IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING DESIGNS ON POTTERY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Miller, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING DESIGNS
ON POTTERY."
Sealed the 23rd June 1876, and dated the 25th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Miller at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1876.
[
JAMES MILLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING DESIGNS ON POTTERY."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in depicting or fixing designs on
pottery, has for its object to avoid the necessity of converting the ware into the
state of biscuit before such designs are transferred thereto, as at present practised
in the manufacture of ornamented earthenware.
The Invention is more especially applicable to the production of designs upon
that class of pottery commonly known as stoneware, which if baked to the state
of porous biscuit is not stable, and if baked to a harder consistency, that is to say,
to à vitrious state, will not receive a colour.
The Invention then consists in transferring the design to the clay articles when
they are in a hard, porous, and dry state, in which condition they are dipped in
the glaze; or the clay articles may first be dipped in the glaze and the design then
transferred to them, so that in either case the firing of the clay articles, design, and
glazing are effected at one and the same operation.
Preparatory to transferring the design on to the surface on which it is to be
depicted a portion or portions of that surface are or may be coated with a gum or
resinous solution. In other cases the printed portion of the surface is powdered
over with arsenic felspar, or the dry basis of the colouring matter employed, dry
powdered clay, dry flour, oxide of zinc, or other equivalent substance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Miller in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th July 1876.
JAMES MILLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
PROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING DESIGNS ON POTTERY."
« 131-
My said Invention, which relates to improvements in depicting or fixing designs
on pottery, has for its object to avoid the necessity of converting the ware into

page_text: the state of "biscuit" before such designs are transferred thereto, as at present
practised in the manufacture of ornamented earthenware.
The Invention is more especially applicable to the production of designs upon
that class of pottery commonly known as stoneware, which if baked to the state
of porous "biscuit" is not stable, and if baked to a harder consistency, that is to
say, to a vitreous state, will not receive a colour.
The Invention then consists in transferring the design to the clay articles when
they are in a hard, porous, and dry state, in which condition they are dipped in
the glaze, so that the firing of the clay articles, design, and glazing are effected at
one and the same operation.
Preparatory to transferring the design on to the surface on which it is to bo
depicted the clay article is thoroughly dried and preferably heated to a temperature
of from one hundred and thirty (130) to one hundred and forty (140) degrees of
Fahrenheit. When at or about that temperature transfer paper, having the
coloured design represented thereon, is laid upon the article, and the design is then
printed over its surface. After lying a short time to allow the colour to be
absorbed by the porous clay the transfer paper is removed carefully, so as to
leave as large a body or protion of the colour as possible upon the clay article.
The original surface of the article as it leaves the potter is found, after thorough
drying, to be the best for taking on the colour, it is therefore important that care
be taken not to rub the article before printing the design thereon, as herein-before
set forth, as such rubbing or friction, by forming a skin upon the clay surface,
destroys its porosity and prevents a sufficient body of colour being taken up.
It is to be understood that the heating of the clay articles before transferring
the design thereto, not being absolutely necessary, may in some cases be dispensed
with, although such heating is preferred as tending both to quicken the process
and to cause a greater portion or body of the colour to be taken up.
After the design has been transferred to the clay surface with or without
previous heating of the article the said article is dipped in the glaze and the firing
effected in the usual manner.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, I would observo in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the process herein-before
described of depicting and fixing designs on that class of clay articles commonly
known as stoneware whilst such articles are in a hard, porous, and dry state, with
or without the aid of heat, whereby the necessity of converting the ware into the
state of "biscuit" before transferring the design thereto is avoided.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Miller, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Nineteenth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six