IMPROVEMENTS IN TINTOGRAPHS, OR SHADING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, EDWARD HUGH BROWN, of New York, in the county and State of New
York, United States of America, Advertising Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for ""IMPROVEMENTS IN TINTOGRAPHS, OR SHADING MACHINES,”
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an apparatus for tinting and shading the back ground
and other portions of a drawing or picture made by hand, which tinting or shading
is accomplished by placing the face of the picture in contact with a plate provided
with parallel raised lines having printing ink thereon, and then applying friction
or pressure to the back of the picture so as to obtain an impression from the plate
on certain desired portions of the face of the picture.
The invention consists in a novel construction, arrangement, and combination, of
a base or bed plate, a plate for carrying the tint plate, a plate for holding the
picture and certain details of devices for adjusting and changing the position of the
tint plate and for other purposes, as hereinafter more particularly described.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification :-
Figure 1 is a top view of an apparatus embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 is a section taken in the line xx of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section taken in the line y y of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a top view of the base or bed plate.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the same.
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, are views of a modification..
Figure 13 is a top view of a portion of the apparatus.
Figure 14 is a side view of the same.
:―
Figures 15 to 25 inclusive, are detail views of different parts of the apparatus.
Figure 26 is a perspective view of the machine.
The base or bed plate A, is of an approximate quadrangular form, (see Figure 4,)
and is provided on its under side with ribs or feet, a, on which it rests. On the
upper side, near the four angles, are cavities, a², for the purpose hereinafter
described. In the center of the plate is an upwardly extending hollow boss or
short sleeve, a*, which receives a downwardly-extending pivot, bx, in the center of
a circular plate, B, which is provided with feet b resting on the boss or bed plate A.
The plate B, is also provided with two radial slots 62, extending in two opposite
directions from the center. These slots receive two radial ribs or fins, c², extending
downward from the under side of another circular plate, C, resting on the plate B.
Di 071

page_text: At the edge of the plate C, is a downwardly extending lug, c, through-which a thumb-
screw D, passes and engages with a tap hole in one of the feet b, of the plate B.
A spring d, surrounds the screw D between the lug c, and the foot b. The width
of the slots 6, correspond with the thickness of the ribs or fins c³, so as to prevent
any lateral motion of the plate C, on the plate B; but said slots are longer than
said ribs or fins, and thus admit of a radial motion with relation to said slots; and
the lug c, the screw D, and the foot b, with which the screw engages, are in the
same radial line with said slots; by which means, such radial motion is obtained
when desired by turning the screw in one direction or the other. The head of the
screw D, thus arranged, also serves as a knob or handle, to be used when it is
desired to rotate the plates B, C, on the pivot b*, as a center, for the purpose
hereinafter described.
E, represents a skeleton plate or frame, the inner edge of which forms a circle
nearly corresponding in size with but slightly larger than the periphery of the
plate C, so as to fit around the same whilst at the same time it permits lateral
motion of the same within it. Outside of this circle are four feet, f, at points
corresponding with the positions of the cavities a², in the base plate A, so that said
feet rest in said cavities when the apparatus is in position for use.
These feet are formed by screws passing through tap holes in lugs e, formed
outside of the circle in the plate or frame E. The points or lower ends of the
fect fare rounded to correspond with the cavities a², so as to fit snugly therein;
and as the feet are screw threaded, they may be adjusted with exact nicety, and
the plate or frame E, may be raised or lowered when desired.
G, represents a ring which rests upon the upper surface of the plate or frame E,
its inner circle corresponding with that of said plate. In this ring are four
holes, g, corresponding in position with four tap holes in the plate or frame E.
H, H, represents two bars, each having holes near the ends. These bars are
placed over the ring G, so that the holes in each bar correspond with two of the
holes in the ring and the plate.
Thumb screws, J, are then passed through the holes in the bar and the ring and
engaged with the tap holes in the plate; and thus is formed a clamping device for
holding the picture in place as hereinafter described.
The tint plate consists of a metallic plate, K, on the upper surface of which are
parallel lines formed by ridges with intermediate grooves. The tint plate may be
circular in form, and corresponding in size with the plate C; or it may be square,
as shown in Figure 6. When it is circular, it is held in place on the plate C, by.
clamps consisting of small plates 1, secured to the edges of the plate C by screws and
having overhanging lips or hooks engaging with the edges of the tint plate. When
the tint plate is square, or smaller than the carrying plate C, it is held in place by
clamps consisting of slotted plates m, secured to the carrying plate C, by screws, as
shown in Figures 6, 8 and. 17.
The various parts being in the. position shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3, and the
tint plate being supplied with ink, the apparatus is ready for use.
The picture to be tinted is first drawn in outline, and is mounted on a stretcher
frame, P, of sufficient size to allow its corners to rest on the ring G. The bars H,
are then screwed down by means of the thumb screws J, so as to clamp the frame P,
Becurely in place. The ring G, is sufficiently thicker than the tint plate to prevent
the picture from coming in actual. contact with the tint plate, and to allow the tint
plate to be rotated without touching the surface of the picture. When pressure or
friction is applied to the back of the picture, by means of a pad, stylus, or other
suitable instrument, the face of the picture is brought in contact with the tint
plate, and an impression is obtained therefrom on the face of the picture at points
corresponding with those at which the pressure is applied on the back, and at such
points only; by which means the picture is easily and rapidly tinted and shaded in
any desired portion, and the lines may be made to run in any desired direction.
If horizontal lines are desired, the tint plate is arranged with relation to the picture
as shown in Figure.1. If vertical lines or any intermediate angles are desired, the

page_text: tint plate is readily placed in the required position by rotating the carrying plate
on the pivot bx, as a center, as above described.
.
If the lines are not near enough together, or if they are not heavy enough, by
turning the screw D, the carrying plate C, is inoved in such a direction as to obtain
an impression of lines intermediate between those already printed, or so close to said.
lines as to make them wider or heavier; and by means of the screw and spring the
adjustment of the plate may be made with exact nicety.
If the tint plate should not be of the proper thickness with relation to the thick-
ness of the ring G, the proper adjustment of the picture with relation to the tint
plate may be obtained by means of the screw feet f.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 24, and 25, Q, represents a rod, carrying at one end a
pencil R, and having its other end passing through a post S, provided with a.set
screw. The post S, is adapted to engage with holes t in the ring G. By means of
the set screw the rod may be held in place with the pencil at any desired distance
from the post. The object of this instrument is to enable the operator to determine
the proper position of the picture with relation to the tint plate. For example :
The objective point on the picture having been obtained, the rod Q, is adjusted so
that the pencil R, will correspond with said point, The rod Q, is then swung
around out of the way, the picture removed, the rod and pencil again brought to
their former position, and the tint plate is adjusted, by means of the screw, D, until
a certain line or point on the tint plate is brought to a position corresponding, with
that previously indicated on the picture.
It is obvious that the operation thus described may be reversed-that is to say:
the objective point may be first ascertained on the tint plate, and the picture
afterwards adjusted to correspond therewith. When it becomes necessary to
remove a picture before completion, with a view to replacing it afterwards in
order to complete it, a certain point or points may be indicated by the pencil on
the back of the picture before removal. Then, when the picture is replaced
in order to complete it, the position formerly occupied by it may be resumed
without difficulty, by adjusting it so that the points formerly indicated will
correspond with those called for by the pencil.
;
The picture to be operated on is gummed or otherwise secured to the stretcher
frame P, which holds it parallel with and a short distance from the front face of
the tint plate K, from which the impression is to be taken. The said stretcher
frame rests on the annular plate E, which is fixed to, or rests permanently on the
stationary bed plate A. The tint.plate K, is mounted on the turn table B-C, on,
and with which it may be rotated, and also be laterally adjusted by means of the
sliding top plate C, as above described.
The shading on the picture is made by pressing the paper or cloth of the
picture down upon the tint plate as above described. By sliding or rotating
the said tint plate by and with the said turn table plate, as above mentioned the
direction, size, distance between lines &c., are easily and readily adjustable at the
will of the operator.
The pencil R, is merely used as a marker, operating from two fixed points, as in
the manner of using a beam compass, so as to center the picture on the machine,
when there may be occasion to remove and replace the picture when the work is
only partly completed, as it would be necessary, as a matter of course to recommence
the work just where it has left off.
I do not confine myself to the particular construction and arrangement herein
shown and described, as the different parts of the apparatus may be modified in
various ways in order to produce similar results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a tintograph, a tint plate mounted on a turn table so that it may be rotated
at will under the work, which is placed in a fixed position over it, and also provided

page_text: with a radial movement by means of a laterally sliding plate interposed between it
and the bed of the turn table plate, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a tintograph a turn table plate provided with a fixed vertical axis in com-
bination with the stationary bed plate which secures it in place and allows it to
rotate thereon, said turn table provided on its upper face with a tint plate, the
upper. surface of which is ribbed, with intervening grooves between the said ribs,
the whole operating so that by turning the said turn table and its attached tint
plate, the ridges or lines on said tint plate may be turned at any angle, or parallel
with any given radial line, substantially as shown and described.
3. In a tintograph a tint plate carrier formed of the turn table plates B, C, the
latter being laterally adjustable on the former by means of an adjusting screw, so
as to slide the top plate C, on the bottom plate B, suitable guides between the two
plates keeping them in position in the other direction and thereby laterally
adjust on the turn table proper the tint plate K, which is secured to and moves
with the sliding plate C, substantially as shown and described.
4. The turn table C, clamps m, and tint plate. K, combined substantially as
described.
5. In a tintograph, the combination of the base or bed plate A, provided with
the central boss or sleeve ax, and the plate B, provided with the feet b, and central
pivot b*, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
6. In a tintograph, the combination of the plate B, provided with the legs b,
and slots b³, the plate C, provided with the lug c, and ribs or fins c³, and the
screw D, and spring d, arranged and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein described.
7. The stationary bed plate A, having socket holes a², on its top face and near
its edges, in combination with the frame or plate E, provided with feet f, the said
feet being made vertically adjustable by means of screw threads on the shanks of
the said feet, substantially as described..
8. The combination of the plate or frame E, ring G, clamping bars H, and thumb
screws J, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
9. The vertical post S, interchangeably fitted to holes t, in the top annular
frame G, the said holes acting as centers in which the said vertical post may rotate,
and in combination with said post a longitudinally adjustable rod carrying at its
inner end a pencil head with pencil, the whole acting so as to mark or center the
picture which is secured to the stretcher P, and rests on the frame G, the whole
combined and arranged substantially as described.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1885.