IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING RELIEF-LINE PLATES FOR PRINTING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF
PRODUCING RELIEF-LINE PLATES FOR PRINTING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
communication from abroad by Daniel Slote, of New York City, United States
of America.
A
Sealed the 7th February 1879, and dated the 17th December 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1878.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
" IMPROVE-
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
MENTS IN THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING RELIEF-LINE PLATES FOR PRINTING AND
OTHER PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Daniel Slote, of New York
City, United States of America.
To carry out the Invention take a smooth metallic plate, which is covered with a
thin coating of clay, plaster, or equivalent material applied in a plastic stale.
Usually a mixture of ground poters' clay and plaster of Paris, nearly equal parts,
moistened with water to the consistency of mortar, may be employed; but ground
soap stone, chalk, or other material may be used instead. The material is spread
upon the metal plate and scraped down to any desired thickness; accordingly as
lines are required in high or low relief the thickness of the coating determining the
relief elevation of lines in the finished plate. Usually the plaster coating should
be dry before any portion is eut away, but this is not essential.
Any design may bo penciled, traced, or transferred on to the surface of the plaster,
or an artist sufficiently skilled may work without any copy. The coating is then
cut away for the lines entirely through to the metallic plate. Points, needles,
gravers, &c., may be used for cutting or scratching away the material. When the

page_text: design has been completed the lines are cleaned out with a soft brush or blown out
with a bellows. The plate at this stage of the operation resembles a mould for a
stereotype plate as used in the clay or plaster process of stereotyping, except that the
lines and letters are cut entirely through the plaster. The mould or matrix is now
made ready, and a metal stereotype plate cast upon it in any manner usual in the
stereotyper's art. This plate is finished up in the ordinary manner, and if more
relief is desired for the lines the low portions of the plate may be cut or routed
out."
:
Door plates and other ornamental relief-line plates may be made in the sume
manner.
The Invention is especially adapted for the speedy reproduction of plates for
maps, diagrams, plans, &c.
CLAIMS.
1. The process of preparing a matrix for producing metallic relief-line stereotype
plates by spreading a coating of plaster, clay, or other suitable material upon a
metallic base, and cutting the desired design clear through such coating to the
metallic surface, substantially as described.
2. A matrix for producing cast metal stereotype plates consisting of a metallic
base or supporting plate provided with a coating of clay, plaster, or equivalent
material, and having the desired design cut clear through to the base plate, substan-
tially as described.
3. A cast metal relief-line plate for printing or ornamental purposes when
obtained by the process and in the manner herein-before set forth and claimed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, A.D. 1878.
H. J. HADDAN. (L.S.)