Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1886.
Complete Left, 19th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 20th May, 1887.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to a process of coloring or producing colored designs upon
celluloid and other analogous products whereby the dye or coloring matter is caused to
penetrate and become fixed in the surface of the celluloid or material treated in a fast
and permanent manner so as to resist the action of friction, washing, and other similar
destructive influences.
"
By analogous product" is here meant any plastic substance having a base of
nitrocellulose such as those known in Commerce under the names of Celluloid, Fibro-
lithoid, Lithoxyl, Xylonite Ivorine, Pyroxilin, etc.
By this new process celluloid and analogous products are rendered available for the
manufacture of many articles which could not heretofore be made thereof in consequence
of the impossibility of imparting thereto a fast and wear resisting decorative effect.
For instance, imitation linen goods, such as collars, cuffs, false shirt-fronts, and the
like, have heretofore only been made of white color because it was imposible to produce
with celluloid, goods in durable and wear-resisting colors in imitation of colored or
fancy linen, whereas by the process of this Invention an imitation colored linen may
be produced from celluloid imitating in the most perfect manner genuine colored
linen, and possessing absolute permanency of color, being far superior, in this respect,
to the genuine colored fabrics used for shirting which lose color every time they are
washed.
The process of this Invention is not limited to imitation linen goods of celluloid,
but is also applicable to fancy goods now largely made of that material. This new

page_text: process of coloring or producing colored designs upon celluloid is based essentially on
the simultaneous action of the three following agents, namely-heat, pressure, and
steam. A vehicle or intermediate material is used for receiving the color or colored
design and transferring it to the celluloid under the influence of the agents above
mentioned. This intermediate transferring agent may be paper, card fabric, metal, or
other animal, vegetable, or mineral substance.
Having described the nature of the process, I will now describe the practical
method of carrying it into effect. If it be desired, for example, to impart the
appearance of colored or fancy linen to a collar or other article made of celluloid in
imitation of white linen (such article being generally made of a thickness of white
linen enclosed between two layers of white celluloid) the article, or one of the shoots
or layers of celluloid of which it is to be composed is spread upon the bed of a press,
and upon the surface to be colored is applied the transferring vehicle previously
colored or imprinted with the color or design to be produced upon the celluloid. This
transfer sheet being moistened is subjected to pressure, and whilst under pressure heat
is applied by forcing steam into the hollow plates of the press or otherwise. Under
the influence of the pressure the heat and the steam generated by the moisture of the
transfer or intermediate fabric, the colors are caused to completely penetrate the surface
of the celluloid, and become permanently fixed therein in such manner as to resist the
friction and repeated Washings to which such articles of celluloid are usually subjected.
Similarly, if it be desired to produce a cravat of celluloid in imitation of a diapered
and figured fabric, a piece of the real fabric to be imitated is used as the intermediate
or transfer fabric, and is applied upon the celluloid surface in the manner above
described whereby both the colored design and a counterpart of the surface of the
fabric to be imitated aro produced upon the surface of the celluloid thereby producing
a perfect imitation.
In the case of fancy goods of celluloid the fabric of which a screen or fan is made
may be imitated in a similar manner. To produce an imitation of a painting upon
ivory or mother of pearl, the artistic subject is printed by chromo lithography upon a
transfer plate or sheet of metal, paper, or other smooth surfaced material which is then
applied upon the surface of a sheet of celluloid (made or tinted in imitation of ivory or
mother of pearl, as the case may be) the surfaces in contact being moistened, the
whole is then subjected to heat and prossure whereby the artistic composition becomes
transferred to, and indelibly fixed in, the celluloid. The article may then be polished
etc, without injuring the picture.
It will thus be seen that the Invention consists in a process of color-printing upon
celluloid or other analogous material differing from ordinary existing processes in that on
the one hand the color is applied upon an intermediate surface for the purpose of being
transferred to the celluloid, and on the other hand the transfer into the celluloid of the
colors printed on the intermediate surface is effected by the conjoint action of pressure,
heat, and steam. Such process is distinct from those in use for coloring celluloid
which is effected by either incorporating the coloring matter in the celluloid whilst in
course of manufacture, or by immersing the celluloid in an alcoholic solution or dye
in order to obtain stable colors, or by painting or printing the color by known means
which give unstable results, easily destroyed by the least friction.
Dated thin 21 dan PT... 1000
A. M. CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: An Improved Process of Coloring or Producing Colored Designs
upon Celluloid and Analogous Products.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by La Compagnie Française du Celluloid of 11 Rue Bailly Paris France,
Manufacturers of Celluloid Goods; and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This Invention relates to a process of coloring or producing colored designs upon
celluloid and other analogous products, whereby the dye or coloring matter is caused
to penetrate and become fixed in the surface of the celluloid, or material treated, in a
fast and permanent manner, so as to resist the action of friction, washing, and other
similar destructive influences. By "analogous product" is here meant any plastic
substance having a base of nitro-cellulose, such as those known in commerce under the
names of Celluloid, Fibro-Lithoid, Lithoxyl, Xylonite, Ivorine, Pyroxilin.
"
By this new process, celluloid and analogous products are rendered available for the
manufacture of many articles which could not heretofore be made thereof, in
consequence of the impossibility of imparting thereto a fast and wear-resisting
decorative effect. For instance, imitation linen goods, such as collars, cuffs, false shirt
fronts, and the like, have heretofore only been made of white color, because it was
impossible to produce, with celluloid, goods in durable and wear resisting colors in
imitation of colored or fancy "linen (by which term is included goods of linen or
calico) whereas by the process of this Invention an imitation colored linen "
produced from celluloid, imitating in the most perfect manner genuine colored "linen
and possessing absolute permanency of color, being far superior in this respect to the
genuine colored fabrics used for shirting, which lose color every time they are washed.
The process of this Invention is not limited to imitation linen goods of celluloid, but is
also applicable to fancy goods now largely made of that material.
may be
"
This new process of coloring or producing colored designs upon celluloid, is based
essentially on the simultaneous action of the three following agents-namely―heat,
pressure, and steam. A vehicle or temporary support is used for receiving the color
or colored design and transferring it to the celluloid under the influence of the agents
above mentioned. This transferring agent may be paper, card, calico, linen, or other
woven fabric metal, or other animal, vegetable, or mineral substance, upon which the
desired design to be transferred has been printed in the colors ordinarily used in
dyeing and printing, such as indigo madder, and non-soluble mineral colors.
Having described the nature of the process, I will now describe the practical method
of carrying it into effect. If it be desired, for example, to impart the appearance of
colored or fancy "linen" to a collar or other article made of celluloid, in imitation of
white linen (such article being generally made of a thickness of white linen
enclosed between two layers of white celluloid) the article, or one of the thin sheets or
layers of celluloid of which it is to be composed, is spread upon the bed of a press, and
upon the surface to be colored is applied the transferring vehicle previously colored or
imprinted with the color or design to be produced upon the celluloid. Good
results have been obtained by using printed calicoes as found in commerce, which

page_text: readily transfer their colors to the celluloid. This transfer sheet and also the surface
of the celluloid is moistened. and the whole subjected to pressure and whilst under
pressure, heat is applied by admitting steam, under a pressure of about 5 atmospheres,
into the hollow bed and platen of the press or otherwise. Under the more or less
prolonged influence of the heat, (which should be about 150° Centigrade,) the pressure,
and the steam generated by the moisture, the colors are caused to completely penetrate
the surface of the celluloid and become permanently fixed therein in such manner as
to resist the friction and repeated washings to which such articles of celluloid are
usually subjected. Pressure having been applied for a sufficient time to produce this
result, the transfer or temporary support is then removed. Similarly, if it be desired
to produce a cravat of celluloid in imitation of a figured damask fabric for example, a
piece of the real fabric to be imitated is used as the transfer agent and is applied upon
the celluloid surface in the manner above described whereby both the colored pattern
and a counterpart of the surface of the fabric to be imitated, are re-produced upon the
surface of the celluloid, a perfect imitation being thus obtained.
In the case of fancy goods of celluloid, the fabric of which a screen or fan is made
may be imitated in a similar manner. To produce an imitation of a painting upon
ivory or mother of pearl, the artistic subject printed by chromo-lithography upon
à transfer plate or sheet of metal, paper, or other smooth surfaced material, which is
then applied upon the surface of a sheet of celluloid (made or tinted in imitation of
ivory or mother of pearl, as the case may be) the surfaces in contact being moistened
the whole is then subjected to heat and pressure whereby the artistic composition
becomes transferred to and indelibly fixed in the celluloid. The article may then be
polished etc., without injuring the picture.
It will thus be seen that the Invention consists in a process of color printing upon
celluloid or other analogous material, differing from ordinary existing processes in that
on the one hand the color is applied upon a temporary support for the purpose of
'being transferred to the celluloid and on the other hand the transfer into the celluloid
of the colors printed on the temporary support is effected by the conjoint action of
pressure, heat, and steam. Such process is distinct from those in use for coloring
celluloid which is effected by either incorporating the coloring matter in the celluloid
whilst in course of manufacture, or by immersing the celluloid in an alcoholic
solution or dye, in order to obtain stable colors, or by painting or printing the color
by known means, which give unstable results easily destroyed by the least friction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The herein described process of producing a fast and wear resisting color or
decorative design or effect in imitation of parti-colored woven fabrics upon the surface
of articles composed of celluloid or other analogous material herein specified; which
process consists in applying a moistened transfer sheet (upon which color or design has
been printed or otherwise produced) upon the surface of the celluloid and submitting
the whole to pressure and heat in a press whereby vapor is generated and the colors,
under the combined influence of heat pressure and steam, become transferred from
the intermediate vehicle to the surface to be colored, substantially as herein
specified.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.