IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ORNAMENTAL PATTERNS OR OTHER DEVICES UPON THE SURFACES OF GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Couper, the younger, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Flint Glass Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ORNAMENTAL PATTERNS OR OTHER
DEVICES UPON THE SURFACES OF GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS."
73
BELL RE
11070
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Couper, at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th March 1878.
JAMES COUPER, the younger, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Flint Glass Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
ORNAMENTAL PATTERNS OR OTHER DEVICES UPON THE SURFACES OF GLASS OR
OTHER MATERIALS.”
This Invention, which relates to the production of ornamental designs or devices
upon the surfaces of glass or other materials, has for its object to produce such
designs more economically, and with a greater degree of accuracy than hitherto.
The improvements are especially adapted for the production on glass surfaces, such,
for example, as lamp shades or globes, decanters, and other table glass, besides
flat glass surfaces, such as plate glass, such designs as are used to ornament the
same.
According to the first modification of carrying out my improvements the surface
of glass or analogous material on which the design is to be produced is coated with
a varnish or its equivalent which will resist the action of an acid, such as that which
is used for etching glass. The coating of varnish or its equivalent being allowed to
dry, a stencil plate, having the required design cut therein, is laid over or fastened
upon those parts of the surface on which the design is to be produced. Those
portions of the varnished or coated surface which are seen through the open portions
of the pattern in the stencil plate are then removed by the action upon them of
what is known as "Tilghmann's sand blast; " this having the effect of leaving those

page_text: portions of the surface corresponding to the pattern in a state ready to be acted upon
by an etching liquid, whilst the varnish or coating protects the other portions. In
this state the surface is submitted to the action of an etching liquid until the device
is sunk into the surface to the required depth.
According to the second modification of working my improvements, stencil plates
are used, in which the portions to correspond with the patterns to be produced are
closed in place of open as in the first modification. In using stencil plates of the
kind last mentioned, the "sand blast" has the effect of removing or obscuring the
whole of the surface, excepting those portions on which the stencil plates now last
mentioned are laid, the effect of this action being to leave the pattern or ornamental
device with a smooth surface standing out in slight relief from those portions of the
surface on which the "sand blast" has operated. A coating of acid-resisting varnish
or its equivalent is then applied to those parts of the surface on which the "sand
blast" has operated, and the surface has then applied to it an etching liquid, which
acting upon the smooth surface portions in relief removes them to the required depth
and with a correspondingly smooth surface of pattern remaining.
Under a third modification I dispense with the use of the "sand blast” and
employ in place thereof the process of printing for first producing the pattern upon
the glass in the manner following, that is to say, I first coat the glass surface with
a varnish, and I then transfer the design or pattern from a printing surface, such as
a lithographic stone or metal plate. The wet impressions from the lithographic
stone I transfer to the coating of varish, the effect of which is that the ink or
printing composition softens these portions of the varnish, corresponding to the
pattern or design, so that they may then be removed by washing. This leaves the
portions of the glass corresponding to the pattern or design ready for being cut or
etched by the acid.
It is to be understood that if desired the ordinary glasscutter's wheel may be
used for finishing, that is to say, cutting over the pattern produced by the "sand
blast," operating so as to impart to them the appearance of cut glass; and an
engraving wheel may be used for filling in portions of patterns or devices which
are too fine or small to be well produced by either modification of my present
mprovements.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Couper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th September
1878.
JAMES COUPER, the younger, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Flint Glass Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF
ORNAMENTAL PATTERNS OR OTHER DEVICES UPON THE SURFACES OF GLASS OR
OTHER MATERIALS."
My said Invention relates to the production of ornamental designs or devices
upon the surfaces of glass or other materials, and has for its objects to produce such
designs more economically and with a greater degree of accuracy than hitherto.
The improvements are especially adapted for the production on glass surfaces, sucli
for example as lamp shades, or globes, decanters, and other table glass, besides flat
glass surfaces, such as plate glass, such designs as are used to ornament the same.
According to the first modification or method of carrying out my improvements,
the surface of glass (which may be ground, or obscure, or clear), or analogous
material upon which the design is to be produced, is conted with a varnish such as
common Brunswick black, or a varnish composed of a mixture of pitch, tallow, and
beeswax, or any other varnish which will resist the action of an acid such as that
which is used for etching or eating into glass. The coating of varnish or its
equivalent being allowed to dry, the article so coated is then mounted on a stencil
plate having the required design cut therein, or the stencil plate is fastened upon
those parts of the surface on which the design is to be produced. Those portions of
the varnished or coated surface which are seen through the open portions of the
pattern in the stencil plate are then removed by the action upon them of what is
known as "Tilghmann's sand blast," this having the effect of removing the varnish
from those portions of the surface corresponding to the pattern, and leaving the said
portions in a state ready to be acted upon by an etching liquid, whilst the varnish
or coating protects the other portions. In this state the surface is submitted to the
action of an etching liquid, until the device is sunk into the surface to the required
depth, when the surface is washed, and the protecting varnish removed.
According to the second modification of working my improvements, stencil plates
are used in which the portions to correspond with the patterns to be produced are
closed in place of open, as in the first modification. In 'using stencil plates of the
kind last mentioned, the "sand blast" has the effect of removing or obscuring the
whole of the surface excepting those portions on which the stencil plates now last
mentioned are laid, the effect of this action being to leave the pattern or ornamental
device with a smooth surface standing out in slight relief from those portions of the
surface on which the "sand blast has operated. A coating of acid-resisting
varnish or its equivalent is then applied to those parts of the surface on which the
"sand blast" has operated, and the surface has then applied to it an etching liquid,
which, acting upon the smooth surface portions in relief, removes them to the
required depth, and with a correspondingly smooth surface of pattern remaining.
The pattern produced by this process is in the case of glass very clear and bright.
After treatment with the etching liquid the surface is washed, and the protecting
varnish removed.
Under a third modification I dispense with the use of the "sand blast," and
employ in place thereof the process of printing, for first producing the pattern upon
the glass in the manner following, that is to say, I first coat the glass surface with
an acid-resisting varnish, and I then transfer to it the design or pattern from a
printing surface, such as a lithographic stone or metal plate, an ink or printing
substance being used of an oily nature or of such other nature as will act upon
those portions of the coating of the varnish with which it comes in contact, so as to
decompose or soften the said portions, and render them capable of being readily
removed by washing or rubbing. I take an impression from the printing surface

page_text: upon paper, and I fasten this paper upon the surface being treated with the
impression in contact with the coating of varnish, the effect of which is that the
ink or printing composition softens those portions of the varnish corresponding to
the pattern or design. When the printed impression has remained a sufficient
time to produce this softening effect, it is removed together with those portions of
the varnish upon which it has acted by washing or rubbing. This leaves the
portions of the glass corresponding to the pattern or design ready for being etched
or caten out by the acid. When eaten out to the required depth, the surface is
washed and the protecting varnish removed.
Although I have described my Invention as applied to the ornamentation of
glass, I wish it to bo understood that like processes or modes of treatment are
applicable to the ornamentation of other materials into which an etching liquid or
acid will eat.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may
be used or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
EE
First. The first herein-described improvements in the production of patterns or
devices upon the surface of glass or other materials, consisting in first coating the
surface with an acid-resisting varnish, then removing by means of a sand blast"
through the intervention of a stencil plate, the varnish from those parts of the
surface corresponding to the pattern to be produced, and then submitting the surface
thus prepared to the action of the acid or etching liquid essentially as herein-before
described.
Second. The second berein-described improvements in the production of
ornamental patterns or devices upon the surface of glass or other materials, that is
to say, after covering and protecting those parts of the surface which are to form
the pattern, and obscuring the exposed portions by means of a "sand blast," then
coating those parts upon which the "sand blast" has acted with an acid-resisting
varnish, and afterwards applying an etching liquid or acid to act upon the smooth
portions unacted upon by the "sand blast," and uncovered with varnish and con-
stituting the pattern.
Third. The third herein-described improvements in the production of ornamental
patterns upon the surface of glass or other materials, wherein portions of the acid-
resisting varnish (with which the surface is coated) corresponding to the pattern to
be produced, are acted upon and decomposed or softened by the impression from a
printing surface, the portion thus softened being removed by washing or rubbing,
and the exposed pattern acted upon by an etching liquid or acid.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Couper, the younger, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TAMES COUPED TB