AN IMPROVED PREPARATION, OR COMPO- SITION OF COLORING MATTER TO BE USED. IN WASHING OR BLEACHING LINEN AND OTHER WASHABLE FABRICS, AND IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bernhard Harczyk,. of St. Mark Street, Tenter
Ground, Goodman's. Fields, in the County of. Middlesex, Gentle-
man, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PREPARATION, OR COMPO-
SITION OF COLORING MATTER TO BE USED. IN WASHING OR BLEACHING
LINEN AND OTHER WASHABLE FABRICS, AND IN. THE MANUFACTURE OF
PAPER AND OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 21st January 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bernhard Harczyk
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st October 1852.
I, BERNHARD HARCZYK, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED PREPARATION OR COMPOSITION OF COLORING
MATTER TO. BE USED IN WASHING OR BLEACHING LINEN AND OTHER WASH-
ABLE FABRICS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND OTHER SUBSTANCES,"
to be as follows:-.
Laundresses in washing linen frequently make use of balls of blue
color called "blue-stone" in order to impart a bluish tinge to the water,
and by that means neutralize or destroy the yellow tinge which linen or

page_text: cotton goods usually acquire from wear. One very great objection to
the use of this "blue-stone" is, that it does not dissolve in the water,
but merely becomes mechanically mixed with it; and therefore, if water
tinged with this blue is allowed to remain at rest for some time, a great
portion of the coloring matter settles to the bottom of the vessel, and
if any goods-are left in the water they will, become spotted by this
deposit. The intention of the present Invention is to obviate these
difficulties.
This object is proposed to be attained-by-making; in the first place, a
perfectly soluble preparation of indigo, and then coating with that solu-
tion sheets of paper, linen rags, or other substances capable of receiving
the preparation. When any blue color is required for use it will only
be necessary to put a piece of the prepared paper into the water, which
will become immediately tinged with a fine blue, and this tint will
remain in the solution without deposition.. A specimen of paper coated
with the improved preparation of blue is annexed hereto.
The coloring solution is prepared by dissolving indigo in very strong
sulphuric acid, and after the indigo has been digested in the acid for
from 30 to 40 hours the acid is neutralized by potass. The coloring
matter thus prepared is so innocuous that it will not in any way dete-
riorate the finest linen; and it may even be drunk without danger; it
may therefore be employed by sugar refiners to whiten their sugars, and
is also applicable to the manufacture of paper when a fine light blue
tinge is required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Bernhard Harczyk in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st April 1853.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
BERNHARD HARCZYK, of St. Mark Street, Tenter Ground, Goodman's
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth

page_text: year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Bernhard Harczyk, Her special licence that
I, the said Bernhard Harczyk, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Bernhard Harczyk, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED PREPARATION
OR COMPOSITION OF COLORING MATTER TO BE USED IN WASHING OR BLEACHING
LINEN AND OTHER WASHABLE FABRICS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER
AND OTHER SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Bernhard Harczyk, by an instrument in writing under my hatid
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, said Bernhard Harczyk, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):
One of the principal objects of my improved preparation or compo-
sition of colouring matter is to supersede the use of the blue balls or
stones usually employed by laundresses in washing linen in order to
impart a bluish tinge to the water, and by that means neutralize or
destroy the yellow tinge which linen or cotton goods usually acquire
from wear. One very great objection to the use of this "blue-stone"
is, that it does not dissolve in the water, but merely becomes mecha-
nically mixed with it; and therefore, if water tinged with this blue is
allowed to remain at rest for some time, a great portion of the coloring
matter settles to the bottom of the vessels, and if any goods are left in
the water they will become spotted by this deposit, instead of being
colored or tinged with blue in a uniform manner. The intention of the
présent Invention is to obviate these difficulties.

page_text: This object is proposed to be attained by making, in the first place,
a perfectly soluble preparation of indigo, and then coating with that
solution sheets of linen
paper, rags, or other substances capable of
receiving the preparation. When any blue color is required to be used
for any of the purposes to which it may be applicable it will only be
necessary to put a piece of the prepared paper or fabric into the water,
, and this latter will instantly become tinged with a fine blue; and this
tint will remain in the solution without deposition for any reasonable
-length of time.
The colouring solution is prepared by dissolving indigo in very strong
sulphuric acid, and after the indigo has been digested in the acid for a
suitable length of time the acid is neutralized by potass or other
alkali.
:
I have found by experience that the following process and propor-
tions of ingredients will effect the desired object in a satisfactory
manner. I do not, however, intend to confine myself rigidly thereto.
To one pound by weight of pulverized indigo, which I place in, an
earthen vessel, I add gradually about three pounds of strong sulphuric
acid. The mass must be well mixed, and be kept stirred in order
to prevent it from boiling over, and when the mass has become smooth
.let it stand for from six to ten hours to digest; then add a solution
of potash of about the strength of twenty degrees Beaumé in about the
.proportion of four quarts of the solution of potash to every pound of the
sulphuric acid. Place these ingredients in a tub or other suitable
.vessel which will hold about forty gallons, and stir the mixture well
for a few minutes with a stick or spatula, and then let it remain for
from ten to fourteen hours, after which the tub must be filled with water,
and again well stirred. When this has been allowed to stand from
twenty-four to twenty-eight hours the supernatant liquor must be run
off until it begins' to run thick, when there will remain in the tub not s
more than about twelve inches deep of liquor; this may be again mixed
or stirred, and poured into linen bags which will hold about two quarts
each; these must be hung up to drain off the water, and when no more
liquid appears to drop the contents of the bags must be put ini a
shallow dish or vessel; and laid on the surface of paper or other 3

page_text: suitable material by means of a fine haired brush. When the surface
is dry another coating may be put on; and when both sides of the
paper or fabric are dry it may be pressed to flatten it, and then it will
be ready for the market.
The coloring matter thus prepared is so innoxious that it will not in
any way deteriorate the finest linen; and it may even be drunk without
danger; it may therefore be employed by sugar refiners to whiten their
sugars, and is also applicable to the manufacture of paper when a fine
light blue tinge is required. This coloring matter may also be em-
ployed as an ink when reduced to the proper consistency.
I would here remark, that although I have mentioned potash as the
alkali to be used to neutralize the acid, other alkalis or alkaline earths,
such as soda ash, lime, or chalk, may be employed in place thereof, if
thought desirable. I would also observe, that although I have given as
above certain proportions in which the ingredients are to be mixed, and
also the length of time of the various stages of the process, yet I do
not mean or intend to confine myself rigidly thereto, as these points
may doubtless be varied without departing from the nature and object
of my improvements; but that which I consider to be new, and therefore
wish to claim as the Invention secured me by Letters Patent as afore-
said, is, the method herein described of preparing and applying indigo
for the various purposes for which it may be employed. I claim parti-
cularly applying indigo or coloring matter to sheets of paper or other
suitable textile fabric for the purposes above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bernhard Harczyk, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
FRED. WALKDEN,
BERNHARD HARCZYK. (L.S.)
66, Chancery Lane.