IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO THE GRAINING OR ORNAMENTATION OF PAINTED OR COLORED SURFACES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Alfred Meginn of Liverpool in the county of
Lancaster for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO
THE GRAINING OR ORNAMENTATION OF PAINTED OR COLORED SURFACES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Alfred Meginn at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th May 1883.
JOSEPH ALFRED MEGINN of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO THE GRAINING OR ORNAMENTATION OF PAINTED
OR COLOURED SURFACES
"
Graining by hand involves skilled labour to avoid this, numerous attempts have
been made to grain by template or machinery but hitherto with limited success as.
they were all as far as I am aware based on an imitation of the hand process or at
least the pressing aside, or rubbing or licking off the surplus material, by a surface
requiring cleaning repeatedly.
Now my invention is based on the principle of absorbing this surplus material
instead of pressing it aside or rubbing it off-as by some of the old processes a
joining is perceptible.-and my graining avoids all joining, each sheet being equal
in size to the surface to be grained.
My invention consists in forming the pattern in relief on an absorbing surface of
any suitable material-but I prefer absorbant paper similar to blotting paper but
thicker made say 12 yard lengths. These sheets having first been cut to size are
laid on the freshly coloured surface, pattern-side downward and pressure applied
to the back by means of a roller or pad. On withdrawing the paper it will be
found to have absorbed the wet graining or other colour below the relief portion of
its surface thus by a single application graining the entire surface of the panel at
one operation. By using several different patterns or even by inverting the same
pattern considerable variety can be introduced. The papers can be used several
times in immediate succession before their pores become too clogged to grain a
fresh surface.

page_text: Though paper has hitherto been alone mentioned I do not confine myself to it as
other material such as leather, felt, or a woven fabric might be made equally
absorbent but I prefer absorbent paper board to any other article.
The embossed paper is formed in any desirable manner but I prefer sheet paper
pulp pressed between cylinders or otherwise in such manner that it shall not be
hollow at the back. In fact I prefer paper embossed on both sides in cases of small
patterns. The cylinders can be engraved by acid, cutting or otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Alfred Meginn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th November 1883..
JOSEPH ALFRED MEGINN of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster
" IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO THE GRAINING OR ORNAMENTATION OF PAINTED
OR COLORED SURFACES."
Graining by hand requires skilled labour, and is very frequently done in an ugly
conventional manner, resembling very remotely the grain of natural wood. Many
attempts have been made to grain by machinery or template, but hitherto with, I
believe, little success. Some have been based on the principle of allowing the paint
to set, and then eating it off in parts to a pattern or template, others depend on
the action of a roller or plate pressed against the wet surface, and licking off or
pressing to one side the superfluous material. This involves constant cleaning or
wiping of the roller or plate, and the joining up of the various areas covered by
the plate, or passed over by the roller, and the graining of the ends of the panels,
in the case of rollers, where the roller cannot get, owing to its circular contour,
requires skilled labour, and neutralizes all advantage gained from the mechanism.
Now my invention is based on the principle of absorbing this surplus material,
instead of pressing it aside or rubbing it off, and my graining avoids all joining,
each sheet being equal in size to the surface to be grained.
My invention consists in forming the pattern in relief on an absorbing surface of
any suitable material, but I prefer absorbent paper, similar to blotting paper but
thicker made say 12 yard lengths. These sheets having first been cut to size, are
laid on the freshly coloured surface, pattern side downward, and pressure applied
to the back by means of a roller or pad. On withdrawing the paper, it will be
found to have absorbed the wet graining or other colour below the relief portion
of its surface, thus by a single application graining the entire surface of the panel
at one operation. By using several different patterns, or even by inverting the
same pattern, considerable variety can be introduced. The papers can be used
several times in immediate succession, before their pores become too clogged to
grain a fresh surface. When too clogged it can be thrown away or treated with
solvents and repulped.
Though paper only has been mentioned hitherto, I do not confine myself to that,

page_text: on the contrary, wood pulp not too strongly pressed, straw-board or any other
absorbent material, sufficiently flexible or capable of being moulded to the required
form will do, and the sheets or strips can be either made entirely of the absorbent
material, or have a backing of cloth or other material, and if desirable the absorbent
material can be made in small pieces and stuck on this backing, stripped off and
renewed from time to time. It can be embossed in any desirable manner but I
prefer passing the wet absorbent material between cylinders, engraved or indented
with the desired pattern, so that the sheets shall not be hollow on the back, and
if desired, both sides can be embossed, and thus twice the number of applications
can be made from one sheet than can be obtained from one single-sided sheet.
This double-sided plan is only applicable without special precautions, to small or
very fully worked up patterns destitute of large broad blanks.
Having now described my invention and the best mode known to me of
carrying it into effect, I claim as my invention to be protected under letters
patent :-
1st. The manufacture and use of embossed absorbent sheets for graining, substantially
as described.
2nd. The process of graining surfaces, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Alfred Meginn have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty-seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness
J. OWDEN O'BRIEN
Clerk to Messrs W. P Thompson & Co
Patent Agents
Liverpool & London
JOSEPH A MEGINN
(L.S.)