IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Betts, of No. 1, Wharf Road, City Road,
in the County of Middlesex, Capsule Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Florentiu Aubey, of Bordeaux, in the Empire of
France, Manufacturer.
Sealed the 21st January 1868, and dated the 24th July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Betts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
July 1867.
I, WILLIAM BETTS, of No. 1, Wharf Road, City Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Capsule Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES," a
munication to me from abroad by Florentin Aubey, of Bordeaux, in the Empire
of France, Manufacture, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of colouring metallic capsules
for bottles and similar recepticles whereby the coloured capsule has the
appearance of being coated with sealing wax, whilst at the same time such
coating is capable of resisting the bending and friction necessary for the appli-
cation of a capsule to a bottle.
In carrying out this Invention with a view to producing the effect
above described I apply to such capsules an opaque colouring matter in lieu
of a transparent colouring medium as heretofore. Such opaque colouring
matter may consist of any suitable drying oil or turps, or elastic varnish, such,
for example, as the well-known capsule varnish, with which I incorporate

page_text: any of the well-known or other opaque or body colours, such as are used by
artificial flower makers, for example. The proportions of varnish and colouring
matter will of course vary according to the body or consistency of the colouring
matter required. The capsule to be coloured (which may be manufactured
in the ordinary manner) is or may be placed upon the mandrel of a lathe, and
whilst revolving the before-mentioned opaque colouring material is applied by
any suitable brush to the side or side and end of such capsule.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Betts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BETTS, of No. 1, Wharf Road, City Road, in the County of Middlesex, Capsule
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Betts, Her special license that I, the said William
Betts, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Betts, my executors, administrators, or 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES," a communication to me from
abroad by Florentine Aubey, of Bordeaux, in the Empire of France, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Betts, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Betts, 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:-

page_text: This Invention relates to an improved mode of coloring metallic capsules
for bottles and similar receptacles whereby the colored capsule has the
appearance of being coated with sealing wax, whilst at the same time such
coating is capable of resisting the bending and friction necessary for the appli-
cation of the capsule to a bottle.
In carrying out this Invention with a view to producing the effect_above
described I apply to such capsules an opaque coloring matter in lieu of a trans-
parent coloring varnish as heretofore, such opaque coloring matter I find is
best prepared in the following manner :-I take a quantity of the white elastic
varnish known as Sochnée varnish now used in the coloring of capsules, and
I concentrate this by evaporation until it is reduced to about two-thirds of the
original bulk. I then incorporate with it any of the well-known opaque or
body colors, such as are used by artificial flower makers, for example. The
object of this concentration of the varnish is to enable it to carry suspended in
it matter which would otherwise sink. The proportions of concentrated
varnish and coloring will of course vary according to the body or consistency
of the coloring matter required. The capsule to be colored (which may be
manufactured in the ordinary manner) is or may be placed upon the mandril
of a lathe, and whilst revolving the before-mentioned opaque coloring material
is applied by any suitable brush to the side, or side and end of such capsule.
A second coating of the coloring matter may be applied when great brilliancy
is required. It may also be observed that when opaque colors are employed
the capsules may be colored after they have been stamped, an advantage
which cannot be obtained when transparent colors are employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the employment of an opaque
coloring matter for coloring capsules, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Betts, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of January, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.