Improvements in Printing and Blocking in Metallic Colours, and in Inks for Use therein.
Year: 1895

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing and Blocking in Metallic Colours, and in
Inks for Use therein.
We, GEORGE PRIESTLEY and ERNEST SWANN, trading together as Priestley
& Swann of Stoney Street, in the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
Printers, Stationers and Bookbinders, do hereby declare the nature of this iuven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say :—
Our invention relates to improvements in printing and blocking in gold, silver,
and metallic colours, by the use of an improved ink, or improved inks, manufactured
as hereinafter described, whereby less manipulation is required than heretofore, and
printing or blocking equal in quality to that produced by laying on gold dust, leaf,
or bronze powder, can be produced more cheaply and in the required colour direct,
and at a single operation.
Hitherto (except for very common and very imperfect work) for the purpose of
printing in gold, or other metallic colours, the letters and designs have been printed
with a black or coloured ink, or in mucilage, or some adhesive liquid preparation,
which was afterwards overlaid with gold leaf, or dusted over with gold powder, or
a suitable metallic powder, thus requiring two operations, viz. the printing and the
gilding or bronzing. Blocking has also been done, hitherto, in a somewhat similar
manner, the impressed letters or designs being treated with white of egg, or some
preparation of albumen, or its equivalent, to which the foil or metallic powder was
afterwards applied. A third operation, that of dusting off the superfluous or
unnecessary foil, or powder, was requisite to finish the work, and, in bookbinding,
this necessitated, in some cases, a great deal of care and time, all of which are now
obviated by our invention.
Now, according to our invention, we employ an ink or inks, containing the metals
or bronzes and having the consistency of ordinary printing ink, or of butter, and
we thus save the processes of dusting on the powdered metal and then having to
clear away the superfluous portion.
These inks may be used in the same way as ordinary inks to print on paper or
other material, in a letter press, or other printing machine, or lithographic machine
or to block on leather, cloth, or other material, in a bookbinders blocking press, or
other press, in gold, silver, copper, or other metal, or blue, purple, red or other
bronze, or colour having a metallic lustre, the printing or blocking being effected in
one and the same operation.
Our improved inks are made by adding to the metallic powders, known in the
trade as bronze powders, about one third part by weight of lard, margarine, or other
similar grease from which all water has been extracted, preferably lard, and
thoroughly mixing or incorporating these with a sufficient quantity of gold size and
linseed oil, or oil varnish, to form a stiff paste, or ink, capable of being used with
an ordinary inking roller.
The quantity of gold size and varnish has to be slightly varied according to the
nature of the paper, or material, on which the printing is to be done, equal
quantities of both being used, or more or less varnish as tound necessary. Gold
varnish, or other suitable varnish, may be used.
To produce 24 lbs. of gold bronze ink, we take 14 lbs. of gold bronze powder and
6 oz. of lard and add thereto a small quantity of gold size and varnish in about equal
proportions, or rather more size than varnish, and then thoroughly beat together,

page_text: grinding in a mill or mortar, or otherwise mixing the ingredients. We then allow
the ink to stand a short time before using.
Equally good silver bronze ink, or other metallic inks, may be produced by
employing silver bronze powder, copper bronze powder, or other coloured bronze,
in the above proportions.
In some cases, we may form an ink of the necessary consistency and qualities by
thoroughly beating together gold leaf or powder of gold, or silver, or other metal
with a small quantity of lard, margarine, lanoline, or animal fat, from which all
water and impurities have been extracted, or other suitable anhydrous animal or
vegetable grease, and afterwards reducing. to the proper stiffness by means of
gold size, linseed oil, and varnishes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Printing and blocking in metallic colours by means of inks manufactured as
herein described, whereby such printing or blocking is effected directly at a single
operation.
2. The improved inks for the direct printing or blocking on paper, leather, cloth,
or other material, the same consisting of powdered gold, silver, or other metallic
leaf or foil, or powder, or of "brouze powder," thoroughly mixed or incorporated
with lard, margarine, lanoline, or other suitable fat or grease from which the water
has been extracted, and to which mixture is added gold, or other suitable size and
linseed oil or varnish so as to bring the whole to the consistency of printing ink,
substantially as described.
3. In the manufacture of inks for printing and blocking in gold, silver, bronze
and metallic colours, the employment of lard or other fat having similar properties
and consistency, in conjunction with oils, metallic powders, size and varnish,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The manufacture and use of the improved inks for printing or blocking on
paper, leather, cloth, or other material, in one operation, substantially as
described.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicants.