IMPROVEMENTS IN DELINEATING OBJECTS, AND IN APPARATUS. AND MATERIALS FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
PALMER, of Paddington, in the County of Middlesex, Artist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of
August, (One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the fifteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Palmer, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said James Palmer, my
exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Palmer, my
exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and, vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DELINEATING OBJECTS,
AND IN APPARATUS. AND MATERIALS FOR THAT PURPOSE;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said James Palmer, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear."

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Palmer,. do hereby declare that. the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say.
The Invention relates,-.
Firstly, to various improvements in delineating objects on sheets of glass or
gelatine placed between the object and the eye of the operator, and also to
various methods of reducing, enlarging, multiplying, and transferring the
Drawings thus obtained. And
Secondly, to various improvements in materials and apparatus adapted for
the aforesaid purposes.
Sheet I., Figure 1,,of the Drawings hereunto annexed, is a side elevation of
an apparatus adapted for delineating objects according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same. Figure 3 is a front view of the
same. A, A, are two upright pillars fixed in the base B, and strengthened by
the addition of the struts C, C. D, D, are other struts, the ends of which
rest on the base and serve still further to steady the apparatus.. E is a cross
bar capable of being raised and lowered and fixed at any required height by
means of small bolts or catches which enter racks in the sides of the
pillars A, A, one of which is shewn in Figure 2. Each pillar has a projecting
ledge at a, a, against which a plate of glass F is placed and supported
by the bar E. The glass is confined by small slides or buttons b, b,
between which and the glass are placed small wedges of wood or cork. The
glass is thus firinly fixed in its required position. G, G, are two light bars or
metallic tubes, which slide in sockets H, H, in which they are fixed by the
screws c, c. One of these sockets is shewn on a larger scale -in Figure 4;
which is a side view, and in Figure 5, which is a plan of the same. The
sockets themselves. slide up and down upon dovetailed pieces of metal I,
attached to the pillars A, and are fixed at any required height by means of the
screws d, d. J is a cross bar fixed to the bars G, G, and carrying a small
frame K of the form of the frame of a pair of spectacles, one of the apertures
of which is closed by a metallic plate or other opaque substance. The frame
K is capable of sliding along the bar J, and is secured by a small screw k
The apparatus is rendered more complete by fitting both apertures of the
spectacle frame with moveable 'plates or shutters, so that either may be closed
at pleasure.. Magnifying and diminishing glasses are also fitted to the spec
tacle frame to adapt the apparatus for the use of long-sighted and short-sighted

page_text: persons. In using this delineating apparatus for drawing a landscape or
building, or other object, the glass F and the bar Jare adjusted to a con-
venient height and position, and at such a distance apart that the operator by
applying his eyes to the spectacle frame K, can see the object through the
glass F. The operator only sees the object with one eye, as only one of the
apertures of the spectacle frame is left open. He then proceeds to trace over
on the glass all the principal lines of the object, using for this purpose the
pencils herein-after described, which have the property of marking very
distinctly on the polished surface of the glass. This operation is performed
with great facility, as the head of the operator is prevented from moving, and
his. eye is kept in one constant position by his nose being in contact with
the bridge of the spectacle frame, which serves as a rest, so that he has
merely to trace over the lines which he sees through the glass in the same way
in which he might trace the lines of a drawing by laying a sheet of tracing
paper over it. It is not necessary that the rest for the head should be in the
form of a spectacle frame, as any other convenient form of rest may be
employed, provided it secures the eye of the operator in one constant position.
The hand may be supported and steadied by a maul stick resting upon one of
the bars G. The shading of the drawing may be finished up by the same
pencils, while the glass remains in the delineating apparatus, or the sheet of
glass may be taken out of the apparatus and laid on a sheet of white paper
and then finished.. A portion or all of the shading or of the colours required
may be laid on a sheet of paper, which is then fixed behind the glass. The
glass may be fixed in a frame like any other picture, and if all the drawing is
on the back of the glass it will not require a second glass to protect it from
injury. In many cases, however, it is advantageous to draw the outline on
one side of the glass, and to apply the shading or a portion of it on the other
side, and it is then advisable to protect the front of the glass by an additional
glass; a fine effect is produced by slightly grinding or roughening the back
of the glass, and applying the shading and colour to this roughened surface
while the outline is on the smooth surface of the glass.
I have described the mode of finishing the drawing upon the glass, and
very good effects can thus be produced; in many cases, however, it is required
to have the drawing on paper, in which case it is requisite to transfer the
drawing to the paper after making it on the glass, and it is generally preferable
to do so before applying the shading to the drawing. This is effected by
laying a sheet of sufficiently transparent paper over the drawing on the glass
and tracing it in the ordinary manner. Or a sheet of moistened paper is laid
over the drawing and the whole submitted to pressure in a press, or by laying

page_text: à sheet of smooth paper over the moistened paper and rubbing it all over
with an ivory folding stick or other smooth substance. If it be required to
have the drawing right or left-handed, it is readily effected by first making
the drawing on the glass and then laying the glass on a sheet of paper with
the drawing downwards and tracing the design with the pencils. herein-after
described on the reverse side of the glass. Right and left handed drawings
are thus obtained, cither of which may be copied as required. If the drawing
is required on paper too thick or opaque to be used as tracing paper, it may
be transferred again from the tracing by placing a sheet of blackened or
transfer paper between the tracing and the thick paper, and then passing
over all the lines with a smooth steel or agate style in the ordinary manner of
transferring. The glass which is employed for drawing upon the aforesaid
pencils should be previously well cleaned and dried. For cleaning the glass
I employ an alkaline solution formed by dissolving one ounce of carbonate of
soda in half a pint of boiling water. The glass is waslied or sponged. with
this solution while warm, and it is then wiped dry and rubbed with wash
leather. This solution serves for cleaning off the drawings from the glass
when required. Solutions of different strengths or of different materials may
be employed for this purpose provided that they are capable of producing thie
required effect of cleaning the surface of the glass. In employing gelatine
for the purposes of my Invention, I attach a sheet of gelatine to a plate of
glass by means of any suitable cement, or by moistening the edges of the
gelatine and pressing it on the glass, and I then place the whole in the appa-
ratus herein-before described, and draw upon the gelatine with the aforesaid
pencils in the manner herein-before described. The sheets of gelatine have
the advantage over glass in lightness and flexibility, so that a number of such
sheets may be safely carried in a portfolio. One of the chief advantages of
gelatine over glass consists, however, in its admitting of being marked or
scratched by a pointed steel pencil or etching needle, by means of which
engravings can be at once produced upon it. For this purpose a sheet of
gelatine is stretched upon a plate of glass and placed in the apparatus as
above mentioned, and the object is then delineated upon it with the etching
needle by tracing over all the lines in the manner herein-before described:
The lines are thus scratched or engraved in the gelatine, which can then be
used for printing in the style of copper-plate printing. For this purpose the
printing ink is rubbed into all the lines, and the surface of the gelatine is
then cleaned; a sheet of dry paper is laid upon it, and the whole is submitted
to pressure in a press, or by laying another sheet of paper over it and
rubbing the upper sheet with an ivory folding stick or other smooth sub-

page_text: stance an impression is thus obtained on paper, and these impressions or
prints may be multiplied until the gelatine plate is worn out. I have
mentioned that dry paper is to be employed for taking the impressions,
because wet paper would adhere to the gelatine when ordinary gelatine is
employed; I have, however, succeeded in rendering gelatine insoluble in water,
as herein-after described, and when my insoluble gelatine is employed the
prints or impressions may be taken on wet or damp paper, by which means
finer impressions may be procured than can be obtained on dry paper. In
lieu of attaching a separate sheet of gelatine to a plate of glass, as above
mentioned, a quantity of melted gelatine may be poured upon a sheet of glass
placed in a horizontal position and allowed to cool and harden. A plate of
glass coated on one side with gelatine is thus obtained, and this compound
plate is placed in the apparatus, and the drawing or engraving made upon it,
as above described in reference to the sheet of gelatine. The gelatine may be
rendered insoluble either before or after the engraving has been made upon it,
but in general it is preferable so to prepare it before making the engraving in
order to avoid any risk of injuring the fine lines of the engraving. An im-
pression or print of an engraving made on the gelatine, as above-mentioned,
may be transferred to a lithographic stone in the usual manner of transferring,
as well understood by lithographic printers, and impressions may then be
printed from the stone in the ordinary manner of lithographic printing.
Impressions from engravings made on gelatine, as above mentioned, may be
transferred to zinc plates and printed from them in a similar manner. Such
impressions as aforesaid may also be transferred to wooden or metal blocks, or
to copper or steel plates, and then engraved or etched in the ordinary manners.
In lieu of transferring an impression printed on paper from an engraving
made on the gelatine, as above mentioned, the impression from the gelatine
may be taken directly on the lithographic stone or zinc plate, or on the copper
or steel plate or wooden or metal block. By adopting one or other of these
modes the impressions may be obtained right-handed or left-handed at pleasure.
An engraving on gelatine may be reversed by turning over the sheet of
gelatine, and tracing over the design on the reverse side with the etching
needle. Impressions may then be taken from either side-at, pleasure.
The delineating apparatus shewn in Figures. 1 and 2, Sheet I., is provided
with two bars L, L, sliding in the sockets M, M, and fixed by the screws e, e;
the sockets M can be raised and lowered on the dovetailed pieces of metal I,
and fixed by the screws f, f. The bars L, L, serve to support a board or table,
on which may be placed a vase or bust, or any other small object which is
required to be delineated. The whole frame of the apparatus may be firmly

page_text: In
united together, or it may be put together with thumb screws or hooks, so as
to be readily taken to pieces and packed up. In taking portraits with this
apparatus it is requisite that the head of the person whose portrait is being
taken should be kept as immoveable as possible during the operation.
order to steady the head I employ a rest, of which Figure 6 is a front view
and Figure 7 a side view. N is a vertical pillar fixed in the base O, and
supported by the struts P. and Q; R is a socket sliding up and down on the
pillar, and carrying a bár S, at the end of which is a cap or cage T, which
serves as a rest for the head of the person; g is a screw for securing the
position of the cap. The person whose portrait is to be taken stands on the base
O, and rests his head in the cap after it has been adjusted to the required
position. When the person is to be drawn in a sitting posture, a chair or seat
may be placed on the base, or the pillar may be attached to the seat.
Figure 8 is an elevation and Figure 9 a side view of a portable de-
lineating apparatus suitable for being used in the field. B, B, B, is a tripod
stand on which is fixed the frame A, by means of the screw b.
serves as a guide for the frame E, in which the glass F is fixed. The frame E
carries small bolts or catches, which enter two racks in the frame A, and serve
to secure the glass at different heights. D, D, are rods or struts, which serve
to steady the apparatus. These rods may with advantage be made of bamboo;
in separate lengths, jointed together like a fishing rod, by the end of one
length entering a socket in the next. G, G, are two light bars sliding in the
sockets H, H, and carrying the spectacle frame K. This part of the appa-
ratus is similar in construction to that already herein-before described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
The frame A
Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, represent a form of delineating apparatus
adapted for being used on a table. Figure 10 is a front view; Figure 11 is a
plan; Figure 12 is a side view; and Figure 13 is a back view. A is a frame
with a rack in each side. E is a cross bar, provided with bolts or catches,
which enter the racks and support the bar at the required height. F is the
glass, resting on the bar E, and kept in contact with the ledges a, a, by means
of wedges acting against small bolts or buttons b, b, or against other ledges on
the frame A. B, B, are two bars, hinged to the frame A, and carrying two
struts C, C, also hinged to the frame A, so that the bars and struts B, C, may
fold flat upon the back of the frame, as shewn in Figure 13. D is a bar,
fixed to the bars B, B, by thumb screws or hooks, so as to keep them extended
when the apparatus is in use. G, G, are bars sliding in sockets H, H, and
carrying the spectacle frame K, as in the other apparatus herein-beforo
described. The frame A is made to descend below the edge of the table Z

page_text: against which it rests, and a weight is placed on the bar D to steady the
apparatus. Several. small delineations of different objects may be made on
the same sheet of glass or gelatine by adjusting the spectacle frame so as to
bring it opposite to different parts of the sheet in succession. In delineating
objects in the manner or manners herein-before described, the glass or gelatine
is placed between the eye of the operator and the object, and the consequence
is, that the drawing or engraving is in all cases smaller than the object itself.
The size of the drawing or engraving may be varied by varying the distance of
the eye from the transparent surface on which the object is to be delineated,
or by varying the distance of the whole apparatus from the object, but in all
cases the delineation will be smaller than the object itself.
When it is required to obtain a greatly reduced delineation of an object,
it may be effected by first delineating it on glass or gelatine, as above described,
and then making a second delineation on another sheet of glass or gelatine in
the same manner, but employing the first delineation in lieu of the object
itself. A portrait may thus be reduced to the size of a small minature, and
the operation may be repeated as many times as required.
When it is required to obtain a delineation larger than the natural size of
the object, or when it is required to enlarge any of the delineations obtained
as above described, I employ an apparatus constructed on the same principle
as that employed for "the magic lanthorn," or for the oxyhydrogen microscope,
and I make such modifications and additions to the same as to adapt it for
the purposes of my Invention. Sheet II., Figure 14, is a side view of the
apparatus which I employ; Figure 15 is an end view; Figure 16 is a plan;
and Figure 17 is a longitudinal section of the same. A is a wooden box,
provided with a door B at the side, and another door C at the top. The door C
has an opening in the centre which is closed by a lid D. E is a stand, on
which is placed an argand lamp or other lamp capable of giving a strong
light. The chimney of the lamp passes through the opening in the door C.
F, F, are two convex glass lenses or condensers for collecting the light of the
lamp, and throwing it on the drawing or engraving which is to be magnified,
and which is placed at G. These condensers are shewn separately in Figure 18,
which is a front view, and Figure 19, which is a section. They are fixed in a
short tube or ring K, which is shewn in the Figures, and also in Figure 20,
which is a side elevation of the same. H, I, are two concavo-convex lenses
fixed in the tube J, which is capable of being moved by means of the rack L'
and pinion M, so as to adjust the focus. The image of the object is thrown
upon a glass screen finely ground on both sides, and an apparatus similar to
one of those herein-before described is placed on the opposite side of the glass,

page_text: and the object delineated in the manner or manners herein-before described,
employing, the magnified image of the object in lieu of the object itself; or
the object may be drawn with the aforesaid pencils on the glass screen, and
afterwards traced or transferred as herein-before described; or a sheet of
gelatine may be fixed on the back of the glass screen, and the image of the
object traced upon it with the etching needle. The glass screen is most con-
veniently supported in the delineating apparatus herein-before described: I
have found, by employing a glass screen finely ground on both sides, as
above mentioned, that a very distinct image of the object is produced. In
employing this apparatus for enlarging, I prefer to employ a drawing or
engraving made on gelatine with an etching needle, as very fine and distinct
lines may be produced by this means, and such lines preserve their distinctness
when magnified and thrown upon the glass screen. To render the lines still
more distinct they may be filled with ink or with powdered plumbago, or lamp.
black rubbed into them. The sheet of gelatine is placed between two plates
of glass fitted into a moveable frame, and secured by buttons, as shewn in the
front view in Figure 21, or each plate of glass is fixed in a separate frame;
and the two frames are hinged together at bottom. The engraved sheet of
gelatine is placed between the two plates of glass, which are brought together
and secured, and the whole is then inserted in the apparatus at G; by this
means the sheet of gelatine is kept flat and prevented from warping. The
case of the apparatus is made of wood, so that it may not conduct the heat.
from the lamp to the gelatine, as would happen if it were made of metal. The
doors B and C also admit of the introduction of a current of fresh air
at any
time the temperature is found to become too high.
I will now proceed to describe the composition of the pencils herein-before
mentioned. One ounce of shellac is reduced to powder, and melted with
eight ounces of white wax or other wax, and eight ounces of soap is added,
and the whole is carefully heated so as to melt the mixture, which is stirred
and mixed until thoroughly incorporated together. This composition serves as
a basis for all the pencils; it may be hardened by adding more shellac, or
softened by adding more soap. The various coloured pencils are produced by.
mixing various colouring materials with the above-mentioned composition.
Thus, a black pencil is produced by mixing lamp black with the composition,
and the depth of the colour will depend on the quantity of lamp black
employed. Red pencils are produced by mixing vermillion or other suitable
red pigment with.the composition. Yellow pencils may be produced by an
addition of chrome or other yellow pigment, and blue pencils by the addition
of Prussian blue or other blue pigment. White pencils may be produced by

page_text: an addition of white lead and selecting the whitest materials for forming the
composition. The pencils may be used in sticks or pieces like crayons
or chalk, or they may be fixed in cedar or other wood, like black lead
pencils.
I will now describe the mode or modes of preparing insoluble gelatine,
which possesses many advantages over the ordinary gelatine for the purposes
of engraving and drawing, as above described, and which is also applicable
to other purposes, amongst which I may mention the obtaining of photographic
images, and the replacing of horn and glass in lanthorns and windows, and in
many other cases, as also for covers for tables and other furniture, and for
moulds for electro-metallurgy. I take eight ounces of alum and eight ounces
of acetate of lead, and eight ounces of borax, and dissolve or mix them with
one gallon of water; or these salts may be first dissolved in separate portions
of water and then mixed. In either case a white precipitate is formed,
which is allowed to subside, and the clear liquor is drawn off, and, if necessary,
filtered to remove any of the precipitate contained in it. Into this clear
solution I immerse sheets of gelatine or sheets of glass coated with gelatine,
and leave them immersed for some time, and in general I have found twelve
hours' immersion to be amply sufficient for the purpose. The sheets are then
taken out and allowed to dry, and are then fit for use. In order to keep the
sheets of gelatine flat, it is advantageous to stretch them upon a frame and
keep them stretched until dry. This is effected by employing two frames,
one of which is rather smaller than the sheet of gelatine, and is fitted into
the other frame. The gelatine is stretched over the smaller-frame, and the
larger frame is then placed over it, so as to confine and secure the edges of
the gelatine, which is then dried; when dry the edges are cut off. When
plates of glass coated with gelatine are immersed in the aforesaid solution,
they are simply allowed to dry, as the plate of glass prevents the gelatine
from bending or warping. When dry the gelatine may be employed on the
surface of the glass, as herein-before mentioned, or it may be detached from
the glass, and used like the separate sheets of insoluble gelatine. The
gelatine preserves its transparency and smoothness. The sheets of gelatine
thus prepared may be washed with cold water without injury, and may be
used for printing on damp paper. I have even immersed sheets of this
insoluble gelatine in boiling water without its being dissolved. A solution
having similar properties to that above mentioned may be prepared without the
borax, and this solution contains acetate of alumina; and a solution of acetate of
alumina prepared in any other manner may be substituted for it. Thus a solution
of eight ounces of sulphate of alumina and eight ounces of acetate of lead in

page_text: one gallon of water furnishes, after the removal of the precipitate, a solution.
having similar properties to that first described. Other salts of alumina may
be employed to render the gelatine insoluble in lieu of the acetate of alumina.
Thus a solution of sulphate of alumina or of muriate of alumina, or a solution
of alum, may be employed for this purpose. I have spoken of solutions
of alumina being employed for rendering the gelatine insoluble, but
solutions of many other earthy or alkaline or metallic salts may be employed.
Amongst other salts having more or less the same effect, I may mention the
bichloride of mercury, borax, acetate of copper, sulphate of copper, sulphate
of iron, acetate of lead, nitrate of lead, acctate of baryta, fluoride of sodium,
fluoride of potassium, cyanide of sodium, cyanide of potassium, sulphate of
soda, suphate of potash, oxalate of soda, oxalate of potash, acetate of soda, and
acctate of potash. I have also found that a solution of boracic acid produces
the same effect. Many of these solutions are, however, inferior in their effect
to that first described. Many of these solutions may be used in combination.
The acetate of copper and sulphate of copper impart a blue color to the
gelatine, and the sulphate of iron imparts a brownish orange color. Some of
these solutions render the gelatine sufficiently insoluble to admit of its being
washed with cold water, although they do not prevent it from dissolving in
hot water. I would, however, remark, that the solution which I prefer to
employ is that first herein-before described. The gelatine after being ren-
dered insoluble may be stained or colored by immersion in coloring solutions;
thus, a solution of bichromate of potash stains it yellow, a solution of
cochineal stains it red, and a solution of sulphate of indigo stains it blue.
Engravings made on the insoluble gelatine may be copied by means of the
electrotype, so as to obtain the engraving in copper. For this purpose .the
gelatine plate is covered with plumbago or other conducting substance, and
The insolu-
placed in the electrotype apparatus in the ordinary manner.
bility of the gelatine protects it from being dissolved or injured by the metallic
solution in the electrotype apparatus; a reverse of the plate is thus obtained
from which electrotype plates can be made in the usual manner.
glass coated with the gelatine, which is then rendered insoluble, as hercin-
before described, may be employed for photographic purposes, as they admit
of being immersed or covered with the various solutions without the gelatine
being dissolved off the glass; sheets of the insoluble.gelatine may also be used
for the same purpose.
Plates of
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein described, provided that the

page_text: peculiar character of either part of my Invention be retained; but what I
claim is,
Firstly, the mode or modes of constructing apparatus for delineating objects,
as herein-before described, in reference to Sheet I., Figures 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, and 18.
Secondly, the mode of delineating objects on sheets of glass or gelatine
in the apparatus shewn in Sheet I. by means of pencils made of the compo- .
sition or compositions herein-before mentioned.
Thirdly, the mode or modes herein-before described of delineating objects
upon gelatine with etching needles or other sharp or pointed instruments, and
also the transferring and printing of the delineations so made.
Fourthly, the mode or modes of enlarging delineations made in the manner
above mentioned on gelatine or glass by placing them in the apparatus herein-
before described, in reference to the Figures on Sheet II., and receiving the
image of the object on a screen or plate of glass ground on both sides, from
which it is copied or traced, as herein-before described.
Fifthly, the combination of the apparatus herein-before described in refer-
ence to Sheet II., or any similar apparatus, with a screen or plate of glass
ground on both sides, and supporting a sheet of gelatine for the purpose of
obtaining enlarged delineations of objects, as herein-before described.
Sixthly, the mode or modes of manufacturing insoluble gelatine in sheets,
or as a coating to the surface of glass, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I the said James Palmer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.