Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Photographic Dry Plates or Films.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 1st Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Oct., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Photographic
Dry Plates or Films.
I, EDWARD WILLIAM FOXLEE of 22 Goldsmith Road, Acton in the County of
Middlesex Photographic Expert, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
-
This invention relates to that class of flexible film from which the paper or other
backing is ultimately stripped. Films of this description vary in construction con-
siderably; in some the stripping of the back is done in a wet state in others in a
dry state and in others not stripped at all. Some of the films are made with a paper
backing an insoluble gelatine film to receive the image and a soluble gelatine layer
interposed between the two; some makers do not use gelatine at all, but a gelatinous
or mucilaginous compound instead. In all cases however the film is supported by a
backing generally of paper which is subsequently stripped off and to most if not to
all of these the present invention is applicable. I will however, describe it as applied
to a plate made according to the Boult (Eastman & Walker) Patent No. 13,596
of 1884 and consisting of the paper backing the insoluble gelatine film and the
interposed layer of soluble gelatine. I shall use the word "negative" to indicate the
insoluble film with the image in it whether that image happen to be a negative or a
positive picture as it may be either.
An advantage of my invention is that whereas the "negatives as ordinarily
prepared are subject to the attacks of damp and other atmospheric influences my
improved negatives are when required coated on both sides with collodion or varnish
which is impervious to atmospheric influences.
In carrying out my invention I take a plate of glass or equivalent material and
coat it with plain or normal collodion such as that employed by photographers but
without being iodised. Before the collodion is poured upon the plate the latter is
treated in the usual way with wax or indiarubber dissolved in one of their solvents
or powdered tale (French chalk) or some similar material to prevent the permanent
adhesion of the collodion. When the collodion is set the plate is immersed in a dish

page_text: of cold water until the ether and alcohol are washed out. This operation may be
accelerated by washing under a tap. When the solvents have been removed from the
collodion it is ready for the reception of the negative. This having been fixed and
washed is laid face downward upon the collodion. An indiarubber squegee is now
employed with sonic pressure to ensure close contact and expel the superfluous water
and air bubbles but before the squegee is applied a sheet of india rubber or paper is
laid on the plate in order to prevent abrasion of any exposed portions of the collodion
film. Blotting paper is now placed upon the paper backing of the negative with a
light pressure where it is allowed to remain for a suitable time rarely exceeding half
an hour. Next the plate with the adherent negative is placed without previous
drying in warm or hot water. In a short time the paper will be easily removed
owing to the solution of the soluble subtratum or interposed layer of gelatine leaving
the negative firmly attached to the collodion. The plate is now removed from the
water and a thin sheet or pelicle of gelatine which has previously been thoroughly
softened in water-or a mixture of water and glycerine-is laid upon the negative
and pressed into close contact by a squegec a sheet of india rubber being interposed
to prevent abrasion. The whole is now allowed to dry or instead of applying this
sheet in a firm state it may be run on in a liquid state. When the gelatine is dry it
is coated with collodion or with a varnish. When this coating is dry the negative is
stripped from the glass when it will bring the collodion film which was applied to the
glass away with it firmly attached so that the negative and the gelatine are protected
front and back with a film of collodion or with one of collodion and one of varnish.
To facilitate the stripping a sharp knife may be run round the negative cutting the
collodion to prevent tearing.
In some cases where it is not desired to remove the negative at all from the glass
plate as when an inverted or reversed negative is required it is not necessary to
prepare the surface of the glass with tale before running on the collodion in these
cases when the negative has been attached to the glass and the backing stripped off
it is only necessary to coat the exposed surface with collodion or varnish.
Dated this 1st day of December 1886.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Photographic
Dry Plates or Films.
1. EDWARD WILLIAM FOXLEE of 22 Goldsmith Road, Acton in the County of
Middlesex, Photographic Expert, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the class of flexible film from which the paper or other
backing is ultimately stripped. Films of this description vary in construction con-
siderably in some the stripping of the back is done in a wet state and in others in a
dry state. Some of the films are made with a paper backing an insoluble gelatine
film to receive the image and a soluble gelatine layer interposed between the two į
some makers do not use gelatine at all but a gelatinous or mucilaginous compound
instead. In all cases however the film is supported by a backing generally of paper
which is subsequently stripped off and to most if not to all of these the present
invention is applicable. I will however describe it as applied to a plate made
according to the Boult (Eastman & Walker) Patent No. 13596 of 1884 and con-
sisting of the paper backing the insoluble gelatine film and the interposed layer of
soluble gelatine. I shall use the word "negative" to indicate the insoluble film with
the image in it whether that image happen to be a negative or a positive picture as it
may be either.
An advantage of my invention is that whereas the "negatives" as ordinarily
prepared are subject to the attacks of damp and other atmospheric influences my
improved negatives are when required coated on both sides with collodion or varnish,
which is impervious to atmospheric influences.
In carrying out my invention I take a plate of glass or equivalent material and
coat it with plain or normal collodion such as that employed by photographers but
without being iodised. Before the collodion is poured upon the plate the latter is
treated in the usual way with wax or indiarubber dissolved in one of their solvents
or powdered tale (French chalk) or some similar material to prevent the permanent
adhesion of the collodion. When the collodion has set the plate is immersed in a
dish of cold water until the ether and alcohol are washed out. This operation may
be accelerated by washing under a tap. When the solvents have been removed from
the collodion it is ready for the reception of the negative. This having been fixed
and washed is laid face downward upon the collodion. An india-rubber squegee is
now employed with some pressure to ensure close contact and expel the superfluous
water and air bubbles but before the squegee is applied a sheet of india-rubber or
paper is laid on the paper and plate in order to prevent abrasion of any exposed
portions of the collodion film. Blotting paper is now placed upon the paper backing
of the negative and put under light pressure and allowed to remain for a suitable
time rarely exceeding half an hour. The object of using the blotting paper is to

page_text: further absorb the moisture and so secure a better contact between the glass and the
film. Next the plate with the adherent negative is placed without previous drying
in warm or hot water. In a short time the paper will be easily removed owing to
the solution of the soluble subtratum or interposed layer of gelatine leaving the
negative firmly attached to the collodion. The plate is now removed from the water
and a thin sheet or pelicle of gelatine which has previously been thoroughly softened
in water or a mixture of water and glycerine is laid upon the negative and
pressed into close contact by a squegee a sheet of india-rubber being interposed to
prevent abrasion. The whole is now allowed to dry; or instead of applying this
sheet in a firm state it may be run on in a liquid state. When the gelatine is dry it
is coated with collodion or with a varnish. When this coating is dry the negative is
stripped from the glass when it will bring the collodion film which was applied to
the glass away with it firmly attached so that the negative and the gelatine are
protected front and back with a film of collodion or with one of collodion and one
of varnish.
To facilitate the stripping a sharp knife may be run round the negative cutting the
collodion to prevent tearing.
In some cases where it is not desired to remove the negative at all from the glass
plate as when an inverted or reversed negative is required it is not necessary to
prepare the surface of the glass with tale before running on the collodion; in these
cases when the negative has been attached to the glass and the backing stripped off
it is only necessary to coat the exposed surface with collodion or varnish.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :
1. In the treatment of flexible films after exposure the method or process con-
sisting essentially in attaching the "negative to a film of collodion spread upon
prepared glass or equivalent material and stripping off the temporary backing from
the said "negative" or image bearing film the whole substantially as specified.
2. In the treatment of flexible films after exposure the method or process consisting
essentially in attaching the "negative" to a film of collodion spread upon prepared
glass or equivalent material stripping off the temporary backing from the said
negative or image bearing film and coating with collodion or varnish and finally
removing from the said glass or other plate the said "negative" or image bearing
film so that the finished "negative" is enclosed between two coatings impervious to
atmospheric influences the whole substantially as specified.
3. In the treatment of flexible films after exposure the method or process consisting
essentially in attaching the "negative" to a film of collodion spread upon prepared
glass or equivalent material stripping off the temporary backing from the said
'negative' or image bearing film applying a permanent backing of gelatine or
equivalent material and finally removing from the said glass or other plate the said
negative" or image bearing filmn the whole substantially as specified.
<<
4. A finished "negative" consisting of an image bearing film having on each side
a coating impervious to atmospheric influences substantially as specified.
Dated this 31st day of August 1887.