IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF MANUFACTURES AND COMBINATIONS THEREWITH OF PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING PICTORIAL, ORNA MENTAL, AND OTHER DEVICES AND DESIGNS."
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin George George, of 47, Hatton Garden,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Lithographer and Printer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF MANUFACTURES AND
COMBINATIONS THEREWITH OF PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING PICTORIAL, ORNA
MENTAL, AND OTHER DEVICES AND DESIGNS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin George George
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st March 1870.
I, BENJAMIN GEORGE GEORGE, of 47, Hatton Garden, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Lithographer and Printer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF MANU-
FACTURES AND COMBINATIONS THEREWITH OF PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING PICTORIAL
ORNAMENTAL, AND OTHER DESIGNS AND DEVICES," to be as follows, that is to
say:
My Invention consists of improvements in the manufactures of
pictorial, ornamental, and other designs and devices and for show tablets

page_text: for advertising purposes on tin, tinned iron, iron, copper, brass, foil, or
other metals, and on the well known printed tin & terne plates, and on
glass, wood, or other suitable materials, both before and after the manu-
facture of such metal plates, glass, wood, or other materials into various
articles, the object being a perfection not attainable by the ordinary
methods now in use as well as a large economy in the cost of production.
Pictures, ornamental designs, tablets, and show cards transferred on
metal or other materials, and used as pictures or in the manufacture of
goods of an ornamental and artistic character to which my improvements
relate have hitherto been prepared in the following manner, viz.:-A
sheet of metal cut to size is painted over in oil colour and is then dried
in a stove or otherwise and afterwards rubbed down with pumice or
other material to obtain a smooth surface, and this process.is.repeated-
once or more times-according to the finish and polish required. The
design, which has been previously printed on what is known as transfer
paper, is then transferred upon the painted surface of the plate and is
afterwards varnished and dried.
By my improvements I avoid this expensive and imperfect method of
producing the painted ground on the surface of the plate previous to the
process of transferring the printed work, and to this end I adopt the
following means :-I first prepare a design, such as a picture, ornamental
design, or show tablet, and having lithographed it or engraved it I print
it in the ordinary manner of printing on transfer paper, and when the
colour or colours are well dry I proceed with one of the first
processes of my improvements as follows:-I prepare a lithograph or
surface plate with one uniform flat ground the exact dimensions of
the picture or design, or if a border or frame is desired to the picture
or design then of somewhat smaller dimensions, and upon and all
over the before-mentioned printed picture or design, or in other words
all over the surface of the transfer paper occupied by the picture
or design I print one or more layers of colour of whatever tone or
tint I desire the ground to be, thereby covering and as it were ob-
literating for the time the entire printed picture or design. I now
take a sheet of metal, either tin, tinned iron, iron, copper, brass,
or other metal, or it may be glass, wood, or other suitable material, and
having rubbed a little oil or varnish over it to make it tacky I proceed
to transfer the printed work in the usual way, and the flat surface of
colour last printed is by the process of transferring reversed and becomes

page_text: the ground on which the picture or design appears, for by the transferring
the order of the printed colours is changed, and and this last printed flat
ground coming first on the metal the picture or design which was under
the printed ground will appear on the top of it and becomes the said
substitute for the ordinary and costly process of first preparing the
ground on the metal by the usual means of hand painting.
.
It is obvious that a modification of this improved method of forming
a ground may be obtained by painting or laying with a brush or other
means a layer of colour over the printed picture or design and after-
wards to transfer as described, but I prefer the first-mentioned method;
Again to avoid too many layers of colour which is sometimes objection-
able I may print the ground work quite seperate from the picture or
design, that is to say, I avoid printing on any or every part of the already
printed picture or design, but only between or around it, and the whole
printed work being then transferred, this last printing will be found to
produce the effect of a ground similar to the first-described method, but
of great advantage for articles which my afterwards be subjected to
great variations of temperature as there will be no liability that the
colour will crack and come off.
I further improve the appearance of the said articles by the process
of embossing those parts of the work which would be improved by such
means, and this part of my improved methods and processes I consider
highly important, as by its judicious use I enhance the value of the
pictures or designs to a very high degree. Again bronze powders of all
colours and metal leaf known as Dutch or planier metal are extensively
used in the embellishment and manufacture of the before-mentioned or
any similar articles. Where effects to be obtained from their use are
desirable I have a most simple arrangement to effect a brilliant substitute
to which bronze powder or metal leaf is not to be compared. My
method is to lacquer, cover, or colour by chemical or other means the
metal plates the desired colour of gold, silver, or whatever other colour
may be desired, and to arrange that those parts of the picture or design
which it is intended to render in silver or gold or other colour, and
which would have been applied in the ordinary way of printing bronze
powder or metal leaf, shall be left uncovered by any body colour what.
ever, and as there will then be no colour on those parts to transfer the
metal will be seen bare, uncovered, or transparent and will take the place
of the so-called gold or silver.

page_text: Another of my improved processes is that I obtain where needful a
framework of gold or silver to the picture or design by having the metal
plates a little larger than the printed picture, design, or device, the parts
forming the frame having been as before stated left unprinted upon the
transfer paper.
I
By the above processes I am able to produce with great effect and
little cost many beautiful works of art for the adornment of cottages,
schools, &c., the free use of which has hitherto been prohibited by their
cost. For show cards or tablets for advertising and other purposes
may when desirable affix cut out, stamped, or embossed letters or
ornaments made of various materials to give greater prominence to. some
parts of the work.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said
Benjamin George George in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
GEORGE GEORGE, of 47, Hatton Garden, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Lithographer and Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Her Herself, heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Benjamin George George, Her special licence
that I, the said Benjamin George George, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Benjamin George
George, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS OF MANUFACTURES AND COMBINATIONS THEREWITH
OF PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING PICTORIAL, ORNAMENTAL, AND OTHER DESIGNS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Benjamin George George,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under

page_text: my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin George George, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My Invention consists of improvements in the manufactures of
pictorial, ornamental, and other designs and devices and for show tablets
for advertizing purposes, and for lettering on tin, tinned iron, terne,
iron, copper, brass, foil, or other metals, plates and sheets of metal, or
amalgamations thereof, and on the well known printed tin and terne
plates, and on glass, wood, or other suitable materials, both before and
after the manufacture of such plates or materials into various articles,
the object being a perfection not attainable by the ordinary methods
now in use as well as a large economy in the cost of production.
Pictures, ornamental designs, tablets, and show cards transferred on
metal or other materials, and used as pictures, advertizement tablets, or.
in the manufacture of goods of an ornamental and artistic character,
to which my improvements relate have hitherto been prepared in the
following manner, videlicet :—The surface of a sheet of metal or other.
material is painted over in oil color and is then dried in a stove or
otherwise, and for good work it is afterwards rubbed down with pumice
or otherwise to obtain a smooth surface, and these processes are
repeated once or more times according to the finish and polish required.
The picture, design, or show tablet, which has been previously printed
on what is known as transfer paper, is then transferred upon this
painted surface of the plate or other material and is afterwards varnished
and dried.
By my improvements I avoid this expensive and imperfect method
of producing the painted ground on the surface of the plate previous to
the process of transferring the printed work, and to this end I adopt
the following means: -I first prepare a design, such as a picture,
ornamental design, or show tablet, and having lithographed it or engraved
it I print it in the ordinary manner of printing on transfer paper, and

page_text: when the colour or colours are well dry I proceed with one of the
first processes of my improvements as follows:-I prepare a lithograph or
suitable metal plate or wood block or other printing surface to print
one uniform flat surface of colour the dimensions required, and upon
and all over the picture or design or show tablet or in other words all
oyer and upon the surface of the transfer paper on which is printed
the picture, or design, or show tablet I print one or more layers of
colour in white or of whatever tone or tint I desire the ground to be,
thereby covering and obliterating the entire printed picture, design, or
show tablet and making it to appear like one flat sheet of printed
colour. I now take a sheet of metal, either tin, iron, copper, brass, or
other metal or amalgamation thereof, or it may be glass or wood or
other suitable material, and having rubbed a litle oil or varnish-over
it to make it tacky I proceed-to-transfer the printed work in the usual.
-way, and the uniform flat surface of colour last printed upon and
over the picture, design, or show tablet is by the process of transferring
reversed and becomes the ground on which the picture, design, or show
tablet lies after the transfer paper is removed, for by transferring the.
ordor of the printed colours is changed, and this last printed uniform
flat ground coming first on the metal the picture, design, or show
tablet on the transfer paper which was covered by this printed uniform
flat ground in the last operation of printing will appear on the top of
it, and the printed ground thereby becomes the substitute for that.
made by the common and expensive process of first preparing the ground
on the metal by the usual means of hand painting.
To make the foregoing descriptions more complete I annex two simplo
diagrams. No. 1 shows a design as it would appear when printed on
the transfer paper in the ordinary manner. and before my improved
ground is printed or laid upon it. No. 2 is the same design showing
my method of obtaining the improved grounds by printing or placing
upon and over the printed picture, design, or show tablet on the transfer
paper a layer or layers of colour. The ground is here shewn in a
light toned colour the better to explain my improved methods of pro-
ducing them.
I may sometimes for convenience print the ground
independent of the design, that is, I may print the design and ground
on separate sheets of transfer paper. In such case I transfer one after
the other, and this method gives me greater facility in the production of
some kind of work and enables me to add variety to the effects I am

page_text: able to produce. The application of a white printing material, or as it.
is technically called a white colour mixed with oils or otherwise, cither
as a ground or ornament or both, is a most important part of my.
improved processes.
In working out my system of white grounds or white ornamentation
or letters I sometimes print them direct on the metal by the ordinary.
method of printing on paper, but I generally prefer to transfer them by
my improved process as before described. I lay particular stress on the
transferring and on the printing of the white colour, as by its use alone
as a standard or base is it possible to judge of the true beauty of colours.
The use of this white colour is therefore a most essential combination
and feature in my processes, as without such standard the real effect of
the commingling and contrasting of associated colours is partly lost and
the appearance of the picture or design is monotonous and lifeless. It
is to avoid this result that I print on transfer paper and afterwards
transfer to metal, or I may print direct on the metal a white body colour
or white opaque substance or any white printing material in combination
with other colours to set off and give contrast and effect to pictures and
other desigus so made on metal or other material. When the ground
on which the picture, design, or show tablet is to lic is required to be
of a dark tone, or colour, or black, I then print one or more layers of
white colour over and upon the various colours forming the printed picture,
design, or shew tablet on the transfer paper before printing the dark
or black ground, and this white colour coming directly upon the picture,
design, or show tablet forms a backing and prevents the colours com-
posing the picture, design, or show tablet from being deteriorated by the
dark or black ground, which would otherwise come in contact with and
upon them and thereby destroy their purity and brilliancy. I may also
print on transfer paper and afterwards transfer white or various coloured
grounds alone, or I may print white grounds direct on the metal, such
printed and transferred white grounds being very useful from the even-
ness of their surfaces for artists to paint on and for sheets of metal and
articles which require only a plain covering of colour and for other
purposes where surfaces covered with paint are desirable. After the
transfer of the printed picture, design, or show tablet to the metal, I pass
it through a rolling machine such as is used to glaze paper, and this
process gives a beautiful smooth and polished finish to the transferred
work and prepares it to receive the varnish covering, which is tion

page_text: applied in the usual way, and it is finally stoved to harden. It is
obvious that a modification of this improved method of forming a ground
may be obtained by painting or laying with a brush, or roller, or other
means a layer or layers of colour over and upon the printed picture,
design, or show tablet on the transfer paper, and afterwards to transfer
as described or by printing a groundwork direct on the metal and after-
wards transferring the design to it, but I prefer the first mentioned
method of printing it upon the design already printed on the transfer
paper, and afterwards transferring both the design and the ground to the
metal or other material in one operation, as I am thereby able to obtain
a more uniform surface and with less cost. Again to avoid too many
layers of colour, which is sometimes objectionable, I may print the
ground work only on those parts of the transfer paper which I after-
wards require to take the place-of-the ground in the picture, design, or
show tablet (that is to say), I avoid printing on every or some parts of
the already printed work forming the picture, design, or show tablet on
the transfer paper, but only between or around them, videlicet, those parts
which would answer to the ground and correspond to the uncovered
portions of a sheet of paper on which a design might be made, and the
whole printed work being then transferred this last printing although not
lying under the colours forming the picture, design, or show tablet
would be found to produce the effect of a ground similar to the first
described method, but of advantage for articles which might afterwards
be subjected to great variations of temperature, as there would be less
liability that the colour would crack and come off, which is a very im-
portant objection to the ordinary system now in use. When the body or
ground of the picture, design, or show tablet is required in black or in
any of the prismatic colours or any amalgamation of colours made there-
from with a white or light coloured ornamentation or lettering thereon,
then I vary the process sometimes by printing this white or light colour
on such parts only of the design as it is desirable to make in white or
light toned colour and not all over and upon the printed picture, design,
or show tablets, and this arrangement is as before mentioned for the
purpose of avoiding the disadvantage for some work of having too many
layers of colour one upon another, at the same time I wish it to be
understood that I do not prefer this method, as by it I lose the value of
the white as a base for the printed colours to lie on as before explained,
and on which as a medium so much depends the brightness and beauty
of the colours of the picture.

page_text: I further improve the appearance of the said pictures, designs, and
show tablets by the process of embossing those parts of the work which
would be improved by such means, and this part of my improved
methods and processes I consider highly important, as by its judicious
use I enhance the value of the pictures, designs, or show tablets to a
very high degree.
In combining my improvements with the well-known printed tin and
terne plates and sheets of metal as secured under Letters Patent granted
to William Edward Gedge, numbered 571, and sealed in England on the
8th day of March 1864, and also under Letters Patent granted to Philip
William Flower and Wickham Flower, numbered 1452, and scaled in
England on the 12th May 1869, I wish again to observe that I also
combine my improved process or processes to such printed tin and terne.
plates and sheets of metal either before or after the manufacture of such
plates into various articles. Again bronze powders of all colors and
metal leaf known as Dutch or planier metal are extensively used in the
embellishment and manufacture of the before-mentioned or any similar
articles where effects to be obtained from their use are desirable. I
have a most simple arrangement to produce a brilliant substitute to
which bronze powder-or metal leaf is not to be compared. Such effects
are now commonly made by dusting bronze powder on the fresh printed
work on the transfer paper, or in the case of using metal leaf to lay it
on the printed work on the transfer paper and fix it by prossure, and
then to transfer with the other printed colours forming the picture,
design, or show tablet upon the painted surface of the metal or other
material.
By my method I simply color, lacquor, or varnish the metal or other
material the color of gold or silver or whatever other color or tint may
be desired, or I may color the said metal or other material by chemical,
clectro, or other well-known means before transferring the printed
picture, design, device, or show tablet, and I arrange that those parts
of the printed picture, device, design, or show tablet which it is
intended to render in silver or gold or other metallic color on the metal
or other surface shall be left blank or unprinted upon on the transfer
paper (that is to say), that there shall be no color or ink printed on
those parts, and therefore there will be none to transfer, and such being
the case the metal corresponding to such portions of the design will,
after the design is transferred, be seen bare, uncovered, or covered only

page_text: with the transparent color, lacquer, or varnish which will have been
applied before the transfer was made upon it, and these uncovered parts
will then take the place of the so-called gold or silver or other colored-
bronzes or metal leaves as before explained.
Diagram No. 3 exhibits my improved method of producing gold,
silver, or other metallic effects and similar surfaces by means of leaving
such parts of the printed ground of the picture, design, or show tablet
on the transfer paper blank and uncovered with any printed opaque
color, so that when the transfer of the work is made on the metal or
other material such pre-arranged portions of the picture, design, or
show tablet will be seen bare or covered only with transparent color,
lacquer, or varnish. The ground in this Diagram is also shewn in a
light-toned color to better indicate the blank parts not covered-in-color,-
which_blank-parts-would-appear as gold or silver after the picture was
transferred on the metal or other material.
By this process of lacquering and coloring metal or other material
before transferring the printed pictures, designs, or show tablets I am
able to produce many beautiful effects, for by pre-arrangement I may
color, lacquer, or varnish various portions of the same plate different
colors, so that in one picture, design, or show tablet I may have
perhaps the effect of gold, silver, and other colors produced by the
transparent color, lacquer, or varnish alone, it being always borne in
mind that where the metal or other material is to be seen plain,
uncoated, or covered only with transparent color, lacquer, or varnish
when the transfer is made then those parts of the picture, design, or
show tablet on the transfer paper must always be left blank, plain,
and uncovered by any printed opaque color or ink; or I may obtain
the same or similar effects by printing on those parts of the picture,
design, or show tablet on the transfer paper to which it is intended to
give the effect of gold or silver or other tinted metallic surfaces to the
transferred picture or design a transparent color or colors of such
clearness as to allow the bright sparkle of the metal to shew through,
and this process would be identical with the before-mentioned system
of lacquering the metal or other material before transferring the printed
picture, design, or shew tablet, and for some kind of work would prove
an advantage.
By my process of printing and transferring white or tinted grounds I
obtain further great advantage when the transfers are on glass, as the

page_text: pictures, designs, and shew tablets or letterings thus made are doubly
useful, for not only may they be exhibited in the ordinary way but they.
may be used as transparancies, as the thin white or tinted ground,
although sufficient to back up the design and so form a ground for the
printed picture, design, or show tablet to lie on according to my system,
is nevertheless not thick enough to obscure the light when placed behind.
for the purpose of exhibiting them as transparancics, and this is very
important, for as transparancics on glass are commonly made they cannot.
be seen to advantage when the light is before them, from the want of.
this white or tinted back ground or ground to back up the picture or
design or show tablet. Where gold or silver or other metallic effects are,
required in the transfers on glass under my system, I produce them by
applying gold or other metal leaf after the transferring of the printed
work, the parts to be so silvered or gilded being left uncovered with
color on the transfer paper as before explained.
Another of my improved processes is that when it is desirable to have.
frame work or border to the picture, design, or show tablet, I prepare
the surface of the metal forming such border or frame work by the
before-mentioned method of obtaining gold and silver or other tinted
metallic effects, thus I lacquer or varnish the border or framework.
instead of covering it with opaque oil or other paint, bronze powder, or.
metal leaf as now commonly done, I afterwards emboss or stamp up
such framework or border if necessary. When it is desirable or need-
ful to frame and glaze the pictures, designs, or show tablets made on
metal or other material by my improved processes, I sometimes first
mount them after the manner of mounting drawings, that is, I take a
sheet of cardboard or paper and having cut away the centre of the shape
and size required for the design I fix the remaining part over and upon
the margin of the picture, design, or show tablet so as to surround it,
and thereby obtain a cardboard or paper margin in place of the metal
one, and the union of the picture, design, or show tablet on metal or
other material with the dull or mat paper or cardboard margin is very
striking.
By the above processes I am able to produce with great effect and
little cost many beatiful works of art for domestic and general use, as
well as pictures, illuminated texts, reading sheets, &c. for use in and for
the adornment of schools, cottages, &c., the free introduction of which
has hitherto been prohibited by their cost. For show cards or tablets.

page_text: for advertizing and other purposes I may when desirable affix cut out,
stamped, embossed letters or ornaments made of composition, plaster,
or metal, or other materials to give greater prominence to some parts of
the work. In regard to some of the processes herein described, I com-
bine therewith after the process of transferring the application to certain
parts of the design single layers of flock such as is used by paper-hanging
manufacturers and applied in a similar manner, or I may combine my
entire system of improvements in the manufacture of show cards,
almanacs, book covers, and other ornamental surfaces, as secured to me
under Letters Patent No. 8, and scaled in England on the 1st day of
January 1869.
Again for some work I apply water, oil, or other colors by hand upon
the design after it is transferred to the metal, by which means I
licighten the effect very-much-and-save-cost in the production. The
appearance is moreover very pleasing, as these colors give the effect of
the glazing process in oil paintings.
Having now herein described my Invention and the several methods
by which it is performed, I claim,-
Firstly. The process for transferring printed work on the surface of
metal or other material, such as pictures, designs, show tablets, or
lettering, either alone or in combination with my improved methods and
processes for producing white grounds, white ornamentation, white
lettering, or any printed white color whatever, both before or after such
metals or materials are formed by processes into various articles, such
surfaces of the metal or other material being uncoated, uncovered, and
bare or covered only with transparent color, lacquer, or a thin film of
varnish in lieu of the common method of painting a ground or layers of
opaque colour on the metal previous to its receiving the printed picture,
design, shew tablet, or lettering, substantially as herein described.
Secondly. I claim the method of printing and afterwards transferring
white or other color grounds or layers of color on metal, glass, wood, or
other materials, cither before or after such metal, glass, wood, or other
materials are formed by the processes into various articles, also of
printing white grounds or white ornamentation or lettering direct on
the metal or other material when desirable, substantially as herein
described.
Thirdly. I claim the process of producing white or other colored
imitation grounds on which the pictures, designs, show tablets, or

page_text: lettering would have the appearance of lying, but which would really
only be printed color made to fit or register in between and around
various portions of the design, but answering the purpose of a ground,
as substantially herein described.
Fourthly. I claim the process for a new or improved means of
obtaining gold and silver and other colored or tinted metallic effects
combined with such transferred pictures, designs, show tablets, or
lettering in lieu of the commonly used methods of transferring bronze
powders and metal leaf, substantially as herein described.
Fifthly. I claim the process for embossing certain parts of the
pictures, designs, show tablets, or lettering on the metal either before or
after transferring the printed work; also the combination of any of the
aforesaid separate processes varied to produce improved effects, in manner
substantially herein described.
Sixthly. I claim the processes described for producing a border or
framework to the picture, design, or show tablet or other transferred
printed work, such border being the plain metal or other material
uncovered, uncoated, and bare, or only covered with transparent color,
lacquer, or varnish instead of the opaque color, bronze paint, metal leaf
paint, or gilding commonly adopted, as also of combining such pictures
and other designs with cardboard or paper mounts, as herein described.
. In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin George George, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and.
seventy.