IMPROVEMENTS IN נן THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION STAINED GLASS FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM CUNLIFFE of N° 1 Harringay Grove Hornsey in the County of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
נן
THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION STAINED GLASS FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES to
be as follows:—
The object of this invention is to produce in an efficient simple and economical
manner a perfect substitute and imitation of stained glass suitable for being used
in the manufacture of windows screens tablets panes panels and other forms of
useful and decorative glass.
Many attempts have been made to discover some simple satisfactory and cheap
method of making a good and durable imitation of stained glass by placing colored
and decorative tissues behind the glass and gumming or fastening the same together
by means of some liquid or wet adhesive medium. But in all these attempts the
results were imperfect and failed to produce a perfectly good permanent and glass
like appearance undistinguishable from ordinary stained glass.
By this invention a perfect imitation of stained glass can be obtained not only in
appearance but also in durability.
This is effected by the use of thin unglazed or tracing papers or any other
suitable tissue upon which the pattern is, produced either in colors monochrome
or other manner either by printing lithography photography or hand painting
or in other suitable way and by saturating the tissue or tissues with a solution of
bichromate of potash chrome alum or other chromate and with a gelatinous solution
such as of glue or gelatine and a gummous solution such as a solution of shellac
mastic or other gum in turpentine or other medium such as spirits of wine. The
tissue or tissues may be impregnated with the solutions either separately or
combined.
After the tissues have been thoroughly permeated and dried they are placed in a
perfectly dry state (and as required to permanently remain) between two glass
plates or other forms of glass in duplicate and are whilst held by pressure firmnly
in position between the two adjacent surfaces of glass subjected to a gentle and
gradual heat until the proper point of cementation is reached. When cold they
are found firmly adhering together and free from all appearance of air or liquid
betwixt the glass and tissue generally so apparent and objectionable in other

page_text: methods. The edges of the glasses may afterwards be dipped in a melted com-
position or substance such as oleic acid and resin or asphalt bitumen or other
similar substance to further protect them and give them a more finished appearance
pending their placement in their proper frames or position.
By preference I omploy the mixture herein after described the proportions may
however be varied as well as the ingredients used in the preparation of the several
solutions. Preferably several applications of the mixed solution are employed
beginning with a dilute form of it and afterwards increasing its strength and
density in the subsequent applications. The bichromated solutions both in
preparation and preservation must be kept in the dark until after application.
At the first application of the mixture which is of a thick creamy appearance
the tissue or tissues have a thick turbid non-transparent appearance but on
drying (for which the inventor uses or prefers a gentle heat) it rapidly clarifies
and becomes perfectly transparent and glass like in appearance.
Preferably the tissues are made thicker at the edges of the glasses by a double or
treble strip or thickness so as to insure under pressure a more perfect cementation
and adhesion of these parts.
In the preparation of the bichromate solution the bichromate is dissolved by
adding it to hot water until the salt no longer dissolves the solution is then
strained. In preparing the glue the ordinary course is adopted of a gluo kettle or
steam bath taking care to use clear colorless gluc or gelatine and keeping all puro
and free from impurities and boiling the glue until of tho consistence of thick
molasses. In the preparation of the gummous solution or varnish the following
may be used but I do not claim these and other suitable solutions of varnish such
as "copal" "hard white" "mastic" or a colorless lac varnish may be employed.
Take of seed lac 8 ozs, gum amine 12 ozs. powdered, dissolve in one gallon of
spirits of wine with a gentle heat and strain clear.
Or take of copal 8 ozs. camphor 1 oz, clear white drying oil Gozs and of oil of
turpentine 4 ozs, powder and mix the copal and camphor add the drying oil, heat
gradually over a slow firo; add the oil of turpentine after being well digested
strain off,
When preparing for use stir 50 parts of the chromate solution into about 400
parts of the solution of glue. Then take 1 part of the bichromated glue solution
and adding it gently while stirring briskly nix it well with from 20 to 30 parts
of the varnish or solution of gum or gums; afterwards diluting to the required
consistency by adding turpentine. The solution then may be applied by either
brushing steeping or any other means to the paper or tissue upon which the design
or pattern has been placed until saturated and the desired point of transparency is
secured taking care to dry the tissue thoroughly between each application. When
the prepared design and saturated tissue is dry two pieces of glass are prepared of
proper size and shape and the dry tissue placed between them (the tissue being
double or treble at the edges by preference) and the whole are clamped firmly
together as required when completed. They are then heated in a stove oven
muffle or other beating chamber until a proper degree of heat is attained for
cementing the tissue to the glass. After cooling the glass is released from the
clamps and the edges finished as before described or in any other suitable way.

page_text: I WILLIAM CUNLIFFE of 1 Harringay Grove, Hornsey, in the County of Middlesex
Engineer-do hereby declaro the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION STAINED GLASS FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention is designed to effect in a more simple, efficient, economical, and
durable, manner, the manufacture of decorative and illuminated panes, panels,
tablets, and other forms of glass, in various styles, colors, and designs, and also in
imitation of stained glass.
The old method of making stained glass is a very uncertain, difficult, and costly
process, requiring the greatest skill, not only in the manipulation of the colors,
and execution of the design, but, also, in the firing and fixing process, and is very
liable in the latter process to be damaged or ruined completely-Especially if the
work is of large dimensions, or bent, or irregular in form.
Many attempts have been made by various methods to attain a cheaper, and
efficient substitute; chiefly by transferring or gumming counterfeit designs, made
upon paper, to the back of the glass sheet. But hitherto all these attempts have
proved unsatisfactory-their appearance being very poor and inferior, and their
counterfeit nature detected at a glance.
The difficulties proceeded from several causes; such as the difficulty of procuring
a perfectly crystalline and glass like lustre:-the colors were dull and inferior, and
deficient in tone, and brightness;-and, when applied to the glass, they presented,
also, an irregular, spotted, and unsightly appearance, from the constant presence of
blebs or blisters of gun or air, which intervened between the design & glass, and
could not be got rid of ;-and besides this blotchy appearance, there was a general
absence of similarity in appearance or identity in effect to that of stained glass.
The object of this invention is to overcome all these difficulties and defects; and
to procure a permanent and perfect substitute, in a most simple and economical
manner, at a most trivial cost, having all the visible properties and effects--and an
identical resemblance to stained glass; and by the utilization of unskilled labour
in producing the same.
To effect this purpose I use, by preference, very thin, unsized, and unglazed
tissues of paper, or tracing paper, or of cloth;-(but any other suitable medium
even of a thicker character, may be used, especially for producing translucent,.
semi-transparent, and, or opaque effects) and upon this I execute the requisite
design, in either colors or monochrome, of any desired kind. The design may be
prepared by chromo-lithography or other printing, or by photography, or by hand
painting or, drawing, or by any other available method, upon the paper; and in
either water colors, or oil colors, distemper or any other suitable medium. To
produce the best effects, the finest transparent colors in tubes are preferred, such as
carmine, or the like pigments,-ultramarine, prussian blue, gamboge, raw sienna,
burnt sienna, verdigris, vandyke brown, and similar colors, judiciously blended with
opaque or good bodied colors. The aniline colors, with a suitable and permanent
medium, also, may be used, but any colors, even, of a commoner kind, may be used
effectively, especially for semi-transparent and opaque effects.
After the design has been prepared upon the tissue in suitable colors, and dried,
the whole design and tissue is then saturated with a solution formed, by preference,

page_text: of glue, and hard white clear varnish and bichromate of potash, or chrome alum.
But instead of ordinary glue, gelatine or isinglass inay be used, either alone or in
combination with glue, and the other ingredients. And instead of the varnish
named above any other varnish of a suitable nature may be used; such as mastic
varnish, or copal varnish, of a clear colorless, and suitable character, and either
alone or in combination with the other varnish, or varnishes, and - with the
bichromatized gelatinous solution-The solution may be applied to the tissue by
either steeping, or passing through a bath of it, and may be applied by a brush. But
to produce the proper lustre, transparency, and diaphanous effect, it is essential that
the design and tissue be thoroughly saturated and permeated with the solution; and
if necessary that repeated applications be made, the tissue being dried thoroughly
between each application when necessary. It is best, also, not to apply the
solution, at first, too thick, but with each repeated application to increase its
strength and density gradually until the desired permeation and effect is obtained.
The solution may be diluted to the necessary consistence.by adding a small quantity
of turpentine, and also methylated spirits, eithor in equal quantities, or in any
proper proportion as required, as in the caso of ordinary varnishes.
Upon the first admixture of the bichromatized solution with the varnish and
glue, and the application to the paper tissue or other material, the solution assumes
often a thick, turbid, and non-transparent appearance-(resulting from the re-action
of the various component chemicals and ingredients upon each other) but quickly
afterwards, in drying becomes.clarified, and diaphanous, especially when aided by
a gentle heat and light;-and is, while flexible and soft after drying, perfectly
clear and glass like in appearance.
When the tissue and design are sufficiently permeated and perfectly transparent,
and dried, thoroughly, the tissue and designs are placed by preference in a dry
state between two sheets or pieces of glass of suitable dimensions as required when
finished, and the whole then may be gradually heated in a chamber, oven, muffle, or
stove, or dried in any other suitable way to a degree of heat requisite to withstand all
solar and climatic influences (say 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit) while held
together-But a much lower degree of heat will suffice for most purposes, or the
margins of the tissues, and edges of the glass sheets, may be brushed over or covored
with the wet solution when placed together, at their adjoining parts, and gradually
dried, as above directed, or in an open drying room, exposed to light and atmospheric
influence as the action of light gradually renders the bichromated solution permanent
and insoluble; and the whole will be found firmly cemented, and the design
hermetically enclosed; and of a perfectly clear, regular, and crystal like appearance,
when the panes, or panels, of glass, are to be handled, or sent away unframed, we
further dip the edges of the glasses into a molted cement of any suitable kind,-
such as asphaltum, or resin, gums, and oleic acid, thickened with barytes or any
other substance, to prevent the edges of the glass from cutting the fingers, and to
give them a more finished appearance.
In some cases I prefer to treat the tissue and design with the solution hereinafter
called and described as N° 2 solution, alone, first, and afterwards with a solution of
glue, and chrome alum, or bichromate, called hereinafter N° 1 solution. In heating
the articles great caro must be taken to not have a too violent or irregular heat.
But the heating process as I have stated may be dispensed with entirely; and the
articles dried by ordinary atmospheric influence.
In the preparation and application of the bichromatized solution, care should be
taken to keep it in darkness until the design is properly saturated. In some cases a
very diluted or lightly bichromatized solution of either glue, or varnish, may be
used, first; or a coat of turpentine, or oil may be first applied. It is obvious that
there are many similar variations and modifications of the process that may be
used; and, also, various modifications of the proportions, and quantities of the
ingredients, and, further, other combinations of the ingredients may be adopted
substantially similar-and, hence I do not limit myself to the proportions, or

page_text: ingredients given, or to the methods lierein given, invariably; but vary the process
as inay be desired by any modifications essentially the same.
"
In the preparation of the.solutions I by preference use the following methods
and formulas but do not confine myself thereto alone, as other modifications both in
the preparation and application may be adopted, as before stated.. Take 100 parts
of the best glue of a. clear light color, break or macerate the same, and steep in as
much water as will properly digest the same when melted in the glue pot in the
usual manner. Melt the same in a glue kettle, or earthen pipkin, and add 50 parts
of a saturated solution of bichromate of potash dissolved in hot water (formed by
adding the bichromate to hot water so long as it will dissolve the same) stir briskly
in the bichromated solution, while adding to the glue until thoroughly incorporated,
keeping the mixture in the dark, after adding the bichromate The mixture should
be of the consistency of cream. Bottle in earthenware bottle and keep from the
light. This I call No 1 solution. For the next solution any suitable copal, mastic,
or hard, white, and clear varnish will do, or any solution of gum in spirits or
turpentine, or oil in combination, of a good and suitable character. Or it may be
made as follows:-Take of seed lac. 8 oz, Gum amine 12 oz, powdered and dissolve
in one gallon of spirits of wine with a gentle heat, strain clear, and bottle off, Or
of Copal 8 oz, Camphor 1 oz, clear white drying oil 6 oz, and oil of turpentine 4 oz,
powder and mix the copal & camphor, add the drying oil, heat gradually over a
slow fire, add the oil of turpentine, after being well digested strain off and bottle.
Any of the above described solutions may be taken or any suitable gummous
solution, thinned to a proper solution or consistence by either turpentine or spirits,
or both, and bottled. This I call N° 2 solution. When required for use in the
process I add one part of N° 1 solution to about twenty, or, even, more parts of
No 2 solution, slowly and steadily drop by drop, briskly stirring in the whole, until
thoroughly amalmagated together, keeping it in the dark. This I call N° 3 solution.
This I dilute to the required consistence by either turpentine or spirits or both.
Sometimes a few drops of liquid ammonia, or a little palo linseed oil may be added,
or a similar oil, to improve the solution. And when the design is properly
prepared upon the tissue, it is saturated with this No 3 solution. "If the tissuo is
very thick several applications of the solution are necessary. To produce a crackled
appearance upon the tissue, it is first saturated by application of No 2 solution,
alone, then while in a wet condition No 1 solution is applied, and by the reaction
of the ingredients upon each other produces the minute crackled appearance, or a
beautiful crinkled appearance may be produced by mechanical effects of stamps,
rolls &. by pressure after drying.
There are many other modifications of the process substantially such as the
application of an unchromatized gummous solution, first, before the application of
the bichromatized solution; or the application, finally, of an unchromatized size or
gum, or liquid, such as turpentine, or by the variation of the components of the
solutions, by substitution of other gums, or gelatines, or colloids in place of those by
preference nained;-or by the addition of other substances as is commonly done by
varnish makers, any of which may be adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of any said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The use of a bichromatized solution of potash, or of any other suitable
chromate in solution, together with a gelatinous, gummous, or cementous solution,
either separately or combined, in the manufacture of imitation stained or illuminated
or decorative glass panes, panels, and other forms of glass, for rendering the tissue,
or tissues, upon which the design has been executed together with the design
perfectly transparent, or otherwise in the manner substantially set forth.
2. The use of the said bichromatized or a similar chromatized solution for the
5 saturation and permeation of the design or tissue, and for rendering them permanent
and glass like in appearance.

page_text: : 3. The use and application of such or similar designs, or tissues after being
rendered transparent, or translucent, semi opaque or otherwise, as may be desired,
in a dry state, or semi-dry-or other suitable state, unto or between the glass or
glasses, and cementing the same, and sealing the whole design in a hermetical
position together, in the manner as substantially set forth.
4. Any other modification thereof substantially the same.
Dated this Eighteenth day of December 1884.