Improvements in and relating to Letters, Figures, and Devices for Attachment to Surfaces, and to Accessories for use in connection other therewith, forming Combinations for Advertising and Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Letters, Figures, and Devices for
Attachment to Surfaces, and to Accessories for use in connection
other
therewith, forming Combinations for Advertising and
Purposes.
JOSEPH HENRY ROBINSON of 74, North Hill Street Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster Enameller and THOMAS PEASE of 130, Dale Street Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
Our invention relates to letters, figures, and devices for advertising and other
purposes and to fittings or accessories for use in connection therewith and is chiefly
designed to improve the appearance and to add to the attractiveness of the same.
As heretofore constructed such letters, figures, and devices are generally opaque
and impervious to the transmission of light or practically so and furthermore they
are attached to the windows, advertising cases, lamps, and other places to which
they may be applied, by means of cements of various kinds visible through the glass
to which they are secured. Each of these just mentioned causes give to the said
letters, figures, or devices when viewed from the back or near thereto a rough,
obtrusive, and unfinished appearance. In addition to this the letters, figures, or
devices aforesaid are at night almost equally unsightly when viewed from the
outside or front.
Our present invention is designed to overcome these defects and render letters,
figures, and devices constructed in accordance therewith more artistic, and more
attractive, therefore more useful, than the letters, figures, or devices heretofore
applied. For this purpose we provide in the said letters, figures, or devices
portions in the bodies thereof which are rendered considerably more translucent.
than the other portions thereof, this may be done by cutting, grinding or abrading
by means of any of the well known mechanical methods, or chemically by solvent
action of certain acids, salts, or mixtures of both, and we furthermore provide
behind the said letters, figures, or devices inside the windows, advertising cases,
lamps or other places to which the same may be attached a backing of thin
transparent coloured glass, prepared coloured gelatine, translucent waterproof
coloured paper, celluloid, perforated fabric (as muslin) or other suitable material,
of similar or of other convenient shape to each of the said letters, figures, or devices
but preferably slightly larger thus forming a transparent or translucent coloured
or clear brilliant fringe around the outer edges of the said letters, figures, or devices
and such fringe or edging may be whole or partial and plain or vandyked as may be
required.
In some cases we may make use of a luminous paint to cover a portion of the said
extended fringe or edging.
We
e purpose also, using this transparent or translucent backing with extended
fringe or edging aforesaid, in the cases of all ordinary opaque or nearly opaque
letters, figures, or devices, thus hiding the unsightliness of the backs of such letters,
figures, or devices, when fixed by cements in their places and enabling the same at
night, when illuminated from behind by artificial light, to shew a distinct coloured
or brilliant outline of the conformation or approaching thereto of the aforesaid
ordinary letters, figures or devices and in the cases where a portion of the said fringe
or edging is coated with luminous paint, this will shew the well known faint
phosphorescence when all other lights are out. During the daytime a similar effect
will be seen when such letters, figures, or devices aforesaid are viewed on the inside

page_text: from behind, as well as the additional attraction from the before described fringe or
edging as seen outside when viewed from the front. As an example take the
letter E which when backed with the transparent or translucent backing previously
described will shew a skeleton-as it may be termed-letter around the outline of
the original opaque letter. In the cases of enamel on copper and enamel on steel
or iron we cause the metallic blanks or foundations to be cut so that spaces are left
between the inner walls or edges and the outer walls or edges of the said metallic
blanks or foundations.
The portions aforesaid to be cut away or abraded may be of any suitable shape
or design to add to the general effect and we may use the same means in the cases
of all other letters, figures, or devices as metal, wood, and other substances.
As an illustration of our meaning we may form the letters W Y W in enamel or
any other materials and within the substance or walls of the said letters we may
cause to be cut in smaller size HILE OU AIT.
These said letters when fitted behind with any suitable transparent or translucent
coloured or brilliant material will read WHILE YOU WAIT and the fringe
or edging around the W Y W will add to the general attractiveness of the
combination.
SEWING
As a further illustration the letter S, of large size, may have SINGER'S
MACHINES in small letters cut in the body of the said large sized S
which when backed and fringed by coloured or brilliant material as previously
described will form a combination equally attractive by day, or by night with the
aid of artificial illumination.
With regard to devices :-hats, umbrellas, boots, birds, fishes, or any other forms
desired may be constructed, which in the cases of some materials may be thinned or
abraded in various ways or may be cut away entirely as necessarily will be the case
in absolutely opaque materials, to forin figures, words, or other effects as 10/6
BEST QUALITY or any other required figures, words, or legends as mottoes,
coats of arms, trade marks and the like.
Any of the previously mentioned combinations when further decorated with the
extended transparent or translucent backing with fringe or edging as before
described becomes considerably more effective and attractive, consequently more
useful.
As another instance letters, and devices for jewellers, fancy goods dealers and
others may have the words DIAMONDS RUBIES PEARLS TORTOISE-
SHELL and the like formed, and which may be abraded or cut away entirely in
the designs or shapes of the various objects named, in the bodies of the said letters,
or devices and which when backed by suitable coloured and figured transparent or
translucent material extended also beyond the edges of the said letters, or devices
will form combinations of considerable beauty and utility.
In some forms we may cut the interior body of the letters, figures, or devices
. entirely away, making what may be termed skeleton letters, figures, or devices
which when backed by suitable transparent or translucent or perforated material
extended beyond the edges as hereinbefore described form objects of great
attractiveness during the day and equally so at night when illuminated from
behind by aid of artificial light. We likewise purpose applying our transparent, or
translucent-backing, with extended fringe or edging, to ordinary clear glass
letters, figures, or devices where these are to be attached by opaque cements
wholly or partially covering the backs of the said glass figures, letters, or devices
and in cases where the coat of cement extends only over part of the back but all
round the edges of the said glass letters, figures, or devices we may make use of the
interior portions uncovered by cement to carry-as in a box-between the two
surfaces, namely the letter, figure, or device and the window, advertising case, lamp
or other place, pieces of tortoiseshell, real or artificial, or ornamental transparent or
translucent substances of any suitable kind and of required shape, and the backing
with extended fringe or edging so many times previously described is in this case
to be cut away immediately behind each boxed in portion before being fixed behind

page_text: the said letters, figures, or devices thus forming combinations having the same
general effect as in the previously described letters figures and devices.
It is obvious that many other pretty and useful combinations too numerous to
mention in detail can be formed by aid of the foregoing materials and methods.
Dated this 12th day of December 1890.
JOSEPH HENRY ROBINSON.
THOMAS PEASE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Letters, Figures, and Devices for
Attachment to Surfaces, and to Accessories for use in connection
therewith, forming Combinations for Advertising and other
Purposes.
JOSEPH HENRY ROBINSON of 74 North Hill Street, Liverpool in the County
of Lancaster Enameller and THOMAS PEASE of 130, Dale Street Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster Electrician 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 letters figures and devices for advertising and other
purposes and to fittings or accessories for use in connection therewith and is chiefly
designed to improve the appearance and to add to the attractiveness of the same.
As heretofore usually constructed such letters, figures and devices (hereinafter
referred to as letters) are generally opaque or practically so and are attached to
the surfaces to which they are applied by cements visible from behind, so that,
especially from the rear they have a rough and unfinished appearance.
Now according to one part of our invention we provide in the said letters portions
which are thinner and more translucent than the remainder thereof and inside the
surface presumably transparent such as a window for example to which the letters
are attached we secure a piece of coloured transparent glass, paper, celluloid,
perforated fabric, muslin or other suitable material whose edges preferably overlap
those of the letter forming a fringe or border around the same which may be plain
or ornamented or may have luminous paint applied thereto.
This transparent backing may also be applied to ordinary letters for the same
purpose as that for which it is applied to the letters constructed according to this
invention viz. to hide the rough cement and rear part and to give a finished
appearance to them from behind in day time and from the front or outside at night.
Letters of enamel on metal may be made with suitably shaped spaces or
perforations in the metal part thereof, and opaque letters generally may be.
advantageously perforated so that when the aforesaid coloured backing is applied
thereto it will show through the perforations and add to the effect of the same.
In some cases we may employ skeleton letters preferably constructed as herein-
after described which when provided with suitable backings form objects of great
attractiveness.
When the cement by which the letters are secured in place extends only around
the edges of the same, as when the letters are concave on their inner side we may
insert in the cavity between the letter and the surface it is applied to, tortoiseshell
or other suitable ornamental material and in this case spaces or apertures are formed
in the coloured backing to perinit the said material to be seen.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1 is a front view, and
Fig. 2 a section on xx Fig. 1 showing a letter with backing arranged according
to our invention.
Fig. 3 shows a device for use in advertising, according to our invention.
Figs. 4 to 9 show different forms of letters and parts of letters hereinafter

page_text: In Figs. 1 and 2, A represents an enamel or other letter fitted on the outer
surface of the window B and having at the back thereof on the inner side of the
window the backing of thin transparent coloured glass or other suitable material C
which projects over the edge of A and forms a border or fringe around it as seen
in the drawing.
Fig. 3 shows a device comprising an arrangement of three capital or initial
letters each having the remaining letters of the word for which it stands formed
upon or within the same either as perforations or as portions of greater transparency
than the rest of the letter. The device shown will be seen to read "While You
Wait."
Fig. 4 represents a letter whose walls are perforated with apertures of distinct
shape. Such letters are more particularly applicable for use on shop windows
where the shape of the perforations will suggest the trade carried on; thus diamond
shaped perforations would be particularly suitable for diamond dealers. Other forms
of perforations are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to a larger scale.
Skeleton letters are shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the part of each figure marked a
showing the letter completed while the parts b and c show the separate portions of
which it is composed. The method of fitting these portions together to make the
complete letter is obvious without further explanation.
All the letters described with reference to Figures 3 to 9 may be provided with
backings such as hereinbefore mentioned after the manner of the letter shown in
Figures 1 and 2 thereby adding considerably to their attractiveness.
It is obvious that many other pretty and useful combinations can be formed on
the principles herein before set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. Providing letters fitted to surfaces such as glass or the like with a backing of
transparent coloured material substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. Providing letters, formed with spaces or with portions more transparent than
the rest, with a backing of coloured inaterial substantially as described.
3. Letters formed with transparent or approximately transparent portions and
with a backing of the kind described having, between such transparent portions and
backing, tortoiseshell or other ornamental material inserted as set forth.
4. Letters having spaces or portions, of greater transparency than the other
parts thereof, formed therein to resemble letters, the whole being provided with a
backing of the kind described substantially as set forth.
5. Enamel and other letters formed with spaces or more or less transparent
portions therein, substantially as described with reference more particularly
to Fig. 3; to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 or to Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 12th day of October 1891.
JOSEPH HENRY ROBINSON.
THOMAS PEASE.