IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING COLORS TO SURFACES AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
W. Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROCESS OF APPLYING COLORS TO SURFACES AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN " communicated to him from abroad by Henry Abbott and Winton
Cornellan Garrison, both of Newark in the County of Essex and State of
New Jersey, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd August 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark, of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING COLORS TO SURFACES, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." [communicated to him from abroad by Henry.
Abbott and Winton Cornellan Garrison, both of Newark in the County of Essex
and State of New Jersey, United States of America]
Heretofore colors have been applied to enamel dials and other enamelled and
glazed surfaces either by hand, with a brush or pencil or by spreading the color
over the surface, and after allowing it to dry, scraping away the surplus color,
leaving only that which forms the line, figure, letter or design intended. Either
of which methods are slow, tedious and require skilled labour which is expensive.
Certain elaborate and expensive machines have also been constructed for the
purpose of placing lines, divisions and figures on enamel dials. But this method is
only applicable to a very limited variety and style of work.
Impressions have also been taken from engraved plates and lithographic stones
on transfer paper and offset upon the enamel while the color is still soft or by
face down upon the object and
sticking the paper with the impression upon
allowing the paper to burn off when it is fired leaving the color upon the object.
The first of these transfer methods is liable to produce ragged or broken lines, or
to spread the color if applied while too soft. The second method of the transfer is
liable to discolor the surface of the enamel by the burning of the paper when firing.
2

page_text: It is also difficult to place the design accurately upon the object by the paper
transfer as it must be placed face down, and is not transparent. Certain
photographic processes have been employed for the purpose of placing colors upon
enamel surfaces, but are either uncertain in results or expensive or both. The
object of this invention is to place the colors desired upon enamel dials for watches
and clocks and other enameled or glazed surfaces in any required design
accurately, more rapidly, and cheaper than by any other methods heretofore
employed.
I will describe the mechanism. which has been found to produce the best results
in transferring the letters, numerals, figures or designs on to the collodion or other
material preparatory to applying them unto the surface to be marked or orna-
mented but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular
mechanism.
To carry the invention into effect the required design is first engraved or etched
upon a metal or glass plate, preferably a copper plate. The colors ordinarily
employed in encaustic painting on enamel are then rubbed into the engraved or
etched lines in the same manuer as for printing upon paper.
In this process
however, no printing press is required. I simply flow over the plate thus prepared
a liquid collodion or other substance having similar properties, allow the collodion
to set by evaporation, then place the plate with the collodion upon it in water
which may be made slightly acid, until it becomes loosened from the surface of
the plate when it will either float to the surface of the water or may be readily
stripped from the plate, and as the collodion while in the liquid state will penetrate
all the lines and recesses upon the surface of the plate, the coloring matter will
become embedded in it or absorbed by it, and will come away from the plate with
it. The design engraved upon the plate is thus transferred to the collodion film
and is not only upon the surface of the film, but is embedded in it. And if the
operation is carefully performed, every particle of coloring matter on the plate,
both in the finest and the heaviest lines will be taken up. The collodion film may
now be washed in clean water and placed directly upon the enameled surface
either face down or reversed, and should be fastened in position by a thin varnish
of gelatine, such as is used by photographers or by a solution of sugar and water
or other colorless varnish, and allowed to dry, when it may be placed in the
furnace and fired in the usual manner. The collodion quickly disappears, being
entirely consumed, and leaves no trace while the image or design is burned into
the surface of the enamel in the same manner as if applied by hand with a brush
or by any of the methods described. The very finest lines that can be engraved
upon a plate will appear sharp and clear upon the enamel surface while the heavy
and deep cuts will be equally prominent. A single design if accurately made on
the plate can thus be as accurately reproduced an indefinite number of times, and
as many designs may be engraved on a single plate as can be conveniently
handled, and after the film is stripped from the plate it may be cut into. as many
pieces as required with a pair of shears. A convenient way to handle the film is
to lay it upon a piece of wet paper and cut through both paper and film. Two or
more colors may be used in the saine transfer by rubbing the several colors in the
parts of the plate where they are required, care being taken not to mix them.
The collodion used should be transparent and entirely free from coloring matter.
Thus the operator can see the design distinctly and can place it accurately upon
the enameled surface whether placed face down or reversed, and no stains will be
left upon the surface of the enamel after firing. The collodion may be made in a
variety of ways but should be tougher than that ordinarily used by photographers.
This is accomplished by using less alcohol and more ether and pyroxyline in the
compound and it should be carefully filtered before using.
I find the following proportions to work, satisfactorily :-

page_text: Gelatine and some other substances may also be used for making the transfer in
the same manner as the collodion. But the latter is preferable. The transfer may
also be made in the same manner from lithographic stones or photo relief plates.
When the liquid is flowed on, the plate should either be placed in a perfectly
level position or made to revolve horizontally to ensure an even distribution of the
liquid over its surface. A single operator may manipulate a number of plates at
once by having the plates mounted on a series of upright revolving spindles
operated by machinery.
After fixing the design upon the enameled surface with the varnish or glue and
allowing it to dry the collodion film may be dissolved away by soaking in a
solution of ether and alcohol leaving the image or design sticking to the varnish
when other transfers in different colors may be added in the same manner as
before. But in this case the film must always be placed face down upon the
enameled surface or the design will be carried away with the dissolving film. A
better result can sometimes be obtained by dissolving away the film before firing
even in a single transfer. This process for placing colors on enamel surfaces
may be modified in a number of ways, and yet retain its essential features.
'A striking advantage of the process, over any heretofore employed for the same
purpose is the fact that every detail of the original design is reproduced upon the
enamel surface very sharp and distinct.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Patent Office on the
14th February 1884.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
#IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING COLORS TO SURFACES, AND IN
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN A communication to me from abroad by Henry
Abbott and Winton Cornellan Garrison, both of Newark, in the County of Essex,
and State of New Jersey, United States of America.
"
Heretofore colors have been applied to enamel dials and other enamelled and
glazed surfaces cither by hand with a brush or pencil or by spreading the color
over the surface, and after allowing it to dry, scraping away the surplus color,
leaving only that which forms the line figure letter or design intended; either of
which methods are slow tedious and require skilled labor which is expensive.
Certain elaborate and expensive machines have also been constructed for the
purpose of placing lines, divisions and figures on enamel dials, but this method is
only applicable to a very limited variety and style of work. Impressions have
also been taken from engraved plates and lithographic stones on transfer paper and
offset upon the enamel while the color is still soft or by sticking the paper with
the impression upon it, face down upon the object and allowing the paper to burn
off when it is fired leaving the color upon the object. The first of these transfer
methods is liable to produce ragged or broken lines, or to spread the color if
applied while too soft. The second method of transfer is liable to discolor the
surface of the enamel by the burning of the paper when firing. It is also difficult
to place the design accurately upon the object by the paper transfer as it must be
placed face down, and is not transparent. Certain photographic processes have
been employed for the purpose of placing colors upon enamel surfaces, but are
either uncertain in results or expensive or both.
The object of this Invention is to place the colors desired upon enamel dials
for watches and clocks and other enamelled or glazed surfaces in any required
design accurately, more rapidly, and cheaper than by any other methods heretoforo
employed.
The mechanism which has been found to produce the best results in transferring
the letters, numerals, figures or designs on to the collodion or other material
preparatory to applying them unto the surface to be marked or ornamented is
shown in the accompanying drawing which I will now proceed to describe but I
do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular mechanism.
Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the machine. Figure 2 is a side elevation and
Figure 3 is an end view on the line cc of figure 1. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
K is the base plate or bench of the machine to which is secured the bent bar F
the main portion of which is slightly elevated above the base plate K. EE are
standards secured in the bar F the upper ends of which are connected by means
of the bar D. B are upright spindles or shafts which have their bearings 6 in the
bars F and D and to the upper ends of which are secured the plates A of copper
or other material having engraved or etched thereon the desired figures, numerals
letters or designs which are to be transferred to the article. The spindles B are
provided with pulley or band wheels 1 which are connected by means of belts or
cords to corresponding pulley or band wheels 2 on the shaft G. The shaft G lies
parallel with the frame which supports the spindles and is mounted in suitable

page_text: standards H; said shaft is also provided with a band wheel or pulley 8 by which
motion is imparted to the machine from any convenient source of power.
To carry the invention into effect the required design is first engraved or etched
upon a metal or glass plate preferably a copper plate. The colors ordinarily
employed in encaustic painting on enamel are then rubbed into the engraved or
etched lines in the same manner as for printing upon paper. In this process how-
ever no printing press is required, as I simply flow over the plate thus prepared a
liquid collodion or other substance having similar properties, allow the collodion
to set by evaporation, then place the plate with the collodion upon it in water
which may be made slightly acid until it becomes loosened from the surface of the
plate when it will either float to the surface of the water or may be readily stripped
from the plate and as the collodion while in the liquid state will penetrate all
the lines and recesses upon the surface of the plate, the coloring matter will
become embedded in it or absorbed by it, and will come away from the plate with
it. The design engraved upon the plate is thus transferred to the collodion
film and is not only upon the surface of the film, but is embedded in it, and
if the operation is carefully performed, every particle of coloring matter on the
plate both in the finest and the heaviest lines will be taken up. The collodion film
may now be washed in clean water and placed directly upon the enamelled
surface either face down or reversed and should be fastened in position by a
thin varnish of gelatine, such as is used by photographers or by a solution of
sugar and water or other colorless varnish, and allowed to dry, when it may be placed
in the furnace and fired in the usual manner. The collodion quickly disappears
being entirely consumed and leaves no trace while the image or design is burned
into the surface of the enamel in the same manner as if applied by hand with a
brush, or by any of the methods described. The very finest lines that can he
engraved upon a plate will appear sharp and clear upon the enamel surface while
the heavy and deep cuts will be equally prominent. A single design if accurately
made on the plate can thus be as accurately reproduced an indefinite number of
times, and as many designs may be engraved on a single plate as can be
conveniently handled and after the film is stripped from the plate it may be cut
into as many pieces as required with a pair of shears. A convenient way to
handle the film is to lay it upon a piece of wet paper and cut through both paper
and film. Two or more-colors may be used in the same transfer by rubbing the
several colors in the parts of the plate where they are required, care being taken
not to mix them. The collodion used should be transparent and entirely free from
coloring matter. Thus the operator can see the design distinctly and can place it
accurately upon the enamelled surface whether placed face down or reversed, and
no stains will be left upon the surface of the enamel after firing. The collodion
may be made in a variety of ways but should be tougher than that ordinarily used
by photographers. This is accomplished by using less alcohol and more ether and
pyroxyline in the compound and it should be carefully filtered before using. I find
the following proportions to work satisfactorily:
.
Gelatine and some other substances may also be used for making the transfer in
the same manner as the collodion, but the latter is preferable. The transfer may
also be made in the same manner from lithographic stones or photo relief plates.
When the liquid is flowed on, the plate should either be placed in a perfectly
level position or made to revolve horizontally to ensure an even distribution of the
liquid over its surface. A single operator may manipulate a number of plates
at once by mounting the plates on a series of revolving spindles operated by
machinery.
After fixing the design upon the enamelled surface with the varnish or glue and
allowing it to dry the collodion film may be dissolved away by soaking in a

page_text: solution of ether and alcohol leaving the image or design sticking to the varnish
when other transfers in different colors may be added in the same manner as
before. But in this case the film must always be placed face down upon the
enamelled surface or the design will be carried away with the dissolving film.
better result can sometimes be obtained by dissolving away the film before firing
even in a single transfer.
A
This process for placing colors on enamelled surfaces may be modified in a
number of ways and yet retain its essential features.
A striking advantage of the process over any heretofore employed for the same
purpose is the fact that every detail of the original design is reproduced upon the
enamel surface very sharp and distinct.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is:
1. The method herein described of preparing letters, figures or designs in colors
for ornamenting enamelled vitrified or vitrifiable surfaces, which consists in causing
said colors to adhere to a film of collodion or other like material in substantially
the manner and by the means herein described.
2. The method herein described of preparing films of collodion or other like
material with figures, numerals, characters, letters and ornamental designs thereon,
the same consisting in placing the colors on a plate of metal or other material
having the characters, letters, designs, & engraved or etched thereon or therein
then flowing over the plate and over the colors contained on or within the engraved
or etched portions of the plate, a film of collodion or other similar material and
then allowing or causing the collodion to harden by evaporation, whereby the
letters, figures, etc are caused to adhere to the collodion film as set forth.
3. The method herein described of placing figures, numerals, letters characters
or ornamental designs upon the onamelled surface of dials for watches, clocks, and
other enamelled, glazed or vitrified or vitrifiable surfaces the same consisting in
applying thereto a film of collodion or other similar material having thereon the
desired figures numerals or designs and causing said figures to adhere to and
become a part of the enamelled surface by the application of heat or otherwise, as
set forth.
4. As a new article of manufacture a film of collodion or other similar material
having thereon in color or colors the numerals, figures, letters, characters or designs
for marking or ornamenting the dial plates of watches, clocks etc.
5th In machine for preparing collodion or other films with letters, numerals,
figures or designs in colors thereon, the combination of the engraved or etched
plates A mounted on spindles with mechanism, substantially such as described
for imparting a rotary motion to the plates in the manner and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set iny
hand and Seal this fourteenth day of February A.D. 1884.