IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IMITATED IVORY
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Hahn of Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia
German Empire for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
MANUFACTURING IMITATED IVORY"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Hahn at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd January 1883.
SAMUEL HAHN of Berlin in the Kingdom of Prussia German Empire "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IMITATED IVORY
"
My invention relates to improvements in the method of manufacturing imitation
ivory but the object of my invention is not exactly to produce solid pieces of a
mass the consistency of which thoroughly resembles the genuine ivory, but it is
particularly intended to obtain plates or sheets the outward appearance of which
is exactly the same as that of ivory
And I also intend to coat any articles of suitable material or parts of such articles
with a layer of suitable thickness such layer or veneer having the full appearance
of genuine ivory in a manner, that the objects or articles so coated appear to consist
of solid ivory.
My invention then not only consists in manufacturing such plates, or sheets, or
pieces or coatings of such white colour or shade of white as genuine ivory but what
gives a particular importance to my method is the success of giving to the mass
the peculiar veined or streaky aspect of animal ivory, which hitherto, has not been
obtained by any imitation.
The mass of my invention is not ignitable, as celluloid and not soluble, it is
pliable and capable of receiving polishing, painting, printing and any other treatment
which may serve to embellish the surface.
The mass by which such effects are obtained consists in the main of collodium
with an addition of a suitable lac dissolved in spirit I immerge the article or
object, plate or sheet to be coated into the mixture of collodium and lac and leave
it in the same for a sufficient length of time to form a deposit or coat of the desired
thickness; then I withdraw the object very quickly and preferably vertically.

page_text: The coat of collodium dries very quickly in the air but owing to the sudden lifting
of the object, the surface of the coating is not uniformly or equally white but
receives the particular veined or streaky aspect which hitherto has been the unfailing
characteristic of genuine ivory,
My improved method is particularly applicable to transparent or translucent
objects and in combination with such articles the streaky or veined ivory pattern
of the coating is particularly remarkable. I therefore prefer to apply the described
coat of collodium and lac to objects, articles, plates or sheets made of gelatine or
coated with gelatine, but also to transparent paper, tracing-cloth parchment and the
like.
It is not necessary that the solution of lac be mixed with the collodium before
immersing the object to be coated; if I first apply a thin coat of varnish or lac to
the object and afterwards immerse the latter into a solution of pure collodium I
obtain the same result.
To make the imitation come very near to genuine ivory a slight addition of a
yellow colour may be added to the mixture or to the collodium
The gelatine may be cast or pressed into forms of any kind and then become
coated with the described mixture or any object or figure of a suitable material,
wood glass, marble, clay, metal may be either directly conted with the ivory-like
mixture of collodium and lac or preferably I coat it first with a solution of gelatine
or its equivalents and then immerge the object into the solution of collodium and
Inc to obtain the ivory coat.

page_text: SPECIFICATION-in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Hahn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th June
1883.
SAMUEL HAHN, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IMITATED IVORY."
•
My invention relates to improvements in the method of manufacturing imitation
of ivory, but the object of my invention is not exactly to produce solid pieces of a
mass, the consistency of which thoroughly resembles the genuine ivory, but it is
particularly intended to obtain plates or sheets, the outward appearance of which
is exactly the same as that of ivory. And I also intend to cont any articles of
suitable material, or parts of such articles, with a layer of suitable thickness, such
layer having the full appearance of genuine ivory, in a manner, that the object, or
articles so conted appear to consist of solid ivory.
My invention, then, not only consists in manufacturing such plates, or sheets,
or pieces, or coatings, of such white colour or shade of white, as genuine ivory,
but what gives a particular importance to my method, is the success of giving to
the mass the peculiar veined or streaky aspect of animal ivory, which, hitherto, has
not, or not perfectly, been obtained by any imitation.
The mass of my invention is not ignitable as celluloid, and not soluble, it is
pliable and capable of receiving polishing, painting, printing and any other
treatment, which may serve to embellish the surface.
The mass by which such effects are obtained, consists in the main of collodion
with an addition of a suitable lac or gum dissolved in spirit. I have found that a
good result may be obtained by the following compound: Upon 80 parts of weight
of collodion of 4 per cent I mix G parts of gum-sandrach and 2 parts of Venetian
turpentine, and I dilute this solution with spirit until it will smoothly and evenly
run off an object immersed into the same. Instead of the gum-sandrach I also
employ mastic, white shell-lac or similar descriptions, by the use of mastic I obtain
a coating of a little more suppleness and by the use of shell-lac, of a little more
brittleness, than with the gum-sandrach. I immerse the article, or object, plate or
sheet to be coated into the described mixture of collodion and lac or gum and leave
it in the same for a sufficient length of time to form a deposit or coat of the desired
thickness; then I withdraw the object very quickly and preferably vertically.
The coat or deposit will dry very quickly in the air, but owing to the sudden
lifting of the object, the surface of the coating is not uniformly or equally white,
but receives the particular veined or streaky aspect, which, hitherto, has been the
unfailing characteristic of genuine ivory. The reason, why such streaky appearance
is obtained, is this, that, while part of the liquid solution which forms the cont, is
almost instantaneously hardening in the air, another part of the particles is, still,
Blowing down in minute drops, which form the veins or streaks upon the surface
of the cont.
My improved method is particularly applicable to transparent or translucent
objects and in combination with such articles the strenky or veined ivory-pattern
of the coating is particularly remarkable. I, therefore, prefer to apply the described
coat of collodion and gum-sandrach, or lac, to objects, articles, plates or sheets made
of gelatine, or coated with gelatine, but also to transparent or translucent paper,
tracing-cloth, parchment and the like.
It is not necessary that the described solution of gum-sandrach, or shell-lac, and
turpentine be mixed with the collodion before immersing the object to be coated;
if I, first, apply a thin coat of a solution of gum-sandrach, or another suitable

page_text: varnish, gum or lac, to the object and afterwards immerse the latter into a solution
of pure collodion, I obtain the same result. To make the imitation come very near
to genuine ivory, a slight addition of a yellow colour may be added to the described
compound or mixture, or to the collodion.
The gelatine may be cast or pressed into forms of any kind, before receiving the
ivory-like coat of the described mixture. Also any other object or figure of a
suitable material, wood, glass, marble, clay, metal, may be directly coated by
immersion into the mixture of colludion, gum-sandrach, or lac, and turpentine, but
I prefer to coat it, first, with a solution of gelatine, or its equivalents, and then to
immerse the object into the described solution of collodion, gum-sandrach, or mastic,
or shell-lac, and turpentine, to obtain the ivory coat.
The
On moistening the coat so obtained, the same will become translucent till it be
dry again. Owing to this circumstance, any pattern, design or writing may be
printed, painted, stamped or written upon the object before coating the same.
ivory-like coat will completely cover such pattern, design or writing, but these
will be plainly visible for a short time, if the cont be moistened.
The proportions of the mixture of collodion, gum-sandrach, or mastic, or shell-lac,
or any other suitable lac or gun, and turpentine, may be varied according to the
quality, shade and suppleness of the coating which is to be obtained.
Having thus fully described my Invention and how it may be carried into
practice, what I claim is:
First: The method of coating any object or article with a layer, having the
veind or streaky appearance of genuine ivory, by immersing such object or article
into a solution of collodion, of gum-sandrach, or mastic, or shell-luc, or another
suitable lac or gum, and of turpentine, and by withdrawing it suddenly from the
said solution, substantially as described.
•
'
Second. The method of coating any object or article with a layer of an imitation
of ivory by coating the object or article with a solution of gum-sandrach, or mastic,
or shell-luc, or another suitable lac or gum, by immersing it afterwards into fluid
collodion and by withdrawing it suddenly from the same, substantially as
described.
Third. The method of manufacturing an imitation of ivory by immersing objects
or articles made of or coated with gelatine or its equivalents into a solution of
collodion, gum-sandrach, or mastic, or shell-lac, or another suitable inc or gum,
and y withdrawing them suddenly from the said solution, substantially as
described.
Fourth. Objects or articles of any kind coated with a layer of an imitation of
ivory produced by immersion into a solution of collodion, gum-:andrach, or mastic,
or shell-lac, or another suitable lac or guin, and turpentine, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof I, the said Samuel-Hahn have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One Thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.