A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF PREPARING AND PRINTING DESIGNS OR OBJECTS ON METAL OR OTHER SURFACES BY THE AGENCY OF PHOTO- GRAPHY, SUCH DESIGNS OR OBJECTS SO PRODUCED TO BE MADE PERMANENT BY THE SUBSEQUENT OPERATION OF. THE ENGRAVER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF COPPER- PLATE OR LETTER-PRESS- PRINTING
Year: 1873

page_text: 4
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bradley, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, General Ornamental Engraver and Photographer, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF PREPARING AND PRINTING
DESIGNS OR OBJECTS ON METAL OR OTHER SURFACES BY THE AGENCY OF PHOTO-
GRAPHY, SUCH DESIGNS OR OBJECTS SO PRODUCED TO BE MADE PERMANENT BY
THE SUBSEQUENT OPERATION OF. THE ENGRAVER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF COPPER-
PLATE OR LETTER-PRESS- PRINTING."
Sealed the 1st January 1874, and dated the 4th July 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bradley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th July 1873.
I, HENRY BRADLEY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
5 General Ornamental Engraver and Photographer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED MODE OF PREPARING
AND PRINTING DESIGNS OR OBJECTS ON METAL OR OTHER SURFACES BY THE AGENCY

page_text: OF PHOTOGRAPHY, SUCK DESIGNS OR OBJECTS SO PRODUCED TO BE MADE PERMANENT
BY THE SUBSEQUENT OPERATION OF THE ENGRAVER, FOR THE PURPOSE OF COPPER-
PLATE OR LETTER-PRESS PRINTING," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
In giving effect to my Invention I will describe it as a quick and
ready means for transmitting to a copper plate the view, object, or
articles desired to be engraved on the same, and I effect this by a positive
or negative application of photography. If the positive I coat the plate
by the agency of clectricity with the thinnest possible deposit of silver,
which deposit I afterwards oxidize by submerging the plate in a suitable
acid, and on the front of the plate so silvered and oxidized I apply a
coating of thin prepared wax, next a film of collodion, and when so
prepared the plate may be placed in the camera for receiving and
retaining the view, object, or other matter so produced, by which means
a faithful representation of the matter to be engraved is transmitted to
the plate. The plate is then taken from the camera, and undergoes a
preparation of albumen and coat of preservitive, after which process it
is now ready for the operation of the engraver, who may proceed with
his work with the thorough, certainty that impressions printed from the
finished plate will be faithful in outline and detail, thus saving the time:
of the skilled artist in working out the design and true perspective effect
for the engraver's guidance. Designs thus produced would be reversed by
the process of printing, to avoid which (when desirable) I take a glass
reversed negative, and then prepare my copper plate or other surface as
follows:-I coat the copper plate in this case with a sensitive film pre-.
pared with wax, collodio, and chloride of silver. The glass negative is
then brought in contact with the so prepared surface, by which means a
well developed and truthful positive is produced for the engraver to
work on.
And although I have described my Invention for applying designs

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Bradley in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 3rd January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
BRADLEY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, General Ornamental
Engraver, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Bradley, Her special license
that I, the said. Henry Bradley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Bradley, 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, usc, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MODE OF PREPARING AND PRINTING DESIGNS OR OBJECTS ON METAL OR OTHER
SURFACES BY THE AGENCY OF PHOTOGRAPHY, SUCH DESIGNS OR OBJECTS SO PRODUCED
TO BE MADE PERMANENT BY THE SUBSEQUENT OPERATION OF THE ENGRAVER, FOR THE
PURPOSE OF COPPER-PLATE OR LETTER-PRESS PRINTING," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Bradley, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my 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 Henry Bradley, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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)
In giving effect to my Invention I will describe it as a quick and
ready means for transmitting to a copper plate the view, object, or
articles desired to be engraved on the same, and I effect this by a positive,

page_text: or negative application of photography. If the positive I coat the plate
by the agency of electricity with the thinnest possible deposit of silver,
which deposit I afterwards oxidize by submerging the plate in a suitable
acid, and on the front of the plate so silvered and oxidized I apply a
coating of prepared wax, an essential feature of my Invention, next a
film of collodian, and when so prepared it is made sensitive with a solu-
tion of silver. The plate may then be placed in the camera for receiving
and retaining through the medium of its lens the view, object, or other
matter so produced, by which means a faithful representation of the
matter to be engraved is transmitted to the plate. The plate is then
taken from the camera, and undergoes a preparation of allumen and a
coat of preservitive, after which process it is now ready for the operation
of the engraver, who may proceed with his work with the thorough
certainty that impressions printed from the finished plate will be faithful
in outline and detail, thus saving the time of the skilled artist in working
out the design and perspective effect for the engraver's guidance.
Designs thus produced would be reversed by the process of printing, to
avoid which, when desirable I take a glass reversed negative, and then
prepare my copper plate or other surface as follows:-I coat the copper
plate in this case with a sensitive film prepared with wax, as in the
positive process, and collodio-chloride of silver. The glass negative is
then brought in contact with the so prepared surface with the aid of
light, by which means a well developed and truthful positive is produced.
It is then toned and fixed, and ready for the engraver to work on.
I have described my Invention for applying designs to be engraved
on copper or metal plates; nevertheless, the same or modified process
may be applied to surfaces for engraving of a non-metallic character.
Though somewhat technical in my description. I have not thought
it necessary to particularise the chemical compounds herein-before
named in connection with the effectual realization of my Invention,
as skilled practitioners in the art of photography will well under-
stand both the compounds and use of the preparations or chemicals
named, and which Invention simply consists in the application of photo-
graphy in the manner herein described and set forth to the transmission
and fixing on prepared surfaces, as herein named, pictorial, statuary,
articles of virtu, manufacturer's designs, out-door views, or other matter,
which may be enlarged or reduced, as desired, for subsequent engraving
or etching, without the aid of artistic skill in drawing or imparting to

page_text: such surfaces the object or design to be engraved; and which I claim as
of my Invention and desire to protect by these my in part recited Letters
Patent.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bradley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
FREDERICK COCKINGS,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
HENRY BRADLEY. (L.S.)