CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DEPOSITION UPON VARIOUS FELTED AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULIUS
SCHOTTLAENDER, of Saint Swithin's Lane, in the City of London, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Eighth day of December, in the seventh year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Julius Schottlaender, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power and authority, that I, the said Julius Schottlaender, my exors,
adñiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Julius Schottlaender,
my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within that part of Her Majesty's United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DEPOSITION UPON
VARIOUS FELTED AND OTHER FABRICS;" in which said Letters Patent there is
contained a proviso, that I, the said Julius Schottlaender, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, under my hand and seal, to be inrolled
in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,

page_text: as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Julius Schottlaender, do hereby declare that my Invention consists,―
Firstly, of improvements in the deposition of metals by electric agency upon
various felted and other fabrics, such as cloth, linen, leather, glass, carthen-
ware, and the like substances, not being themselves conductors of electricity,
by driving the deposited metals on to or into the surfaces of such non-con-
ducting fabrics or materials by simple contact with conducting surfaces.
pursue for
And, secondly, in certain improved forms and arrangements of apparatus
for effecting the deposition of metals from their solutions by electric agency.
In order to exemplify the manner in which I deposit metals from their
solutions by electric currents upon the before-mentioned and other non_
conducting materials, I will here describe the method which I
covering linen or other cloth with a surface of metallic copper.
Having provided a plate of copper or other suitable metal of the required
dimensions, I rub over one of its surfaces with finely pulverized plumbago to
prevent adhesion of the deposited metal; the other surface of the plate I
render inactive by coating it with varnish or other suitable non-conductive, as
is well understood by electricians. I next affix the linen or other cloth to the
metallic surface of the plate by cementing or otherwise attaching the edges
thereof; I then immerse the plate with the cloth attached in a solution of sul-
phate of copper and connect it with the zinc end of a galvanic battery. A plate
of copper, in connection with the copper end of the battery, being immersed
in the solution, copper begins to be deposited upon the surface of the metal
plate in contact with the cloth, between the plate and the cloth; the metallic
plate becomes a die or matrix upon which the copper is first deposited, but as
soon as the whole surface of the plate is covered with a thin plate of copper,
the depositing metal begins to penetrate the interstices and fibres of the cloth,
and if the process is continued long enough eventually insinuates itselfthrough
the substance of the cloth, appearing in metallic globules on the opposite side.
When the deposited metal is of the requisite thickness, it is to be removed
from the solution and the cloth separated from its matrix, which will be
accomplished very readily if the plumbago has been employed as directed. If
the metal plate or matrix has a plane polished surface the copper surface of
the cloth will be polished likewise; but if the matrix be engraved or embossed
the metallized surface of the cloth will be a fac-simile thereof, the most
beautiful and elaborate designs being produced with the same facility as plain

page_text: surfaces. Ornamental designs may likewise be produced in copper or other
metals upon cloth and similar fabrics from plane metallic matrices, by drawing
thereon the required design with some suitable non-conducting substance; or
the same may be effected by piercing or cutting out portions of the metal
matrix. In this way various plain or ornamental metallized surfaces may be
given to linen,cloth, leather, paper, and such like fabrics, which surfaces, if in
copper, may be afterwards silvered or gilt by any of the usual well-known
methods. A compound plate of different metals may be advantageously
employed as the underlaying plate or matrix; I sometimes use a compound
plate or matrix composed of one plate of copper and a plate formed of an alloy
of six parts lead and one part of antimony. The non-conducting fabric to be
coated being placed in contact with the alloy becomes coated with copper,
which separates very readily from the matrix; or, in lieu of the compound
plate described above, I use the copper plate in conjunction with gold, silver,
or lead, in the state of foils. If it is desired to metallize a great length of
cloth, linen, or other similar fabric, I employ an apparatus as shewn in
Figure 1; within a trough of wood A, is mounted a plain or engraved copper
roller B; C is a plate of copper in connection with the copper pole of a
battery; D, D, is the cloth to be metallized, which is laid over a roller e,
down under the copper roller B, and up over another roller f; the trough A
being filled with a solution of sulphate of copper, and the roller B connected
with the zinc pole of the battery, a very slow motion is given to the cloth,
which, as it passes through the cupreous solution in contact with the roller B,
receives its surface of copper, which is the exact fac simile of the roller; if
the copper roller be plain the metallized surface of the cloth will be plain, but
if an engraved roller (such as is used by calico printers, for instance,) has been
employed, the metallized surface will be impressed with the copy of the
design.
Figure 2 shews another form of apparatus which I employ for metallizing
fabrics of great length without using a trough. G is a large plain or engraved
cylinder of copper or other metal connected with the zinc pole of a galvanic
battery; H, another cylinder of copper thickly coated with felt or other fibrous
material, and connected to the copper pole of the battery; I, I, is the cloth to
be metallized, which is made to pass slowly between the two rollers G and H;
K is a vessel containing a solution of sulphate of copper, which is allowed to
drop on the felt covered roller H, and keep it constantly charged with the
solution. The action of the battery having commenced, the cloth is made to
pass very slowly,between the two rollers, and receives in its progress a coating

page_text: of copper, the surface of which is an exact counterpart of the plain or figured
surface of the roller G. When the cloth or other fabric to be metallized does
not exceed twenty or thirty feet in length Jemploy an apparatus of my inven
tion for this purpose which is shewn in Figure 3. A wooden trough L is
filled with a solution of the metal to be deposited, in which are placed a series
of cylindrical vessels M, M, of unglazed earthenware (biscuit) or other suitable
porous material, filled with a solution of common salt or other exciting fluid;
within each of the porous vessels M, I place a cylinder of zinc N, N, and on
each side of these vessels I place a plate of copper or other metal o, o; zink
cylinders being connected with each other, and with the plates o, o, a galvanic
arrangement is formed, and the metal in solution will be deposited upon the
inner surface of the copper plates to which the linen to be coated has been
previously affixed. The inner surface of the plate o,o, should be treated with
plumbago, and the outer surface rendered inactive by some suitable non-
conducting material as before directed. If the surface of the plates are plain
so will be the metallized surface of the cloth while an engraved plate will
produce a corresponding figured surface.-Note: That although it is not abso-
lutely necessary, yet I find it very advantageous when operating on felted or
woven fabrics to treat them with clay before submitting them to the metal-
lizing process. For this purpose 1 mix common clay to the consistence of
cream, and wash it over the surface of the cloth; after the clay is thoroughly
dry, I wash the cloth, and so get rid of the greater portion of the clay, the fine
particles of which remaining in the fibrous interstices of the cloth, increases
the porous character of the fabric, counteracts the effects of any grease
that may be present, and facilitates the deposition of the metal which filters
through it. The clay also improves the character of the deposited metal,
and may be used with great advantage in all the processes of electro-plating
and gilding. When the fabric to be metallized is not sufficiently porous, such
as leather, paper, and the like, I coat the surface to be metallized before
placing it in contact with the matrix with a paste of the metallic salt which is
to be employed, (sulphate of copper, for instance,) by which means a perfect
deposit is insured. If the substances to be metallized consists of glass, glazed
earthenware, or the like, the process will be materially facilitated, if the sur-
faces to be deposited upon are mechanically or chemically roughened (by
grinding or etching); the parts to be metallized are then to be surrounded with
a matrix or mould of metal in connection with the zinc end of the galvanic
battery; or the matrix may consist of biscuit, plaster of Paris, or embossed
paper; noting, that if the matrix be composed of non-conducting materials, its

page_text: inner surface must be made conducting by means of plumbago or other well-
known methods. The article to be metallized is then to be placed in a
metallic solution, in which a plate of copper is immersed connected with the
copper pole of the battery. The deposited metal will fill up every interstice
between the article and the matrix, leaving thereon a copy of whatever design
has been employed firmly affixed to the glass, a paste of the metallic salt
interposed between the glass and the matrix will facilitate the process. If the
surface of the glass, earthenware,&c. be made non-conducting bytheapplication
of plumbago, foils, &c., the mould or matrix which is to give the design may
be a non-conductor, as plaster of Paris, cloth, lace, embossed paper, or other
porous substance, but in this case the glass which is to receive the deposit
(and not the matrix, is to be in connection with the zink pole of the battery.
The internal appearance of transparent objects, such as glasses, may be much
heightened by the application of gold or other metals in the state of thin
foil, which may be affixed to the glass by varnish or other cement; on the
external surface of the foil, a metallic design (in copper, for instance,) may
be deposited and afterwards gilt; or, instead of foil, very fine wire may be
wrapped round the glass; or it may be coated with fine wire gauze, upon which
an ornamental design in copper or other metal may be deposited. In like
manner I take a quantity of fine wire or bristles, bind them together, and
place them upright on a metallic plate in a cupreous solution, in connection
with a galvanic battery; the copper deposi'envelopes and binds together the
wires or bristles to a height depending upon the time the process is allowed to
go on, thereby forming a brush of great durability.
I have hitherto spoken of the galvanic battery as of the ordinary kinds,
I will now describe some batteries of my Invention, which I employ for
conducting the foregoing processes.
The first of these, which I call the "concentric battery," consists of a
cylinder of zinc open at each end, in which I place a cylindrical open-topped
vessel of unglazed earthenware (biscuit); within this porous vessel I put a
cylinder of copper, and repeat the series until the interior becomes filled up,
taking care to put zinc and copper alternately with a porous vessel between
them. The several metals are to be connected in the usual manner, and any
of the ordinary exciting fluids may be employed.
of
My second, which I call the "mercurial battery," consists of alternate series
copper and I mercury separated by porous diaphragms, and immersed in a
solution of sulphate of copper. The immersion of a small surface of zinc in
the mercury considerably increases the power of the battery.

page_text: My third, which I call the "magnetic battery," consists of two circular
arrangements of horse-shoe or other magnets placed one within the other, as
shewn in Figure 4. The outer circle of magnets are enveloped with copper
wire covered with silk, between the two ends of which, when the battery is in
action, an electric current is transmitted; when the poles of the inner circle of
magnets stand opposite to the contrary poles of the other magnets (as in
Figure 5) no electricity passes, but on moving the inner circle of magnets,
and bringing similar poles in opposition (as in Figure 6), a. electric current
passes through the wire coil. By communicating a rapid motion to the inner
circle of magnets, a rapidly intermitting flow of electricity passes off from one
wire to another, its intensity being proportioned to the number and size of the
magnets, the quantity of the covered wire, and the veloity with which the mag-
netic circle is made to revolve. The electric current thus obtained is well
adapted for the deposition of metals from their solutions, and capable of being
employed with advantage in the foregoing and all similar processes.
I would remark that, although in describing my processes for metallizing
the before-named substances I have confined myself to the employment of
copper more particularly as the deposited metal, yet solutions of other metals
may be employed, as is well understood by persons familiar with the practice of
electro-deposition.
What I claim as new and of my Invention is,-
Firstly, the methods herein-before described for coating the surface of cloth,
linen, leather, paper, glass, earthenware, and other such like non-conducting
substances by the electric deposition of metals between the said surfaces and
a suitable die or matrix, by which means either plain or figured surfaces can be
produced at pleasure.
Secondly, I claim the apparatus herein-before described (and shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 3), for conducting certain of the foregoing processes.
And, thirdly, I claim the three forms of battery herein-before described,
namely, the concentric battery, the mercurial battery, and the magnetic
battery.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventh day of June, in the
year of our Lord 1844, the aforesaid Julius Schottlaender came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-four