A New or Improved Method of Embossing or Producing Dies for Embossing Photographs, Photogravures or other Prints.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1900-Accepted, 11th Aug.,
1900
Date of Application, oru VOL. 1950
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1900-Accepted, 11th Aug.,
1900
A New or Improved Method of Embossing or Producing Dies for
Embossing Photographs, Photogravures or other Prints.
We, ALBERT JOHN EVES HILL, of 130, Amyand Park Road, Twickenham, in
the County of Middlesex, Designer, and PHOTO LIMITED, of 72 and 74, Gray's
Inn Road, London, W.C., Photographic Dealers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:
Our invention relates to a new method of obtaining in bas relief, photographs,
photogravures or any print where an exact duplicate is to be obtained.
The process consists essentially in taking two prints of the subject to be
embossed, one of which is attached to the front of a flexible metal plate (such as
the thin brass used in repousee work) and another face downwards to the other
side.
The print on the back is then made transparent by oiling or in the case of
photographs the reversal is readily made by exposing a piece of sensitized paper
under the print to be raised, a negative print is thus obtained, showing the
part to be sunk in different shades.
The metal plate is lain face downwards on a bed preferably of lead or paper
It will be seen that having the
and by suitable tools pressed into relief.
photograph on each side in exact register the plate may be moulded from both
sides if necessary, and even delicate detail readily and easily raised.
After the thin plate is embossed the photograph can be framed as a finished
article, but where a number are required the photographs are stripped off and
the sheet strengthened by pouring on molten lead or tin or some such suitable
material to form a die or a bed or backing sufficiently hard to withstand the
pressure of the blow in stamping. From this die the prints would afterwards
be embossed by any of the usual means.
In each case simple means to ensure correct registration would be taken, more
especially in taking advantage of the flexibility of the metal sheet.
For instance, the four corners might be slightly turned up and a corresponding
piece cut out or off the prints. Again, dots or marks on the negative would
be made, and corresponding perforations made on the metal sheet. The plan.
we prefer is to place an opaque edge over the part of the negative not required
in the print; if the prints are carefully trimmed to the white edge of the print
and the die made as described above, the prints will register properly.
Adaptions of the process to obtaining reliefs in metal such as silver, having all
the gradations accented by a photographic film may be made.
A carbon transparency of good quality is transferred on to flexible metal
plates, such as thin silver or gold, and in exact register one is transferred to
the back of the same metal plate. The film is then raised into relief by using
the photograph on the back as a guide, suitable modelling tools being used to
mould the metal plate in to the desired relief by hand pressure.
To save time the photographs to be embossed would be printed on paper stout

page_text: enough to withstand smashing, and for the finest work the photographs would
be mounted on thin metal sheets preferably brass to obtain a similar result.
Dated this 3rd day of October-1899.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
A New or Improved Method of Embossing or Producing Dies for
Embossing Photographs, Photogravures or other Prints.
We, ALBERT JOHN. EVES HILL, of 130, Amyand Park Road, Twickenham, in
the County of Middlesex, Designer, and PHOTO LIMITED, of 72 and 74, Gray's
Inn Road, London, W.C., Photographic Dealers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: -
Our invention relates to a new or improved method of embossing or obtaining
in bas relief, photographs, photogravures or other prints.
We will describe our invention in reference to the accompanying drawing in
which the thicknesses of the materials have been somewhat exaggerated for
clearness of description.
Referring first to 'Fig. 1. The process consists essentially in taking two
prints a and 6 of the subject to be embossed, one a of which is attached to the
front of a plate e of flexible metal such as the thin copper or brass used in
repousee work, the other print is attached face downwards to the back of the
plate and so as to register exactly with the print on the front.
The print' on the back is now made transparent by oiling or waxing, or in
the case of a photograph the back print is preferably a reverse or negative of
the front print which will show the parts to be sunk in different shades. This
negative is readily made by exposing a piece of sensitized paper under the first
print with the sensitized surfaces contiguous, thus any marks used to ensure
registration coincide in both prints.
Referring now to Fig. 2. The metal plate e with the prints a and b attached
is laid face downwards on a bed d of suitable thickness made preferably of paper
or any suitable yielding material and by suitable tools the desired parts of the
print are pressed into relief as indicated at a. It will be seen that having the
print on each side in exact register the plate c may be moulded from both sides,
and even delicate detail readily and easily raised or indented.
After the thin plate is embossed the plate and print can be framed as a
finished article, but where a number are required the prints a and b are stripped
cff and the sheet c as shown in Fig. 3 is strengthened by pouring on molten
lead or tin of some such suitable material e to form a die or a bed of backing
sufficiently hard to withstand the pressure of the blow in stamping. From this
die faced by the plate e the prints can afterwards be embossed by stamping or
otherwise in the known manner. Where the print and plate are to form the
finished article the flexible plate if of copper or the like is preferably tinned or
coated so as not to corrode the print. In each case simple means to ensure correct
registration would be taken. The plan we prefer in the case of a photograph
is to place an opaque edge over the part of the negative not required in the print
and if the prints are carefully trimmed to their white edge and the die made as
described above being of the same dimensions, the prints will register properly.
To save time the photographs or prints to be embossed would be printed on

page_text: paper stout enough to withstand smashing, and for the finest work the photo-
graphs would be mounted on thin metal sheets preferably brass to obtain a
similar result.
The improved process can also be modified or adapted so as to obtain reliefs
in metal such as silver, having all the gradations accented by a photographic
film and for this purpose we proceed as follows:-
A carbon transparency of good quality is transferred on to a flexible metal
plate, such as thin silver or gold and another print or a negative print is trans-
ferred in exact register as described to the back of the same plate. The film
which takes the position of the print a described is then raised into relief by
using the photograph or negative print on the back as a guide as before described,
suitable modelling tools being used to mould the metal plate into the desired
relief by hand pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. The improved method of embossing photographs or other prints which
consists in attaching to one side of a metal sheet the print to be embossed and
on the other side and registering with the said print a negative print thereof
or a duplicate print rendered transparent and attached face downwards, and
then pressing out or embossing said sheet and print on one side by the aid and
guidance of the print on the other side.
2. The improved method of obtaining a die for embossing photographs or
other prints which consists in attaching to one side of a metal sheet the print to
be embossed and on the other side and registering with the said print a negative
print thereof or a duplicate print rendered transparent and attached face down-
wards, and then pressing out or embossing said sheet and print on one side by
the aid and guidance of the print on the other side the resulting embossed plate
being reinforced with metal to form the die, substantially as set forth.
3. The modification of the improved method herein described and claimed in
Claim 1 where transparent and carbon prints are employed, substantially as set
forth.
Dated this Third day of July 1900.
For the Applicants,
J. C. CHAPMAN & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.