Improvements in Preparing Metallic and other Surfaces for Engraving or Etching.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
23rd Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Preparing Metallic and other Surfaces for
Engraving or Etching.".
We, WILLIAM BEGG, Wire Cloth Manufacturer, and CHARLES ALISON KER,
Engraver, both of 633 Springfield Road, Parkhead, in the County of Lanark,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to engraving or etching of metallic and other surfaces
by transfer thereto of prints or designs, and it is applicable to engraving of sur-
faces for printing music, for general metal engraving and stencils including
rolls and plates for calico and wall paper printing, for glass engraving or etching,
for newspaper and book illustration, and for litho stone engraving and relief
work.
The Invention consists in preparing the surface of a zinc plate or other sur-
face to be engraved, by spreading thereon a thin film of Bitumen or like material
having analogous properties and transferring on to the prepared surface in greasy
ink the design, drawing or print to be reproduced. The plate is then subjected
to moderate heat which has the effect of drying hardening or rendering insoluble
the bitumen unacted on by the ink whilst leaving the inked part soft and soluble.
The greasy or soft part of the Bitumen is then removed by the use of a solvent
such as turpentine to expose the zinc or other surface to be engraved. The
engraving or etching process is then effected by means of acid or by any of the
usual methods employed in etching. The hardening of the Bitumen unacted on
by the transfer may be effected by light instead of by heat, but we prefer the
latter as being more definite in action and more easily controlled.
"Improvements in Preparing Metallic and other Surfaces for
Engraving or Etching."
We, WILLIAM BEGG, Wire Cloth Manufacturer, and CHARLES ALISON KER,
Engraver, both of 633 Springfield Road, Purkhead, in the County of Lanark,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
[Price 8d1

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to engraving or etching of metallic and other 'surfaces
by transfer thereto of prints or designs, and it is applicable to engraving of sur-
faces for printing music, for general metal engraving and stencils including
rolls and plates for calico and wall paper printing, for glass engraving or etching,
for newspaper and book illustration, and for litho stone engraving and relief
work.
The Invention consists in preparing the surface of a zinc plate or other sur-
face to be engraved, by spreading thereon a thin film of Bitumen or like material
having analogous properties and transferring on to the prepared surface in greasy
ink the design, drawing or print to be reproduced. The plate is then subjected
to moderate heat which has the effect of drying hardening or rendering insoluble
the bitumen unacted on by the ink whilst leaving the inked part soft and soluble.
The greasy or soft part of the Bitumen is then removed by the use of a solvent
such as turpentine to expose the zinc or other surface to be engraved. The
engraving or etching process is then effected by means of acid or by any of the
usual methods employed in etching. The hardening of the Bitumen unacted on
by the transfer may be effected by light instead of by heat, but we prefer the
latter as being more definite in action and more easily controlled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The process of preparing metallic and other surfaces for engraving or etching,
consisting in spreading thereon a thin film of Bitumen or like malterial having
analogous properties, transferring thereon in greasy ink the design, drawing or
print to be reproduced, subjecting the plate or other surface to the action of heat
or light whereby the Bitumen unacted on by the ink is hardened or rendered
insoluble, and then removing the greased or softened Bitumen by means of a
solvent to expose the metallic or other surface substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd. day of October, 1897.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER
Of the firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow. Agent for the Applicants.