An Improved Process of Taking "Flong" Impressions for Stereo- printing.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1900-Accepted, 28th July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Taking "Flong" Impressions for Stereo-
printing.
We, ARTHUR CHAPMAN, of 19, High Bank Road, Burton-on-Trent, in the
County of Stafford, Journalist, and JOHN WALKER, of 237, Wetmoor Road,
Burton-on-Trent, aforesaid, Stereotyper, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved process for rapidly
and perfectly taking a flong impression of type and blocks in order to print
from stereo.
There are at present the following three principal methods of obtaining
impressions on flongs:-
În cach case the sheets of paper-blotting and glazed-are placed upon the
form of type in a thoroughly wet condition, in order that the flong may take a
perfect impression. In all cases this indenture of the face of the flong is secured
by beating in with a flat hard brush or the like. This having been done the
form of type, with flong on top, passes under a roller, or is subjected to platen
pressure in order to get the impression more perfect. The wet flong then
undergoes one of the following processes:-
-
It is either placed in a hot oven at about 500° F. and takes five minutes to
dry; or it is given a hot sand bath and takes in this a shade over five minutes
to dry; or it is subjected to a hot press which again takes over five minutes to
dry. After undergoing any of these processes the flong must be clipped to the
proper size it is impossible to do this clipping before on account of shrinking—
and then when fitted with brown paper holding or tail, it is ready for the
casting box in which hot metal is poured. This enters the impressions made
in the flong and thus a metal plate is formed from which printing may be
executed.
Our improved process is carried out as follows:-
An inexpensive flong is prepared beforehand from sheets of ordinary backing
or blotting paper, which are pasted together and then faced with a thin sheet of
asbestos faced paper or tissue paper, the latter being to prevent burning of the
flong when passed to the casting box. This flong is allowed to dry. When the
form of type ready for impression the dry flong is placed upon the face of the
type, and subjected to roller or platen pressure, and instantly the flong will
have a perfect impression, and it is at once ready for the casting box. It will
be found that this cheap dry flong-costing about one third the price of flongs
now in use will, if necessary, give an unlimited number of better plates than
those obtained from wet flongs and from these the finest. newspaper work may
be executed as well as high class printing.
In cases where especially fine work is required--such as is the case with high
tone blocks, and with which great difficulty is now experienced in the wet
flong process, a perfect impression may be obtained by slightly damping the
dry long where such fine impression is desired with vaporous liquid-(methelated
17

page_text: spirit or ether for preference). By the time the flong has passed under pressure.
the spirit has evaporated, and the flong may be placed in the casting, box
without any fear of steam being formed and so spoiling the face of the metal
plate, as is the case in the wet Hong processes if the flong is not perfectly dry.
By the dry process a great saving in time (a great point in newspaper work)
over any of the other processes is effected, and, financially, a saving in coal or
gas is obtained through there being no need to keep either a hot oven, sand bath
or hot press, while it also reduces the labour in a stereo foundry by probably
50%.
We do not say that there are not other processes than those described, but,
to the best of our knowledge and belief, there are none in which a cheap dry
flong is used, nor any in which a vaporous spirit is used for moistening the flong.
Dated this 5th day of September 1899.
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process of Taking "Flong" Impressions for Stereo-
printing.
We, ARTHUR CHAPMAN, of 19, High Bank Road, Burton-on-Trent, in the
County of Stafford, Journalist, and JOHN WALKER, of 237, Wetmoor Road,
Burton-on-Trent, aforesaid, Stereotyper, 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 provide an improved process for rapidly
and perfectly taking a flong impression. of type and blocks in order to print
from stereo.
There are at present the following three principal methods of obtaining
impressions on flongs:
In each case the sheets of paper-blotting and glazed-are placed upon the
form of type in a thoroughly wet condition, in order that the flong may take a
perfect impression. In all cases this indenture of the face of the flong is secured
by beating in with a flat hard brush or the like. This having been done the
form of type, with flong on top, passes under a roller or is subjected to platten
pressure in order to get the impression more perfect. The wet flong then
undergoes one of the following processes:-
It is either placed in a hot oven at about 500° F. and takes five minutes to
dry or it is given a hot sand bath, and takes in this a shade over five minutes
to dry; or it is subjected to a hot press which again takes over five minutes to
dry. After undergoing any of these processes the flong must be clipped to the
proper size it is impossible to do this clipping before on account of shrinking--
and then when fitted with brown paper holding or tail, it is ready for the
casting box in which hot metal is poured. This enters the impressions made
in the flong and thus a metal plate is formed from which printing may be
executed.
Our improved process is carried out as follows:-
An inexpensive flong is prepared beforehand from sheets of ordinary backing
or blotting paper, which are pasted together and then faced with a thin sheet of
asbestos faced paper or tissue paper, the latter being to prevent burning of the
flong when passed to the casting box. This flong is allowed to dry. When the
form of type is ready for impression the dry flong is placed upon the face of the

page_text: type and subjected to roller or platten pressure and instantly the flong will
have a perfect impression and it is at once ready for the casting box. It will
be found that this cheap dry flong-costing about one third the price of flongs
now in use will if necessary give an unlimited number of better plates than
those obtained from wet flongs, and from these the finest newspaper work may
be executed as well as high class printing.
In cases where especially fine work is required such as is the case with high
tone blocks, and with which great difficulty is now experienced in the wet
flong process, a perfect impression may be obtained by slightly damping the
dry Hong where such fine impression is desired with vaporous liquid (methelated
spirits or ether for preference). By the time the long has passed under pressure
the spirit has evaporated, and the flong may be placed in the casting box
without any fear of steam being formed and so spoiling the face of the metal
plate, as is the case in the wet flong processes if the flong is not perfectly dry.
By the dry process a great saving in time (a great point in newspaper work)
over any of the other processes is effected, and financially, a saving in coal or
gas is obtained through there being no need to keep either a hot oven, sand bath
or hot press, while it also reduces the labour in a stereo foundry by probably
50%.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. A stereotyping process the characterising feature of which is the use of a
dry flong, made from backing or blotting paper, faced with asbestos paper or
tissue paper, as a matrix for casting metal substantially as described.
2. The damping of such flong with vaporous liquid for taking type and block
impressions substantially as set forth.
Dated this Second day of June 1900.