A PROCESS FOR APPLYING ELECTRO-PLATING AND GILDING TO WOOD SURFACES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Alexander Victor Wirth, of 8, Arundel Gardens,
Ladbroke Grove, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of
"A PROCESS FOR APPLYING ELECTRO-PLATING AND GILDING TO WOOD
SURFACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Alexander Victor
Wirth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th April 1880.
HENRI ALEXANDER VICTOR WIRTH, of 8, Arundel Gardens, Ladbroke Grove,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman. A PROCESS FOR APPLYING ELECTRO-
PLATING AND GILDING TO WOOD SURFACES."
The object of the Invention is to use wood carvings as a base for electro plating.
The process is as follows:-
I first prepare tho wood carving intended to be plated by destroying by means
of known acids the superficial molecules of the wood; I then place it in an oven
at a temperature of 200 degrees, more or less, and for a sufficient length of time to
completely dry it. Where any portions of the wood carving, originally glued
together, have become separated by the heat, I securely fasten thein by nails or
screws, of course filing off the heads so as to do away with any inequalities of
surface. This precaution is necessary to provent any such portions becoming dis-
connected during the subsequent processes. Such portions of the wood-work as
may be flat and smooth should be punctured at intervals to enable the metal to
penetrate and adhere, and to further facilitate adhesion it is advisable to plug such
parts of the wood at intervals with copper plugs. I then cover the surface of tho
wood with a coating of plumbago, and then rub it with a brush, so as to spread it
uniformly and stop up all the pores of the wood. I then place the wood-carving
thus prepared in a solution of copper (scyanure of potassium), and subject it to the
action of an electric battery, so as to give it by the ordinary process of electro
plating a coating of copper, more or less thick in proportion to the length of time
it remains in the bath.
Coppered or bronzed carvings are thus produced.
These coppered carvings can then be silvered or gilt by the process of electro
niating in the usual way.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henri Alexander Victor Wirth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th October 1880..
.
-
HENRI ALEXANDRE VICTOR WIRTH, of 8, Arundel Gardens, Ladbroke Grove,
in the County of Middlesex. "THE PROCESS OF ELECTRO-PLATING AND GILDING
ON WOOD."
The object of the Invention is to use wood carvings as a base for electro plating.
The process is as follows :—
I first prepare the wood carving intended to be plated by destroying by means
of known acids the superficial molecules of the wood; I then place it in an oven
at a temperature of 200 degrees, more or less, and for a sufficient length of time to
completely dry it. Where any portions of the wood carving, originally glued
together, have become separated by the heat, I securely fasten them by nails or
screws, of course filing off the heads, so as to do away with any inequalities of
surface. This precaution is necessary to prevent any such portions becoming dis-
connected during the subsequent processes. Such portions of the woodwork as
may be flat and smooth should be punctured at intervals to enable the metal to
penetrate and adhere, and to further facilitate adhesion it is advisable to plug such
parts of the wood at intervals with copper plugs. I then cover the surface of the
wood with a coating of plumbago, and then rub it with a brush, so as to spread it
uniformly and stop up all the pores of the wood. I then place the wood carving
thus prepared in a solution of copper (scyanure of potassium) and subject it to the
action of an electric battery, so as to give it by the ordinary process of electric
plating a coating of copper, more or less thick in proportion to the length of time
it remains in the bath.
Coppered or bronzed carvings are thus produced.
These coppered carvings can then be silvered or gilt by the process of electro
plating in the usual way.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Alexandre Victor Wirth, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this
day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by the
above named Henri Alexandre
Wirth, in the presence of
W. J. NOKES,
Solr.,
21, Queen Victoria St.,
E.C.
H. A. V. WIRTH. (L.S.)