IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING WHEN INDIGO IS EMPLOYED
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lorenzo Scala, of Genova, in the Kingdom of
Italy, at present residing at 21, Clerkenwell Green, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING WHEN
INDIGO IS EMPLOYED."
Sealed the 30th July 1872, and dated the 6th June 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lorenzo Scala at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th June 1872.
I, LORENZO SCALA, of Genova, in the Kingdom of Italy, at present
residing at 21, Clerkenwell Green, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DYKING
WHEN INDIGO IS EMPLOYED," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to obtain bright and fast blues on wool,
cloth, linen, cotton, and yarns, with a considerable saving of indigo.
For this purpose I employ materials of very little value, a solid body of
dye resisting alkalies and acids, and which topped with indigo acquires
an unalterable fastness of color.

page_text: My principle may be applied in different ways, which I will designate
by the letters A., B., and C., respectively; the two first are for wool and
cloth, the third for linen, cotton, and yarns.
Process A. produces a violet blue with fine bloom and great brilliancy,
and this process I conduct in the following manner, namely, into a
suitable recipient containing water at a temperature of 20 to 30 degrees C,
I put annatto, which is prepared as herein-after described. I use a
larger or smaller quantity according to the hue I wish to obtain. I then
immerse the wool or cloth. In case a light blue is desired, I bring it to
a deep nankin color, whilst if I wish to obtain a dark blue, I bring it
to the colour of orange peel. This operation occupies about ten minutes,
and the heat of the bath is during this time raised to seventy to eighty
degrees without causing it to boil. I then take out the wool or cloth,
wash the same in cold water, and transfer it to another bath of the
temperature of 40 degrees, composed of from 6 to 8 lbs. of orchil liquor
blue and a tumbler half full of sulphuric acid for every 100 lbs. of cloth
or wool. In this bath I work the cloth or wool for another ten minutes
to produce an even color on the material, after which I cause the bath
to boil for a % of an hour, the material remaining in the whole time. I
then take out the material and well wash it, and I then pass it over to
the vat containing the indigo prepared for dyeing blue. These baths
can be frequently re-used without changing them, only adding from time
to time more of the coloring materials and sulphuric acid. I can apply
the same process also in one bath, only mixing the whole ingredients
together, but the result obtained is less body and less brilliancy of color.
Process B. is for a blue blue, such as required for the army, navy, and
the trade, and which is proof against all the usual tests. This hue I
produce with annatto, worked in precisely the same way as detailed
with regard to the first bath in process A., but for obtaining more body
and brilliancy of color, I add 3 to 4 lbs. of madder, or 4 to 6 lbs. of red
sander, or 4 to 6 lbs. of cashoo or terra japonica black for every 100 lbs.
of material to be dyed, but the cashoo or terra japonica I boil separately,
and leave standing to deposit a sediment, after which I take the clear
liquid and put into the bath, leaving the sediment. Each of these 3
ingredients produce a similar result, but they should be used separately.
When this operation is complete the material is taken to the indigo vat.
Process C. is suitable for cotton and linen. For this preparation I

page_text: employ annatto, orchil liquor, blue or red, and sulphuric acid mixed
together. With regard to the quantities I act in the same way as in the
case of wool as above, using smaller or greater quantities according to
the hue I desire to obtain, and after raising the bath to about 40 degrees
of heat, I dip the cotton or linen therein and turn it about in the bath
(I give it 7 turns or rounds), then after well wringing I transfer the
material to another bath of cold water slightly acidulated with sulphuric
acid, wherein I put for each 100 lbs. of material to be dyed about a
gallon of a clear solution of copperas green prepared as herein-after
described. I turn the material about in this bath (giving it 5 turns or
rounds) after which I pass it over to the indigo vat.
For blues of a light hue the first bath is sufficient. If the indigo vats
are prepared cold I save washing the materials, but if they are prepared
hot, then I wash in running or flowing water.
The preparation of annatto which I employ is obtained in the following
manner :--For about 20 gallons of water I employ 10 lbs. of annatto; I
dissolve it by means of hot water, and pass it through a sieve, then I
add thereto 8 lbs. of potash. I mix or stir the bath and cause it to boil
hard for 3 minutes, after which I put it into a recipient to cool, and
when I want to make use thereof I stir the bath.
The solution of copperas green I prepare in the following manner :—
I mix together 1 lb. of nitric acid, pure and concentrated, 4 lbs. of cop-
peras green purified and dry, and 3 ozs. of iron rust, dry and pulverised.
I prepare these solutions in a glazed earthen pot, and begin in the
morning by dissolving the copperas green a little at a time and mixing
with it the iron rust. I let it stand the whole night, and the next day
I put in the same pot from 7 to 8 gallons of boiling water. I stir the
bath well and let it stand and cool. I use only the clear liquid portion.
0
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Lorenzo Scala in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th December 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LORENZO
SCALA, of Genova, in the Kingdom of Italy, at present residing at 21,
Clerkenwell Green, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Lorenzo Scala, Her special license that I, the
said Lorenzo Scala, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Lorenzo Scala, 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 DYEING WHEN INDIGO
IS EMPLOYED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Lorenzo
Scala, 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 Lorenzo Scala, 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 thereof, that is to say:―
The object of this Invention is to obtain bright and fast blues on wool,
cloth, linen, cotton, and yarns with a considerable saving of indigo.
For this purpose I employ materials of very little value, resisting
alkalies and acids, and forming a solid body of dye, which topped with
indigo, acquires an unalterable fastness of color.
My principle may be applied in different ways, which I will designate
by the letters A., B., and C., respectively; the two first are for wool, the
third for linen and cotton.
Process A. produces a violet blue with fine bloom and great brilliancy,
and this process I conduct in the following manner, namely, into a
suitable recipient containing water at a temperature of 20 to 30 degrees
Centigrade, I put "annatto," which is prepared as herein-after described.
I use a larger or smaller quantity according to the quality of the annatto
and to the hue I wish to obtain. I then immerse the wool or cloth. In

page_text: case a light blue is desired, I bring it to a deep nankin color, whilst if
I wish to obtain a dark blue, I bring it to the color of orange peel. This
operation occupies about ten minutes, and the heat of the bath is during
this time raised to 70 to 80 degrees Centigrade without causing it to
boil. I then take out the wool or cloth and wash the same in cold
water. This, however, is not essential, but it is beneficial to the materials
and adds to the brightness. I then transfer the material to another
bath of the temperature of 40 degrees, composed of from 6 to 8 lbs. of
orchil liquor blue and a tumbler half full of sulphuric acid for every
100 lbs. of cloth or wool. In this bath I work the cloth or wool for
another ten minutes to produce an even color in the material, after
which I cause the bath to boil for a quarter of an hour, the material
remaining in the whole time. I then take out the material and well
wash it, and I then pass it over to the vat containing the indigo prepared
for dyeing blue. Or in place of using the sulphuric acid I may use 2
or 3 lbs. of ammonia liquor, or in place of the orchil liquor and sulphuric
acid I may use in this bath about 10 lbs. of orchil weed prepared with
ammonia liquor in the manner in which it is usually prepared by dry-
salters or dyer's druggists; when sulphuric acid is not employed, it is
unnecessary to wash the material when it comes out of the bath. These
baths can be frequently re-used whithout changing them, only adding
by degrees more of the materials. Cutbear may be substituted for orchil,
but I prefer to use orchil. I can apply the same process also in one
bath, only mixing the whole ingredients together, but the result obtained
is less body and less brightness of color.
Process B. is for a blue blue, such as is required for the army, navy,
and the trade, and which is proof against all the usual tests. This I
produce with annatto worked in precisely the same way as detailed with
regard to the first bath in process A., but for obtaining more body and
brightness of color, I add 3 to 4 lbs. of madder, or 4 to 6 lbs. of red
sander, or 4 to 6 lbs. of terra japonica (cutch) for every 100 lbs. of
material to be dyed. The terra japonica or cutch I boil separately, and
leave standing to deposit a sediment, after which I use the clear liquid,
leaving the sediment. Or if I wish to obtain an extra brightness of
color, I add 10 lbs. of soda ash into every 100 lbs. of cutch and boil them
together, and use the clear liquid as before described. I take the
materials when ready to the indigo vat without washing them. I obtain
bright colors and with a considerable saving of indigo by using about

page_text: 2 lbs. of annatto and 6lbs. of cutch for every 100 lbs. of cloth, but if I
wish to obtain more body I put more annatto, and if I wish to obtain
greater brightness I put more cutch and less annatto.
Process C. is suitable for cotton and linen cloth and yarns. For this
preparation I employ annatto and orchil liquor, blue or red, prepared
for use with cotton. With regard to the quantities I act in the same
way as in the case of wool as above, using smaller or greater quantities
according to the hue I desire to obtain, and after raising the bath to
about 40 degrees Centigrade of heat, I dip the cotton or linen therein
and turn it about in the bath (I give it seven turns or rounds), then
after well wringing, I transfer the material to another bath of cold water
slightly acidulated with sulphuric acid therein. I put for each 100 lbs.
of material to be dyed about a gallon of a clear solution of copperas
green, prepared as hereinafter described. I turn the material about in
this bath (giving it five turns or rounds), after which I pass it over to
the indigo vat.
For blues of a light hue the first bath is sufficient. If the indigo vats
are prepared cold I save washing the materials, but if they are prepared
hot then I wash in running water. I have not thought it necessary to
give the quantity of water used in the preparation of the baths. In each
case, as in the usual custom of dyers, it is such a quantity as to allow
the material to be conveniently and freely worked in the bath.
The preparation of annatto which I employ is obtained in the following
manner :—For about 20 gallons of water I employ 10 lbs. of annatto. I
dissolve it by means of hot water and pass it through a sieve, then I add 5
thereto 8 lbs. of potash or soda ash of first quality. I mix or stir the
bath and cause it to boil hard for two or three minutes, after which I
put it into a recipient to cool, and when I want to make use thereof
I stir the bath.
The solution of copperas green I prepare in the following manner:- 3
I mix together one pound of nitric acid, pure and concentrated; 4 lbs. of
copperas green, purified and dry, and 3 ounces of iron rust, dry and pul-
verized, I prepare these solutions in a glazed earthen pot, and begin in the
morning by dissolving the copperas green a little at a time, and mixing
with it the iron rust. I let it stand the whole night, and the next day I 3
put in the same pot from seven to eight gallons of boiling water. I stir the
bath well and let it stand and cool. I use only the clear liquid portion.

page_text: By this Invention the following great advantages are obtained:-
First. A great saving in the quantity of indigo.
Second. An inferior quality of indigo can now be used, producing as
good a color as can be obtained by the use of the first quality, which will
cause a further saving in the cost of indigo.
Third. A saving of labour, as by this process less time is required to
dye the materials.
Fourth. The colour of the article dyed by this process is sound and
unalterable and resists the usual chemical tests.
Fifth. It is also applicable as a preparation for black cloth and woollen
of every description, and the black obtained by this process is the best
that can be desired.
Sixth. It is also applicable as a preparation for green dye.
Seventh. The processes are so adapted as to agree with the present
system of dyeing, and will not require any alteration in the existing
indigo blue dye apparatus.
What I claim is, the use in dyeing of annatto with indigo, substantially
as herein described.
I also claim the means substantially as herein described of dyeing
when indigo is employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lorenzo Scala, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
LORENZO SCALA. (L.S.)