An Improvement in the Method of Engraving Copper, Zinc, or other Metal Plates from which Transfers are Printed for Producing Designs on China, Glass, and Earthenware in Ceramic Colors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 26th May, 1900
An Improvement in the Method of Engraving Copper, Zinc, or other
Metal Plates from which Transfers are Printed for Producing
Designs on China, Glass, and Earthenware in Ceramic Colors.
ALFRED LEONARD NEWELL, Rosemary, Marlborough Road, St. Albans, Herts.,
Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I take an ordinary half-tone or line or other negative (commonly used in the
process of making photo-mechanically-engraved printing blocks
on copper,
zinc etc.) from which I make a dia-positive on a sensitized transparent plate.
Having made the dia-positive I proceed as follows:
I coat the surface of a copper, zinc or other suitable metal plate with a
sensitized solution of glue or gelatine containing chromic acid, which becomes
insoluble under the action of light.
When this sensitized solution is dry I place the metal plate in a photographic
printing frame under the dia-positive transparent plate and expose to light.
Assuming that the dia-positive plate has the image of a design or picture upon
it, such design or picture will influence the solution upon the metal plate below
it. I then develop the design or picture by placing the metal plate in a dish
of water the parts of the glue or gelatine solution that have been acted upon
by the light passing through the transparent parts of the dia-positive remain,
while those that have not been acted upon by light dissolve away. I then bake
the metal plate in an oven or over a gas stove, to harden the glue or gelatine
which has now received the image of the design from the dia-positive plate.-
I then etch the metal plate in a solution of perchloride of iron or nitric acid.
The design being thus engraved in the metal plate I proceed to make a trans-
fer from it. I coat the metal plate with mineral or ceramic color ground in oil
or varnish, filling all the engraved parts, afterwards removing the superfluous
color remaining on the surface of the plate.
I then lay a sheet of transfer paper on the metal plate and apply great pres-
sure by passing plate and paper together through an ordinary copper plate print-
ing press.
Having obtained impressions in this way I transfer the same to the surface of
glass, china or earthenware objects and fire in a kiln.
Dated this 11th dow of T.... 1900.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Method of Engraving Copper, Zinc, or other
Metal Plates from which Transfers are Printed for Producing
Designs on China, Glass, and Earthenware in Ceramic Colours.
I, ALFRED LEONARD NEWELL, formerly of "Rosemary," Marlborough Road,
St. Albans, Herts, and now residing at 23, Van Eeghenlaan; Amsterdam, in the
Di 0771

page_text: Kingdom of Holland, Artist, 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 relates to the production of designs upon china, glass and
earthenware in ceramic colours.
In carrying out the invention I take an ordinary half-tone line, grain, or
other negative (such as commonly used in the process of making photo mechani-
cally engraved printing blocks) and produce therefrom a diapositive on a
sensitized transparent plate. This done I coat the surface of a plate of copper,
zinc or other suitable metal with a sensitized solution of glue, gelatine, or albumen
containing chromic acid (ammonium, or potassium bichromate) whereby the
organic matter of the solution will be rendered insoluble under the action of
light. When the coating is dry the sensitized metal plate is exposed to light in
the printing frame in the usual manner under the diapositive bearing the image
of the design or picture to be reproduced.
The parts of the sensitized coating acted upon by the light transmitted through
the diapositive are thereby rendered insoluble and upon the metal plate being
then immersed in water these parts remain upon the plate, whilst the other
parts of the coating which have not been so acted on are dissolved away. When
this has been done the plate is subjected to a sufficiently high temperature in an
oven or gas stove to harden the coating which now forms the negative impres-
sion of the diapositive image. The plate is now ready for etching which is
performed either with a solution of perchloride of iron or nitric acid, great care
and skill being necessary in order to obtain the requisite depth without injury
to the high lights or portions of the plate to be unacted on. The negative half-
tone impression of the design having been thus engraved in intaglio in the
metal plate I proceed to obtain a transfer therefrom by rubbing the engraved
half-tone negative plate over with mineral or ceramic color (ground in oil or
varnish) so as to fill up all the engraved parts of the plate, the superfluous color
remaining upon the surface of the plate being then removed:
I then lay on the plate a sheet of transfer paper coated with a gelatinous or
soapy solution and apply great pressure by passing the plate and paper through
an ordinary copper plate printing press.
Having thus obtained an impression from the plate I transfer the same to the
surface of the glass, china, or earthenware to be decorated and fire the goods
in a kiln.
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 method which consists in photo engraving half-tone
negative or intaglio designs in metal plates and producing therefrom designs
upon pottery china and earthenware in ceramic colours.
Dated this 11th dore of A 1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.