IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RELIEVO MAPS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton of the Office for Patents,
66 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for 'an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RELIEVO MAPS "
communicated to him from abroad by Monsieur Joao José de Mendonça-
Cortez of Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd November 1883.
.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer 'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE of
BELIEVO MAPS." [communicated to him from abroad by Monsieur Joao José de
Mendonça-Cortez of Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal]
The present invention relates to improved means for producing accurate relievo
maps of countries or districts suitable for civil, military and other purposes.
In maps which are drawn to scale it is usual to indicate the variations in the
contour of the land by a series of continuous curves or lines each representing a
rise of say, 100 feet.
In constructing relievo maps according to this invention, as many proofs of the
map of the district to be modelled in relief are struck off on metal or paper from
the stone or engraved plate, as there are hypsometrical, or height indicating, curves
drawn on the map for the district in question.
These proofs or maps are then laid out upon and suitably attached to perfectly
smooth and level plates of metal card or other suitable material. The thickness of
these plates is proportionate to the equidistance of the bypsometrical curves, and
care must be taken in laying down the proofs, if on paper, not to stretch or contract
them.
The several plates are then laid upon a suitable table and carefully cut out by
means of a fine band knife or saw, or other suitable means; care being observed to
follow exactly the lines of the bypsometrical curves and a different height curve
being cut around in each plata.

page_text: There will result from this operation a series of inner cuttings of different sizes
and various contours, and also a series of corresponding outer or marginal cuttings.
The inner cuttings are accurately laid the one upon the other in order of size, and
fixed upon a perfectly level bed plate by which means an exact and proportioned
relievo is obtained of the map under treatment.
It should be remarked that if paper proofs have been used it will be necessary
after adjusting but before fixing together the several cuttings or overlays, to detach
the paper from the metal or other plates. To effect this detachment without injury
to the plates, the latter may be washed in water, spirit, turpentine or other suitable
fluid.
This model in relievo, or core, is then marked with several gauge points by
means of which the position of the map to be moulded in relief can be readily
adjusted.
The next step is to cover this core with a sheet of moistened paper of a thickness
equal to that of the paper of the map to be moulded in relief, which thickness can
be ascertained by a gauge indicating hundredths and thousandths.
Upon the core thus composed of the inner cuttings, and covered with the
moistened paper, the outer or marginal cuttings are adjusted by means of the gauge
points above referred to, and in such a way that the narrowest marginal cutting,
or that plate which has the largest aperture, is applied next to the base plate; the
next sized marginal cutting upon the narrowest; and so on up to the last marginal
cutting or that plate which has the smallest aperture corresponding in size and
contour to the ioner cutting forming the top of the core.
The cut out plates being thus perfectly adjusted two or more holes strictly
vertical are made therein outside the engraved district of the map to facilitate
adjustment, and the moistened paper is then withdrawn.
By this means an exact model in relief, or core, and a matrix corresponding
accurately thereto, will be obtained and will constitute a die suitable for moulding
in relief a map on paper of the proper thickness.
The extent to which the paper of the map to be moulded in relief will bear
stretching or distention having been well ascertained, the map is placed upon the
core, and its position adjusted by the gauge points above mentioned, and moistened
as often as may be desired by any suitable means such as a badger or camel hair
brush.
The marginal cuttings are then laid in succession over their corresponding
sections in the core and are accurately adjusted by means of the holes made in
them the paper of the map being drawn or pressed more or less as required to
conform to the desired contour. The paper being again moistened, another
marginal cutting is superposed on the preceding one, and so on to the last one,
the strains or distortions of the paper being always gradually and proportionally
corrected by the application of gentle pressure and moisture. Finally a perfectly
level plate is laid upon the top, and the whole is subjected to pressure in a special
press.
The top plate and the marginal cuttings are then carefully removed, and the
map moulded in relievo is thoroughly dried, and then stiffened by shellac or other
'suitable varnish.
It is then mounted in such a manner as will best protect it from injury.
If a continuous or natural relievo map is desired the plates must be cut with a
bevel along the bypsometrical curves, and the marginal plates must be formed with
overhanging bevels to correspond.
By the above described method of manufacture, maps can be produced or moulded
in relief in exact accordance with the hypsometrical curves drawn thereon, either
smoothly or in steps.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Patent Office on the 2nd May 1884.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
RELIEVO MAPS" a Communication to me from Abroad by Mons Joao José do
Mendonça-Cortez of Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal
The present Invention relates to improved means for producing accurate relievo
maps of countries or districts suitable for civil, military and other purposes.
In maps which are drawn to scale it is usual to indicate the variations in the
contour of the land by a series of continuous curves or lines each representing a
rise of say one hundred feet.
In constructing relievo maps according to this Invention as many proofs of the
map of the district to be modelled in relief are struck off on metal or paper from
the stone or engraved plate, as there are hypsometrical or height-indicating curves
drawn on the map for the district in question.
These proofs or maps are then laid out upon and suitably attached to perfectly
smooth and level plates of metal, card or other suitable material. The thickness
of these plates is proportionate to the equidistance of the hypsometrical curves and
care must be taken in laying down the proofs if on paper not to stretch or contract
them.
The several plates are then laid upon a suitable table and carefully cut out by
means of a fine band knife or saw (gauge N° 00000 to 00) or other suitable means
care being observed to follow exactly the lines of the hypsometrical curves, and a
different height curve being cut around in each plate.
There will result from this operation a series of inner cuttings of different sizes
and various contours, and also a series of corresponding outer or marginal cuttings.
The inner cuttings are accurately laid the one upon the other in order of size
and fixed by means of glue solder or otherwise upon a perfectly level bed plate, by
which means an exact and proportioned relievo is obtained of the map under
treatment.
It should be remarked that if paper proofs have been used it will be necessary
after adjusting but before fixing together the several cuttings or overlays, to
detach the paper from the metal or other plates. To effect this detachment
without injury to the plates the latter may be washed in water, spirit, turpentine
or other suitable Buid.
This model in relievo, or core, is then marked with several gauge points by
means of which the position of the map to be moulded in relief can be readily
adjusted.
The next step is to cover this core with a sheet of moistened paper of a
thickness equal to that of the paper of the map to be moulded in relief, which
thickness can be ascertained by a gauge indicating hundredths and thousandths.
Upon the core thus composed of the inner cuttings and covered with the
moistened paper the outer or marginal cuttings are severally adjusted by means of
the gauge points above referred to, and in such a way that the narrowest marginal
cutting or that plate which has the largest aperture, is applied next to the base
plate; the next sized marginal cutting upon the narrowest; and so on up to the
last marginal cutting or that plate which has the smallest aperture corresponding
in size and contour to the inner cutting indicating the highest level of the ground
and forming the top of the core.
The cut out plates being thus perfectly adjusted, two or more holes strictly
vertical are made therein, outside the engraved district of the map, to facilitate
adjustment; and the moistened paper is then withdrawn.

page_text: By this means an exact model in relief, or core; and a complementary model in
intaglio, or matrix, corresponding accurately thereto will be obtained and will
constitute a die suitable for moulding in relief a map on paper of the proper
thickness.
The extent to which the paper of the map to be moulded in relief will bear
stretching or distension having been well ascertained, the map is placed upon the
core and its position adjusted by the gauge points above mentioned, and moistened
as often as may be desired by any suitable means such as a badger- or camel-hair
brush.
The marginal cuttings are then lald in succession over their corresponding
sections in the core and are accurately adjusted by means of the holes made in
them, the paper of the map being drawn or pressed more or less as required to
conform to the desired contour. The paper being again moistened, another
marginal cutting is superposed on the preceding one, and so on to the last one;
the strains or distortions of the paper being always gradually and proportionately
corrected by the application of gentle pressure and moisture,. Finally a perfectly
level plate is luid upon the top and the whole is subjected to pressure in a suitable
press.
The top plate and the marginal cuttings are then carefully removed one by one
beginning at the top and the map moulded in steps, in relievo, is removed from the
core; thoroughly dried and then stiffened by strong shellac or other suitable
varnish or medium
It is then mounted in a case in such a manner as will best protect it from
injury.
If a continuous or natural relievo map is desired, the plates must be cut with a
bevel along the hypsometrical curves, and the inarginal plates must be formed
with overhanging bevels to correspond.-By the above described method of
manufacture, maps can be produced or moulded in relief in exact accordance with
the hypsometrical curves drawn thereon, either smoothly or in steps.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in
the manufacture of relievo maps" as communicated to me by my Foreign
Correspondent, and explained in what manner the same may be carried into
practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim :—
First: The method herein-above described of bringing maps of various kinds
into exact and proportioned relief, and consisting mainly in straining and
'moulding them while in a moistened state upon or between moulds composed of
pieces representing proportionately the several height levels of the map.
Second: The use in the manufacture of relievo maps, of moulds built up or
constructed of pieces cut out, arranged and proportioned, as and for the purpose set
forth.
Third: In the manufacture of relievo maps the moulding in relief of each height
level or curve of the map in succession upon a core, by the gradual superposition
of the cuttings or pieces forming the hollow matrix which are complementary to
those of which the core is built up.
Fourth Moulding maps in natural or unbroken relief by the use of moulds
built up of pieces having correspondingly bevelled edges, as described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Edward Newton have hereunto set my
hand and seal the second day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four