Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Enamelled Letters and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1887
Specification Accepted, 27th Dec., 1887
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Enamelled Letters
and the like.
I, HENRIETTA GRIFFIN, of No. 1A Silver Street, High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, Sales-lady, 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 :-
My invention relates to the manufacture of enamelled letters, numeral figures,
ornamental designs, and the like for use on glass, metal, wood and other surfaces. Its
chief object is to improve the manufacture and diminish the cost of letters, figures or
the like consisting of sheet metal foundation plates of concavo-convex form covered or
coated with enamel.
In making enamelled letters, figures and other objects of this kind or class
according to the method heretofore adopted, considerable difficulty experienced, by
reason of the shape of the foundation plate, in preventing the running or flow of the
enamel, while being fluxed, from the sharp edges of the convex surface of the said
plate onto the planch on which the enamelling is effected. It is moreover imprac-
ticable or extremely difficult, by reason of the flow of the enamel in this manner, to
provide holes or perforations in the said letters or other objects for fastening or
fixing them upon wood, metal or other surfaces by means of screws or the like.
My said invention is partly designed to obviate these defects, that is to say, to so
forin the foundation plates for the letters, or other objects that the enamel, while being
fluxed, will be retained upon the said plate and will not run off on to the planch, and
holes or perforations can be provided in the said letters or the like, when necessary,
without difficulty.
Moreover my invention permits the employment of cheaper and less skilled labour
than heretofore, and reduces the quantity of fixing required.
I make the foundation plates for the letters, figures, or other objects from copper,
iron, or other suitable metal by means of suitable dies or press tools and in such a
manner as to leave a turned up edge or margin all around the plate, and also around
any holes or perforations that may be provided in the said plate. This turned up edge
or margin of the foundation plate forms a lip or channel which retains the onainel on

page_text: the plate while being fluxed, and effectually prevents the running or flow of the said
enamel therefrom.
I sometimes leave projections on the said foundation plates for fastening the latter
upon wire netting or the like thus obviating the necessity of soldering pins or
projections upon the said foundation plates after the letters are manufactured and in
cases where the backs of the foundation plates are covered with enamel, of breaking
or cutting away a portion of the enamel for that purpose.
By making enamelled letters, figures, or the like in this manner, not only am I
enabled to employ less skilled labour and a smaller quantity of fixing than heretofore,
thus reducing the prime cost of the letters, figures, or the like, but can, at the same
time, produce a stronger and stiffer article, thereby lessening the liability to breakage
of the enamel in packing and transport on land or by sea.
Another feature of my said invention is the printing of trade marks, advertisements,
or other matter, or ornamental or other designs upon the enamelled faces of the letters,
figures, or the like. I effect this result by lithography, plate engraving or other
suitable process and then burn the printed matter or design into the surface of the
enamel. By this means I am enabled to give much more prominence to advertisements
made up of such enamelled letters, or the like, and to publish or set forth a great deal
of matter in a comparatively small space.
I also apply enamel letters, figures, or the like to plates or sheets of glass in the
manner hereinafter described, that is to say, I cut or otherwise form in intaglio in
the surface of the glass, letters, figures, trade marks, or other signs for ornamental,
advertising or other purposes, and I fill the depressions thus formed with enamel, and
subject the whole to heat so that the said enamel will be properly united to or burnt
into the glass. In some instances, I cut or otherwise form a depression or countersink
in the said plates or sheets of glass and attach thereto by means of cement or in any
other suitable manner, in the said depressions or countersinks enamelled letters, figures,
or the like.
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 :-
First. An enamelled letter, figure, or the like, the foundation plate of which is
turned up at the edges thereof and, if necessary, around a hole or holes therein,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. An enamelled letter, figure, or the like, the foundation plate of which has
projections whereby it may be readily attached to wire netting or the like, as above
specified.
Third. An enamelled letter, figure, or the like having printed upon and burnt into
the surface thercof trade marks, advertisements, or other inatter, or ornamental or
other designs, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The above described method of applying enamel letters, figures, or the like
to glass surfaces by cutting or otherwise forming depressions therein of the required
shape, and countersunk if desired, and filling the said depressions with enamel.
Dated this 25th day of November 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.