IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE DUPLICATING OR COPYING OF ENGRAVED AND OTHER PLATES OR 'BLOCKS, AND APPLICABLE FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF OTHER OBJECTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE DUPLICATING OR COPYING OF
ENGRAVED AND OTHER PLATES OR 'BLOCKS, AND APPLICABLE FOR THE
REPRODUCTION OF OTHER OBJECTS." A communication from abroad by
Louis Emile Jannin. of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th April 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
DUPLICATING OR COPYING OF ENGRAVED AND OTHER PLATES OR BLOCKS, AND
APPLICABLE FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF OTHER OBJECTS." [A communication
from abroad by Louis Emile Jannin, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the duplicating or making fac-similes
of engraved and other plates or blocks, the duplicates or copies obtained by my said
Invention being of an improved character; I also employ my process for the
reproduction of other articles.
The said improved plate or block is intended to replace those made by the
galvanoplastic process, also the wood and metal stereotype blocks heretofore
used.
The said improved process permits new and useful applications of the principle
upon which such duplicates or reproductions are obtained by reason of the special
qualities or characteristics of the material which I employ, and the manner in which
I make use of the same.
The chief distinguishing feature of the said process in comparison with the
processes heretofore known consists in the fact that I obtain a matrix or mould which
receives into its most delicate lines or cavities any substance which is plastic when
hot, may be compressed, and hardens as it cools, that is to say, such substances or
materials for instance as celluloid (composed of camphor and collodion), hardened
caoutchouc, gelatine, gutta-percha, and in fact any material requiring heat and
pressure for the purpose.

page_text: In carrying the said Invention into practice I take the impression of the
engraving or other work with oxide of lead (massicot, litharge, or minium) combined
with linseed oil or glycerine. The oxide of lead may be mixed with other metallic
oxides or certain matters inert or not inert which will have the effect of modifying
the qualities of the mastic according to the nature of the work to be produced. It
is to be understood that these additions do not constitute a departure from the
principle of the said Invention, as the basis of the mastic is always oxide of
lead.
When the impression has been taken, and as soon as the mastic has become hard,
I fill in by pressure and in a hot state either celluloid, hardened caoutchouc, or other
suitable material such as above named, and I thus obtain in a very short time a
perfect impression, plate, or block at a very small cost.
It is to be understood that the said Invention may be employed advantageously
for various purposes, amongst which are the following, that is to say :-
First. Providing printing or impression plates or blocks of celluloid, hardened
cooutchouc, or the like, which plates or blocks advantageously take the place of
those produced by the stereotyping and similar processes heretofore practised, such
for instance as those in which plaster, paper, or the galvanoplastic or a similar
method is used.
Secondly. Providing mouldings of all kinds for reproducing works of art and 1
similar objects by means of the plastic substances above named.
Thirdly. Various applications to all graphic arts which require fac-simile
reproductions, and the employment of stereotype plates or blocks, typographical
and photo-lithographic plates, chromo-type plates, engraving plates either sunk or in
relief, etching plates, impression rollers, either sunk or in relief, for printing on s
paper, cloth, and woven materials of all kind, and the like.
Fourthly. The production of flexible impression plates which are strong and of
small cost, and which may be fixed quickly upon the cylinders of typographical
machines for producing a large number of impressions.
I prefer to use celluloid, and I mean by this word any substance composed of
solidified collodion, whatever name it may be known by.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
September 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE
DUPLICATING OR COPYING OF ENGRAVED AND OTHER PLATES OR BLOCKS, AND
APPLICABLE FOR THE REPRODUCTION OF OTHER OBJECTS." A communication
from abroad by Louis Emile Jannin, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to the rapid duplicating or making facsimiles of engraved
and other plates or blocks by an improved process, the duplicates or copies obtained
by my said Invention being of an improved character; I also employ my process
for the reproduction of other articles.
The said improved plates or blocks are intended to replace those made by the
galvanoplastic process, also the wood and metal stereotype blocks heretofore
used.
The said improved process permits new and useful applications of the principle
upon which such duplicates or reproductions are obtained by reason of the special
qualities or characteristics of the materials which I employ and the manner in
which I make use of the same.
The chief distinguishing feature of the said process, in comparison with the
processes heretofore known, consists in the fact that I obtain in a very short time
a matrix or mould which can receive into its most delicate lines or cavities any
substance which is plastic when hot, may be compressed, and hardens as it cools,
that is to say, such substances or materials for instance as celluloid (composed of
camphor and collodion), hardened caoutchouc, gelatine, gutta-percha, and in fact any
material requiring heat and pressure for the purpose of being moulded.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I take the impression of the
engraving or other work with a mastic or cement composed of oxide of lead
(massicot, litharge, or minium) combined with glycerine. The oxide of lead may
be mixed with other metallic oxides, or certain matters inert or not inert, which
will have the effect of modifying the qualities of the mastic according to the nature
of the work to be produced. It will be obvious that these additions do not
constitute a departure from the principle of the said Invention, as the basis of the
mastic is always oxide of lead.
When the impression has been taken, and as soon as the mastic has become hard,
I fill in by pressure and in a hot state oither celluloid, hardened caoutchouc, or
other suitable material such as above named, and I thus obtain in a very short
time a perfect impression, plate, or block at a very small cost.
It is to be understood that the said Invention may be employed advantageously
for various purposes, amongst which are the following, that is to say :-
Firstly. The production of printing or impression plates or blocks of celluloid,
hardened caoutchouc, or the like, which plates or blocks advantageously take the
place of those produced by the stereotyping and similar processes heretofore practised,
such for instance as those in which plaster, paper, or the galvanoplastic or a similar
method is used.
Secondly. The production of mouldings of all kinds for reproducing works of art
and similar objects by means of the plastic substances above named.
Thirdly. Various applications to all graphic arts which require facsimile
reproductions, and the employment of stereotype plates or blocks, typographical
and photo-lithographic plates, chromotype plates, engraving plates either sunk or in
relief, etching plates, impression-rollers, either sunk or in relief, for printing on
paper, cloth, and woven materials of all kinds, and the like.
Fourthly. The production of flexible impression plates which are strong and of

page_text: '
small cost, and which may be fixed quickly upon the cylinders of typo-graphic
machines for producing a large number of impressions.
I prefer to use celluloid, under which term I include any substance composed of
solidified collodion, by whatever name the same may be known.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
-
First. The use of a cement composed of yellow oxide of lead (massicot) and
glycerine for the rapid reproduction of engraved or raised surfaces for the purposes of
printing, as above set forth.
Second. The use of the said cement for the reproduction of works of art, such as
sculpture or carving, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
17H DODT TAR
W. RODT. LAKE. (L.)