IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF METAL AND OTHER SURFACES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THEM WITH A COLOURED ORNAMENTAL AND PROTECTIVE VARNISH OR FILM OR WITH DESIGNS OR FIGURES
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug, 1887-
Complete Left, 17th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th June, 1888-
10 T
United
I, FREDERICK CRANE, Manufacturing Chemist, of Short Hills, New Jersey,
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF METAL AND OTHER SURFACES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING
THEM WITH A COLOURED ORNAMENTAL AND PROTECTIVE VARNISH OR FILM OR WITH
DESIGNS OR FIGURES to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the coating of metal and other articles with a
uniformly coloured film in imitation of gilding and electro plating.
For this purpose I first coat the metal or other surface with varnish, preferably
pyroxyline varnish prepared as described in my previous application for patents, and
allow the same to set or dry. Subsequently I dip the varnished article into a liquid
dye obtained by dissolving suitable aniline or other colouring matter in a liquid which
is at the same time a weak or slow solvent of the varnish which has been applied to
the metal or other surface. After the article has been immersed for a short time and
before the film of varnish has been destroyed or completely dissolved by the dye, I
remove the article, wash off the surplus dye and allow the film to dry and harden.
In the case of pyroxyline varnish, for which my process is chiefly intended, the
solvent and vehicle for the colouring matter may, for instance, consist of 4 parts of
méthyl-alcohol and 1 part of water. A weaker or slower solvent may be obtained by
increasing the quantity of water, and instead of methyl-alcohol, ethyl-alcohol, or other

page_text: suitable solvent capable of penetrating the film of varnish in the manner described,
may be employed as a vehicle for the colouring matters.
The composition of the liquid dye will, of course, depend, more or less, on that of
the varnish with which the surface has been previously coated and on the colour or
shade which is desired for the film.
By covering certain parts of the varnished article with a material, which will neither
take up the dye nor allow it to penetrate, and then dipping the article into the dye,
any desired pattern or design may be produced.
Or instead of dipping the entire surface into the dye, the latter may be applied by
printing, writing or painting.

page_text: Improvements in the Treatment of Metal and other Surfaces for
the Purpose of Providing them with a Coloured Ornamental and
Protective Varnish or Film or with Designs or Figures.
1, FREDERICK CRANE, Manufacturing Chemist, of Short Hills, New Jersey, United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
This invention has for its principal object to produce on metal and other surfaces a
uniformly coloured ornamental and protective varnish film, in imitation of gilding,
electro-plating and other processes, but it is applicable also for producing designs,
figures and other contrasting effects.
For this purpose I first coat the metal or other surface with a pyroxyline varnish
(that is to say varnish composed wholly or chiefly of pyroxyline and a solvent or
menstruum), and allow the same to set or dry. The best results are obtained with the
varnish described in my pyroxyline varnish patents. Subsequently, I dip the varnished
article into a liquid dye, obtained by dissolving suitable aniline or other colouring
matter in a weak or slow solvent of the varnish which has been applied to the metal
or other surface. After the article has been immersed for a short time, and before
the film of varnish has been injured by excessive solvent action of the menstruum of
the dye, I remove the article, wash off the surplus dye and allow the film to thoroughly
dry and harden, with or without the aid of artificial heat.
The solvent and vehicle for the colouring matter may, for instance, consist of
4 parts of methyl-alcohol and 1 part of water. A weaker or slower solvent may be
obtained by increasing the quantity of water, and instead of methyl-alcohol, other
suitable solvents of pyroxyline may be employed as a vehicle for the colouring
matter.
The composition of the liquid dye will, of course, depend, more or less, on that of
the varnish with which the surface has been previously coated and on the colour or
shade which is desired for the film.
On surfaces coated with my pyroxyline varnish, a gold or brass or bronze metal
colour may, for instance, be produced, by dipping the varnished article into a mixture
or solution composed of 3 grammes of brown aniline dye, 4 litres of water and
4 litres of methyl-alcohol, and leaving it immersed for a time varying from a few
seconds to 1 minute, according to the intensity of the colour, which is desired for the
film, the thickness of the film and the temperature at which the process is carried out,
after which the article is removed and the surplus dye washed off with water.
By covering certain parts of the varnished article with a resisting material which
will neither take up the dye liquid nor allow it to penetrate, and then dipping the
article into the dye liquid, a variety of patterns or designs or contrasting effects may
be produced. The said resisting material may be afterwards removed by any fluid
which will dissolve the said material, but will not act on the varnish or the dye.

page_text: A resisting material or size suitable for use on pyroxyline varnish and with an
alcoholic dye-liquid, may, for instance, be obtained by dissolving glue, gelatine, or
gum in water. This size is afterwards removed by rinsing with water, and in order to
prevent the same from acting on the dye, the colouring matter employed should be
insoluble in water.
Having now particularly described the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood, that I do not claim a
method of dyeing solid or plastic pyroxyline compounds, as distinguished from varnish-
films. What 1 claim is :
1. The process for producing on metal and other surfaces, a uniformly colored 1
varnish film, substantially as described.
2. The modified process, in which certain parts of the varnished surface are pro-
tected from the action of the dye liquid, for the purpose of obtaining designs, figures
or other contrasting effects, substantially as described.
3. Articles covered by a uniformly colored film, produced substantially as
described.