find apparatus, such as
is herein-before described, may be used with great success. Materials or articles
having upon their surfaces any required design formed by impressing thereon colors
or pigments in any suitable manner are treated, as herein-after described, so as to
permanently fix the designs in or upon the articles. The materials or articles to be
treated are placed in the holder A, through the door E³, with which the cover E is
provided, and the door is then closed, the vapors supply valve D being maintained
in its seat so as to cut off all communication between the holder and the liquid for
generating the vapor contained on the bottom A'. Heat is then applied to the bath
C, and the temperature is raised quickly or slowly, according to the nature of the
material or article to be treated. The temperature of the materials or articles
contained in the holder will rise with less rapidity than that of the vapor surrounding
them, and the liquid generating the vapor is again colder than the bath C.
When the materials or articles in the holder and the holder itself have
both attained as nearly as possible the same temperature of about 100°
Fahrenheit (the vapor outside having a temperature slightly in excess of 100°
Fahrenheit), the valve D is raised or opened and vapor is allowed to enter the
holder. The liquid in the bath C is then gradually heated up to, say, about
212° Fahrenheit, whereby a difference of temperature between the vapor in the
holder and the objects contained therein is maintained, such difference increasing or
decreasing in proportion to the rapidity or otherwise of the ascent of the temperature,
so that the condensation of vapor may be thus minimized and controlled at will.
The temperature is then diminished, either quickly or slowly (by turning down the
gas jets C and by allowing a flow of cold liquid into the bath C through the
cock K), according to the nature of the material or articles under treatment, but
still maintaining the relative difference of temperature in order to avoid a heavy
condensation of vapor upon the said materials or articles. The valve D may be
wholly or partially closed before or during the lowering of the temperature.
The differential action thus set up may be repeated any required number of times,
and when the operation (the duration of which will depend upon the depth of
penetration required for the design upon the articles) is completed, the design will
be found to have been fixed upon or sunk into the substance of the material or
article under treatment. The surplus color, if any, is then removed, leaving the
design clearly defined and the lustre of the material treated wholly unimpaired.
The indications for the degrees of temperature and for the general conduct of the
operation herein-before given are more particularly suitable where designs with
clearly defined and sharp outlines are required. Where these results are not
required, as, for example, in sinking color without a defined design, the differ-
ence of temperature between the materials or articles and the surrounding vapor
may be greater and the temperature may be raised more rapidly. The precise
general conditions suitable to each case are easily ascertained by experience in
working my Invention.

page_text: When from the nature of the materials under treatment it is required to operate
at a more elevated temperature than two hundred and twelve degrees Fahrenheit
the apparatus is so constructed as to be steain-tight and to sustain the pressure
to which it may have to be subjected.
If desired the pressure may be varied whilst the temperature remains constant, or
the pressure and temperature may be varied simultaneously; in either case the
desired regulated condensation is obtained.
In the treatment of stone, such, for example, as marble, I use metallic or other
colours which do not injure the composition of the stone.
When applying my said Invention to the production of marks, patterns, devices,
or designs in or upon metals, glass, or other materials I proceed as follows:-I place
the design upon the article of metal, glass, or other material, with any suitable agent
corrosive to the same, such, for example, as acids or corrosive salts, which may after
application be rendered sufficiently dry, either alone or by the addition of any suit-
able powder which will give the requisite dryness, and I then introduce the article
into the holder A and operate in the manner herein-before described, the apparatus
being heated until the materials or articles in the holder and the holder itself have
both attained a temperature of, say, one hundred degrees Fahrenheit (whilst the
vapor outside has a temperature slightly in excess of one hundred degrees Fahrenheit).
The valve D is then opened for the admission of the vapor into the holder A, whereby
action upon the design is set up, after which the temperature of the liquid in the
bath is raised to, say, two hundred and twelve degrees Fabrenheit, the tempera-
ture of the holder and of the material or article contained within the same being
maintained slightly below that of the vapor, and the temperature is then again
diminished, as before described.
The differential action is if necessary repeated one or more times, the operation
being continued until the design (the original character or qualities of which
remains unimpaired) has sufficiently penetrated into the materials or articles under
treatment.
If desired, in place of the design being imprinted, it may be cut out of asbestos or
other suitable cloth or fabric which may be capable of absorbing and retaining the
said corrosive acids or salts, the said design being then applied to the metal, glass, or
other material, or the metallic or other surface may be covered with a thin layer of
varnish capable of resisting the corrosive action, as in etching, and the design is
then cut through the layer with a point in the usual manner, and the corrosive sub-
tance is then applied.
The article or material is then subjected to the action of the apparatus in the
manner herein-before described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me is,-
First. The sinking or fixing of colors, marks, or designs in, upon, and under the
surface of mineral, animal, or vegetable substances by subjecting the substance
having the color, mark, or design impressed, painted or placed upon it to the action
of heat and vapor applied and regulated in the manner and for the purpose, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
Second. The manufacture and use of apparatus constructed substantially in the
manner and for the purpose, substantially as herein described, and shewn in the
Drawings annexed.
Third. The use in apparatus constructed in the manner and for the purpose
as herein described of a regulating valve, such as D, shewn in the annexed
Drawing,

page_text: Fourth. The manufacture of materials or articles having colors, marks, or
designs fixed in or upon their surfaces, substantially in the manner herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Hand Smith, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GEORGE HAND SMITH. (LS)