PRODUCTION OF ELASTIC PRINTING SURFACES
Year: 1884

page_text: We, ISAAC BROAD SHAW, of 25 High Street, Tunstall, printer; WILLIAM SIMEON
SHAW, 6 perry street Wolverhampton, Telegraphist; and EDMUND SAMUEL SHAW,
25 High Street Tunstall, printer, all in the County of Stafford do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for THE PRODUCTION OF ELASTIC PRINTING SURFACES
to be as follows:-
In carrying out this Invention we take a sheet of plate glass or polished metal of
any desired size, round the edge of which we place a wood frame about 1/4 inch
thick, upon this frame we place a sheet of perforated brass, wire gauze, or similar
material, which is to be stretched tightly, and which it is requisite to keep at an
even distance from the face of the aforesaid sheet of plate glass or metal; we then
next put a similar frame to the first mentioned one upon the edges of the
perforated metal or other material, and upon this frame we place another sheet of
plate glass or metal, which being properly secured and luted round with putty or
by any other means forms a mould, having then properly oiled the faces of such
mould, we proceed to pour the melted composition, (which is the same as letter
press printers' rollers are made of)-into the mould, on that side of the perforated
plate which is intended to be used for the printing surface.
When the composition
is cold and properly set we take the outside plates away leaving a block of
composition with the perforated plate or gauze in its centre, which is now
manipulated as follows:-We take a piece of chalk or suitable crayon and sketch
the design upon the surface of the composition, or we may obtain the design by
transfer in the usual way; having the design completed we proceed to cut away
the white parts and to do this we procure a sharp instrument similar to a penknife
and cut through the composition to the surface of the perforated brass sheet or
wire gauze, having gone all round the outer lines of the design which are to form
the white parts, we take a broad edged tool or scoop and insert it between the
composition and the plate, which enables us very readily to cut away the white
parts from the printing surfaces. When the design is of an elaborate character we
obtain our mould by casting from wood, metal, or other engravings; or upon a
piece of sheet glass or similar surface we put a coating of soap and whiting of
sufficient thickness upon which we draw or transfer the design required, and

page_text: proceed to engrave the same by cutting down to the surface of the glass or in the
ordinary way of reproduction. We obtain a mould well oiled or lacquered and fix it
in place of the first mentioned sheet of glass or metal, and having fixed the wood
fraines and perforated plate or wire gauze as before described we proceed to pour
the melted composition thereinto. After allowing the composition to set and cool
we strip it from the mould when it is now ready for use. In fixing these Elastic
surfaces we may either employ iron rods-which are temporarily fixed to the
perforated plate in the process of casting the surfaces, which rods project beyond
the two sides of the printing surfaces, and fit into into a frame having grooves to
receive the same; or lay the printing surfaces on a board and with stout drawing
pins, push them through the perforated plate or gauze into the board beneath,
or by such means place them on the cylinders of rotary letterpress, calico,
paper-hanging or other printing machines or in any other way fix as desired.
Dated this 1st day of January 1884.
ISAAC BROAD SHAW.
WILLIAM SIMEON SHAW.
EDMUND SAMUEL SHAW.

page_text: We, ISAAC BROAD SHAW, of 25, High Street, Tunstall, Printer; WILLIAM
SIMEON SHAW, of 6 Perry Street, Dudley Road Wolverhampton, Telegraphist; and
EDMUND SAMUEL SHAW, of 25 High Street, Tunstall, Printer, all in the County of
Stafford do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF ELASTIC PRINTING SURFACES and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
In carrying out this Invention we take a sheet of plate glass or polished metal
of any desired size round the edges of which we place a wood frame about a
quarter of an inch thick upon this frame we place a sheet of perforated brass wire
gauze or similar material which is to be stretched tightly and which it is requisite
to keep at an even distance from the face of the aforesaid sheet of glass or metal
we then next put a similar frame to the first mentioned one upon the edges of the
perforated metal or other material and upon this frame we place another sheet of
plate glass or metal which being properly secured and luted round forms a mould,
having oiled the faces of such mould we proceed to pour in the melted composition
(which is the same letterpress printers rollers are made of) in that side of the
perforated plate which is intended to be used for the printing surface. When
curved surfaces are required for fixing on cylinders of rotatory machines the
polished metal and perforated plate are bent to the desired curve. When the
composition is cold and properly set we take the outside plates away leaving a
block of composition, with the perforated plate or gauze in its centre, which is
now manipulated as follows. We take a suitable crayon and sketch the design
upon the composition block, or we may obtain the design by transfer in the usual
way, having the design completed we proceed to cut away the white parts and to
do this we use a sharp instrument similar to a penknife and cut through the
composition to the surface of the brass sheet or wire gauze, having gone all round
the outer lines of the design which are to form the white parts, we take a broad-
edged tool or scoop and insert it between the composition and the plate which
enables us very readily to cut away the white parts from the printing surface
When the key-block of the design is of an elaborate character on the first-
mentioned sheet of plate glass we put a coating of soap and whiting of sufficient
thickness, upon which we draw or transfer the design required and proceed to
engrave the same by cutting down to the surface of the glass or upon a plaster of
paris surface cut the design in deep or shallow ruts, and so obtain a mould, and
fix it in the place of the first-mentioned sheet of glass or metal.
In fixing these elastic surfaces we may either employ iron rods which are
temporarily fixed to the perforated plate in the process of casting the surfaces,
which rods project beyond the two sides of the printing surfaces and fit into a
frame having grooves to receive the same, or we lay the printing surfaces upon
boards and with stout drawing pins push them through the perforated plate into
the board beneath and similarly on the cylinders of rotatory letterpress paper
hanging or other printing machines. These surfaces may be used for getting up
large designs for and upon ceramic and enamelled ware by transfer printing

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
The production of an elastic surface having a perforated metal plate in its centre
enabling the operator to readily manipulate and fix the same and producing
designs thereon for printing as herein before described.