A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF ORNAMENTING
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Henry Horsfall, of Coventry, Manufacturer, for an
invention of A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF ORNAMENTING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Henry Horsfall at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1882.
ALFRED HENRY HORSFALL, of Coventry, Manufacturer, "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MODE OR MEANS OF ORNAMENTING RIBBONS AND OTHER USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL
ARTICLES
This invention has reference to a new or Improved method of ornamenting
ribbons and similar fabrics or articles, woven from silk or other fibres.
The object of the invention is to attain the same result as is obtained by the
usual method of ornamenting or providing any required colored design in such
articles during their manufacture in the piece by interweaving different colored
silk or other fibres in a loom.
The present method of printing with printer's ink upon silk and other fabrics
consists in producing the desired impressions with engraved rollers or calenders by
rotary motion the great cost of such engraved surfaces has hitherto prevented any
great variety of design or ornament thereon especially when required in variety of
colors such as in the pictoral reproduction of landscapes, animals, sculpture, public
buildings, oil paintings, and the like.
The Invention is especially advantageous over these methods of ornamenting
such materials in that it can be more readily applied to any manufactured articles
such for example as to book-markers, antimacassars, programmes, and braces, or
other such articles of ornament, or of utility, in which silk fabric is wholly or
partly used, and is required to be ornamented at a low cost the result attained
by the improved method is that any required variety of design, in any required
combination of colors may be given to any such article at a considerably less cost
than by the existing methods of ornamenting such articles.
According to this invention a stone, block of wood, slab of marble, or a metallic

page_text: plate, is suitably prepared for the reception of a sketch of the required design
which is drawn thereupon by an artist, there is afterwards applied to the surface
of the block or plate a preparation of acid and gum, and the design is then properly
etched permanently upon the stone, wood, marble, or metallic substance, then the
silk or fabric is placed upon it and is subjected to pressure by rolling or otherwise
sufficient to take up the impression from the surface below it. For the purpose of
transferring the design the colors are used mixed with oil and varnish, or aniline
dyes, or other equivalent liquid preparations, in such manner as to render "fast"
the colors transferred to the fabrics of infinite variety unknown to the present
mode of printing.
The advantages attained by this improved process, are; extremely small cost of
materials, notably as compared with calenders and rolls with engraved surfaces
which cannot be planed off for renewed engraving; also all colors can be more
easily and expeditiously applied are brighter of every hue and more graceful, thus
enhancing the appearance and value, while materially reducing the cost of the
manufactured articles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Henry Horsfall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th November 1882.
ALFRED HENRY HORSFALL, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer. A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OR MEANS OF ORNAMENTING RIBBONS AND
OTHER USEFUL AND ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES
This Invention has reference to a new or improved method of ornamenting
ribbons, and similar fabrics or articles woven from silk or other fibres.
The object of the invention is to attain the same result as is attained by the
usual method of ornamenting and producing any required colored designs in such
articles, during their manufacture in the piece, by interweaving different colored
silk or other fibres in a loom.
The present method of printing with printer's ink upon silk and other fabrics,
consists in producing the desired impressions with engraved rollers or calenders by
rotary motion, the great cost of such engraved surfaces has hitherto prevented the
production of any great variety of design or ornament thereon, especially when
required in variety of colors, such as in the pictorial reproduction of landscapes,
animals, sculpture, public-buildings, oil paintings and the like.
The present Invention is especially advantageous over these methods of
ornamenting such materials, in that it can be more readily applied to any manu-
factured articles such for example, as to book-markers, anti-macassars, programmes
and braces, or other articles of ornament, or of utility, in which silk fabric is
wholly or partly used, and is required to be ornamented at a low cost; and the
result attained by the improved method, is, that any required variety of designs, in
any required combination of colors may be given to any such article at a
considerably less cost than by the existing methods of ornamenting such articles.
According to this Invention I adapt the process of lithography to the purposes
of the Invention, for transferring the colors to the fabric or article and producing
the required design thereon, and in carrying out the Invention I suitably prepare
a lithographic stone, block of wood, slab of marble or a metallic plate for the
reception of a sketch of the required design which is drawn thereupon by an artist,
and I afterwards apply to the surface of the block of stone or plate, an admixture
of acid and gum and the design is then properly etched, permanently upon the
stone, wood, marble, or metallic substance-The silk or fabric is then placed upon
it, and is subjected to pressure, by rolling or otherwise, sufficient to take up the
impression from the surface below it. For the purpose of transferring the design,
the colors used, are mixed with oil, varnish and aniline dyes, or other suitable
preparations, which will render "fast" the colors transferred to the fabrics, and
will allow of an infinite variety of designs unknown to the present mode of
printing, and will thus produce an effect not hitherto obtained in the present modes
of printing such like articles.
The advantages attained by this improved process are; extremely small cost of
materials, notably as compared with calenders and rolls with engraved surfaces,
which, cannot be planed off for renewed engraving; also all colors can be more
easily and expeditiously applied, are brighter of every hue, and more graceful, thus
enhancing the appearance and value while materially reducing the cost of the
manufactured articles.
Having now described the nature and objects of the said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and

page_text: original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent, is :-
The hereinbefore described improved method of ornamenting ribbons, and similar
fabrics woven from silk or other fibres, by a lithographic or similar process of
forming transferring and producing the required design thereon, such process being
operated as, or substantially as, and by means as, or substantially equivalent to
those, herein before described and whereby the advantages herein before mentioned
are obtained.
In Witness whereof, I the said Alfred Henry Horsfall have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 28th day of October in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
JOHN KENDRICK
ALFRED HENRY HORSFALL. (L.S.)