IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VARNISHES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Versmann, of 190, High Street, Stratford,
in the County of Essex, Ph.D., Consulting and Analytical Chemist,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Versmann at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th September 1867.
I, FREDERIC VERSMANN, of 190, High Street Stratford, in the County of
Essex, Ph.D., Consulting and Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
VARNISHES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the use of certain solvents for the gums, resins, or
gum resins employed in the manufacture of varnishes, and it is particularly
applicable in obtaining solvents of copal or amber for that purpose.
The solvents I employ are those alcohols of the series represented by the
formula Cn Hn+2. O₂. (C = 6), containing more than 4 equivalents of
carbon, beginning therefore with propylic alcohol C, H, O₂.
The mixture of some of these alcohols known as fusel oil, which contains
chiefly amylic alcohol, answers my purpose very well; but I do not confine
myself to this series of alcohols, I sometimes prefer some of their derivatives,
such as the chlorides, nitrites, and others obtained either from these alcohols
or otherwise. I use these alcohols or their derivatives either separately or

page_text: mixed in certain proportions according to the nature of the resins or gum
resins. I dissolve the copal, amber, or other resins or gum resins by merely
digesting them either cold or with the assistance of heat, and I obtain con-
centrated solutions containing in some instances as much as fifty per cent. of
the substances dissolved. These concentrated solutions may then be mixed
with ether, alcohol, wood spirit, spirits of turpentine, linseed oil, and other
solvents hitherto employed in the manufacture of varnishes.
I can, if desired, first make concentrated solutions with my new solvents
and then dilute this solution with any of the known solvents, or I can at once
dissolve the resin or gum resin in a mixture of the solvents above referred to
and the solvents hitherto in use. The resins or gum resins to be dissolved do
not require any previous preparation, but are merely brought into contact
with the solvents, when they soon dissolve, some, copal for instance, in a few
minutes. The solution obtained then contains the whole amount of the sub-
..stance to be dissolved;. a. great saving in material and labour being thus
effected as compared with the general practice of obtaining such solvents in
the processes of manufacturing varnishes...
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Versmann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
VERSMANN, of,190, High Street, Stratford, in, the County of Essex, Ph.D.,
Consulting and Analytical Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Frederic Versmann, Her special licence that I, the said Frederic Versmann,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Frederic Versmann, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF VARNISHES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Frederic Versmann, my executors or administrators, by an instrument

page_text: in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great. Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederic Versmann, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
-be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in, and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the use of certain solvents for the gums, resins, or
gum resins employed in the manufacture of varnishes, and it is particularly
applicable in obtaining solvents of copal for that purpose.
The solvents I employ are those alcohols of the series represented by the
formula CnH2n+2.0 (C= 12), containing more than two equivalents
of carbon, beginning therefore with propylic alcohol = C 3. H 8. O.
The mixture of some of these alcohols known as fusel oil, which contains
chiefly amylic alcohol, answers my purpose very well; but I do not confine myself
to this series of alcohols, I sometimes prefer some of their derivatives such a
the chlorides, nitrites, and others obtained either from these 'alcohols or other-
wise.
I use these alcohols or their derivatives either separately or mixed in
certain proportions according to the nature of the resins or gum resins. I
dissolve the copal or other resin or gum resin by merely digesting it either
cold or with the assistance of heat, and I obtain concentrated solutions con-
taining in some instances as much as fifty per cent. of the substance dissolved.
These concentrated solutions may then be mixed with ether, alcohol, wood
spirit, spirits of turpentine, linseed oil, or other solvents hitherto employed in
the manufacture of varnishes.
I can, if desired, first make a concentrated solution with my new solvents,
and then dilute this solution with any of the known solvents, or I can at once
dissolve the resin or gum resin in a mixture of the above solvents referred to
and the solvents hitherto in use. The resins or gum resins to be dissolved do
not require any previous preparation, but are merely brought into contact
with the solvents when they soon dissolve, copal, for instance, in a few
minutes. The solution obtained then contains the whole amount of the
substance to be dissolved, a great saving in material and labor being thus
effected as compared with the general practice of obtaining such solvents in
the
process of manufacturing varnishes.
Having thus described my Invention, and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim

page_text: is, the manufacture of varnishes by the use of solvents of the character
substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Versmann, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
FRED. VERSMANN. (L.S.)