An Improved Electro-gilding Process and Apparatus to be Used in connection therewith.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
An Improved Electro-gilding Process and Apparatus to be Used in
connection therewith.
We, BENJAMIN JOHN ROUND, BENJAMIN JAMES ROUND and ALEXANDER ROUND,
trading as B. J. Round and Sons, of Northampton Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Electro-Platers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved process of plating or casing articles
made of base metal or alloy with gold by electro-deposition, and to apparatus to
be employed in connection with such process, which is particularly applicable
for the purpose of thickly and evenly plating with gold, such articles as metal
chains, alberts, curb bracelets and other jewellery made up of connected-together
links.
The improved process consists essentially in imparting a rolling movement to
the articles under treatment during the time that they are immersed in the
electrolyte, by placing them within a slowly rotating and perforated vessel pro-
vided with cathode elements with which the articles are in rolling contact
throughout the operation, said vessel rotating in a suitable electrolyte or plating
solution contained in a metallic vat, which in itself forms the anode of the system.
In conducting one improved method of electro-depositing gold, we employ a
small vat or tank of suitable capacity, preferably made of iron or like metal, the
inner surface of which is coated with enamel or other resisting non-conducting
material, excepting that at points, small portions of the metal are exposed or left
naked, said naked parts being arranged at intervals around the whole of the
inside of the vat, which thus constitutes the anode element of the electrolytic
system, and to which the positive current wire is suitably connected. A quantity
of suitable electrolyte is placed in the said vat and made hot by burners under-
neath it, as is the practise in ordinary gilding. The electrolyte or plating
solufion which has been found to yield the best results in practise consists either
of a cyanide solution of gold with sodium or potassium bi-carbonate and ammonium
hydrate added in suitable proportions, or an alkaline bi-carbonate solution of
gold with ammonium hydrate, but we do not restrict ourselves to the use of
these particular solutions.
The articles to be plated are placed within a suitably mounted vessel or
barrel, preferably containing the electrolytic cathode elements, which are con-
nected with the return current conductor wire. After electrical connection has
been established, a slow rolling or other movement is imparted to the said
vessel and the work within it and from the peculiar electrolytic action set up,
by the current flowing from the whole of the exposed anode surfaces of the
metal vat, inwardly through the electrolyte to the contents of the vessel, com-
bined with the rolling movement which the said articles are made to partake of,
it results that the whole of their surfaces are equally exposed to the electrolyte
and an even and thick deposit of gold is obtained.
The vessel or work container which we propose to employ and by which the

page_text: best results may be obtained, consists of an elongated barrel, made in two
longitudinally divided parts, with one part being removable and the other part,
which may carry the complete ends, is provided with non-conducting or insulat-
ing spindles or axes turning on bearings in a framing removably fitted within
the vat so as to admit of being taken out of the solution to place therein or
remove the work. Suitable means are provided for rotating the vessel by hand
or power. Within the inside of the vessel, and lying preferably close against
its walls are a series of copper or other conducting wires, against which the work
comes whilst being tumbled, and which are in electrical connection with either
a ring or brush contact of like conducting metal, made fast to the end of, and
rotating with, the vessel (which may have perforations at parts) and adapted to
be in conducting contact either with a fixed brush, or a fixed ring made fast to the
removable framing and to which the return current wire is connected. A
weighted lever, with one end bearing against the back of the brush may be
provided on a suitable part of the framing to esure a perfect contact between
the rubbing surfaces.
Instead of a perforated barrel, the work and cathode wires, may be contained
within a rotating cage made of a series of bars or rods connecting opposite ends.
When an apparatus such as above described is employed, the positive current
enters the electrolyte through the naked parts of the metal vat and passes thence
to the work in the vessel, from which it is collected by the inside cathode wires
and the negative current is transmitted through the brush and ring contacts
to the return circuit wire.
Instead of using an anode metal tank as described, we may employ ordinary
gold anodes, but in this event it is necessary to use a series of such anodes sus-
pended within the anode in different positions surrounding the vessel in order
to ensure the efficient and even coating of the work.
DL1
1000
BENJAMIN JOHN ROUND.
BENJAMIN JAMES ROUND.
ALEXANDER ROUND.
By A. T. Sadler.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electro-gilding Process and Apparatus to be Used in
connection therewith.
BENJAMIN JOHN ROUND, BENJAMIN JAMES ROUND and ALEXANDER ROUND,
trading as B. J. Round and Sons, of Northampton Street, in the City of Birming-
ham, Electro-Platers, 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 relates to the plating or casing of articles made of base metal
or alloy, with gold, by electro-deposition, and apparatus to be employed in con-
nection with the improved process, which is particularly applicable for the
purpose of thickly and evenly plating or casing with gold, such articles as metal
chains, alberts, curb bracelets and other jewellery made up of connected-together
links.
The improved process consists essentially in imparting a rolling movement
to the articles under. treatment during the time that they are immersed in the

page_text: electrolyte; by placing or enclosing them within a rotating and perforated vessel
provided with specially arranged cathode elements with which the articles are
in rolling contact throughout the operation, said vessel rotating in a suitable
electrolyte or plating solution contained in a metallic vat or ordinary gilding
pot, which preferably forms in itself the anode of the system.
According to one of our improved methods of electro-depositing gold, we
employ a small vat or tank of suitable capacity, preferably made of iron or
like metal, the inner surface of which is coated with enamel or other resisting
non-conducting material, excepting that at points small portions of the metal
are exposed or left naked, said naked parts being arranged at intervals around
the whole of the inside of the vat, which thus constitutes the anode element of
the electrolytic system and to which a current wire is suitably connected. A
quantity of suitable electrolyte is placed in the said vat and made hot by means
of burners underneath it, as is the practise in ordinary gilding.
The articles to be plated are placed within a suitably mounted vessel or
barrel, preferably containing the cathode elements which are connected with
the negative current conductor wire. After electrical connection has been
established, a rotating, rolling or other movement is imparted to the said vessel
and the work within it, and from the peculiar electrolytic action set up by the
current combined with the rolling movement which the confined articles are
made to partake of, it results that the whole of their surfaces are equally
exposed to the electrolyte and an even and thick deposit of gold is obtained.
Figure of the accompanying drawings represents, partly in elevation and
partly in longitudinal section, one form of apparatus by which our improved
process may be conducted.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the improved form of work-container
shown in Figure 1, but with the two halves thereof separated.
Figure represents, partly in transverse vertical section and partly in end
view, the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
The same letter of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said figures
of the drawings.
The vessel or work container represented in the said drawings consists of an
elongated barrel a, made in two longitudinally divided parts a¹, a², secured
together by any means, such as catches on the one half and necked studs on the
other half, with the one part a', being removable from the other part a², which
may carry the complete ends 3, a, and is provided with non-conducting or
insulating spindles or axes turning in hearings in a framing e removably
fitted within the vat d, in such a manner as to admit of being lifted out of the
solution by hand when it is required to place within, or remove from it, the
work. Suitable means are provided for rotating the vessel, such as a toothed
wheel, on one of the spindles, being driven by a chain e, from another wheel e¹,
mounted on a bracket, carried by the framing and connected to a band
driven pulley e. Within the inside of the vessel and lying preferably close
against its walls are a series of copper or other conducting wires f, against
which the work comes whilst being tumbled and which are in electrical con-
nection with a ring f, of like conducting metal made fast to the end of and
rotating with the vessel (which has perforations at parts) and adapted to be in
conducting contact with a fixed brush f2, made fast to the removable framing and
to which the negative current wire, is connected. A weighted lever (not shown
in the drawings) with one end bearing against the back of the brush may be
provided on a suitable part of the framing to ensure a perfect contact between the
contacting or rubbing surfaces.
The two halves of the vessel are separately wired, and, in the arrangement
shown, the one end 3, of the wiring in the fixed half proceeds from the collect-
ing ring f, and the other end is formed into a terminal f, which comes on the
edge of the section of the container and there makes electrical contact with a
corresponding terminal f³ constituting one end of the wiring of the other and

page_text: removable section of the said container, thus ensuring a proper flow of current
to the external collecting ring from the internal cathode system.
The ends of the cross bar or top member 62, may be arranged to come (when
the work container is within the vat) between sets or stops e³, secured to the
setting of the said vat, and be there secured by swinging latch bars c', pivoted
to the one set at e, and adapted to engage under a catch e, on the opposite set.
The vat itself is preferably made of iron, coated internally with enamel d
which is removed in a number of places such as d², so as to expose the metal
(which constitutes, as before described, the anode of the system) to the action
of the electrolyte h. A further portion of the enamel may be removed at the
edge, such as, and to this the positive current wire, is connected by a
suitable binding screw. The electrolyte solution is further heated from under-
neath by one or more gas burners such as i.
When an apparatus such as above described is employed, the current is con-
veyed from the exposed anode portions of the vat to the internal cathode wires
of the rotating vessel and the work which is being tumbled in contact with the
said wires and within the electrolyte, which has free access to the interior of
the said vessel and its contents, whilst the negative current passes away through
the conducting ring return circuit wire a¹.
We wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the particular
arrangement of work container and its mountings as herein described, as we may
use any suitable vessel (such as a rotating cage-like container made up of a series
of bars or rods connecting the two ends and provided internally with a cathode
wire or wires) so long as it is provided with removable mountings, or with
suitable means to facilitate the placing therein or removal of the work.
Further, instead of using an anode metal vat or tank as described, we may
employ ordinary gold anodes, but in this event it is necessary to use a series
of such anodes suspended within the electrolyte in different positions surround-
ing the vessel in order to ensure the efficient and even coating of the work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
First: A process of gilding or casing with gold; chains, alberts and other
articles, consisting in enclosing and rotating the articles or work within a per-
forated vessel, provided interiorly with a series of current-conducting wires
arranged in contact with the work, and removably mounted within an ordinary
gilding pot containing a suitable electrolyte (preferably heated), in conjunction
with anodes and positive and negative current wires, whereby, when current is
passed and the vessel containing the work is rotated, the said work receives a
thick and even deposit of gold, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly: A process of gilding or gold-casing chains and other articles, con-
sisting in enclosing or confining the work within a perforated vessel, around the
inside walls of which, one or more current-conducting wires are arranged, which
vessel is rotated within an electrolytic gilding solution, contained in a metal
pot (preferably iron), interiorly coated with enamel or the like and connected
with a positive current wire so as to constitute-in itself-the anode of the system.
from which current passes to the electrolyte through portions of the metal left
bare or exposed, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly-In an electro-gilding process in which a perforated work holder,
rotating in an electrolyte is used, the employment of a metal pot or vat (pre-
ferably iron) the interior of which is coated or stopped off with enamel or the
like. except at parts which are left naked or exposed to the electrolyte, whilst
the metal of the pot is in electrical connection with a positive current wire and
thus forms the anode to the system, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly: The herein described apparatus for use in the process of gilding
or gold casing various articles, consisting of a perforated wooden vessel made in

page_text: detachable or separable parts, with the ends of the one section having journals or
pivots turning in bearings in a portable frame or carrier (thus admitting of the
whole being lifted by hand into and out of a gilding pot, wherein the apparatus
is secured when in use) whilst the inside of each section is provided with a
cathode wire or wires, the said wires of each section being in electrical con-
nection with one another and also with a metallic plate, ring or like contact on
the outside of the vessel, from which negative current passes away through a
brush or the like, substantially as and for the purpose described and set forth.
Dated this 5th day of December 1899.
BENJAMIN JOHN ROUND.
BENJAMIN JAMES ROUND.
ALEXANDER ROUND.
By A. T. Sadler.