Year: 1888

page_text: 1, JOHN SYER, of 277, Stockport Road, Manchester, in the County of. Lancaster,
Glass Silverer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to effect the silvering or deposit of silver upon glass
without the necessity for any application of heat.
Hitherto mirrors have been made either by securing the adhesion to the glass of an
amalgam of quicksilver or by the deposition of silver upon it. It is to this latter
method of manufacture that my invention is applicable. In the silvering of glass by
the deposition of silver thereon it has customary to heat the glass and for that purpose
to employ specially heated tables upon which the plates of glass were laid to maintain
the heat while the process was being carried out.
The invention consists essentially in the silvering of glass in a cold state or without
the application of heat by the deposition of silver thereon from a solution containing
one or more salts of silver and in the hereinafter mentioned solutions used for the
purpose.
I prepare two separate solutions in which the silver salt is dissolved but from which
when mixed or brought together the silver is slowly precipitated. These solutions are
applied to the glass without its undergoing any preparation after manufacture other
than being cleaned.
For the 1st solution 1 take distilled water 16 ozs. and in a little of it in a small glass
dissolve 35 grains of nitrate of silver, crystals, then drop into it liquid ammonia until
the liquid first becomes of a dark brown colour and continue to drop in the ammonia
until the liquid is again clear. To this I add 31 grains of the nitrate of silver crystals
and while this remains dark pour it into the bulk of the distilled water and filter it.
For the 2nd solution I take 16 ozs. of distilled water and heat it to boiling point and
then add 23 grains of nitrate of silver crystals and 23 graius of potassium sodium
tartrate this I then boil for 6 minutes and filter.
These two solutions are immediately before use mixed together in equal quantities
forming a 3rd solution from which the silver is deposited. The cleaned glass is first
wet or damped with solution No. 1 and the solution No. 3 formed of the solutions

page_text: Nos. 1 and 2 immediately after being mixed is poured upon it in an even layer over
the surface and left to stand until the deposition of all the silver in the solution
has been effected. The quantity poured over the glass will depend upon the
thickness of silver required upon it. A small frame may be used to enclose the
glass to prevent the liquid running off until the operation is completed.
Instead of mixing the solutions No. 1 and 2 in a vessel they may be separately
poured over the plate of glass and allowed to intermix there.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I am
aware that glass has been silvered by the deposition of silver from a solution and that
such I do not claim but that what I claim is:-
1. The process of silvering glass which consists in depositing silver upon its surface
from one or two solutions containing silver salts without the application of any heat
substantially as described.
2. In the silvering of glass the use of the herein-mentioned solutions No. 1 and No. 2
(or their chemical equivalents) to form a third mixture or solution from which the
silver is deposited when in a cold state or without the application of heat substantially
as described.
T
1
T
1
3000