An Improved Process or Means for Giving a Matt Surface to Albumenized Silver, Paper, Photographs, or Prints.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 4th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process or Means for Giving a Matt Surface to
Albumenized Silver, Paper, Photographs, or Prints.
I, JOHN BUXTON PAYNE of 33 Soho Square, London, Gentleman (a communication
from Frederick Charles Binns of Wellington New Zealand, Photographer) do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an improved process for giving to albumenized silver
paper or photographic prints a matt surface resembling matt opal plates or unpolished
white marble.
According to this invention a sheet of finely ground glass (preferably plate glass)
marble, slate, metal or other material having on one side a finely ground or unpolished
matt surface is coated with a waxing compound consisting of the following materials
and in about the proportions given viz.-
wax.
Best bees wax
Yellow resin
Spirits of turpentine or
Rectified benzole
3 drams
-
3 drams
-
1 pint.
The invention however is not restricted to these proportions as for example the
proportions of bees wax and resin will be varied according to the temperature of the
air. When very warm the resin should be present in greater proportion than the bees
It is impossible to give a certain formula for every degree of temperature but
the above has been found about correct for general conditions in temperate climates.
The coating of the plates with this compound may be effected in the following
manner. A quantity of the waxing compound sufficient to coat a plate is poured on
to a pledget of flannel and rubbed on to the ground or matt surface of the plate with
a rapid circular motion until the whole is evenly coated, it is then polished with a
clean linen cloth until the surface is smooth and free from waves, streaks or marks,
taking care in doing so to leave a thin even film of the compound on the plate.
When the plate has been thus treated it is set on edge in a place free from dust and
allowed to remain about twenty four hours or until the spirits of turpentine or benzole
has evaporated. If this be not attended to carefully, the coating of gelatine and oxide
of zinc which the plate is subsequently to receive will set in uneven patches, spoiling
the resulting surface of the picture.
The oxide of zinc and gelatine compound with which the plate is next coated is
composed of gelatine about 2 oz. to cold water 20 oz.
The proportion of gelatine to water depends however upon the quality of the
gelatine employed.
The gelatine and water is heated in any suitable vessel and when the gelatine is
dissolved there is added thereto a mixture of oxide of zinc and glycerine. The
quality of ordinary oxide of zinc of commerce varies and consequently the proportions
used will vary. With the ordinary quality of oxide sold by chemists the proportion
of oxide and glycerine may be say about oz. of oxide to 1 oz. of glycerine, but
experiment is necessary to determine the proportion to be employed with each sample
of oxide. This mixture of oxide and glycerine is poured gently into the vessel
containing the solution of glycerine keeping it stirred until the whole is completely
mixed.
Any suitable dye or pigment may be added to this for the purpose of giving a tint
of colour to the resulting matt-opal-type.
When the oxide of zinc and glycerine are thoroughly incorporated with the gelatine
solution the whole is filtered through a flannel bag or the like. A plate coated with

page_text: the waxing compound as hereinbefore described may now be covered with the gelatine
zinc compound which may be effected in any suitable manner such for example as
practised for photographic enamelling. When this gelatine zinc compound has set
upon the plate which will usually occupy about a quarter of an hour, the plate is
ready to receive the albumenized silver print which must be prepared by first
immersing it in clean cold water to render it flat and pliable. The coated plate with
the coated side upward is placed on a suitable stand and flooded with clean cold water
the surface is then carefully brushed with camel hair or other suitable brush to
remove any loose particles of foreign matter and the plate then again flooded with
clean cold water. The albumenized silver print is then taken from the water in which
it was immersed and placed carefully face downward onto the plate taking care to
avoid air bubbles. When the print is satisfactorily attached to the plate all free
moisture is wiped away with a sponge or the like.
A backing of paper or mount may then be applied to the print which may then be
placed in a rack to dry.
The drying may be facilitated by exposing the print to a current of cold dry air.
When thoroughly dry the print may be easily removed from the plate by inserting
between the print and the plate any suitable instrument such for example as the blade
of a penknife. The print leaves the plate easily having a beautiful matt surface pure
in tint and fine in texture.
Dated this 29th day of November 1880
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process or Means for Giving a Matt Surface to
Albumenized Silver, Paper, Photographs, or Prints.
1 JOHN BUXTON PAYNE of 33 Soho Square in the County of Middlesex Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to me
from abroad by Frederick Charles Binns of Wellington New Zealand Photographer)
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention consists of an improved process or means for giving albuminized
silver paper photographs or prints a matt surface resembling matt opal plates or
unpolished marble.
According to this invention a sheet of finely ground glass (preferably plate glass)
marble, slate, metal, or other material, having on one side a finely ground or
unpolished matt surface is taken as a support for the albuminized silver paper
photographs or prints to be treated and it is coated (by means of a pledget of flannel
or by other suitable means) with a solution of wax and gum or resin in a suitable
solvent. This I will call the "waxing compound." The following has been found to
answer well in practice. Dissolve by heat three drachms of best bees wax and three
drachms of yellow resin, in one pint of spirits of turpentine. The proportions of the
bees wax and resin vary with the temperature of the air; when very warm the resin
should be present in greater proportion than the bees wax. It is impossible to give
one fixed formula for every degree of temperature but the above is correct for general
conditions in temperate climates.
"
The coating of the plates with this waxing compound may be effected in the
following manner :-
A quantity of the waxing compound sufficient to coat each plate is poured onto the
pledget of flannel or like rubber and the ground or matt surface of the plate is rubbed
therewith preferably with a rapid circular motion until the whole is evenly coated.
It is then polished which can be done with a clean linen cloth, until the surface is
smooth and free from waves, streaks or marks, taking care in doing so to leave a thin
even film of the compound on the plate.

page_text: When the plate has thus been treated it is set on edge in a place free from dust and
allowed to remain in that position for say twenty four hours until the solvent has
evaporated. If this be not attended to carefully the coating of gelatine and oxide of
zinc which the plate is subsequently to receive, will set in uneven patches spoiling the
resulting surface of the picture and rendering it liable to stick.
The following mixture which I will call the "gelatine zinc compound" is then to
be prepared. Gelatine such as that of Coignet Pere et Fils et Cie. or any other
suitable gelatine is added to cold water. The proportion of gelatine to water depends
upon the quality of the gelatine employed, but for that made by Coignet Pere et Fils
et Cie. two ounces of the gelatine to twenty ounces of water is a proper proportion.
The gelatine and water are then subjected to heat in any suitable vessel and when the
gelatine is dissolved oxide of zinc and glycerine are added, gently stirring with a
glass rod until the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
The quality of ordinary commercial oxide of zinc varies. If the ordinary quality
sold by chemists be used suitable proportions will be:-Oxide of zinc one half of an
ounce to one ounce of glycerine.
If Hubbuck's oxide of zinc be used, fifty grains mixed with one quarter of an ounce
of glycerine are suitable proportions.
Any suitable dye or pigment may be added to this formula for the purpose of
tinting the resulting "matt opal-type."
The oxide of zinc, glycerine and dye or pigment (if any) should be thoroughly
brayed in a mortar, until they form a smooth paste, before they are added to the
gelatine solution. When the oxide of zinc and glycerine (coloured or not) are
thoroughly incorporated with the gelatine solution, the mixture should be strained or
filtered which can be conveniently and efficiently done through a flannel bag.
A plate coated with the waxing compound from which the solvent has evaporated
as bereinbefore described is then covered with the gelatine-zinc compound, which
should not be used at a higher temperature than one hundred and thirty degrees
Fahrenheit, when the plate is dipped in the solution, and not higher than one
hundréd and eight degrees Fahrenbeit when the solution is poured on to the plate
which may be effected in any of the modes used for photographic enamelling, or
otherwise at the discretion of the operator.
When the gelatine-zinc compound has set upon the plate (which will be usually in
about a quarter of an hour) the plates will be fit to receive the albuminized silver
print which is prepared by first immersing it in clean cold water to render it flat and
pliable. The coated plate is placed on a stand coated side upperinost and is flooded
with clean cold water and the surface is carefully brushed (which may be done with a
broad flat camel's hair brush) to remove any particles of foreign matter and the plate
is then flooded again with clean cold water. The silver print is then taken from the
water and placed carefully face downward on the plate care being taken to avoid the
formation of air bubbles; "squeegee" in the usual manner and then wipe with a
sponge.
When glass plates are used the underside should be examined for air bubbles, or
particles of dust, or other foreign matter that may have got between the face of the
print and the coating compound, and if anything of the kind be present, the print
should be removed washed and brushed again and fixed anew.
When the print is satisfactorily attached to the plate all free moisture should be
wiped away which may be done with a sponge.
A backing of paper or other suitable material may then be applied to the print and
the whole may then be placed in a rack to dry, which will usually be completed in
fine summer weather in from about eighteen to twenty four hours. When thoroughly
dry the print is removed from the plate which can be done by inserting a penknife
between it and the plate and the print will leave the plate with the greatest ease,
having a beautiful matt-surface pure in tint and fine in texture.
If desired in place of the gelatine-zinc compound a solution of gelatine alone may
be used but it is preferred to use oxide of zinc or some equivalent pigment as it gives
a desirable "bloom" to the picture.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is
1. For imparting to albumenized silver paper photographs or prints a matt surface
plates of glass marble slate metal or other suitable material with a ground or roughened
surface to which is applied a waxing compound and a solution of gelatine substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. For imparting to albumenized silver paper photographs or prints a matt surface
plates of glass marble slate metal or other suitable material with a ground or roughened
surface to which is applied the aforesaid waxing compound and a solution of gelatine
mixed with oxide of zinc or equivalent pigment (with or without a dye or colouring
pigment) substantially as herein before described.
3. For imparting to albumenized silver paper photographs or prints a matt surface
plates of glass marble slate metal or other suitable material with a ground or roughened
surface to which is applied a waxing compound of bees' wax and yellow resin dissolved
in a solvent such as spirits of turpentine and then a gelatine-zinc compound (with or
without a colouring medium) as hereinbefore described.
4. The process of imparting to albumenized silver paper photographs or prints a
matt surface consisting in preparing a plate in the manners hereinbefore described
and claimed then applying the silver paper photograph or print thereto face down-
wards as described then drying and afterwards removing the silver paper photograph
or print from the prepared plate.
Dated this 15th day of August 1890