Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 19th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th July, 188
I RALPH ASHTON of 14 Market Place Manchester in the County of Lancaster
Manufacturing Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Laundry Blue prepared by making a Solution of Aniline or other suitable Blue and
mixing this Solution with a Solution of Gelatine-the combined Solutions being
spread over paper cardboard or any suitable material and which when dry is cut up
into suitable sizes and shapes for use.
The Laundry Blues in general use are mostly in powder, lump, or liquid form, each
description having its particular disadvantages. The lump form is bulky and requires
to be enclosed in flannel when used. The powder and liquid forms if accidently
discharged from the containing vessel or wrapper soil everything with which they
come in contact. To overcome these disadvantages I have devised and invented a
method of preparing a Blue for Laundry use as follows. I take any required weight
of Aniline or other suitable Blue, and make a concentrated solution or mixture with
water or other suitable Solvent. I then make another solution of gelatine with water.
The gelatine Solution is then poured into the Blue solution and the two Solutions are
thoroughly mixed together.
I find the following proportions to work well (but do not confine myself to these
proportions as they may be slightly varied), Aniline Blue 4 parts by weight dissolved
in 9 paris by weight of water. For the second solution, Gelatine th part by weight
dissolved in 6 parts by weight of water. I now take strips or sheets of writing paper
or other suitable paper or Cardboard or any suitable material and cover them by
dipping them in the gelatine & Blue solution or brushing the gelatine & Blue solution
over one or both sides of the material to be covered. The material thus covered is
allowed to dry and is then cut up into any suitable shape and size for use.
The Laundry Blue thus prepared does not require to be put in flannel when used,
& is very cleanly to handle and when rubbed between the fingers will barely soil
them-It is therefore in a very convenient form for handling either in the course of
trado or by the user.
Dated this 10th day of September 1887

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Preparing Blue for Laundry Use.
I RALPH ASHTON of 14 Market place, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Manufacturing Chemist 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 Laundry Blues in general use are in powder lump or liquid, and each descrip-
tion has its particular disadvantages. The lump form is bulky, requires to be enclosed
in flannel when used and soils the fingers when handled: the powder and liquid forms
if accidently discharged from the containing vessel or wrapper, soil everything with
which they come into contact. To overcome these disadvantages I have invented a
method of preparing Blue for Laundry use as follows,
I take any required weight of Aniline Blue or other suitable Blue, and make a
concentrated Solution or mixture with water, or other suitable solvent. I also make
a Solution of gelatine with water, or other suitable solvent, and mix the two solutions
together, or the gelatine may be dissolved with the Blue in the first Solution, but I
prefer to make two Separate Solutions and afterwards mix them. In the case of those.
Blues, blonging to what are called Coal Tar Colors, that require acid to more
thoroughly develope them, I add a little Tartaric Acid to the mixture or solution of Blue
and gelatine, or I damp the material to be covered with a Solution of Tartaric Acid
before covering it with the Solution of Blue and gelatine. The Tartaric Acid developes
the Color more thoroughly and gives a pleasing bronze appearance to the Blue when,
dry. The Solution of Blue and gelatine, or Blue gelatine and Tartaric Acid, is then
spread over any suitable material, such as writing paper, common drawing paper,
thin shavings or chips of wood &c. These materials may be of any suitable size,
shape or design, such as balls, cubes, tablets, discs, sheets &c. The material may be
covered partially, on one side only, or completely on all sides. When the material is
covered and dried, it is if necessary cut into pieces of convenient size for use. When
the Blue thus prepared is required for uso it is only necessary to put one or more
pieces into water and the color will dissolve off them: the bits of paper can be takeņ
out and the water is ready for bluing the linen in the ordinary way.
:
Blue for the Laundry thus prepared does not require to be put in flannel when
used it is very cleanly to handle, and when rubbed between the fingers barely soils
them; it is elegant and neat in appearance, and in a very convenient form for both
trader and user.
I find the following proportions of materials, and method of preparation of the
Blue to work well, (but do not bind myself to them as they may be varied) :-
4 lbs. of a Coal Tar Blue (of a light or Sky Blue shade) dissolved in
ths of a gallon of hot water,
forming Solution No. 1.
1 oz. Gelatine dissolved in 14 lbs. Warm Water,
forming Solution No. 2.
1 oz. Tartaric Acid dissolved in 12 oz. Water
forming Solution No. 3.

page_text: Solutions Nos. 1 and 2 are mixed together whilst warm and then allowed to rest for
say fifteen minutes. Solution No. 3 is thon added. The combined solution is now
ready to be applied to the material intended to be covered with it. I take strips or
sheets of paper, such as common drawing paper and by means of a brush paint the
solution over them-allowing one side to dry before covering the other. When both
sides are dry, I cut up the sheets or strips into pieces of any suitable size or shape
and these are made up into packages.
The nature and novelty of my improvements consist in preparing Blue for Laundry
use by making an enamelled surface with it on paper or other suitable material as
hereinbefore described so as to give it an elegant and neat appearance and to permit
of handling with scarcely perceptible soiling of the fingers: also to permit of its being
put up in envelopes packets or Boxes in a compact form, which forms the essential
feature purpose and advantage of my invention.
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
The preparation of Blue for Laundry use by making an enamelled surface of Blue
on paper or other suitable material in the manner and for the purposes as herein before
described.
RALPH ASHTON.