Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1887
Complete Left, 20th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1888
I, FREDERICK CRANE, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United States of America,
temporarily of 433 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturing
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Heretofore it has been the custom to prepare spirit varnishes from Methyl Alcohol,
Methylated Spirits, and Ethyl Alcohol; either of them being used alone, or in com-
bination with one or both of the others. The lighter products of petroleum are also used
sometimes, in combination with the menstrua named.
Those spirit varnishes which are composed of the first named solvents, (Methyl and
Ethyl Alcohols, alone or combined), dry too rapidly to ensure a perfect application to
the surface to which they are applied.
If the lighter products of petroleum distillation are used the object of making the
varnish dry slower is not obtained, and if products having a higher boiling point
are used, the gum left on the surface of the article varnished retains the odour of the
petroleum product for a long time; which is objectionable.
The improvement consists in the use of a volatile substance, which leaves no residue
on evaporation to injure the varnish, and yet drying slowly in order to retard the
drying of the varnish, and give it smooth flowing qualities. It is also desirable to use
a liquid non-absorbent of water, in order that the varnish may be applied to cold
metals. For this purpose is used Acetate of Amyl, a compound ether which has a
boiling point of 136 degrees C.
A medium varnish is as follows :

page_text: The quantities of the alcohols may be varied, or either or both of them omitted,
according to the variation in the gum resin employed in the varnish.
The amount of the Amyl Acetate used may be varied as it may be required in order
to produce a quick or slow drying varnish. Usually, if the amount of resin used is
small, the amount of Amyl Acetate is increased; but if large, then the amount of the
said fluid is decreased. For example, if two pounds of gum are used to the gallon of
compound solvent-as given in the formula: then four or five parts in ten of Amyl
Acetate may be used; but when four or five pounds of gum resin is employed, then no
more than one or two parts in ten of Amyl Acetate need be used.
Any of the known colouring matters or substances may be used to impart to the
varnish any desired colour.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Varnishes.
I, FREDERICK CRANE, Manufacturing Chemist, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United
States of America, and temporarily of 433, Strand, London, in the County or
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner
the same may be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Heretofore it has been the custom to prepare spirit varnishes from methyl alcohol,
methylated spirits and ethyl-alcohol, any one of them being used; alone, or in com-
bination with one or both of the others. The lighter products of petroleum are also used
sometimes, in combination with the menstrua named.
Those spirit varnishes, in which the solvent consists of ethyl- or methyl-alcohol or of
both, dry too rapidly, to ensure a uniform application to the surfaces which are to
be coated.
If the lighter products of petroleum distillation are used, the object of making the
varnish dry more slowly is not attained, and if products having a Higher boiling point
are employed, the gum resin left on the surface of the article varnished retains the
odour of the petroleum product for a long time.
The improved varnish is prepared with a volatile solvent or liquid mixture, which
on evaporation leaves no residue to injure the varnish, and yet dries slowly enough to
render the application of the varnish easy, and give it smooth flowing qualities. The
solvent or menstruum is also a non-absorbent of water, or one in which the hygroscopic
nature of ethyl- or methyl-alcohol has been rendered innocuous by the addition of a
non-hygroscopic liquid, in order that the varnish may be applied to cold metal and not
be cloudy when dry.
Such a solvent is amyl-acetate, a compound ether, which boils at 136 degrees C., and
this may be used either alone or in mixture with other suitable menstrua. A medium
varnish may, for instance, be composed as follows:
.
Methyl or ethyl alcohol
-Amyl-alcohol
Amyl-acetate
Shellac
5 Gallons.
3
"
2
"
20 pounds.
Others of the well known gum resins usually contained in spirit varnish, or a com-
bination thereof may be employed, provided that they are soluble in the above menstruum,
for instance kauri and mastic, the quantity varying from half a pound to five pounds
per gallon. The quantity of the alcohols may also vary, or either or both of them may
be omitted, according to the nature and quantity of gum resin employed in the
varnisb. The quantities of amyl acetate may be changed in order to produce a more
quickly or a more slowly drying varnish. As a rule, if the amount of gum resin used
is small, the quantity of amyl acetate is increased, but if large, then the quantity of
the said fluid is reduced.

page_text: For instance, if two pounds of gum resin are employed to the gallon of compound
solvent, as given in the above formula, then four or five parts in ten of amyl-acetate
may be used; but when four or five pounds of gum resin are employed, then no more
than one or two parts in ten of amyl acetate need be taken.
Any of the known colouring matters, or other suitable admixtures, may be added to
impart to the varnish any special colour or other properties.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same may be performed, I declare, that what I
claim is -
1. Varnish containing one or more gum-resins dissolved or suspended in amyl-
acetate.
2. Varnish containing one or more gum-resins dissolved or suspended in a menstruum
composed of amyl-acetate, methyl- or ethyl-alcohol, and amyl-alcohol.
3. Varnish containing one or more gum-resins, dissolved or suspended in a
menstruum composed of amyl alcohol and amyl-acetate.
4. Varnish containing one or more gum-resins, methyl- or ethyl-alcohol, amyl-
alcohol and amyl acetato, in the proportions substantially as described.
5. Varnish containing one or more gum-resins, and one or more of the solvents or
mixtures of solvents specified above, in addition to other ingredients.
6. Resin-varnish composed in part of hygroscopic solvents and of amyl-acetate or a
mixture of amyl-acetate with amyl-alcohol in such quantity as to render the varnish
practically non-hygroscopic.
Dated this 16th day of February 1888
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.