IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION PEARLS OR BEADS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of 6, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION PEARLS OR BEADS."
A communication from abroad by Joseph Mugnier, of Lyon, in the Depart-
ment of Rhone, in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 2nd August 1878, and dated the 5th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Henderson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th February 1878.
"
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
IMITATION PEARLS OR BEADS." A communication from abroad by Joseph Mugnier,
of Lyon, in the Department of Rhone, in the Republic of France.
In obtaining this new product I utilize the property possessed by certain bodies
of losing their primitive virtues by their submission to the action of heat; by which
means they acquire entirely different qualities; for example, in taking an albuminous
liquid matter and submitting it to a temperature exceeding 60 to 75 degrees, this
body will coagulate and will no longer be soluble in water. If afterwards the
same bodies are raised to a still higher temperature, not only will they become.
solid in coagulating, but they will also swell, and thus attain a greater volume. To
effect the desired result it suffices to distribute the liquor in the shape of drops on
some suitably prepared surface, so that the drop may be submitted to the requisite
degree of heat to effect the transformation.
It is known that in allowing drops of water to fall on a sufficiently heated metal
plate these drops preserve a spherical form without any adherence to the body
supporting them; they will move without deformation if a slight motion is im-
parted to the plate. It is in some measure this phenomenon, which is produced by
depositing the drops of prepared liquid, the solidification taking place almost
simultaneously by the action of the heat. Nevertheless, on operating on a plate
Price A21

page_text: less heated, the adhesion of the drop is possible; this inconvenience is remedied by
either rubbing the plate with some greasy substance, or by covering it with
powdered matter unaffected by heat.
In the manufacture the following effect occurs, which I employ in producing &
variety of pearls or beads:-When the drops have been heated to the requisite
degree, and that the swelling is effected, the pearls shrink if care is taken to with-
draw them quickly from the heat to expose them to the cold air; but if caution is
preserved to deposit them on a hot surface, and that the upper part is in contact
with the cold air, the result is that the shrinking only occurs on one side of the
pearl, making it round on one side and flat or concave on the other, like the calix
of a flower.
Coloring is performed either by adding to the liquid a colored powder of the shade
desired, or by dyeing when the pearl is made. It may also be gilt, silvered, or
varnished.
A variety of products may be also used not only to give to the pearls a shade or
lustre, but also to impart to them greater consistency or solidity, such for instance
as alumina in jelly, the silicates of magnesia, and so forth.
The liquid is prepared with animal blood or white of egg, previously freed of
their cellular matter, or these same substances dried and dissolved in a certain
quantity of water. In this manufacture I employ plates provided with needles or
some equivalent, fixed or movable, and after having steeped the ends of these
needles in the prepared liquid, the plates are held at a certain height from the
heated plate to allow of the drops easily detaching, and avoiding the contact of the
points with this plate. These pearls vary in size, according to the size of the drop,
or the degree of swelling produced by the heat. They have a character distinct
from those at present made, as they are extremely light. They can be more easily
glued, pierced with a hot wire, or simply with a needle. This great lightness admits
of applying them to the lightest tissues notwithstanding their relatively large size;
they may also be sewed, and be used for making artificial flowers, for ornamenting
head dresses, and be arranged as bracelets, necklaces, and so on.
Finally, according to the method herein described, pearls can be made with greater
facility and less expense than anything at present invented.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Charles Henderson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd August 1878.
"
ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 6, Southampon Buildings, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
IMITATION PEARLS OR BEADS." A communication from abroad by Joseph Mugnier,
of Lyon, in the Department of Rhone, in the Republic of France.
In obtaining this new product I utilize the property possessed by certain bodies.
of losing their primitive virtues by their submission to the action of heat, by which
means they acquire entirely different qualities; for example, in taking an albuminous
liquid matter and submitting it to a temperature exceeding 60 to 75 degrees, this
body will coagulate; become solid, and will no longer be soluble in water. If after-
wards the same bodies are raised to a still higher temperature, not only will they
become solid in coagulating, but they will also swell, and thus attain a greater.
volume. To effect the desired result it suffices to distribute the liquor in the shape
of drops on some suitably prepared surface, so that the drop may be submitted to
the requisite degree of heat to effect the transformation.
It is known that in allowing drops of water to fall on a sufficiently heated metal
plate these drops preserve a spherical form without any adherence to the body.
supporting them; they will move without deformation if a slight motion is imparted
to the plate. It is in some measure this phenomenon, which is produced by de-
positing the drops of prepared liquid, the solidification taking place almost
instantaneously by the action of the heat. Nevertheless, ou operating on a plate
less heated, the adhesion of the drop is possible; this inconvenience is remedied by
either rubbing the plate with some greasy substance, or by covering it with
powdered matter unaffected by heat.
In the manufacture the following effect occurs, which is employed in producing
a variety of pearls or beads -When the drops have been heated to the requisite
degree, and that the swelling is effected, the pearls shrink if care is taken to with-
drawn them quickly from the heat to expose them to the cold air; but if care is
taken to deposit them on a hot surface, and that the upper part is in contact with
the cold air, the result is that the shrinking only occurs on one side of the pearl,
making it round on one side, and flat or concave on the other, like the calix of a
flower.
Coloring is produced either by adding to the liquid a colored powder of the shade
desired, or by dyeing when the pearl is made. It may be also be gilt, silvered, and
so on, or varnished.
A variety of products may be also used, not only to give to the pearls a shade or
brightness, but also to impart to them greater consistency or solidity, such for
instance as alumina in jelly, the silicates of magnesia, and so forth.
The liquid is prepared witli animal blood or white of egg, previously freed of
their cellular tissues, or these same substances dried and dissolved in a certain quanity
of water. In this manufacture I employ plates provided with. needles or some
equivalent, fixed or movable, and after having steeped the ends of these needles in
the prepared liquid, the plates are held at a certain height from the heated plate to
allow of the drops easily detaching, and avoiding the contact of the points with this
plate. These pearls vary in size according to the size of the drop, or the degree of.
swelling produced by the heat. They have a character distinct from those at
present made, as they are extremely light. They can be more easily glued, pierced
with a hot wire, or simply with a needle. This great lightness admits of applying
them to the lightest tissues notwithstanding their relatively large size; they may
also be sewed, and be used for making artificial flowers, for ornamenting head
dresses, and be arranged as bracelets, necklaces, and so forth.
Finally, according to the method herein described, pearls can be made with greater
facility and less expense than anything at present invented.

page_text: It is not intended to limit oneself in producing the drops intended to be placed
on. a plate or heated surface to the strict use of the apparatus or instruments
described, as other or equivalent means may be used, which will in like manner
produce and deposit drops of all sizes. Thus the liquid being prepared, it can be
divided by means of a blower of some sort, which drives it before a jet of air, which
spreads it in small parts on the plate destined to receive it in dividing it into small
drops. A small plank with very fine pins or a kind of brush, which being dipped
in the liquid, retains small quantities on each pin. This liquid on account of its
light weight and small size being incapable of falling of its own weight, a slight
shock or movement is given to the plank, or a jet of air is directed on the ends of
the pins where the liquid is collected, which detaches it and causes it to fall on the
plate, to be there baked.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. C. HENDERSON. (L.S.)