IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING THE SURFACES OF PAPER, LEATHER, WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS AND SUBSTANCES FOR RECEIVING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES, ENGRAVINGS, LITHOGRAPHS, AND PRINTS, AND FOR RENDERING SUCH SUBSTANCES FIRE AND WATER PROOF
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING THE SURFACES OF PAPER,
LEATHER, WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS AND SUBSTANCES FOR RECEIVING
PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES, ENGRAVINGS, LITHOGRAPHS, AND PRINTS, AND
FOR RENDERING SUCH SUBSTANCES FIRE AND WATER PROOF."-A com-
munication from abroad by William Gibson, of the City of New
York, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 17th April 1866, and dated the 9th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th November 1865.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING THE SURFACES
OF PAPER, LEATHER, WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS AND SUBSTANCES FOR RECEIVING
PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES, ENGRAVINGS, LITHOGRAPHS, AND PRINTS, AND FOR REN-
DERING SUCH SUBSTANCES FIRE AND WATER PROOF," to be as follows:-
This Invention is applicable for surfacing or enamelling all kinds of
paper, fibrous and textile substances and goods, also wood, metal, gutta
percha, india-rubber, glass, earthenware, papier mâché, and many other
materials.

page_text: The objects of the Invention are to provide the above-named sub-
stances or materials with a smooth enamel or surface, upon which pho
tographic pictures, engravings, lithographs, and prints of all kinds may be
taken or printed, and also to render such fabrics or substances both fire
and water proof. To this end I combine with any of the above-named
materials or substances a gelatinous or adhesive mixture, coating, or sizing,
composed of gelatine, or any animal glue, or albumen, or gluten, or any
mixture of these substances. A body or thickness is given to this gelatinous
or adhesive mixture by incorporating therewith, by preference, clay, or
other aluminous earth, or oxide of zinc, or a mixture of clay and zinc.
After the adhesive or gelatinous matter or body is dried the article is
submitted to the action of any suitable astringent solution capable of
rendering the gelatinous matter insoluble in water. The astringent
mixture or solution consists, by preference, of gallic acid, boracic acid, alum,
or tannin dissolved in water, but any other astringent which will produce
the effect may be substituted. Any paper, fibrous or other substance
thus treated or prepared will be rendered fire and water proof, and its
surface will also be rendered insoluble, so that photographic pictures,
engravings, and prints of all kinds may be made or taken thereupon.
To apply the improvement to ordinary sheets of paper, the paper is
floated upon or passed through this mixture. Prior to use the surface of
the paper may be highly polished by being passed between calendering
rollers or any suitable polishing surfaces or plates. After a photographic
picture, engraving, lithograph, or other print has been taken or made upon
the prepared surface of the paper, a saponaceous mixture, composed of soap
and water, may be applied to the printed surface, so as to soften the gelatinous
,surface, render it more pliable, and improve the general appearance of the
picture. In addition to its uses for photographic and printing purposes,
the prepared paper may be employed for playing cards, tickets, book covers,
neck collars, wristbands, hat linings, sweat bands, and other uses where an
insoluble paper, or a hard, pliable, polished, and insoluble surface is required.
By a proper modification or tempering of the ingredients of the gelatinous
mixture or body and the pigments, papers may be produced which resemble
porcelain, ivory, leather, and other substances. The gelatinous mixture
or body may be applied to or incorporated with the paper pulp in the
early stages of the paper manufacture, and the paper web before delivery
from the paper machine may be caused to pass in contact with the astringent
solution, and subsequently between drying and calendering rollers.
The.Invention may be used in the manufacture of cloths and fabrics of

page_text: all kinds, so that when the cloth or fabric issues from the polishing or
calendering rolls one of more of its surfaces will be enamelled suitable for
the reception of photographic or other printing; such fabrics or cloths will
also be rendered waterproof and fire proof.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord. One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Edward Newton, Her special licence that
I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward Newton, my
executors, 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
PREPARING THE SURFACES OF PAPER, LEATHER, WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS AND
SUBSTANCES FOR RECEIVING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES, ENGRAVINGS, LITHOGRAPHS, AND
PRINTS, AND FOR RENDERING SUCH SUBSTANCES FIRE AND WATER PROOF," being a
communication to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):--

page_text: of
This Invention is applicable to the surfacing or enamelling of all kinds
paper, of fibrous and textile substances and goods, and also of wood,
metal, gutta percha, india-rubber, glass, porcelain, and earthenware surfaces.
The chief object of the Invention is to provide the above-named
substances or materials with a smooth enamel or surface, upon which
photographic pictures, engravings, lithographs, and prints of all kinds may
be taken or printed with superior results, and also to render such fabrics
or substances both fire and fire-proof.
The Invention consists in combining with any of the above-named
materials or substances an adhesive mixture, filling, coating, or sizing,
composed of gelatine or any animal glue, or albumen, or gluten, or any
mixture of any two or more of said substances with clay or other aluminous
earth or oxide of zinc, or a mixture of clay and zinc in the manner to be
presently described. The composition when applied is subjected to the
action of any suitable astringent solution which is capable of rendering
the gelatinous mixture or body insoluble in water. The astringent solution
preferred is gallic acid, boracic acid, or tannin dissolved in water, but any
other astringent which will produce the above-mentioned effect may be
substituted.
To prepare paper according to this Invention the gelatinous mixture or
body may be applied to or incorporated with the paper pulp in the early
stages of the paper manufacture, and the paper web before delivery from
the paper machine may be caused to pass in contact with the astringent
solution, and subsequently between drying and calendering rollers. The
entire preparation of the improved paper may be thus carried on in the
paper manufactory with great economy and without any essential change in
the ordinary paper machinery.
When any paper, fibrous or other substance is treated or prepared with a
gelatinous adhesive body or mixture as described followed by the action of
a suitable astringent mixture, the said paper or other substance will be
rendered fire and water proof, and its surface will also be rendered insoluble,
so that photographic pictures, engravings, and prints of all kinds may be
made or taken thereupon with superior results; prior to use the surface of
the paper may when desired be highly polished by being passed between
calendering rollers or any suitable polishing surfaces or plates. The paper may
be tinted in various colors by mixing the desired pigment with the gelatinous
matter or body prior to the application thereof to the paper. After a
photographic picture, engraving, lithograph, or other print has been taken
or made upon the prepared surface of the paper. any suitable saponaceous

page_text: may
mixture may be applied to the printed surface by a brush or other vehicle.
The result of the application of the saponaceous mixture is to soften the
gelatinous surface, render it more pliable, and improve the general
appearance of the picture. The
saponaceous mixture consist of any
clean soap dissolved in water or of oil and silicate of soda. Almost any
other clean saponaceous mixture will answer the purpose. In addition to its
uses for photographic and printing purposes, the prepared paper may be
employed for playing cards, tickets, book covers, neck collars, wrist bands,
hat linings, sweat bands, and other uses where an insoluble paper, or a hard,
pliable, polished, and insoluble surface is required. By a proper modi-
fication or tempering of the ingredients of the gelatinous mixture or body
and the pigments papers may be produced which resemble porcelain, ivory,
leather, and other substances.
In applying the Invention to cloths or other woven fabrics, a suitable
vessel is provided to receive the gelatinous mixture, and the fabric is
floated over or passed through the mixture, or the mixture may be applied
with a brush or other suitable device on one or both sides of the fabric.
When the coated or saturated fabric is dry the astringent mixture is applied
thereto, and the cloth or fabric is then submitted to the action of polishing
or calendering rolls, and one or more of its surfaces will thereby be
enamelled suitably for the reception of photographic or other printing.
Such fabrics or cloths will also be rendered waterproof and fireproof. The
surfaces of painted canvas or other painted fabrics, metals, wood, painted
wood, glass, porcelain, earthenware, gutta percha, rubber, compositions
of paper and varnish, and any other materials capable of receiving the
adhesive mixture or body may be enamelled and tinted by the successive
application to them of the gelatinous body or mixture and the astringent
mixture substantially as before described, and such enamelled surfaces will
be waterproof, fireproof, and capable of receiving decorations by the
photographic or other processes.
By means of the improvements I am enabled to produce a new and
beautiful composition or substance of great value for photographic,
decorative, and other purposes. I take a sheet of glass or other hard and
finely polished surface, and apply to it one or more layers of the before-
mentioned gelatinous mixture or body until I have cast, built up, or raised
a sheet or panel of the said gelatinous mixture of the desired thickness;
the addition of plaster of Paris to the adhesive mixture or body will in
some cases facilitate drying. After the mass is sufficiently dry it is
removed from the glass and subjected to the action of the astringent

page_text: mixture, by which it is rendered insoluble, and a new and superior plate,
panel, or substance is thus produced. The quantity or proportion of
ingredients used in the mixtures I have described will be varied or
governed by the character of the fabric or substance to which they are
applied, and also by the character for hardness or softness of the surface
which it is desired to produce, therefore I do not limit or confine myself to
any exact proportion of ingredients,
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in
Preparing Surfaces" as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be
understood that I do not make a general claim to treatment of paper
with the gelatinous mixture or body however applied, nor do I make any
general claim to the use of an astringent material for treating such mixture;
but under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,―
First, the production of an insoluble enamel or surface in or upon paper
in the manner above described.
Secondly, the production of an insoluble enamel upon cloth or other
textile fabrics in the manner above described.
Thirdly, enamelling wood, leather, glass, porcelain, earthenware, metals,
india-rubber, gutta percha, and paper mâché compositions by the successive
application thereto of an adhesive mixture or body and an astringent
mixture or solution substantially as described.
Fourthly, the improved article of manufacture consisting of insoluble
plates or panels made substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)