AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN DEPOSITING. METALS AND METALLIC ALLOYS BY ELECTRICITY
Year: 1858

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Clarence Shepard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
February 1858.
I, EDWARD CLARENCE SHEPARD, of Jermyn Street, St. James, Middlesex,'
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN DEPOSITING. METALS AND METALLIC ALLOYS BY
ELECTRICITY," to be as follows:-
These improvements have for their object the covering of metals by
the alloys of other metals as well as metals, by means of electricity.
My Invention relates,-
First, to producing by means of an electric current and an anode or plate
of silver alloyed with nickel, a deposit of alloy of silver and nickel. After
having dissolved the silver in nitric acid and evaporated it to dryness, I
dissolve it in pure water aud put it into a vessel by itself, and I then put into
the silver solution a solution of carbonate of ammonia until it is clear. I then
dissolve the nickel in nitric acid in another vessel in a similar manner, and
put into the nickel solution a solution of common potash or carbonate of
potash, then taking the precipitate which falls in powder, and washing it
three or four times in pure water until it is sweet or clean; this precipitate or
powder you then put into a solution of carbonate of ammonia, and dissolve
it until it becomes a clear solution. I then mix all the solutions together of

page_text: the nickel and silver in one vessel. For plating I use an anode or plate made
of one part of silver and two parts of nickel. To make the anodes or plates I
melt the silver and nickel together in one vessel, and mix them well by stirring
them and afterwards run them into forms. When working the solution
constantly if it does not work rapidly, put three or four ounces or more of
cyanide of potassium into about fifty gallons of the solution.
The solution should be agitated or stirred up every morning before
working it."
The advantages which the silver and nickel combined together have over
silver plating are that the nickel makes the silver harder, and bears a better
polish in addition to its great economy.
In mixing the two solutions together of nickel and silver, I mix them
in about the proportion of one part of silver with two parts of nickel.
Secondly, to give to iron, zinc, and other metals the appearance of bronze,
brass, copper, &c., I dissolve seven parts of cyanide of potassium in pure water in
à vessel by itself. I then dissolve three parts of sulphate of copper or blue vitriol
in pure water also by itself. I then dissolve one part of sulphate of zinc or
white vitriol also in pure water by itself. I then mix the cyanide of potassium
or a portion of it with the sulphate of copper solution until it becomes a clear
solution, and I then mix the sulphate of zinc solution with the cyanide of
potassium until it becomes a clear solution. After this I mix all the solutions
together into one vessel, and put into it about two ounces of caustic potash
and four ounces or more of "cream of tartare." When the metals are put into
the solution for plating, if not quite smooth add more "cream of tartare." To
make the color of the brass red you use a copper anode or plate; to make the
color green you use a brass anode; when you want a rich color like gold
thrown upon any metal, the solution should be made warm or hot while
working.