AN IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF PRODUCING PATTERNS IN ONE OR MORE COLORS, TO BE TRANSFERRED TO EARTHENWARE, PORCELAIN, CHINA, GLASS, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WAINWRIGHT POTTS, of Burslem, in the County of Stafford, China and
Earthenware Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth did,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date the Third day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-five, give and grant unto me, the said William
Wainwright Potts, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, His especial license that I,
the said William Wainwright Potts, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, should and
lawfully might, during the term of fourteen years therein mentioned, make,
use, exercise, and vend,, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OR PROCESS OF PRODUCING
PATTERNS IN ONE OR MORE COLORS, TO BE TRANSFERRED TO EARTHENWARE, PORCELAIN,
CHINA, GLASS, AND OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso, that if I, the said William Wainwright Potts, should not
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months then next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent, now in recital, that then the said
Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages thereby granted should utterly
cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Wainwright Potts, do hereby declare that my said Invention is
ascertained and described in the manner herein-after expressed and appearing.
By the method most commonly used by manufacturers of earthenware,
porcelain, china, glass, and other similar substances (all of which, to avoid
repetition, I shall hereafter refer to as included under the term of "earthen-
ware and glass," for producing patterns to be transferred to those substances;
the required patterns are engraved on a flat plate of copper, from which an
impression in the colour required is taken on tissue paper laid over the plate,
and subjected to the pressure of rollers, as in the ordinary process of copper-
plate printing, and the pattern thus obtained on the paper is transferred to the
surface of the earthenware or glass intended to receive it in the method now
usually practised. In the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty-one,
John Potts, Richard Oliver, and myself invented "An improved method or
process of obtaining impressions from engravings in various colours, and
applying the same to earthenware, porcelain, china, glass, and other similar
substances," for which we obtained His Majesty's Letters Patent, bearing date
the Seventeenth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-
one, and a Specification of which was duly inrolled in Ilis Majesty's High
Court of Chancery, pursuant to a proviso in the last-mentioned Letters Patent
contained, and by which Invention we were enabled to obtain impressions of
the before-mentioned nature from engravings, either on cylindrical copper
rollers, or flat plates, in considerable quantities, with much less expenditure of
time and labour than is required by the method in common use. The before-
mentioned methods were, however, confined to the obtaining of impressions
from engravings, that is, from plates or rollers in which the pattern is ent,
indented, or depressed below the general surface of the plate or roller, and the
colouring matter being received in the cut, indented, or depressed parts, is thence
impressed on the paper. It is evident that by this operation a pattern in ono
colour only could be produced, as the application to the paper of a second or
subsequent engraved plato or roller would necessarily injure or destroy the
impression already received from the first or preceding one.
The nature of my Invention consists in the substitution of what is termed
"surface printing," in the place of printing with engraved plates or rollers, for
impressing patterns on paper to be transferred, as aforesaid, that is, in the
employment of rollers, blocks, or other implements for impressing patterns or
figures, on which the pattern or figure to be produced is raised up, or in
relief, instead of being cut out, indented, or depressed, and the colouring
matter, instead of being received in and impressed from the cut, indented, or

page_text: depressed parts, is applied to and received from the raised or elevated surface,
and may be illustrated by the difference between copper-plate engravings
and woodcuts. By this method patterns may be produced either in one or
several colours, each part of the pattern which is intende.] to be of a separate
colour being formed on a separate roller or block; the different parts of the
pattern being placed on the respective rollers or blocks with such exact local
relation to each other that the several impressions may combine to form the
complete pattern required. Thus, after the first part of the pattern has been
impressed on the paper by one roller er black in one colour, a second, third,
or other additional part, each in a different colour; may be impressed by
successive rollers or blocks, for as those parts only of each block or roller
which are raised to form part of the pattern come in contact with the paper,
the impression produced by a preceding roller or block is unaffected by any
succeeding roller or block, the raised parts of which fall upon a different part
of the paper to impress another portion of the pattern.
Having thus stated the general nature of my Invention, I shall describe the
various modes in which the same may be practised, and I shall first describe
my mode of working by means of a machine resembling (with some adapta-
tions and additions) the surface printing machine used by calico printers, being
the mode which I consider most generally useful. The following description
of such a machine for impressing patterns with two colours is illustrated by
and has reference to the Figure or Drawing hereunto annexed, which repre-
sents a view of one end thereof, and the parts of the machine as viewed at the
other end will be understood to correspond, unless otherwise expressed. The
scale of the Drawing is marked thereon. The width of the machine will vary,
according to the work intended to be produced by it; but I consider a machine
of the width of twenty-eight inches between the two ends of the cast-iron
frame A, herein-after mentioned, as being the most suitable for general
purposes. In order to avoid, in the following description, the multipled use of
the same letter or number of reference when referring to several similar or
corresponding parts marked with the same letter or number, I declare that by
a reference to any single letter, I intended to refer to and designate all the
parts (if more than one marked therewith, in the Drawing. A is the strong
cast-iron frame of the machine, as seen at the end here represented. The two
ends are united by cross pieces and bolts, in the usual manner well known
to all persons conversant with such machines. B, the large bowl or cylinder
fixed on an axis, the ends of which work in sliding steps (one of which is
seen at G), which may be raised or lowered by screws, one of which is
seen at G; C, a mandril of wronght iron, made hollow, so as to be heated

page_text: .
int. rnally by the admission of steam or otherwise; the ends of the mandril aro
reduced, so as to form shoulders, which work in grooves or steps in the
frame A. C', a plain copper roller, accurately fitted to and fixed on the
mandril C; D and D1, two surface rollers, fitt. d to and fixed on solid mandrils,
the ends of which work in steps J, J', seen at this end of the machine, and
in corresponding ones at the other end. These steps slide in grooves in the
upper surfaces of the flanged pieces e and e, which ride on and are screwe
to the horizontal arms of the frames or brackets M, M, and the sliding
steps are made to advance towards or recede from the large bowl or cylinder
by screws and d', working in uprights, which rise from the respective
pieces e and . E, a large toothed wheel, fixed on the axis of and revolving
with the cylinder B, at this end only of the machine. This wheel is
driven by the hitting-in wheel F, and drives the Litting-in wheels and F
The hitting-in wheels F, F', and F, are fixed on the ends shewn in the
Drawing of the mandril C, and surface rollers D and D', respectively (but
without any corresponding wheels at the other cud). All the hitting-in
wheels must be of the same size, pitch, and number of teeth. II, four com-
position rollers, to supply the surface rollers D with colour. These rollers
are of wood mounted on iron shafts or axles, and covered with coats or layers
of composition, as herein-after mentioned. The iron shafts or axles of the
rollers project at each end, and run in centres or steps in the pedestals h.
The feet of the pedestals are slotted and fastened with nuts and screws to a
plank or shelf p, supported at each end by and serewed to an arm or
bracket M. I, a wood roller, revolving in the colour box K, and thenco
furnishing colouring matter to the composition rollers. L, a straight edge or
doctor, to scrape off any excessive quantity of colouring matter from the wood
roller previous to the colour being communicated to the adjacent composition
roller. This doctor is of the same extent in length as the wood roller, and is
held at each end by the upper arm of a lever m, which is suspended on a pivot
or fulcrum supported by a small pedestal on the edge of the colour box, as
seen in the Drawing. To the lower arm of the lever m is attached a cord
passing over the pulley n, and supporting a weight o, by which the force with
which the doctor bears on the wood roller may be adjusted. II', I', K, L,
m, n, and o, are a similar set of composition rollers, furnishing roller, colour
box, doctor, lever, weight, and pulley, for furnishing and regulating the supply
of colour to the surface roller D'. M, M', brackets, with long horizontal
arms extending from the cast-iron frame A to the upright post or pillar N.
These brackets and pillar occur at each end of the machine. The pillars are
connected and kept steady by cross pieces. The horizontal arms of the

page_text: brackets support the ends of wooden planks or shelves p, p, extending across
the machine, and on which are mounted the pedestals of the composition
rollers, the colour boxes, and adjuncts. P, a r. ller, supported by pivots at eacli
end working freely in centres in the brackets (g) projecting from the upper
part of the frame A; on this roller a continuous sheet of sized paper of
indefinite length is rolled or lapped, ready to be drawn down when required.
Qis an endless blanket of the kind commonly used by calico printers, passing
under the cylinder B and over the guiding rollers R. The machine is worked
by a power wheel fixed on the end of the mandril C, outside of the wheel I',
and driven by a pinion fixed on a shaft carried by proper bearings attached to
the frame A, and actuated by an endless band or other suitable contrivance in
any of the usual modes. This power wheel and its adjuncts are, for the sake
of distinctness, on.itted in the Drawing. The mode of operating with this
machine, as used by me, is as follows:-Having procured paper of the kind
generally used by manufacturers of earthenware and glass for transferring
patterns, and which I obtain in sheets of indefinite length, I prepare it by
sizing it with the size generally employed for this purpose. The sizing (which
forms no part of my Invention) may be effected in any usual and suitable
manner, but I adopt, as best suited for my purpose, the mode of sizing and
rolling the paper described in the Specification of the before-mentioned
Invention of John Potts, Richard Oliver, and myself. The roller on which
the paper is lapped is then placed in the situation shewn at P in the Drawing.
The cylinder B must be made to bear on the copper roller C', with a due
degree of force, by means of the adjusting screws G, the roller C¹ being heated
by the admission of steam into the mandril Ċ, or by other suitable means; the
outer end of the sheet of paper on the roller P is then drawn down in the direc-
tion of the straight arrow, and under the cylinder B, and fastened in an even
position to the blanket Q. The machine being set slowly in motion, the
revolution of the cylinder brings the paper to bear on the upper surface of the
heated roller C', by which the paper which yet remains wet from the sizing is
dried, smoothed, and fitted to receive the colour to be imparted to it on its
coming in contact with the surface roller D. The revolution of the cylinder
continuing. the paper is carried forward to the surface roller D, which is now
pressed up to the cylinder, and at the same time the toothed wheels E and F
are brouglit into geer, and the situation of the surface roller D, and its bitting-
in wheel F, adjusted and secured by the screws d. This adjustment being
effected, the composition rollers H, with their colour box and other adjuncts,
are properly arranged and fixed on the shelf p, supporting them, which is placed
on and screwed to the horizontal arms of the brackets M, so that the com-

page_text: prsition rollers may transmit a due and regular supply of the colouring matter
from the colour box to the surface roller D; and whilst the doctor L prevents
the furnishing of an excessive quantity of coloring matter, the intervention of
the series of revolving rollers I secures its due distribution in an even layer.
The friction of the surface roller against the adjoining composition roller, and
of the composition rollers and wooden roller I against each other, will in
general be found sufficient to give them the duc rotary motion; but if this
should under any circumstances be found insufficient, the revolution of the
rollers may be secured by a train of toothed wheels fixed on the ends of the
rollers, or any other customary mode of transmitting rotary motion. The
revolution of the cylinder being continued, the paper is brought up to the
surface roller D', when a further adjustment takes place to secure the due
arrangement of the different parts of the pattern. For this purpose, each of
the rollers D and D' has a small raised point or mark, called a pitch pin, which
gives an impression to the paper, so that the impression which the paper
receives from the pitch pin, on the roller D, may determine the precise point
of contact at which the roller D' must be made to bear on the paper, by its
pitch pin corresponding with such impression. This being ascertained, the
roller D', and its hitting-in wheel, are adjusted accordingly, and the composition
rollers, and their colour box and adjuncts, arranged in like manner as
before described. This adjustinent requires particular care on the part of the
superintendent, as upon it depends the accuracy of the pattern when different
parts are impressed from successive rollers. The adjustment of the machine
being now complete, its working continues without interruption, the continuous
sheet of paper (after being dried and smoothed by the heated roller C')
receiving from the roller D the impression of part of the required pattern
in one colour, and thence proceeding and receiving from the roller D' the
impression of the remainder of the pattern in another colour, and being thence
carried with the blanket into an upper room or other place, where it is
detached and cutt off for use in the ordinary manner..
I have for the sake of simplicity described this machine as furnished with
surface rollers and their adjuncts for printing two colours only, but it will be
obvious that a greater number of surface rollers may be employed, and the
number of colors accordingly increased. The necessary additions to and
variations in the arrangement of the machine for this purpose will be supplied
and effected by any competent mechanic. If the number of surface rollers be
materially increased, it may be necessary to employ a cylinder of greater cir-
cumference. In the constructing and working of the machine above described,
it must be seen that the several surface rollers are of exactly equal circum-

page_text: ference, and that their hitting-in wheels are of a size and pitch in the teeth to
correspond exactly with the large wheel on the end of the cylinder, any defect
in which will prevent the surface rollers from working truly together; and con-
sequently render impossible the due arrangement and fitting, together of the
several parts of the pattern. The colouring matter employed is the same as
is generally used by manufacturers of earthenware and glass, and prepared in
any of the usual modes. For surface printing it should be used cold, instead
of being heated as when employed in obtaining impressions from engraved
patterns, and should also be much thinner as to consistency; I prefer it rather
thicker than printers' ink. The rollers H and II' consist of wooden rollers or
mandrils, mounted and fixed on iron shafts or axles, and covered externally
with a coating of composition about half an inch thick, which is cast on the
wooden rollers or mandrils in moulds made for the purpose... The composition
is made and is cast on the rollers in the same manner as in the construction of
the compossition rollers used by letter-press-printers. The relative situation of
the several composition rollers connected with each surface roller may be
altered and adjusted, as occasion may require, by means of the nuts and screws
which attach the pedestals to the plank or shelf by which they are supported,
and as each series of composition rollers, with the colour box and furnishing
roller appertaining, can only be used for one and the same colour, whenever a
change of colour is required, the entire set of colour rollers, box, and adjuncts
may be removed, with the plank or shelf to which they are attached, and
another set substituted in their place.
In addition to the method of producing patterns from the surface by the
machine and process I have described, the same principle may be carried into
effect by the use of blocks applied by the hand, similar to those used by calico
printers in block printing, or by means of presses such as are used by letter-
press printers (and in which either blocks or types may be used), and in these
cases the coloring matter is furnished or applied to the surface of the blocks or
types by composition,rollers having handles, and applied by the hand as prac-
tised by letter-press printers; and the same principle may also be carried into
effect by other similar means in which the coloured pattern is received on the
paper from the surface of the impressing substance. Although my process of
producing patterns for the purpose before mentioned is in itself complete and
adequate for the production of patterns in one or more colours, yet it may with
great advantage be employed, in combination with any of the modes now, in use,
of producing patterns from engravings, for the purpose aforesaid. When this
is done, the engraved pattern must, for the reasons before stated; be <first
impressed on the paper, and may be either itself in one of the intended colours,

page_text: or only an outline or shading in black or other dark tint, to define or give
different degrees of depth to the coloured parts afterwards to be applied from
surface rollers, blocks, or other impressing surfaces, either by the machine
before described, or by any of the other means before adverted to; and it will
be observed, that when a pattern produced on the paper by these combined
means is transferred to the earthenware or glass, the outline or shading which
was first impressed will be on the outer surface of the transferred pattern, in
consequence of which the effect will be found much better than that resulting
from the mode in ordinary use of first transferring to the earthenware or glass
the engraved outline or shading, and then laying on the colours with a pencil
or brush applied by hand to the earthenware or glass, which in a greater or
less degree impairs and renders muddy and indistinct the appearance of the
outline or shading, particularly if the colours so laid on are not transparent
after being fired in the oven or kiln. Such a combination may be best effected
in the machine I have described by substituting for the plain copper roller C
an engraved roller heated in the same manner, and which will therefore at
once perform both the offices of drying the sized paper and of giving the out-
line shading or part of a pattern required; and whenever this is done, such
engraved roller must be furnished with a colour box and furnishing roller, and
with a doctor and adjuncts, as shewn in the Drawing, at N and O, in dotted out-
line; the colour box having a hollow bottom, to allow of heating, by the admission
of steam or other suitable means, the engraved roller requiring the colour to
be applied warm. But I do not claim such use of an engraved roller as any
part of my present Invention, or as of right to be used therewith; the produc-
tion of impressions from such engraved roller by such a machine as aforesaid,
for the purpose of being transferred as aforesaid, being part of the said Inven-
tion secured by the said Letters Patent granted to the said John Potts,
Richard Oliver, and myself, as aforesaid, and the use thereof, in combination
with my present Patent, being therefore subject to the rights of the Patentees
under such former Patent. The first outline shading or part of a pattern may,
however, be obtained from flat plates, in the manner now usually practised by
manufacturers of earthenware and glass, and in some cases this will be foun l
the cheapest and most convenient plan. The outline or shading may also be
obtained from a surface roller or block on which the required outline or
shading must be raised in fine lines or points, as in the method adopted by
calico printers for producing the finer lines or parts of patterns printed from
surface rollers or blocks. If a surface roller is used for this purpose, it may
be placed in the situation of the copper roller (1, and that roller placed at
some other convenient situation, as at Z, so that in all cases the paper may, in

page_text: the first place, be acted on by the heated copper roller to dry and smooth it.
The outline or shading, or the first part of the pattern, may also be obtained by
the common process of lithography, the paper being first sized and prepared
as herein mentioned or referred to. When a principal portion of the required
pattern has been obtained by a first impression, and only few or small parts
are required to be filled up, the latter may be done by blocks applied by hand
or by a type press, and I prefer this plan in such cases to the employment of
the surface roller machine before described. The comparative eligibility of the
different modes which I have described of practising my Invention will; how-
ever, in every case depend on the nature of the pattern to be produced, and
will vary according to the taste or judgment of the operator. It will be
observed that patterns when transferred to the carthenware or glass appear in
the same position as upon the roller, block, or other surface, and not reversed.
as in letter-press or copper-plate printing. This is only material where letters.
or other figures are used the right position of which is essential to the
ntended effect, and must then be provided for accordingly.
In all surface printing it must be borne in mind that the sized paper must be
properly dried and smoothed before it receives the impression, and where the
machine I have described is not used, and where the first impression is not
obtained by a method which produces in itself the effect of drying and smooth-
ing the paper, I recommend the employment of a machine for the sole purpose
of drying and smoothing the paper, consisting merely of two rollers bearing
against each other, one of which should be heated by steam or other suitable
means, and the other covered with cloth or blanket to press the paper against
the heated one; but the construction of such a machine is too simple and
obvious to require a particular description.
:
I have not considered it necessary to describe or delincate in the Drawing
the method or apparatus for heating the mandril D or colour box N (where
used). These objects may be effected by any suitable and convenient means,.
but those which 1 employ and prefer are the same as are described in the
Specification of the before-mentioned Invention of John Potts, Richard Oliver,
and myself for the like purposes, and which, as they form no part of my
Invention, I do not hereby describe.
Having thus described my said improved method or process, I do hereby
declare that I do not claim as of my Invention all or any part of the machine
or machines, apparatus, or implements which I have described or mentioned as
necessary or proper to be used in the practice of my said method or process,
the same having been by me described solely for the purpose of explaining the
nature and mode of practising my said Invention; but I claim as of my

page_text: Invention the method or process of producing, by the employment, adaptation,
and use of the machine or machines, apparatus, ani implements herein-before
described, or any other suitable machine or machines, apparatus, and imple-
ments, patterns in one or more colours to be transferred to earthenware,
porcelain, china, glass, and other similar substances, so as such patterns be
obtained from the surface and not from the engraved cut, indented, or depressed
parts of the roller, block, or other implement employed as the immediate agent
of impressing or transmitting the coloured pattern to or on thepaper, the manner
of performing which method or process, as practised by me, I have herein-
before set forth. And I claim such method or process only as the means of
producing patterns for the sole purpose of being transferred to earthenware,
porcelain, china, glass, and other similar substances, and not as the means of
producing patterns for any other purpose. And I declare that the size, pro-
portions, materials, and other particulars of and relating to the machines,
apparatus, and implements employed by me, as aforesaid, admit of various
modifications, all capable of producing the same or the like effect, and may be
varied at the discretion of the constructor or operator, according to the nature
of tho work to be performed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wainwright Potts, have here
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and thirty-six.