AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR 'WASHING,' 'TONING,' 'WASHING,” *FIXING,' AND 'WASHING' PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS, and Apparatus THERE- FOR
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Beckett, of Woodland Cottage, Moorfields,
in the City and County of Worcester, Photographer, for the In-
vention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR 'WASHING,' 'TONING,' 'WASHING,”
*FIXING,' AND 'WASHING' PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS, and Apparatus THERE-
FOR."
Sealed the 14th March 1873, and dated the 16th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Beckett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th September 1872.
I, James BECKETT, of Woodland Cottage, Moorfields, in the City and
County of Worcester, Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM FOR 'WASHING,' 'TONING,” ‘WASHING,'
'FIXING,' AND 'Washing' Photographic Prints and APPARATUS THEREFOR," to be
as follows (that is to say) :—
This Invention has for its object an improved system of treating
photographic prints immediately after being taken from the negative,

page_text: so that the operations of "washing," "toning," "washing," "fixing,
and "washing" may be performed in a superior, expeditious, officient,
and economical manner, and be converted into a continuous process.
These improvements may be carried out by the use of, say, three small
troughs having circular bottoms into which the "toning," "fixing,” and ||
washing fluids are placed. These troughs are formed at their ends with
suitable bearings to receive the axle of a small drum or cylinder, which
is of a convenient diameter to work round in close proximity with but
not in contact with the bottom of the trough. The prints when
removed from the printing frame are first cut to the required size, and
then spread (picture surface outside) over the cylindrical surface of the
revolving drum, where they are secured in position by means of elastic
bands or in any other suitable way. Then the cylinder is placed on the
bearings of the "washing" trough, when it is rotated so as to bring the
outer surface of the pictures in contact with the water to remove the
nitrate of silver from the prints. After having performed this operation
and discharged the remaining water the "toning" solution is introduced
into the trough, when the cylinder is again rotated until the prints are
toned; after which the remaining toning solution is withdrawn from the
trough, when several changes of fresh water are introduced to remove
the toning solution from the surface of the prints, when they and the
cylinder are removed to the hypo or fixing solution trough, when the
cylinder is again rotated so as to pass the surface of the prints through
the fixing solution for a few minutes, when the cylinder is again removed
to the water trough to receive its final washing.
In place of using the cylinder or cylinders for carrying the prints, as
herein before described, flat surface plates may be substituted, which slabs
are provided with india-rubber bands, or their mechanical equivalent,
for securing the prints thereto, as before described, by which arrange-
ment the dishes at present used by photographers may be utilised by
being substituted for the round-bottomed troughs described.
This principle of surface dipping will be found in practise infinately
superior to the total immersion and saturation from both sides of the
paper as at present practised, which is highly detrimental and injurious
to the prints, and at the same time causing great waste of the expensive
fluids used in the several operations.

page_text: It is preferred to form the troughs, cylinders, and flat plates of stone-
ware, porcelain, glass, or other vitreous material or materials, but wood,
metal, or other substances may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Beckett in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, JAMES
BECKETT, of Woodland Cottage, Moorfields, in the City and County of
Worcester, Photographer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Beckett, Her special license,
that I, the said James Beckett, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Beckett, my executors,
administrators, 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
SYSTEM FOR WASHING,' 'TONING,' 'WASHING,' 'FIXING,' AND 'WASHING' PHOTO-
GRAPHIC PRINTS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Beckett, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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.
f
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Beckett, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This my said Invention has for its object an improved system of
treating photographic prints immediately after being taken from the

page_text: negative, so that the operations of "washing," "toning," "washing,”
"fixing," and "washing "may be performed in a superior, expeditious,
efficient, and economical manner, and be converted into a continuous
process.
These my improvements may be carried out by the use of, say, three
small troughs having circular bottoms into which the "toning," "fixing,"
and "washing" fluids are placed. These troughs are formed at their
ends with suitable bearings to receive the axle of a small drum or cylinder
which is of a convenient diameter to work round in close proximity but
in contact with the bottom of the trough. The prints when removed
from the printing frame I first cut to the required size, and then spread
them (picture surface outside) over the cylindrical surface of the
revolving drum, where I secure them in position by means of elastic
bands, or in any other suitable way. The cylinder I then place on the
bearings of the "washing" trough, and rotate it so as to bring the outer
surface of the pictures in contact with the water to remove the nitrate
of silver from the prints. After having performed this operation and
discharged the remaining water I introduce "toning" solution into the
trough, when I again rotate the cylinder until the prints are toned,
after which I withdraw the remains of the toning solution from the
trough. I then introduce several changes of fresh water to remove the
toning solution from the surface of the prints, and afterwards remove
the cylinder with the prints thereon to the typo or fixing solution
trough. I again rotate the cylinder so as to pass the surfaces of the
prints through the "fixing" solution for a few minutes, and then remove
the cylinder to the water trough to receive its final washing.
In place of using the cylinder or cylinders for carrying the prints, as
herein-before described, flat surface plates may be substituted, which
plates I provide with india-rubber bands, or their mechanical equivalent,
for securing the prints thereto, as before described, by which arrange-
ment the dishes at present used by photographers may be utilized by
being substituted for the round-bottom troughs described.
This principle of surface dipping will be found in practice infinitely
superior to the total immersion and saturation from both sides of the
paper as at present practised, which is highly detrimental and injurious
to the prints, and at the same time causes great waste of the expensive
fluids used in the several operations.

page_text: I prefer to form the troughs, cylinders, and flat plates of stoneware,
porcelain, glass, or other vitreous material or materials, but wood, metal,
or other substances may be used.
In some cases I prefer to attach the upright bearings on which the
cylinder rotates to a base plate or stand which is arranged to receive a
loose trough having a concave internal or other suitably shaped bottom;
and in most cases I prefer to construct the uprights with at least two
bearings, so that the cylinder being placed on the upper pair of bearings
it will be above and free from contact with the liquid in the trough,
which will be found convenient when the toning or other process is
required to be suspended for a time, as will be well understood by all
practical photographers.
Having now fully ascertained and described the nature of this my
said Invention, and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be clearly understood that I
do not confine myself to the precise detailed proportions or dimensions
of the several parts of the apparatus herein-before described, and set
forth, as these it will be seen may be considerably varied without
departing from the Invention; but what I claim is,—
First. The improved system of treating photographic prints sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before fully
described and set forth.
And lastly, The general construction, form, and arrangement of the
several parts of the apparatus operated substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before fully described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Beckett, have hercunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
30 Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street,
Liverpool.
JAMES (L.s.) BECKETT.