AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR PRODUCING PICTURES, ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS, LETTERS, AND OTHER CHARACTERS OR FIGURES ON AND IN MARBLE AND OTHER CALCAREOUS STONES.
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office, "No. 8,Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PROCESS
FOR PRODUCING PICTURES, ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS, LETTERS, AND OTHER
CHARACTERS OR FIGURES ON AND IN MARBLE AND OTHER CALCAREOUS STONES.
A communication from abroad by Asa Hill, of Norwalk, Connecticut,
United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed bythe said George. Haseltine at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration, on
the 7th November 1866, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International, Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,.send
greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS
FOR PRODUCING PICTURES, ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS, LETTERS, AND, OTHER, CHARACTERS
07.
OR FIGURES ON AND IN MARBLE AND OTHER CALCAREOUS. STONES," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal, Letters, Patent, for the same, and have made solemn
Price 8d.1

page_text: Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad by Asa Hill,
of Norwalk, Connecticut, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed in and by the following statement :-
The said Invention consists in applying to the marble or other calcareous
stone two or more chemical agents which when applied thereto shall form
chemical combinations with the stone and with each other, and thereby
produce not only the desired design or figure, but also any desired color or
combination of colors insoluble in water, and not liable to be rubbed or
washed off, and which shall be made to penetrate the stone and form the
design or figure therein, and thus be as durable as the stone itself.
I take a slab or block of marble, for instance, and after smoothing its
surface in the usual manner and polishing it with pumicestone or other
suitable agents, I then draw thereon with a pencil or crayon the outline of
the design or figure intended to be produced; to this surface I then proceed
to apply the chemical agents by means of a pointed stick or camel's hair
brush, in most cases the stick being preferable. As fast as the chemical thus
applied is absorbed the application is repeated until a satisfactory result is
attained.
If it be desirable to have the design or figure produced deeply within the
marble as well as on the surface I place the marble over a steam bath,
allowing the steam to act upon the under surface of the slab, but it is not
necessary to subject the stone to heat in all cases in order to produce satis-
factory results. After the application of the chemicals in this manner I allow
the slab to remain until the chemical has had time to unite with the calcareous
matter of the stone; 1 then wash the surface with a sponge and clear water,
after which the marble is polished in the ordinary way, and the design or
figure remains in the stone. Where it is desired to use a block instead of a
slab; the entire block may be immersed in a chemical solution, varying in its
nature or composition according to the nature of the results desired or sought
to be produced, and thus color the entire mass more or less.
The agents used in my process are not ordinary pigments, but I employ such
chemicals as will combine with the marble and with each other, and thus
develope the desired tints in the marble itself without disintegrating or
'destroying the structure of the same.
1. The preparations which I use are principally composed of the salts of iron,
copper, potassa, silver, and tannin,although other chemicals may be used; and

page_text: afford means of producing similar results. The solvents I employ are chiefly
water, alcohol, and spirits of ammonia. For producing a red color I use a
solution of copper with ammonia, for instance, the sulphate of copper dissolved
in hartshorn, subsequently I apply a solution of ferrocyanide of potassium in
water over the copper; this produces a red or rose color. For producing red
tints I combine a'solution of nitrate of silver in water with a solution of
bichromate or chromate of potash, first applying one and then the other upon
the marble. Or I take a solution of cochineal in spirits of ammonia. or the
common red ink combined with a solution of tannic acid in spirits of ammonia.
For flesh tint I use solution of sulphate of copper, and afterwards apply
solution of ferrocyanate of potassa; this developes a beautiful flesh tint. For
blue apply a solution of hydrosulphate of iron in water; this according to its
strength will produce a dingy yellow color; subsequently I apply over this a
solution of ferrocyanide of potassium, which produces a blue color; or I
dissolve either chloride of copperor sulphate or ammoniate of copper in spirits
of ammonia. For black I apply to the marble a solution of sulphate of iron
in water; I then apply over it a solution of gallic acid, which combining with
the iron, produces a black tint. Or I apply a solution of nitrate of silver, and
expose it to the solar ray; or nitrate of silver and gallic or tannic acids; or
sulphate of iron and nitrate of silver; or sulphate of iron and ferrocyanide
of potassa and tannin. For.yellow 1 apply first sulphate of iron dissolved
in water, and subsequently picric acid in solution; or instead the bichromate
or chromate of potash in solution, and afterwards a solution of the picric
acid to give it intensity, or picric acid, chromate of copper, or bichromate
of copper, &c. The marble itself supplies the light, tints. Minor shades
are produced by blending these various compositions.
The above are varied according to circumstances. If desired photographic
pictures may be produced in the marble by first applying to the marble a
solution of nitrate of silver, and then placing over it the negative produced
in the usual manner, and submitting it to the action of light, as in the
ordinary case of printing photographs, after which the chemicals may be
applied as above.
By the application of my process as herein described any desired style and
color of figure, design, or likeness may be produced at will. By this means
tables, mantles, walls, and articles made of marble may be readily and
beautifully ornamented at less expense than by carving,and in many instances,
as for instance, upon the surface of a table, when carving cannot by employed;
also for producing endless variegations in marble, and coloring whole slabs to
be used as mosaic in building or ornamentation. It may also be applied in

page_text: statuary and be made to give to marble all the colors and tints of life, as well
as of dress and drapery. For exterior decoration it is superior to carving,
inasmuch as being incorporated chemically with the stone it is as indestructible
as the stone itself, and at the same time does not afford a lodgment for dust
and dirt, which soon disfigures and ultimately destroys fine and elaborately
carved work. If the surface of the marble becomes worn by time and the
elements, it is only necessary to repolish it, when the design or figure produced
by this process will stand forth as bright and pe: fect as when originally pro-
duced. It is particularly applicable as a means of ornamenting marble build-
ings both outside and in, and also for lettering and ornamenting tombstones,
tables, and monuments. By this means the likeness of deceased persons may
be produced upon their tombstones, and rendered as lasting as the stone itself
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, 1 claim the process for producing
pictures, ornamental designs, letters, and other characters or figures on and
in. marble and other calcareous stones, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
HENRY WILLIAM GILBY,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)