IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF IMITATION MARBLES AND WOODS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Johan Auton Benedict Von Castilberg, of 58, Holborn
Viaduct, in the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PRODUCTION OF IMITATION MARBLES AND WOODS." A communication from
abroad by Fritz Petitpierre, of Chaux de fonds, Switzerland.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Johan Anton Benedict Von
Castilberg at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd February
1876.
JOHAN ANTON BENEDICT VON CASTILBERG, of 58, Holborn Viaduct, in the City
af London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF IMITATION MARBLES AND
Woods."
This Invention has for its object the reproducing upon metal and ceramic ware
marbles of all sorts and all woods whose grain is suitable for decorative purposes.
This reproduction is made as herein-after described.
To reproduce marble, say, for example, green marble,-
A. A plate of the marble of the desired size is taken and nitric acid is poured
upon it. The green and white veins are thus attacked, since they are composed of
sulphate of lime; the black part, composed of silica, remains intact, and forms a
typographic printing surface.
B. A copy in black lithographic ink is printed on transfer paper, and is allowed
to dry. (It is possible to print typographically and lithographically, even by hand,
or it may be done with any sort of press).
C. The filling in of the veins with two shades of green is effected by hand; that
is to say, a painter having before him the black printed sheet, secs at once where
he ought to place the green colors to produce an exact copy of the original; or the
filling in of the green veins may be effected by ordinary printing processes.
D. The ground on which the transfer is applied forms the third green, thus
giving all the varieties of green which are found in natural marble.
E. All the colors having been printed on the transfer paper,-
i. A coat of varnish or gilding mixture is spread on the wood or other material
which it is desired to marble, and when this has become sticky the impression
carried by the transfer paper is applied to it.
ii. This having been done the paper is damped with a wet sponge.

page_text: iii. Then a roller covered with cloth is rolled all over it, the paper is removed,
and the operation is complete.
To reproduce oak and other woods by heat and printing the process is as
follows:-
A. The plank which it is wished to reproduce is submitted to a strong heat so as
to shrink the pores of the wood and form veins.
B. The plank is coated with printing transfer ink, and the superfluity is removed
with a joiner's scraping iron, so as only to leave the ink which has entered into the
veins.
C. A sheet of China paper is placed on the plank, and an impression is taken
by means of a strong pressure, which may be given in an ordinary lithographic
press.
D. The impression is transferred to a stone, and a reproduction of the natural
wood in color is obtained on transfer paper. The transfer from the paper is per-
formed in the same way as for marble. It is allowed to dry, and if desired may be
varnished.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Johan Anton Benedict Von Castelberg in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd August 1876.
JOHAN ANTON BENEDICT VON CASTELBERG, of 58, Holborn Viaduct, in the City
of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF IMITATION MARBLES AND
Woods." (A. communication from abroad by Fritz Petitpierre, of Chaux de fonds,
Switzerland.)
This Invention has for its object the reproducing upon wood, stone, metal, ceramic
ware, or other surfaces, marbles of all sorts and also all woods whose grain is
suitable for decorative purposes. This reproduction is made as herein-after
described.
To reproduce marble, say, for example, green marble,-
A. A plate of the marble of the desired size is taken and nitric acid is poured
upon it. The green and white veins are thus attacked, since they are composed of
sulphate of lime; the black part composed of silica remains intact, and formis a
typographic printing surface.
B. A copy in black lithographic ink, or other ink or paint, is printed on transfer
paper and is allowed to dry. (It is possible to print typographically and litho-
graphically, even by hand, but it may be done with any sort of press.)
C. If the impressions are to be printed lithographically the lithographic printing
surface is obtained by transferring on to a lithographic stone an impression obtained
from the typographic surface. The filling in of the veins with two shades of green
may be effected by hand, that is to say, a painter having before him the black
printed sheet sees at once where he ought to place the green colors to produce an
exact copy of the original; or the filling in of the veins with green colors may be
effected by ordinary typographic or block printing processes.
D. The ground on which the transfer is applied forms the third green, thus giving
all the varieties of green which are found in natural marble.
E. All the colors having been printed on the transfer paper,-
i. A coat of varnish or gilding mixture is spread on the wood or other material
which it is desired to marble, and when this has become sticky the impression
carried by the transfer paper is applied to it.
ii. This having been done the paper is damped with a wet sponge.
iii. Then a roller covered with cloth is rolled all over it, the paper is removed,
leaving the marbling on the surface to which it has been applied, and the operation
is complete.
In place of green colors other colors may be used in printing imitations of
marble.

page_text: In place also of green marble being taken in the first instance other kinds of
marble may be taken, and the veins eaten out from them in a similar manner to
that above described to produce printing surfaces from which impressions can be
taken.
To reproduce oak and other woods by heat and printing the process is as
follows:-
A. The plank which it is wished to reproduce is submitted to a strong heat so as
to shrink the pores of the wood and form veins.
B. The plank is coated with printing transfer ink, and the superfluity is removed
with a joiner's scraping iron, so as only to leave the ink which has entered into the
veins.
C. A sheet of China paper is placed on the plank, and an impression is taken
by means of a strong pressure, which may be given in an ordinary lithographic
press.
D. The impression is transferred to a stone, and a reproduction of the natural
wood in color is obtained on transfer paper. The transfer from the paper is per-
formed in the same way as for marble. It is allowed to dry, and if desired may be
varnished.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that what is claim is,-
First. Obtaining from marble facsimile copies of its veins by forming the marble
into a printing surface and obtaining impressions from it, as herein described.
Second. The production of imitations of marbles, substantially as herein described.
Third. The production of imitations of wood, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Johan Anton Benedict Von Castelberg, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.