IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNA- MENTING SURFACES OF TIN-PLATE AND OTHER SHEET METAL, AND OF ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM, PARTLY APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE ORNA- MENTATION OF OTHER SURFACES OF METAL
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Nind Hopkins, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and George Hatton, of Kidderminster, in the County
of Worcester, Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNA-
MENTING SURFACES OF TIN-PLATE AND OTHER SHEET METAL, AND OF
ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM, PARTLY APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE ORNA-
MENTATION OF OTHER SURFACES OF METAL,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Nind Hopkins &
George Hatton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
1st October 1881.
"
ALFRED NIND HOPKINS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, and GEORGE HATTON, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester,
Manufacturer. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING SURFACES OF TIN-PLATE AND
OTHER SHEET METAL, AND OF ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM, PARTLY APPLICABLE
ALSO TO THE ORNAMENTATION OF OTHER SURFACES OF METAL."
This Invention consists in methods of producing designs or patterns upon
surfaces of tin-plate and other sheet metal, and of producing designs or patterns
upon articles made from tin-plate and other sheet metal, and upon other surfaces
of metal, the operation being performed in such a manner that the design or
pattern has the appearance of metal work inlaid within a groundwork of japan,
varnish, lacquer, enamel, oxide, or other suitable permanent material.
The methods we employ in producing designs or patterns on the tin-plate,
sheets, or articles, or other surfaces of metal aforesaid, and which designs or
patterns have the appearance before described, vary somewhat according to the
metal or the size or shape of the article to be operated upon, or to otherwise suit
the convenience of the operator, and are described as follows, namely:-
First. We first produce the design upon tin-plate or other sheet metal, or upon
articles made therefrom, in glycerine, or gum and sugar, or glue and treacle, or
other suitable material, by pencilling the same on by hand, or printing from

page_text: When
lithographic stones, copper or steel plates or rollers, or plates of zinc or other metal
(besides the metals mentioned) or wood blocks; we then cover the whole surface
to be decorated with the groundwork material (japan, color, lacquer, etc.).
the groundwork material of the tin-plate, metal sheet, or other article as aforesaid
is sufficiently set for the next step of the process, it is washed with water, which
dissolves the glycerine or other material in which the design was first formed, and
also at the same time removes that portion of the groundwork material which lies
upon the said glycerine or other material in which the design was first formed;
the metal surface thus left bare now forms the design through the groundwork of
japan or other material; the tin-plate, metal sheet, or other article as aforesaid is
then stoved in order to harden the japan or other groundwork, and the surface
may if desired be further covered with different colored lacquers or otherwise dealt
with. If desired nickel or other metal may be deposited on the pattern by the
electro or other suitable process.
Second. We produce the design upon the tin-plate, sheet, or article, in wax,
asphaltum, varnish, grease, or any suitable material which will protect the surface
of the tin-plate, sheet, or article from the action of the acid we employ in the after
process; an acid solution which will dissolve the metal under treatment is then
applied (by immersing the tin-plate, sheet, or article in the solution, or by washing
it therewith) to the unprotected surface until the coating metal (if any) over such
surface is partially or wholly removed, or the metal of such surface otherwise
reduced or recessed to receive the japan or other material to form the groundwork
of the design to the thickness which will bring it flush, or nearly so, with the
surface protected with the wax or other protecting material; the tin-plate, sheet,
or article is then washed and dried, after which the permanent japan or other
material to form the groundwork of the design is laid over the entire surface of
the tin-plate, sheet, or article, to the desired thickness, and is then rubbed or
levelled down so as to leave the raised metallic pattern exposed at or slightly
above the surface of the groundwork.
Third. We form the design or pattern upon tin-plate or other sheet metal with
the design raised above the surface of the metal to receive the groundwork of the
pattern by laying the tin-plate or other metal sheet under treatment flat against
another metal sheet which has the design engraved or sunk therein, and passing
both under great pressure through smooth highly polished metal rolls. The metal
of the tin-plate or other sheet under treatment is pressed into the engraved or
recessed parts of the sheet against which it is placed, thus forming the raised part
of the pattern on the tin-plate or other sheet under treatment, with the groundwork
consequently slightly recessed; the entire surface is then coated with the material
to form the groundwork of the pattern, and treated in the manner before-described
according to our second process. The sheet with the pattern engraved or recessed
therein forms the "matrix," and is used for repeated operations. Instead of using
the engraved sheet aforesaid the pattern may be engraved on the surface of one of
the pair of metal rolls.
Fourth. We cover the groundwork of the design by hand, or according to the
method described under the first process, or by any suitable method, upon sheet
iron or other sheet metal which will withstand the temperature subsequently
employed, or upon articles made therefrom, in any suitable material which will
protect the surface of the metal from the acid employed in the next step of the
process, leaving the pattern exposed; we then deposit on the exposed parts nickel
or other metal of high fusibility by the electro process, the protecting medium is
then removed, and the groundwork oxidised in any suitable manner, after which
the groundwork may be japanned or otherwise dealt with if desired.
The first, second, and fourth described processes are applicable also to the
ornamentation of other metal surfaces besides those of sheet metal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Nind Hopkins & George Hatton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st March 1882.
ALFRED NIND HOPKINS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, and GEORGE HATTON, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING SURFACES OF TIN-PLATE AND
OTHER SHEET METAL, AND OF ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM, PARTLY APPLICABLE
ALSO TO THE ORNAMENTATION OF OTHER SURFACES OF METAL."
This Invention consists in methods of producing designs or patterns upon
surfaces of tin-plate and other sheet metal, and of producing designs or patterns
upon articles made from tin-plate and other sheet metal, and upon other surfaces of
metal, the operation being performed in such a manner that the design or pattern
has the appearance of metal work inlaid within a groundwork of japan, varnish,
lacquer, enamel, oxide, or other suitable permanent material.
The methods we employ in producing designs or patterns on the tin-plate, sheets,
or articles, or other surfaces of metal aforesaid, and which designs or patterns have
the appearance before described, vary somewhat, according to the metal or the size
or shape of the article to be operated upon, or to otherwise suit the convenience of
the operator, and are described as follows, namely:
=
First. We first produce the design upon tin-plate or other sheet metal, or upon
articles made therefrom, in glycerine, or gum and sugar, or glue and treacle, or
other suitable material, by pencilling the same on by hand, or printing from litho-
graphic stones, copper or steel plates or rollers, or plates of zinc or other metal
(besides the metals mentioned), or india rubber stamps, or wood blocks. We then
coat the whole surface to be decorated with the groundwork material (japan, color,
lacquer, etc.), and immediately wash with hot water, which dissolves the glycerine
or other material in which the design was first formed, and also at the same time
removes that portion of the groundwork material which lies upon the said glycerine
or other material in which the design was first formed. The metal surface thus
left bare now forms the design through the groundwork of japan or other material.
The tin-plate, metal sheet, or other article, as aforesaid, is then stoved in order to
harden the japan or other groundwork, and the surface may, if desired, be further
covered with different colored lacquers or otherwise dealt with. If desired, nickel
or other metal may be deposited on the pattern by the electro or other suitable
process.
For the groundwork material referred to in this Specification the varnish we
prefer to employ is known in the trade as "gold stoving varnish," and is used in
the ordinary way to make the color forming the groundwork.
Second. We produce the design upon the tin-plate, sheet, or article aforesaid in
wax, asphaltum, varnish, grease, or any suitable material which will protect the
surface of the tin-plate, sheet, or article from the action of the acid we employ in the
after process. An acid solution which which will dissolve the metal under treatment
is then applied (by immersing the tin-plate, sheet, or article in the solution, or by
washing it therewith) to the unprotected surface until the coating metal (if any)
over such surface is partially or wholly removed, or the metal of such surface
otherwise reduced or recessed to receive the japan or other material to form the
ground work of the design to the thickness which will bring it flush, or nearly so,
with the surface protected with the wax or other protecting material. The tin-
plate, sheet, or article is then washed and dried, after which the permanent japan
or other material to form the groundwork of the design is laid over the entire
surface of the tin-plate, sheet, or article to the desired thickness, and is then rubbed

page_text: or levelled down so as to leave the raised metallic pattern exposed at or slightly
above the surface of the groundwork material. The tin-plate, metal sheet, or article
aforesaid is then stoved in the usual manner.
Third. We form the design or pattern upon tin-plate or other sheet metal with
the design raised above the surface of the metal to receive the groundwork of the
pattern by laying the tin-plate or other metal sheet under treatment flat against
another metal sheet (preferably of hardened steel) which has the design engraved
or sunk therein, and passing both under great pressure through smooth highly
polished metal rolls. The metal of the tin-plate or other sheet under treatment is
pressed into the engraved or recessed parts of the sheet against which it is placed,
thus forming the raised part of the pattern on the tin-plate or other sheet under
treatment, with the groundwork consequently slightly recessed. The entire surface
is then coated with the material to form the groundwork of the pattern, and the
process completed in the manner before-described according to our second process.
The sheet with the pattern engraved or recessed therein forms the "matrix," and is
used for repeated operations. Instead of using the engraved sheet aforesaid, the
pattern may be engraved on the surface of one of the pair of metal rolls. The
"matrix" sheet may be engraved on both sides if desired, and rolled between two
tin-plates or other metal sheets, the pattern on both of which is thus raised at one
operation; or the surface of each of the pair of rolls may be engraved, and two
tin-plates or other metal sheets rolled together with a plain steel plate between
them, the pattern being thus raised on both the plates or sheets to be decorated by
the one rolling operation.
Fourth. We cover the groundwork of the design, leaving the pattern exposed,
either according to the method described under the first process, that is, by laying
over the groundwork, and also over the pattern traced in the material solvent in
water and afterwards exposing the pattern, or by any suitable method upon sheet
iron or other sheet metal which will withstand the temperature subsequently
employed, or upon articles made therefrom in any suitable material which will
protect the surface of the metal from the action of the acid employed in the next
step of the process. We then deposit on the exposed parts nickel or other metal
of sufficiently high fusibility to withstand the temperature subsequently employed
by the electro process. The protecting medium is then removed and the ground-
work oxidised in any suitable manner, after which the groundwork may be
japanned or otherwise dealt with, if desired, or instead of oxidising the groundwork
after the nickel or other metal has been deposited and the protecting medium
removed, the permanent groundwork material may be laid on in the manner
described according to the second described process, and in this case of course it is
not necessary that the decorated metal or the deposited metal should be able to
withstand a high temperature.
The first, second, and fourth described processes are applicable also to the
ornamentation of other metal surfaces, besides those of sheet metal.
Having thus stated the nature of our said Invention and particularly described
and ascertained the manner of performing the same, we declare that what we
claim as our Invention and desire to secure by the herein-before in-part recited
Letters Patent is,-
1st. Producing designs upon tin-plate and other sheet metal and upon articles
made therefrom, by first marking the pattern on the said tin-plate, metal sheet,
or article made therefrom, in a material capable of being dissolved in water, then
covering the whole surface to be decorated with the material to form the ground-
work of the design, and afterwards removing the groundwork material lying upon
the pattern by dissolving in water the material in which the pattern was marked,
and finally stoving in the usual manner, substantially as herein-described under
the first part of our Invention and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. Producing designs upon tin-plates and other sheet metal and upon articles
made therefrom, by first marking on the pattern with a protecting medium, then
eating out the groundwork to the desired depth by means of an acid solution,

page_text: next, washing off the protecting medium and drying the plate, sheet or article,
and afterwards covering the entire surface to be decorated with the groundwork
material and rubbing or levelling the said groundwork material down to leave the
metallic pattern exposed, and finally stoving in the usual manner, substantially as
herein described under the second part of our Invention and for the purpose set
forth.
3rd. Producing designs upon tin-plate and upon other sheet metal by first
forming a raised pattern by rolling the tin-plate or other sheet metal in contact
with an engraved plate or engraved roller surface, and afterwards laying on the
groundwork material and completing the process in the manner referred to in our
second claim, substantially as herein described under the third part of our
Invention, and for the purpose set forth.
4th. Producing designs upon sheet iron and upon other sheet metal which will
withstand the temperature subsequently employed, and upon articles made
therefrom, by first marking on the groundwork in a protecting medium leaving
the pattern exposed, then depositing nickel or other metal of sufficiently high
fusibility to withstand the temperature, subsequently employed by the electro
process, upon the exposed pattern, afterwards removing the protecting medium
and oxidising the groundwork in any suitable manner, and if desired japanning or
otherwise dealing with it, substantially as herein described under the fourth
part of our Invention and for the purpose set forth, and also adopting the same
process without oxidising the groundwork, but finishing it in the manner referred
to in claim 2, in which case it is not of course necessary that the decorated metal
or the deposited metal should be able to withstand a high temperature.
5th. Producing designs upon other surfaces of metal besides those of sheet
metal by means of the first, second, and fourth processes, substantially as herein
described and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Nind Hopkins, for myself and on
behalf of the said George Hatton, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS, Assoc., M. Inst., C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
ALFRED N. HOPKINS. (LS.)