IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TRANSPARENT OR OTHER PAPER OR CLOTH AND OF LABELS TABLETS, OR SHEETS FOR ADVERTISING AND OTHER PURPOSES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR
Year: 1880

page_text: En the Matter of Letters Patent granted. to Alexander Mc Caw, John
Stevenson, and James Porter Orr all of Belfast, Ireland, for the invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TRANSPARENT OR OTHER
PAPER OR CLOTH AND OF LABELS TABLETS, OR SHEETS FOR ADVERTISING
AND OTHER PURPOSES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR"
Dated May 7 1880 N° 1874
DECORATIVE
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be filed
by us John Stevenson, James Porter Orr and Mary Jane McCaw widow of
the late Alexander McCaw aforesaid.
',
.
WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Royal
Letters Patent bearing date the Seventh day of May in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty in the forty third year of Her Reign did
for Herself Her Heirs and Successors give and grant unto the said Alexander
McCaw John Stevenson and James Porter Orr their executors administrators and
assigns the sole privilege to make use exercise and vend within the United.
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland the Channel Islands and Isle of Man the
said invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TRANSPARENT OR
OTHER PAPER OR CLOTH AND OF LABELS TABLETS OR SHEETS FOR ADVERTISING
"
DECORATIVE AND OTHER PURPOSES AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR a Specification
of which invention was duly filed in the Great Seal Patent Office in pursuance of
one of the provisoes in the said Letters Patent,
And whereas the said Alexander Mc Caw died on the Twelfth day of November
1880 and his widow Mary Jane Mc Caw aforesaid has adininistered to his estate.
And whereas since the said Specification was filed we have ascertained that the
use of opaque white pigment for the purpose of the said invention was not new in
respect of the public knowledge and use thereof at the date of the said Letters.
Patent and that certain portions of the description of the said invention as they
appear in the said Specification are ambiguous and misleading we are therefore
desirous of altering and amending the said Specification in manner following that
is to say referring to the Queen's Printers' copy of the said Specification and to

page_text: "
page 4 thereof in line 9 we strike out the words "in the form of" and also the
word "or" following the word "tablets" and in lines 17 and 18, we strike out
the words "that is to say, paper which has been glazed by high pressure and which
"does not contain much size." In line 36 we strike out the words "according to
our invention;" in-lines 37 and 38 we strike out the words "is an important
"feature of our said invention and" we also strike out the sentence commencing in
line 40 with the words "In the latter case" and terminating in line 43 with the
words "front of them." Referring to page 6 in line 21 we insert after the word
wo the words "make no claim to or in respect of the use of Kremnitz white or
"
" of machinery or apparatus substantially such as herein described and subject to
"such limitation or restriction we." And we strike out the whole of the matter
in and constituting the second claiming clause and re-number the remaining three
claiming clauses so that the numbers read consecutively.
And in order that the effect of the said Disclaimer and Memorandum of
Alteration may be clearly understood we annex a copy of the said specification
omitting the introductory and. concluding clauses thereof as it will appear when
altered and amended thereby.
"Our invention relates to the manufacture of transparent and other paper or
"cloth labels, tablets, sheets, or pieces of any desired form or size, chiefly designed
"for advertising or decorative purposes.
"
"
#
It also relates to the production of transparent paper to imitate thin sheets of
gelatine for wrapping or enclosing "bon-bons" or confectionery, or for similar
purposes
"It also relates to machinery or apparatus to be employed in the said
"manufacture.
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"In carrying the said invention into practice we select very thin hard glazed
paper, such, for instance, as the paper known in the trade as "inanilla tissue,"
glazed copying," or cream wove bank." "The words, characters, pictures, or
devices which are to appear on the tablet or label are prepared on stone, as in
"the ordinary process of lithographic printing, or they may be cut upon wood, or
prepared upon electrotype or stereotype plates, or in any other suitable manner.
If the impression is to be taken from stone, we cover the cylinder of a litho-
graphic machine with a non-absorbent material, such as oil-cloth and take one
impression thereon from the stone; then one of the sheets of paper is introduced
" and the next impression from the stone is taken on this paper, the latter
receiving at the same time an impression on its rear face from the oil-cloth.
When manufacturing transparent labels or tablets the red, blue, green, or other
"colored printing must be effected with transparent pigments, and we prefer to
arrange the apparatus or machinery used for printing the labels or tablets in
"such a manner that the color will be impressed on both sides of the paper at one
operation, although in most cases the texture of the paper being very thin, the
"color penetrates or passes through the same even when applied only on one side.
When the color is not applied on both sides we prefer to employ one or more
" coats on one side. The letters, words, or other parts which are required to be
protected from the action of the varnish, and which are designed to shew by
"reflected light, are, printed with kremnitz white, or white lead, or similar material
affording a white enamelled appearance. This enables us to render such parts of
the label or tablet very distinct which is not the case when the effect of whiteness
"is produced merely by leaving the paper without color.
"
"
*
"The sheets of paper having been printed with the desired words, characters, or
"devices, and with groundwork of a suitable color or colors, are dried, and when

page_text: be tinted with any desired pigment, so as to produce colored paper, or may be left
uncolored.
We may in some cases employ fine silk, linen, or cotton fabrics instead of
paper.
The apparatus or machine forming part of this Invention for facilitating the
coating of the sheets with varnish or with adhesive material is constructed as
follows, that is to say :-
We provide a trough or vessel designed to contain the varnish or adhesive
material. The said trough is fixed upon a stand or base, and there is a wooden
table or bench at one end serving to support conveniently the sheets of paper'
which are ready to pass through the machine. There are two rollers of india-
rubber or composition, which are placed one above the other and extend across the
trough. The lower one works in the varnish or adhesive compound, as the case
may be, and as it revolves is constantly bringing up some of the material. The
sheets are fed one at a time by an attendant to the india-rubber rollers, and are
supported upon thin silk or other threads. The sheets pass through these rollers,
between which there is continually a quantity of varnish or adhesive material, as
the case may be, and thus receive a coating of the same on both sides. The upper
roller is made adjustable to provide for varying the distance between it and the
lower roller for the purpose of regulating the quantity of material to be applied to
the sheets. If the two rollers are pressed tightly together a very thin coating will
be applied to the sheets, and the less pressure there is the thicker will be the said
coating. The silk or other threads form carriers for the sheets, and are at one end
passed around rollers or pulleys capable of adjustment, and at the other end around
rollers or pulleys connected with a handle for giving motion to the parts. A silk
or other thread also passes around the upper india-rubber roller and around another
roller above the same secured to the end of an arm extending from near one end of
the trough. The object of this thread is to prevent the sheets from curling around
the said upper india-rubber roller as they pass from between the two rollers. The
aforesaid handle is in connection with a toothed wheel which revolves as the handle
is turned, and gears with another toothed wheel, which in turn gears with a
toothed wheel or disc on one end of the lower india-rubber roller. The upper
india-rubber roller is also provided with a similar toothed wheel gearing with the
lower one, all these wheels being outside the trough or bath. On turning the
handle motion is communicated to all the wheels and to the india-rubber rollers
through which the sheets pass. We provide an inclined féed-board which extends
from the aforesaid table nearly to the rollers, and the sheets pass down this board
on their way to the said rollers. Instead of the aforesaid handle we may furnish
the machine with a pulley or other suitable device for driving it by steam or other
power.
The said machine may be of various sizes, and is constructed in precisely the
same manner whether it is to be used for varnishing the sheets or for applying the
adhesive material.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander McCaw, John Stevenson, and James Porter Orr
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th November 1880.
ALEXANDER MCCAW, JOHN STEVENSON, and JAMES PORTER ORR, all of Belfast,
Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TRANSPARENT OR OTHER
PAPER OR CLOTH, AND OF LABELS, TABLETS, OR SHEETS FOR ADVERTIZING,
DECORATIVE, AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN MACHINERY THEREFOR."
Our Invention relates to the manufacture of transparent and other paper or cloth
in the form of labels, tablets, or sheets, or pieces of any desired form. or size, chiefly
designed for advertising or decorative purposes.
It also relates to the production of transparent paper to imitate thin sheets of
gelatine for wrapping or enclosing "bon-bons or confectionery, or for similar
purposes.
"
"
"
"
It also relates to machinery or apparatus to be employed in the said manufacture.
In carrying the said Invention into practice we select very thin hard glazed
paper, such, for instance, as the paper known in the trade as manilla tissue,"
glazed copying," or cream wove bank," that is to say, paper which has been
glazed by high pressure and which does not contain much size.. The words,
characters, pictures, or devices which are to appear on the tablet or label are
prepared on stone, as in the ordinary process of lithographic printing, or they
may be cut upon wood, or prepared upon electrotype or stereotype plates, or in
any other suitable manner. If the impression is to be taken from stone, we cover
the cylinder of a lithographic machine with a non-absorbent material, such as
.oil-cloth, and take one impression thereon from the stone; then one of the sheets of
paper is introduced and the next impression from the stone is taken on this paper,
the latter receiving at the same time an impression on its rear face from the
oil-cloth. When manufacturing transparent labels or tablets the red, blue, green,
or other colored printing must be effected with transparent pigments, and we
prefer to arrange the apparatus or machinery used for printing the labels or tablets
in such a manner that the color will be impressed on both sides of the paper at one
operation, although in most cases the texture of the paper being very thin, the color
penetrates or passes through the same even when applied only on one side. When
the color is not applied on both sides we prefer to employ one or more coats on one
side. The letters, words, or other parts which are required to be protected from
the action of the varnish, and which are designed to shew by reflected light, are,
according to our Invention, printed with kremnitz white, or white lead, or similar
material affording a white enamelled appearance. This is an important feature of
our said Invention, and enables us to render such parts of the label or tablet very
distinct, which is not the case when the effect of whiteness is produced merely by
leaving the paper without color. In the latter case the white portions can scarcely
be seen unless there is a good light behind the label or tablet, whereas labels or
tablets manufactured according to our Invention are very distinct, whether the
light is behind or in front of them.
The sheets of paper having been printed with the desired words, characters, or
devices, and with groundwork of a suitable color or colors, are dried, and when dry
are passed through an apparatus or machine, hereinafter described, which contains a
bath of copal, carriage, or spirit varnish. The printed sheets are thereby coated on
both sides with a film of the said varnish, which gives to them a smooth glossy
glass-like appearance. After this operation the sheets are again dried, preferably by
being suspended in racks and subjected to a gentle heat. They are then passed
through an apparatus similar to that above mentioned, and containing a solution of
gum-arabic and sulphate of aluminum, or other suitable adhesive compound, to

page_text: •
provide the surfaces with means for securing them to glass windows, or the like.
The sheets are again dried, and then cut or punched by any ordinary and suitable
apparatus into the different shapes to form the tablets or labels. These trans-
parent sheets are chiefly. designed to be attached to the windows of shops,
tram-cars, railway carriages, refreshment and waiting rooms, or the like, whether
they are to be used in a reflected light or otherwise. They supply the place of
expensive glass tablets, and are not liable to breakage. Being furnished with an
adhesive coating over the entire surface of both sides, as above explained, they are
in a condition to be attached to the glass in any position, merely requiring to be
damped with cold water, or the glass may be damped and the label or tablet placed
upon the damp portion.
If the labels or tablets are not required to be transparent, we employ the same
process as above described, merely substituting opaque for transparent pigments,
and in some cases the labels or tablets may be partly transparent and partly opaque.
We may also make use of our said Invention for the manufacture of paper, cloth,
fine silk, linen, cotton, or other fibrous materials to imitate wood of various kinds,
mosaic or inlaid work, stained glass, or the like, or for bottle labels. For this
purpose we print the paper with opaque or semi-opaque pigments, and pass the
sheets subsequently through the varnishing bath, as above described, to give the
surfaces the required gloss and lustre. Moreover, they may or may not be passed
through the bath of adhesive material according to circumstances.
The bath of adhesive material is prepared as follows, that is to say-Eight and one
half ounces of fluid gum-arabic are added to thirty grains of sulphate of aluminum
dissolved in two thirds of an ounce of water, the mixture being strained through
wire and muslin several times to remove all impurities. The quantity of sulphate
of aluminum inay be somewhat varied, and may sometimes be omitted altogether,
but we prefer to employ it for the reason that we thus obtain a much stronger
adhesive power than could be obtained by the use of gum-arabic alone.
In preparing imitation gelatine sheets we employ the same paper and process as
above described, excepting that the printing may be entirely dispensed with, or
used only to produce a diaper or other ground pattern in white grey or any desired
tint or colour, or the paper previous to its passing through the bath may be
coloured by dipping it into a bath of colour, or by brushing a colour or colours on
its surface. The varnish may be tinted with any desired pigment so as to produce
the required effects, or may be left uncolored.
One form of the apparatus or machine forming part of this Invention for
facilitating the coating of the sheets with varnish or with adhesive material is
shewn in perspective in the accompanying Drawing, and is constructed as follows,
that is to say :-
A represents a trough or vessel designed to contain the varnish or adhesive
material. The said trough is fixed upon a stand or base, and there is a wooden
table or bench at one end serving to support conveniently the sheets of paper which
are to pass, through the machine; B, B', represent two rollers of india-rubber or
other suitable elastic material or composition, which are placed one above the other,
and extend across the trough. The lower roller B works in the varnish or adhesive
compound, and as it revolves constantly brings up some of the material. The
sheets are fed one at a time by an attendant to the rollers B, B', and are supported
in their passage through the machine upon thin silk or other threads D. The
sheets pass between these rollers, upon which there is continually a quantity of
varnish or adhesive material, and thus receive a coating of the same on both sides.
The upper roller B' is made adjustable by means of the screws E, E, to provide for
varying the distance between it and the lower roller B, for the purpose of
regulating, the quantity of material to be applied to the sheets. If the two
rollers are pressed tightly together a very thin coating will be applied, and the
lighter the pressure the thicker will be the said coating. The silk or other
threads D form carriers for the sheets, and are at one end of the machine passed
around a roller or pulley at D' (the said pulley being capable of adjustment),

page_text: and at the other end around a roller or pulley D³, which may be provided with a
handle for giving motion to the various parts, or motion may be imparted to the
roller B by a crank F upon its shaft, as shewn, and through suitable gearing to the
roller D². G, G, represent silk or other threads which pass around the upper
india-rubber roller B', and around other rollers H upon a shaft I supported in
bearings or brackets J. The object of these threads G is to prevent the curling
of the sheets around the upper india-rubber roller B', as they pass from between
the two rollers B, B'. The upper and lower rollers B¹, B, are so geared together
by toothed wheels as to revolve at the same speed.
On turning the handle F motion is communicated to all of the wheels and to the
india-rubber rollers through which the sheets pass; C represents an inclined
feed-board which extends from the aforesaid table nearly to the rollers B, B¹, and
the sheets pass down this board on their way to the said rollers. Instead of the
crank handle F we may furnish the machine with a pulley or other suitable device
for driving it by steam or other power.
The said machine may be of any required size or capacity, and is constructed in
precisely the same manner, whether it is to be used for varnishing the sheets or for
applying the adhesive material.
Having thus fully described our said Invention and shewn how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, we wish it understood that
we claim,-
First. The manufacture of adhesive transparent labels, tablets, or sheets, by first
printing with transparent pigments upon paper or fibrous material the desired
characters or devices, then passing the sheets through varnish and subsequently
through an adhesive solution, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. The employment of kremnitz white or other white pigment in the
manufacture of transparent labels, tablets, sheets, or the like, as above set forth and
for the purposes specified.
Third. The manufacture of transparent paper by passing through varnish sheets
of thin hard glazed paper, which may or may not be subsequently passed through
an adhesive solution, as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The manufacture of paper or textile material to imitate wood, mosaic, or
inlaid work, or stained glass by printing upon it with opaque or semi-opaque
pigments, and subsequently passing the paper or other material through varnish,
and if desirable or necessary through an adhesive solution, as above described.
Fifth. The machine or apparatus consisting of the parts constructed, combined,
and operating as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Stevenson and James Porter Orr, for
ourselves and on behalf of the said Alexander McCaw, have hereunto
set our hands and seals, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.