Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 20th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
[Communicated from abroad by JULIA HALE, widow and sole executrix of the late
Richard Hale, of Cranford, Union County, New. Jersey, United States of America.]
I, FREDERICK CRANE, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United States, temporarily of
433 Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturing Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The method commonly practiced in lacquering metal goods for their protection
from tarnish, rust, or the injurious influence of the atmosphere, is to cover them with
a liquid solution of shellac dissolved in alcohol or other quick drying liquids; or
shellac mixed with other gums, similarly dissolved. The liquid is applied with a
brush, and the article coated with a thin layer of the lacquer or varnish.
.
This method requires great skill, otherwise brush marks or ridges are left; some
portions remain uncoated; and hollows, depressions, or intricate work are often filled
up by an excess of the liquid, thus marring the finish and depreciating the quality of
the goods. To avoid these defects, not only is skill required by the operator, but
considerable time is expended; especially in the case of certain articles.
If the articles were coated by dipping them into the liquid, they would be coated
all over, brush marks would be avoided, and time and labour saved; but the lacquer
would collect and dry at the lower part or "drip" of the work, and in the deeper or
closer parts of intricate designs. Should, however, the work be of the cheaper or
common class of goods, and protection from the atmosphere only be sought, the
dipping process may be, and sometimes is, employed. In exceptional cases, the
'drip" may even be burnt off, but this method also requires skill in its exercise,
otherwise the coating would wrinkle or result in other defects; and is therefore not
practicable for fine work. Owing, therefore, to the above named difficulties, and some
others, it has been found that the method of applying the liquid coating by a brush,-
66
1

page_text: with all its disadvantages,-is the only practicable method where beauty of finish is at
all important. In consequence of the quick drying nature of the lacquers now
employed it is found impossible to use them upon highly polished metal surfaces
without leaving brush marks, or other imperfections, as before stated.
I have discovered that all the advantages of coating the articles by dipping may
be secured, and the usual disadvantages appertaining thereto, obviated, by the use of
a more slowly drying varnish which will contract sufficiently to take up its own
"drip," and smooth itself out, where the form or pattern has accumulated an excess
of liquid. I have also discovered that this desirable quality is possessed by pyroxyline
varnishes, and by varnishes in which there is sufficient pyroxyline, or other
substances, in combination with gums or other bases, to impart the desired contraction
during the drying.
"
I am aware that it has been known that pyroxyline varnish could be applied to
metal, but when brushed upon the articles in the ordinary manner it produced streaky
surfaces, it impaired the brilliancy or finish of the metal, and it also quickly gummed
up the brush. Moreover, used as it was in small receptacles suitable for the brushing
process, it quickly grew too thick to work, and the coating formed on the brush where
not frequently immersed, did not readily re-dissolve, but was precipitated into the
liquid; rendering it unfit for use.
All these difficulties are avoided by adopting the process of dipping; and I am not
aware that previous to my invention, the advantages of applying pyroxyline varnish
by this method were known or practiced. But in order to render the varnish or
lacquer still more suitable for my purpose, I dissolve the pyroxyline or di-nitro-
cellulose in such solvents as evaporate the least rapidly; or mix with the quicker
drying solvents, essential or other oils, or such other ingredients as will accomplish
my purpose; and by similar means, varying or combining the solvents to suit the
particular purpose, or class of goods for which the varnish is intended, I regulate the
contraction more or less.
My invention is not confined to metal goods only, but is applicable to all kinds of
goods wherein the conditions are analogous.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant

page_text: Improvements relating to
the Preparation of Lacquers and
Varnishes and to the Method of Applying the same for Coating
Metallic or other Articles.
I, FREDERICK CRANE, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United States of America,
temporarily of 433, Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, 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 method commonly practised in lacquering metal goods for their protection
from tarnish, rust, or the injurious influence of the atmosphere, is to cover them with
a liquid solution of shellac dissolved in alcohol or other quick drying solvent; or
shellac mixed with other gums, similarly dissolved. The liquid is applied with a
brush, and the article coated with a thin layer of the lacquer or varnish.
This method requires great skill, otherwise brush marks or ridges are left: some
portions remain uncoated, and hollows or depressions on intricate work are often filled
up by an excess of the liquid; thus marring the finish and depreciating the quality
of the goods. To avoid these defects, not only is skill required by the operator, but
considerable time is expended; especially in the case of certain articles.
If the articles were coated by dipping them into the liquid, they would be coated all
over; brush marks would be avoided; and time and labour saved; but the lacquer
would collect and dry at the lower part or "drip" of the work; and in the deeper or
closer parts of intricate designs. If the work is of the cheaper or commoner class of
goods, and protection from the atmosphere only is sought; the dipping process may
be, and sometimes is, employed. In exceptional cases, the "drip" may even be burnt
off, but this method also requires skill in its exercise or the coating would wrinkle or
show other defects; and it is therefore not practicable for fine work. Owing, then,
to the above named difficulties, among others, it has been found that with all
its disadvantages, the method of applying the liquid coating by means of a brush, is
the only practicable plan where beauty of finish is at all important.
"
I have discovered (from the information received from my foreign correspondent),
that all the advantages of coating the articles by dipping may be secured, and the
usual disadvantages appertaining thereto, obviated, by the use of a more slowly drying
varnish which will contract sufficiently to take up its own drip," and smooth itself
out, where the form or pattern has accumulated an excess of liquid. I have likewise
discovered that this desirable quality is possessed by comparatively slow drying
pyroxyline varnishes; and by varnishes in which there is sufficient pyroxyline and
other substances: or the same in combination with gums, or other bases; to impart
the desired amount of contraction during drying.
I am aware that it has been known that pyroxyline varnish could be applied to
metal surfaces; but heretofore the coating has not been satisfactory. When brushed

page_text: upon the articles in the ordinary manner, it produced streaky surfaces, it impaired the
brilliancy or finish of the metal, and it also quickly gummed up the brush. Moreover,
used as it was, in the small receptacles suitable for the brushing process; it quickly
grew too thick to work; the coating formed on the brush (where it was not frequently
immersed), did not readily re-dissolve, but was precipitated into the liquid; often
rendering it unfit for use. These difficulties are avoided by the process of dipping,
but previous to this invention the state of the art was such that it was not known, or
not practiced in connection with varnishes containing pyroxyline for the purpose of
coating highly polished metal goods, or other hard or dense materials of an analogous
nature.
I am aware that it has been proposed to use some liquid preparations or solutions
of pyrovyline, in which fabrics, leather, paper pulp, or other absorbent materials were
immersed for waterproofing, finishing, or other like purposes; but such is not the
object. I have in view. I am further aware that it has been proposed to coat the
necks of bottles, or the capsules of bottles, pipes, and other metallic articles by
dipping them in solutions containing pyroxyline for such purposes as, the rendering
of the said articles air tight and waterproof, preventing corrosion, as a non-conductor
of heat or electricity, protecting labels or impressed designs, and as a vehicle for
applying powdered metallic substances; but while all these desirable properties are
more or less attendant upon the use of pyroxyline, and therefore accompany this
invention, yet this possesses additional advantages of great service in the. art of
coating metal and other surfaces.
:
By the present invention, polished metal and other surfaces, (even if of figured or
intricate design), are coated with a hard, thin, even, smooth, and adhesive film of
pyroxyline of sufficient tenacity to practically resist the handling and exposure to
which lacquered articles are generally subjected; and thereby a new industrial result
has been attained, which was not known or practiced, previous to this invention.
In preparing the varnish or lacquer to render it suitable for my purpose, I dissolve
the pyroxyline or di-nitro-cellulose in such solvents as do not evaporate rapidly, as
compared with ether-alcohol, the well known solvent used in producing collodion; or
else, I mix with the quicker drying solvents, essential oils (to a limited degree), or
such other ingredients as will accomplish my purpose. By these, or similar means,
the solvents are varied or combined to suit the particular purpose or class of goods
for which the varnish is intended; and as specialized treatment is required for certain
kinds of goods, I have also applied for Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for the
protection and sole use of particular classes of varnishes or lacquers, subsequent to my
present application; all of which may be used by the herein described process of
dipping. But in order to make the description of this invention complete and
practicable in itself, the following example is given of a pyroxyline varnish, manu-
factured in the usual manner of such varnishes, which will be found applicable in
many cases to the coating-by dipping-of metal surfaces; or of the surfaces of
other materials wherein the conditions are analogous.
Amyl acetate
Benzine
Pyroxyline
-
5 gallons
4 gallons
2 pounds.
These proportions may be varied more or less according to circumstances, as before
explained. For instance if the varnish is required to be quicker in drying, for some
kinds of goods, the proportions given for the amyl acetate and the benzine may be
reversed. The admixture, also, of other bases such as gums, resins, or balsams will,
more or less, diminish the contractile property of the solution according to the
proportion used. I may also use other light hydrocarbons, of similar properties,
instead of benzine.
In the application of the varnish to coating metal, I am further informed that the
drying of the same should not be hastened too much before the coating has set:
especially on figured articles; in order that the contraction may not be so rapid as to
draw the film away from any part of the surface-particularly at sharp angles-

page_text: or to cause the drip to solidify before it has attained the maximum of contraction. In
compositions containing essential oils, or some other solvents or ingredients; there is
danger of producing some discoloration, and of causing slight wrinkling if strong
heat is too quickly applied after dipping. This latter qualification does not, however,
apply to the example given.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what
manner the same is to he performed. I declare that what I
claim is:
claim is:
CLAIMS.
1. Preparing and applying lacquers or varnishes for coating metallic or analogous
articles; substantially as described.
2. The method of coating polished metal surfaces by dipping the same in a
solution containing pyroxyline, prepared substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3. A pyroxyline varnish or solution prepared by dissolving pyroxyline in one or
more solvents that do not evaporate as rapidly as ether-alcohol; or in which the
evaporation is delayed by an admixture of other substances; substantially as and for
the purpose described.
4. The combination with a dipping process of a pyroxyline or contractile varnish
prepared with such solvents, or substances, or both, as will delay the drying of the
said varnish sufficiently to smooth out or draw up the drip thereof; substantially as
described.
5. The regulation of the drying of the liquid coating whereby the maximum
contraction of the said coating is obtained before it has set, and the drawing away of
the film is avoided; substantially as described.
6. A liquid coating applied to the figures or intricate surfaces of metal or
analogous articles by dipping the said articles therein, which coating is adapted to
draw up its drip or surplus of liquid in the interstices or configurations of the surfaces
in drying; substantially as described.
7. A thin, hard and smooth pyroxyline film, evenly distributed over a polished
metal or other non-absorbent material by a dipping or immersing process;
substantially as described.
.8.-Coating metals and other surfaces with varnish by dipping them into a solution
of pyroxyline in a menstruum containing amyl acetate and benzine; substantially as
described.
9.-A lacquer or varnish, prepared by dissolving pyroxyline in amyl acetate and
benzine, substantially as described.
D: 0th ave of Inn1000
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London,
Agents for the Applicant.