A Process for the Application of Paper Prints and other Articles to Celluloid Plates.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Process for the Application of Paper Prints and other Articles
to Celluloid Plates.
I, WOLFF HAGELBERG, of Nos. 19-22 Marienstrasse, Berlin, N.W. Germany,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object the application of designs, devices and other
suitable articles to celluloid plates in such a manner that they appear to be made
in one piece with the plate.
The articles to be thus applied to celluloid plates, may be for instance designs,
pictures, textile fabrics, prints on paper, perforated configurations, checker work,
leaves, flowers, thin plates of mother of pearl and the like or they may be more
useful devices such as thermometer-scales, almanacs, and similar devices or articles.
The process is as follows: The article to be applied to the plate of celluloid is
placed on the latter and then covered with a thin layer of celluloid collodion or
other similar transparent material which has been brought into liquid condition by a
suitable easily evaporating solvent. The plate thus treated is brought into a press,
the pressing plates of which are strongly heated, and it is left there for some time.
It is advantageous to increase the temperature during the commencement of pressing.
In this manner the covering layer of dissolved celluloid, collodion or similar
material which has become again stiff through the evaporation of the solvent,
becomes again liquid, whereby the covering material is caused to adhere to and to
adapt itself intimately to the outline of the article under it. The article itself
becomes somewhat embedded into the plate of celluloid which is softened by the
heat. The pressing plates with the celluloid plate are then cooled under constant
pressure either in the same press or after being transferred to another press.
In consequence the liquid or semi-liquid covering layer becomes stiff again, and the
plate of celluloid returns to its former rigid condition. When the pressing has
been completed, the finished plate of celluloid can be removed without injury
from the press, and appears then to be made in one piece with the article or
device applied to it, which latter is slightly embedded therein, together with the
covering layer, and the article applied to the plate appears as a picture forming a
part of the surface of the plate.
The effect obtained by the process may be increased by embossing the plate of
celluloid, during pressing it, by means of suitable dies, or stamps; or by giving the
plate a dull, or a specially brilliant appearance, or by forming a design thereon
through a combination of bright and dull parts on the surface.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
A process for the application of designs, devices and other suitable articles to the
surfaces of celluloid plates or objects according to which the article is placed on
the celluloid plate and is covered with a layer of dissolved celluloid, collodion, or
similar transparent material; the celluloid plate or object with the design, device

page_text: or article thereon is then exposed to the pressure of heated and afterwards cooled
pressing plates; the covering layer is liquefied under the influence of pressure
and heat, and the celluloid plate softened; the subsequent cooling of the pressing
plates under pressure causing the plate of celluloid and covering layer to become
stiff again and to closely surround the article.
Dated the 16th T
L
1000
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.