Improvements in Photographs with Coloured Effects, and in the Method of Producing same.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographs with Coloured Effects, and in the
Method of Producing same.
I, GEORGE JOSEPH SERSHALL of 52 Aston Lane, Perry Barr, juxta Birmingham,
Artist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to coloured photographs, or photographs with coloured effects,
and has for its object improvements whereby an inexpensive coloured photographic
picture, resembling very much in appearance a work of art can be produced; the
same giving fairly true life like representations of persons, articles, or places.
In producing and building up a photograph with coloured effects according to this
invention a transparent material is used (preferably celluloid) to constitute the front
of the picture, upon which a carbon print is developed ; the said print being upon the
back side of the transparency and in the reversed direction or left banded. The
backing of this transparent front, which consists of paper, canvas, or other suitable
material, has on its side adjacent to the transparency the coloured effects, and when
this said backing and the transparency are rigidly connected together with their
colour and carbon tracings to coincide, and the carbon film between them, a picture
having the advantages herein set forth is the result.
In the actual production of a number of these inexpensive pictures, which are alike
in every respect, as would be the case in the portrayal of coast scenery, a number of
carbon prints from the negative (say two dozen) are developed upon a large sheet of
celuloid, a tracing of one of them with the varying tints in colour being produced
upon a number of blocks or forms from which, by either the cromo-lithographic
process, coloured blockwork, or photo-mechanical means, a like number of coloured
backings hereinbefore described are produced; the registering pins or means for
registering constituting the alignment for each print in the process.
This backing is then transferred to the sheet of celluloid so that the coloured tints
thereon shall coincide with the carbon tints upon the celluloid, with the films between
them, after which they are rigidly connected by the employment of adhesive material,
or other suitable means. Each picture is then cut out from this sheet of pictures and
enclosed within a sheet metal or other frame. The division of the coloured sheet of
backings, and also the sheet of transparent celluloid having upon it the carbon films,
may take place prior to the attachment of the backings to the front.
Dated this 4th day of February 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Photographs with Coloured Effects, and in the
Method of producing same.
I, GEORGE JOSEPH SERSHALL of 52, Aston Lane, Perry Barr, juxta Birmingham,
Artist, 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:
This invention relates to coloured photographs or photographs with coloured effects,
and has for its object the ultimate production of an inexpensive coloured photographic
picture giving fairly true life-like representations of persons, articles, or places, in their
natural tints.
The invention consists in an improved manner of building up photographs with
coloured effects, and also in the method by which they are produced; the chief
consideration being the production of numerous copies of any single picture as, for
example, the production of coloured photographs of coast scenery capable of being
sold at seaside resorts at, approximately, a shilling.
A coloured photograph, or a photograph with coloured effects, produced and built
up according to this invention has for its front a thin transparent plate, preferably of
celluloid, and for its back a sheet of paper, cardboard, or other suitable material whose
surface will take coloured printing inks placed thereon by either the cromo-lithographic
process, coloured blockwork, or photo-mechanical means. The inner side of the
transparent front to the picture has developed thereon a photographic film,
constituting the key-stone to the picture, and the inner face of the backing carries
upon it the varying tints in colour printing, which blend with the said film to give the
desired effect to the finished photograph; the said transparent front and the coloured
backing being permanently fixed together with the film and coloured surface between
them in the process of production, by means of any suitable glutinous material or
substance.
In the actual production of a number of these inexpensive coloured photographs the
method of working is as follows:-
Assuming, for illustration, that it is required to produce a considerable number of
coloured photographs of Her Gracious Majesty the Queen; a negative plate is first
made in the ordinary manner, having upon it geometrically set out a number of, say
a dozen, subjects or representations, each identical with the other. From this
negative plate a sheet of carbon tissue is taken, the same containing twelve
representations of the subject identical with each other; the accomplishment of which
is by a process well-known.
A sheet of transparent celluloid, gelatine, ivory, or talc, large enough to carry the
twelve representations, is now taken and upon this the carbon films, from the sheet
of tissue, are developed, the result being twelve representations of the photographic
portions of the resultant pictures upon one side of a sheet of transparent material.
Thus, so far in the process, a sheet of photographic films has been produced in a
manner well known.
A sheet of transparent gelatine, approximately of the same size as the transparent
sheet containing the films, is now placed upon the latter and provisionally fixed
thereto by a number of registering pins; the latter being devices well known in the
art. With a sharp pointed tracing instrument a tracing is then taken upon the
gelatine sheet of the outline of the portraits and those parts to be developed by
colouring matter, after which the gelatine tracing is taken from the sheet of films
and that face of it containing the depressed tracing lines treated with powdered black
lead, so as to fill the depressions therewith. The superfluous powdered lead is then

page_text: wiped from the surface of the gelatine tracing, and rubbings down or impressions are
taken therefrom, upon a number of stones sufficient to comprehend all the colours of
the sheet of backings; at the same time the position of the said sheet of tracings is
registered upon the said stones by registering pins or points.
The traced parts upon the stones are then drawn according to the well known
cromo-lithographic or photo-mechanical processes, and from the stones or blocks are
printed sheets of backings, bearing upon one side the colouring matter for giving the
effects, each sheet being registered upon each stone in the colour printing process,
and being formed with registering holes or their equivalents, so that the sheet of
backings will coincide, positively, with the photographic films upon the transparent
sheet constituting the sheet of fronts.
Thus, we have produced a sheet of transparent photo fronts having a number of
films developed thereon, and a sheet of coloured backings with a like number of
coloured representations upon it, both having registering piercings or pins for placing
them together, or one upon the other. This last mentioned is now performed, that is
to say, the sheet of coloured backings is placed to coincide with the transparent sheet
of films, the latter and also the coloured surface of the backing being inwards, or face
to face, and these two sheets are permanently fixed together, in a press, by means of
any suitable transparent adhesive material.
We have now a sheet of a dozen photographs with coloured effects, built up as
herein before described, and it is only necessary to cut out the several pictures, or
divide up the sheet along each and every dividing line of the photographic films, to
give twelve photographic pictures with coloured effects identical in every respect.
The films upon the sheet of celluloid practically constitute the key stones to the
ultimate pictures produced; the sheet of coloured backings not forming of
themselves the pictures, but only blending with the photographic films, as aforesaid,
to obtain the desired finish.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
First. A coloured photograph, or a photograph with coloured effects, consisting of
a transparent front (preferably celluloid) carrying a photographic film to form the
key-stone to the coloured picture, and a colour printed backing of paper, cardboard,
or the like, developed by any well known mechanical colour printing process, fixed
permanently together with the film side of the transparent front and the coloured
surface of the backing adjacent or touching each other, substantially as described.
Second. The herein described method of producing inexpensive coloured photographs
or photographs with coloured effects, such as claimed in the preceding claim, con-
sisting of taking a sheet of colour printed backings produced by a mechanical
colour printing process, and a transparent sheet of filmed fronts, permanently fixing
same together with their filmed and coloured surfaces adjacent and to register, and
then cutting out on the dividing lines each separate photograph from the sheet.
Dated this 30th day of March 1807
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicant.