IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MEANS OF READILY OBTAINING MULTIPLE COPIES OF DRAWINGS, WRITINGS, OR OTHER DELINEATIONS."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Parkins, of 4, Alexandra Villas, Selhurst,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO MEANS OF READILY OBTAINING MULTIPLE COPIES OF DRAWINGS,
WRITINGS, OR OTHER DELINEATIONS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Parkins at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1879.
JOHN WILLIAM PARKINS, of 4, Alexandra Villas, Selhurst, in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MEANS OF READILY OBTAINING
MULTIPLE COPIES OF DRAWINGS, WRITINGS, OR OTHER DELINEATIONS."
I am aware that various plans have been adopted for producing multiple copies
of writings, but I believe none of these have really attained the end I have in view
of cheapness and facility in working. Some are expensive, some cumbersome, and
all more or less troublesome to use. The use of water to wash out the negative
is an objectionable feature in most of these which I entirely dispense with.
My Invention consists in the use of sheets of paper or other suitable material, such
as linen or other textile fabric, but preferably paper having a prepared surface to
receive the impression to be copied, and which forms the negative from which the
subsequent copies are produced.
Having tried many different kinds of paper I find that most of them are of no use
for my purpose, chiefly on account of their not containing sufficient size, but I have
found that what is technically known as "machine made Loan" (preferably Pirie's)
answers my purpose. This paper I coat on one or both sides with a varnish, or
the varnish may be worked into the substance of the paper in manufacturing. I
compose this varnish of glycerine to which I add glue, gelatine, or size.
Up to the present time I have used the paper as above described, and also linen,
though I prefer the paper and have taken as many as seventy good copies from one
negative.
I can produce these sheets so cheaply that when done with they can be thrown.
away, thus obviating the objectionable process of washing the negative off.
The inks I use are the well known "aniline" inks but any other similar ink
which is capable of giving a large number of copies would do.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters--Patent_filed_
by the said. John William Parkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th January 1880.
JOHN WILLIAM PARKINS, of 4, Alexandra Villas, Selhurst, in the County of
Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MEANS OF READILY OBTAINING
MULTIPLE COPIES OF DRAWINGS, WRITINGS, OR OTHER DELINEATIONS."
Iam aware that various plans have been adopted for producing multiple copies
of writings, but I believe none of these have really attained the end I have in view
of cheapness and facility in working; some are expensive, some cumbersome, and
all more or less troublesome to use. The use of water to wash out the negative is
an objectionable feature in most of these which I entirely dispense with.
My Invention consists in the use of sheets of paper or other suitable material, such
as linen or other textile fabric, but preferably paper having a prepared surface to
receive the impression to be copied, and which forms the negative from which the
subsequent copies are produced. Having tried many different kinds of paper I find
that most of them are of no use for my purpose, chiefly on account of their not
containing sufficient size, but I have found that what is technically known as
"machine made Loan" (preferably Pirie's) answers my purpose. This paper I coat
on one or both sides with a varnish composed of glycerine to which I add glue,
gelatine, or size.
In manufacturing these sheets I generally take the paper in large sheets, which
are dipped into a boiler containing the "varnish" with which they are to be coated,
they are then hung up to dry, and subsequently cut into smaller sheets of the
required dimensions, or they can be used the full size if desired. The boiler which
I find gives the best results is a kind of large shallow pan in which are placed the
ingredients for making the varnish. These consist of 6 parts by weight of glycerine
(as pure as possible, because common glycerine is usually adulterated with water
which rots the paper), and 1 part by weight of ordinary size, glue, or gelatine,
which should also be free from water; these are boiled up together and the sheets
inserted while the varnish is hot. These proportions are what I generally use but
may be slightly varied to suit circumstances, as for instance, if the glycerine be of
an inferior quality, when an increased proportion of size is required. Considerable
care is necessary in dipping the sheets or they will double up, and it is for this
reason that I prefer the shallow boiler. When finished and cut to the proper size I
generally make up the sheets in convenient lots and place a back or cover round
them so that they appear in book form, as I find they-keep well in this manner.
One side of the cover may have a sheet of tin foil or the like fastened on its inside,
this makes a good surface upon which to lay the prepared sheet when about to
be used. A strip of calico or the like should be placed along one endge of each
sheet to lift it by.
When a letter or other matter is to be copied one of the prepared sheets is laid
upon the tinfoil on the cover or upon some other suitable place, and the letter
pressed upon it for a few moments, this may be done with the hand or with a cloth
or roller, and then carefully removed. Blank sheets for taking off the impressions
are then pressed in like manner upon the negative left by the original upon the
prepared sheet, and as many copies as are required, or as the negative will produce,
obtained. When one side of a sheet is done with, the other will be ready for use,
and when both are done with, the sheet can be thrown away and a fresh one used,
all necessity for washing out the negative being thus done away with and no sponge
and water required. I find that better copies may be obtained if the blank sheets

page_text: upon which they are to be taken be slightly damp, and I therefore generally prefer
to keep them so; a good way of doing this is to put them between the leaves
of a slightly damped blotting book, where they will keep in nice order for a
long time.
The inks I use are the well known aniline inks, but almost any other known
similar ink capable of giving a large number of copies will do. I do not claim the
use of any special ink or colour.
Witness,
WILLIAM PHILLIPS MENDHAM,
.
JOHN WILLIAM PARKINS. (L.S.)
Clerk to W. P. Thompson & Co.,
Solicitors of Patents,
323, High Holborn, W.C.,
and
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.
_: