IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING OR ENAMELLING PICTURES, PRINTS, PAPER, AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gerard Andrew Arney, of Mitcham, in the
County of Surrey, Gelatine Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING OR ENAMELLING PICTURES, PRINTS,
PAPER, AND OTHER SURFACES."
Sealed the 13th April 1853, and dated the 13th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gerard Andrew
Arney at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 13th October 1852.
I, GERARD ANDREW ARNEY, of Mitcham, in the County of Surrey,
Gelatine Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COATING OR ENAMELLING PICTURES, PRINTS,
PAPER, AND OTHER SURFACES," to be as follows:-
My Invention in coating or enamelling prints, pictures, paper, and
other surfaces consists of covering them with gelatine which has been
rendered insoluble by combination with aluniina. A solution of gelatine
having been mixed with it, a small portion of ox gall is poured on a
sheet of glass; when set in a jelly it is immersed in a solution of
acetate of alumina or other soluble salts of alumina, which being

page_text: rinsed with water, in the event of color being required, it is passed
thro' a dye bath of the required color; the jelly on the glass is then
to be coated with a weak solution of gelatine. The print or picture
surface is then to be damped and placed smoothly on the glass with the
face towards the jelly. The back of the print or picture is to have a
coat of a solution of gelatine without the ox gall, and when it has
become solid the whole is to be immersed in a solution of a salt of
alumina, as before; it is then to be taken out and rinced in water,
and dryed. When thoroughly dry, the print or picture or surface is to
be cut round the edges with a knife, when the whole will leave the
glass, and will be the picture, print, or other surface encased in an
envelope of insoluble gelatine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Gerard Andrew Arney in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 13th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL
COME, I,
GERARD ANDREW ARNEY, of Mitcham, in the County of Surrey, Gelatine
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Gerard Andrew Arney, Her
special licence that I, the said Gerard Andrew Arney, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Gerard
Andrew Arney, 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 COATING OR ENAMELLING PICTURES,
PRINTS, PAPER, AND OTHER SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst

page_text: others) that I, the said Gerard Andrew Arney, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly 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 Gerard Andrew Arney, 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):
My Invention in coating or enamelling prints, pictures, papers, card,
and other surfaces, consists of covering them with gelatine which has
been rendered insoluble by combination with alumina. A solution of
gelatine, having mixed with it a small portion of ox gall, is poured on
a sheet of glass; when set in a jelly it is immersed in a solution of
acetate of alumina or other soluble salts of alumina, which being rinsed
with water, in the event of color being required, it is passed through
a dye bath of the required color; the jelly on the glass is then to be
coated with a weak solution of gelatine. The print, picture, paper,
card, or other surface is then to be damped and placed smoothly on the
glass with the face towards the jelly. The back of the print, picture,
paper, card, or other surface is to have a coat of a solution of gelatine
without the ox gall, and when it has become solid the whole is to be
immersed in a solution of a salt of alumina, as before; it is then to be
taken out and rinsed in water and dried. When thoroughly dry the
picture, print, paper, card, or other surface is incased in an envelope
of insoluble gelatine.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully under-
stood and readily carried into practice, I will proceed to describe the
means pursued by me.
In carrying out my Invention I take a warm solution of gelatine of
sufficient strength to set into a firm jelly when cold. I mix with it a
small proportion of ox gall, usually about one ounce to each gallon of
solution of gelatine. I then pour a quantity of this solution of gelatine
upon a sheet of clean glass, using only sufficient to give a very thin

page_text: and even coating over all parts of the glass, and I allow the coating to
set into a jelly; I then place the glass, with the coating of gelatine
upon it, in a vessel filled with a solution of acetate of alumina.
The acetate of alumina I prepare by adding eight ounces of alum
and eight ounces of acetate of lead to each gallon of water, stirring the
mixture occasionally for two hours. A white precipitate takes place,
which must be allowed to settle for at least twelve hours; the clear super-
natant liquid may then be drawn off. I usually allow the coated glass
to remain for two or three hours in this solution, but the time may be
varied to suit the thickness of the coating of gelatine or the degree of
hardness desired. I then take the coated glass from the vessel, and
rinse it well for some minutes in water, or the glass may be left for
half an hour in water to free the gelatine from any excess of acetate of
alumina. The sheet of gelatine on the glass will now be insoluble in
water, and I proceed by giving it another very slight coating of a
weaker solution of gelatine than before, by pouring some on, and
running it off again as quickly as possible.
The print, picture, paper, card, or other surface to be enamelled is
to be slightly and evenly damped and rubbed smoothly on the second
coating of gelatine, with the face of the print, picture, paper, card, or
other surface towards the jelly, beginning at one end of the print,
picture, paper, card, or other surface, and rubbing it evenly towards the
other end, in the same manner in which prints are now faced with
ordinary gelatine.
In the case of prints, show cards, or placards which are not intended
to be mounted, I proceed to give the back a coating of gelatine of
the same thickness as that applied to the face, which prevents the
tendency to curl or warp; and, if desired, it may be rendered insoluble
by immersion in the solution of acetate of alumina, as before stated.
The print, picture, paper, card, or other surface, is to be dried slowly,
by placing it in a warm room for two or three days, and when
thoroughly dry may be removed from the glass by cutting round the
edges with a knife.
Prints, pictures, papers, cards, or other surfaces may be enamelled
by placing them at once upon the first sheet of gelatine applied to

page_text: the glass, and before immersion in the acetate of alumina; but I prefer
to use the method before stated, as it involves less risk, and is more
certain in its action.
In the event of a colored surface being required upon the print,
picture, paper, card, or other surface, the sheet of insoluble gelatine,
after its removal from the acetate of alumina, and after being rinsed in
water, is to be placed in a dye vat until the required tint be obtained;
the colors to be used may be such as are ordinarily used by dyers,-
cochineal or dyewoods for pink, soluble indigo for blue, saffron or dye-
woods for yellow, and so on.
Another method I adopt to produce a colored surface is to mix a
strong solution of colouring matter with the gelatine employed in
giving the second or intermediate coating between the print, picture,
paper, card, or other surface and the insoluble facing of gelatine.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I
claim as my Invention is, the method of coating of prints, pictures,
papers, cards, and other surfaces with gelatine which has been rendered
insoluble by a combination with alumina.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gerard Andrew Arney, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twelfth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three
25 Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
G. A. ARNEY. (L.S.)