IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH METAL ENGRAVINGS DIRECT FROM THE CYLINDERS OF ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Shields of Bradford in the County of York
Newspaper Proprietor, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH METAL ENGRAVINGS DIRECT FROM
THE CYLINDERS OF ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES
"3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Shields at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1883.
THOMAS SHIELDS of Bradford in the County of York, Newspaper Proprietor
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING WITH METAL
ENGRAVINGS DIRECT FROM THE CYLINDERS OF ROTARY WEB PRINTING MACHINES
"
The object of this invention is to enable impressions to be taken direct from the
engraved etched electro or other impressions with surfaces of lead, zinc, copper, steel
or any other metal or composition fitted to the cylinder or to the stereo metal
plates surrounding the printing cylinder of a rotary or web printing machine.
Hitherto impressions have been taken from the wood block, engraving etching
or electro by means of a matrix as in ordinary stereo printing, but it is found that
impressions so produced on the sheet of paper are blurred and lack the clearness
and distinctness of the engraving from which the impression is indirectly taken.
I accomplish my object in the following manner:-I take the block from the
engraver which is type high and separate the metal from the wood: the latter only
is sent into the printing room and set up in the form in its required position and
surround the same by the descriptive matter in type. When the form is completed
it is sent to the foundry and an impression taken therefrom in paper maché. The
metal plate is then cast from the papier maché mould: in this metal plate a
concave bed is formed by the wood being less than type high.
I now take the plate which I have previously detached from the wood block and
heat the same in a sand bath or in a super heated steam chest after which it is
wrapped in blanketing and placed in moulds with the same curve as metal plate

page_text: cast from papier maché, and pressure applied whilst in its heated state to give it
permanent curvature.
The curved engraved plate is now fitted and secured by screws, nails, solder, or
composition into the concave bed of the metal plate and thus the completed page
is transferred to the rotary or web machine and printing from the same proceeded
with.
By this my new method all blurring of the impression is avoided and the printing
is accomplished direct from the engraved surface of the plates and in this manner
reproducing in the impressions every shade of dark and light either produced by
the artist or by means of photography.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Shields in the Patent Office on the 19th June 1884.
WITH
THOMAS SHIELDS of Bradford in the County of York Newspaper Proprietor
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
METAL ENGRAVINGS DIRECT FROM THE
MACHINES
AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING
CYLINDERS OF ROTARY WEB PRINTING
The object of this invention is to enable impressions to be taken direct from any
metallic surface in relief on the rotary or cylinder printing machine, in combination
with ordinary stereotypes, cellulose, or other casts of type forms.
The metallic surfaces may be produced by any method, either by engraving or
by the well known methods of reproducing printing surfaces.
Hitherto impressions have been taken by stereotyping the wood block or other
metallic printing surfaces in relief, by the same modus operandi as in stereotyping
type "forms." This the ordinary mode of stereotyping is fairly satisfactory when
a type form only has to be reproduced, but when applied to engravings or blocks
representing pictorial subjects, it is far from satisfactory, as the impressions so
produced on the sheet of paper are blurred and imperfect, and lack the clearness
and distinctness of the impressions produced by my improvements direct from the
originals.
In order to accomplish my object I take an ordinary block produced by any
known method of reproduction or electrotyping, stereotyping, typography, etching,
photogravure, such block being of the usual thickness suitable for mounting on
metal or wooden blocks or "risers." The type form is composed in the usual
manner but instead of the relief surface together with its block or "riser " being
included, the block or riser only is used. A matrix of such form is obtained in
the ordinary way, the plate cast from such matrix exhibits a sunken surface,
corresponding to the position of the relief surface that was abstracted; into this
the original relief surface is now restored. In order that it may conform to the
curved stereotype, fitting on the impression cylinder of the rotary machine, the
original relief surface is bent, by being heated in a sand bath, superheated steam
chest or by other means, it is then wrapped in blanketing and placed in a mould
having the same curvature as the stereo plate with which it is to be combined, it

page_text: is then fitted to the curved cast and secured by screws, nuts, solder or composition
or any other method.
The composite surface resulting, which in part consists of a reproduction of the
type form and in part of a reproduction of the engraved or otherwise produced
block is then transferred to the printing machine and printed form in the ordinary
manner.
By this my new method, any printing surface however fine and delicate in its
lines may be printed from in combination with an ordinary stereotype or other
description of cast, curved or flat, produced by the papier-machè process.
What I claim as my invention is:-
Producing a composite curved printing surface suitable for rotary and other
machines, such surface consisting in part of a cast obtained by the papier-machè
process of stereotyping and in part of any kind of metallic printing surface suitable
for printing by the letterpress method.
In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Shields have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eleventh day of June in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
(X47)
THO SHIELDS,