Improvements in and relating to "Embossing" or Engraving Glass.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to "Embossing" or Engraving Glass.
I, STANLEY JONES, of 17, Albion Street, King's Cross, in the County of London,
Sign Maker, 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:
or
This invention refers to improvements in and relating to " embossing"
engraving glass, and has for its object to so effect such engraving as to produce
both light, shade and angle sinking effects in such manner that the figures, letters,
designs or devices engraved, have the appearance of being V cut or incised in
wood or other substance behind the glass, and that the necessity for the black
or similar shade lines hitherto generally required for such imitation incised
work, is obviated.
According to my invention I first draw, or trace, the letter or letters, figures
or design on the glass in Brunswick black solution or other suitable acid resisting
substance, leaving all the parts of the said letters, figures or design which are
to be acted upon or engraved by the hereinafter mentioned acids, exposed. The
remainder of the surface of the glass, which forms the back ground of the letters,
figures, or design is then coated with the Brunswick black solution or other acid
resisting substance.
I then treat the exposed parts of the said letters, figures, or design with ordinary
"embossing acid" which consists approximately of one (1) part fluoric acid and
five (5) parts water, taking care that the action of the said "embossing" acid
is permitted to continue for a sufficient length of time to erode the exposed parts
of the glass to a sufficient depth to obtain a somewhat but not too dull effect, an
exposure for about twenty minutes generally being sufficient to effect this result.
then wash the surface under treatment with water to remove the remains of
the "embossing" acid, and allow the said surface to dry.
I then cover with Brunswick black or other suitable acid resisting substances,
those previously exposed parts of the letters, figures or design which are to form
the shaded parts when the work is finished; and then.treat the remaining exposed
parts of the letters, figures, or design (which are to form the light parts of the
design when finished) with " white acid" which consists of fluoric acid and lump
ammonia (ammonium chloride) approximately in the proportion of 14 lbs. of
the lump ammonia to 8 lbs. of the acid, thereby eroding these last named parts
of the design to a greater depth than the aforesaid parts forming
the light effects. I then drain and wash the surface under treatment,
with water, and then, while still wet briefly treat the exposed parts with fluoric
acid which is of greater strength than the "embossing or fluoric acid first used
This
and consists approximately of one (1) part acid and two (2) parts water.
last mentioned brief treatment with fluoric acid, tones the effect produced on the
glass by the "white acid" and gives an effect of extreme light to the more deeply
eroded parts of the design.

page_text: The acid and Brunswick black are then cleaned off and the light and shaded
parts of the design may be double gilded or silvered or bronzed and the outlines
and centre lines of the design which were protected by Brunswick black, burnished
with gold, silver or bronze, or similarly treated. The gold silver or bronze
should be backed up with white enamel and the remainder of the glass surface,
forming the back-ground of the design, may be backed up to represent mahogany,
marble, or other material either black or coloured, in any known manner.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will now proceed to describe the same more fully in connection with the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 represents the outline of a letter R traced or drawn upon the surface
of a sheet of glass, and
Figure shows the finished letter R "embossed" or engraved on the sheet
of glass.
a is a sheet of glass. bare the outlines and centre lines to represent an
angle sunk letter R drawn in Brunswick black solution or other acid resisting
substance on the back of the sheet a. The parts of the letter between the outlines
and centre lines bb are left exposed and the remainder of the glass sheet is coated
with the Brunswick black. The "embossing" acid is then applied to the surface
of the glass under treatment and erodes the exposed parts of the letter. When
this erosion has continued for a sufficient length of time, the surface under
treatment is washed with water to remove acid, and then allowed to dry.
Those parts of the letter which are to be shaded when finished, (c Figure 2),
are then coated with the Brunswick black. The surface under treatment is then
treated with the "white acid" which still further erodes the remaining exposed
parts of the letter which form the light parts thereof when finished. The
"white acid" is then drained off and the surface under treatment is washed with
water and then, while still wet, briefly treated with the "fluoric " acid.
The
The "fluoric acid and Brunswick black are then cleaned off and, if a gilded
letter is required, the light and shaded parts of the letter are double gilded, and
the lines are covered with burnished gold, in the well known manner.
gilded parts are then backed up with white enamel to produce a bright effect
and the background is backed up to represent mahogany, marble or other effect
as is well understood. Letters, figures or designs enibossed' or engraved as
above described, are suitable for imitation incised facias and similar work, and
it is obvious that my invention may also be applied to "embossing" or engraving
upon glass for the production of other articles and for decorative purposes.
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:
1. The method of engraving on a glass surface those parts of a design which
are to constitute the light effects, which method consists in treating the said
parts of the glass surface first with "embossing" acid, then with "white acid"
and then briefly with the "fluoric" acid substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described and for the purpose specified.
2. The method of "embossing" on a glass surface both light and shade effects,
which method consists in drawing the outlines and centre lines of the design
on the glass surface with acid-resisting substance, treating the exposed parts of
the design with “ embossing acid," then further treating those parts of the
design only which are to produce the light effects, first with "white acid" and
then briefly with the "fluoric" acid, substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described, for the purpose specified.
3. A glass surface having the light effects of imitation incised lettering,
figuring or design engraved thereon, substantially as described for the purpose
Specified.

page_text: 4. A glass surface having both the light and shade effects of imitation incised
lettering, figuring or design, engraved thereon, substantially as described, for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 30th day of September 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.