Improvements relating to the Reproduction of Cliches, Stamps, and the like in Celluloid.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Reproduction of Cliches, Stamps,
and the like in Celluloid.
I, DAN LICHTENBERG-MADSEN, of 31, Nedergade, Odense, in the Kingdom of
Denmark, Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement: -
f....
As is well-known celluloid becomes, by suitable heating, so pliable that it may
be stamped. It is further known, that even the finest details of the stamps or
matrices used for stamping celluloid are produced with extreme sharpness. More-
over, as celluloid combines elasticity with great resistance to chemical action and
mechanical wear such material is well adapted for re-producing clichés.
Experiments have already been made with the object of re-producing ordinary
wood engravings or metal clichés in celluloid but without obtaining an exactly
correct representation of the finest details of the original. This has been due
to inability to produce the matrices from the original necessary for the stamping
without thereby destroying some of its sharpness. As material for such matrices
cement, gypsum, plastic sulphur and the like have been used. But these materials
do not give a completely smooth and non-porous surface, and moreover it is
necessary to apply an insulating layer (oil or the like) to the surface of the
original in order to separate the finished matrix from the original. For these
reasons the reproduction of the fine details of the matrix is less sharp, and the
later produced celluloid cliché can, as a matter of course and as regards sharp-
ness, not give more than the matrix employed.
The present invention is based upon the employment of celluloid as material
for the matrices as well. The carrying into practice of the invention, however,
presented considerable difficulty. Two suitably heated pieces of celluloid may,
as is well known, by pressure be completely combined and if a plate of cellulose
is to be stamped with a matrix of the same material only the former one should
be heated, but unless special precautions are taken the strong pressure will cause
a partial fusion and clinging to take place. On the other hand the use of an
insulating layer must be avoided if the sharpness of the stamp is not to be
diminished.
According to the present invention, however, it will be possible to stamp celluloid
with celluloid matrices without having recourse to any insulating layer whatever.
In a plate of a special kind of celluloid which contains about 70% of nitro-
cellulose, 25% of camphor and 5% of resinous oil or the like a negative is stamped
with the original cliché. The stamping itself is effected in the ordinary manner
so that the heated celluloid plate is strongly pressed against the original cliché.
The negative thus obtained is then used as a matrix for the stamping of another
plate of celluloid containing from 35 to 50% of camphor. In this plate there
is then obtained an absolutely exact copy of the original cliché.
The peculiarity of this invention is the different composition of the two kinds
of celluloid according to the purpose for which it is intended. By the said

page_text: invention I obtain a suitable proportion between the hardness of the matrix
and of the plate against which it is to act, and moreover I attain the result that
the surface of the matrix after the stamping easily releases not only the original
cliché but also the plate of celluloid from which the reproduction is made.
It is therefore not necessary at any period of the reproduction to employ in-
sulating coatings, the great adaptability of the celluloid to receive sharp impres-
sions will be fully utilized and the reproduction will, to the smallest details,
completely correspond to the original.
According to the process herein described it is possible to reproduce for instance,
autotype cliches in celluloid while an exact reproduction in this material of the
fine lines of the net has hitherto been impossible.
It will further be possible with a single-celluloid matrix of this kind to take
practically an unlimited number of impressions of the same sharpness as the
original. The process being, moreover, cheap and quick, it will attain great
importance by rendering it possible to perform work in print which has hitherto
been effected by lithography, as for instance printing of labels by the sheet,
coloured advertisements, and the like.
7 C
3f
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The process for the reproduction in celluloid of clichés, stamps, and the like,
characterized by the fact that a matrix is stamped with the original in a special
kind of celluloid, containing 70 % of nitrocellulose 25 % of camphor, and 5%, of
resinous oil or the like, whereupon the desired number of stampings are effected
in the usual manner in celluloid, containing from 35 to 50% of camphor.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.