IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF VITREOUS AND GLAZED SURFACES FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF
VITREOUS AND GLAZED SURFACES FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES." A communica-
tion from abroad by William Gibson, of New York City, United States of
America
Sealed the 17th October1879, and dated the 7th August 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th August 1879.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF VITREOUS AND GLAZED SURFACES FOR DECORATIVE PUR-
POSES. A communication from abroad by William Gibson, of New York City;
United States of America.
The Invention consists in the means and process for crystallizing the surface of
glass, glazed ware, &c., in order to produce new ornamental effects. The substance
to be used for this purpose is obtained by melting in a strong fire 50 parts of flint
or lead glass with 20 parts of silicious sand, 10 parts of litharge, and 10 parts of
calcined bones, and adding to this compound two parts of calcined flint powder.
The mixture so obtained is ground in water, afterwards mixed with a suitable
binding substance, such as milk, subsequently spread over the whole surface of the
glass or ware, and finally vitrified in the muffle or furnace in the manner usually
applied by glass stainers; the glass or ware thus coated is then heated in an oven
in order to expand the particles of the coating on the surface and the glass or glazed
surface itself, after which the whole is coated with a strong solution of gelatine,
gum, or any suitable paste. The latter is allowed to dry and harden, and then
removed by heat in any convenient manner, when a crystalline effect is produced
over the whole surface of the glass or glazed surface. The proportions of the

page_text: material used may be slightly varied, and some of the components replaced by their
equivalents.
Various colours can be obtained by the admixture of white oxide of tin, or purple
oxide of cobalt, or the oxides of chrome or iron, or any other suitable substance, and
this paint may be applied to such parts of the glass only which are crystallized, or 5
generally applied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
February 1880.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF VITREOUS AND GLAZED SURFACES FOR DECORATIVE PUR-
POSES. A communication from abroad by William Gibson, of New York City;
United States of America.
"
The nature of this Invention consists in a compound and process for crystallizing
the surface of glass, enamelled ware, and other kindred surfaces by working on the
surface of glass, whether it be plate, plain sheet, ground, or colored, in the mass,
flashed, enamelled, or partially stained on one or both sides, and thereby producing
certain new, ornamented, and useful effects in decoration, and also in the article of
manufacture thus produced; all as hereinafter more fully set forth.
I will first describe the compound preferably used to obtain the best results.
50 parts of any ordinary flint or lead glass,
20 parts of silicious sand,
10 parts litharge in scales, and
10 parts of calcined bones.
These ingredients when properly melted in a strong fire make the material that
has been found best suited as the vehicle or flux by which the various effects can
be produced.
To three parts of this compound or mixture is to be added two parts by measure
of calcined flint powder. These being mixed are to be ground in water in various
degrees of fineness, according to the effect desired, on a roughened surface. This
product is mixed with a little milk as a binder for plain grounds, and the whole
surface of the glass is covered with a uniform coat and and then vitrified in the muffle
or furnace in the usual manner known to glass stainers. The sheets of glass thus
coated are then heated in a tin oven, or any safe way to prevent breakage, for the
purpose of expanding the particles of the material of the coating on the surface and
the body of the glass itself as much as safety will admit of. After the glass has
been thus heated the whole is to be coated with a strong solution of gelatine or any
of the known hard and non-elastic vegetable gums or albuminized pastes.

page_text: This being allowed to dry and harden is to be removed by heat in a gas heated
stove, or by any other safe or convenient method, thereby producing crystalline
effect over the whole surface of the glass.
In place of the above, to the original compound may be added one fourth of, a
part of white oxide of tin, or the same quantity of purple acide of cobalt, or the
oxides of chrome or of iron, and using gum water instead of milk, and with this
paint such parts of the glass only are covered as are desired to crystalline, and the
work is then completed as in the first process. By this the inventor obtains clear
glass and crystalline on the same glass, and in such quantity as may be required.
The object of these additions to the original compound is that in many of the
designs it may be desirable to leave certain portions of the ground tint on the glass,
and such portions so left may have a white, red, blue, or other tint. It thus becomes
a great aid to the artist in giving a texture in his after finish of leaves, vines,
draperies, &c., and as one or all may be so used on the same glass it gives a great
command of facilities in producing effects.
Particular effects may be controlled with perfect certainty; for instance, to pro-
duce a slipped or granulated effect any of the mixtures first described is applied,
without first heating or expanding the glass, with a brush or pencil just where this
effect is desired, and as soon as covered and while still wet it it placed in a mode-
rately heated oven, and evaporate or dry quickly, increasing the heat so as to
remove the material at one operation.
When it is desired to produce large flakes or fern leaf effects (after coating the
glass with any of the above described mixtures), real leaves themselves or forms cut
from paper may be used; or pieces of string, open figured lace, or any of the many
hundred substances that will suggest themselves to the artist in forming his design.
These, after having been placed as taste may suggest on the glass, with one or more
of the adhesive mixtures, are to be coated over in whole or in part with one or more
coats, thus leaving the glass coated in uneven thickness, and being allowed to
harden are to be removed by heat, as before described.
Transparent colors, silver, gold, &c., may also be added for mural decorations,
panelings for furniture, &c.
All the various effects may be produced on the same glass where desired, and
when the spaces are controlled by design and outline.
When a brilliant strong gem effect is required, a piece of paper imbedded in the
mass of any of the adhesive matters, and made strong and of irregular thickness will
give results which, although brilliant, has a rounded and not a sharp prismatic effect.
Again, by coating the glass with the adhesive mixture in which has been mixed
a small proportion of glycerine together with some foreign material, such as clay,
whiting, fullers' earth, or their equivalents, and imbedding a sheet of paper or thin
muslin over the surface of the glass in this paste mixture, on its removal by heat,
as before described, the prisms' flakes assume a great size and brilliancy, and are
valuable for glass stainers as a new surface for picture effects.
When it is desired to produce effects which to the artist will suggest shells, worms,
and insects along with vegetation, the adhesive mixture is applied with a small
brush or from a syringe, forming convolutions or spiral lines of different thickness.
This should be done with a very strong material, and being allowed to dry is again
coated over the whole surface with the pasty mass made thinner and weaker by the
addition of a little water. The object of this is to have the glass coated over with
kindred substances, weak over strong or strong over weak, which being removed by
heat, as before, will insure the desired effect.
When it is desired to produce a brilliant uniform but not flaky or prismatic effect
equally over the whole surface, a uniform thickness of the adhesive paste is first
used, which being dried and removed is to be again coated uniformly all over, as
before, and again removed by heat. For plain surfaces not ornamental the crystal-
line effect can also be produced on any surface that has been roughened so as to
have a grit by the use of sand or hydrofluoric acid when in union with ammonia.

page_text: Double crystalline may be made by the same process, and may be used backed
up with colors for the production of mosaic and other decorations.
By adding glycerine and clay to the adhesive mixture, and using it in a weaker
form, the crystalline will be more soft in its effect.
CLAIMS.
1. As a preliminary step to the productlon on glass of the various effects herein
described, the compound or flux formed by the melting together flind or lead, glass,
silicious sand, litharge in scales, and calcined bones, or their equivalents, in or about
the proportions set forth.
2. In combination with a flux, substantially as described, calcined flint powder
and milk, when mixed and applied substantially as set forth.
3. The process, substantially as herein described, of crystallizing glass by coating
the desired surface with the compound described and vitrifying in the muffle, then
heating the glass, and then coating with gelatine or any other non elastic paste,
which when dry is removed by heat, all substantially as herein set forth.
4. As a new article of manufacture, crystallized glass having the effects berein
described, when produced substantially by the means seth forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of February, A.D. 1880.
TT T
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