IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING SURFACES OF SHEET METAL, AND OF ARTICLES MADE FROM SHEET METAL
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Nind Hopkins and George
Hatton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August
1881.
ALFRED NIND HOPKINS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, and GEORGE HATTON, of Kidderminster, in the County of
Worcester, Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORNAMENTING SURFACES OF
SHEET METAL, AND OF ARTICLES MADE FROM SHEET METAL.”
This Invention consists in methods of producing designs or patterns upon
surfaces of sheet metal, either plain or coated with a second metal (as in the case
of tin-plate), and of producing designs or patterns upon articles made from sheet
metal, either plain or coated, as before described, the operation being performed in
such a manner that the design or pattern is slightly above the remaining surface of
the metal which forms a flat (slightly recessed) surface upon which the ground work
of the design is carried. The groundwork of the pattern consists of a coating of
japan, lacquer, enamel, oxide, or any suitable permanent material rising to the
level, or nearly so, of the higher surface of the metal forming the design. The
whole surface when finished is quite smooth, and has the appearance of having the
design inlaid with metal work.
The methods we employ in producing designs or patterns on the sheets or articles
aforesaid, and which designs or patterns have the appearance before described, vary
somewhat according to the metal or the size or shape of the article to be operated
upon, and are described as follows, namely :-
First. We produce the design upon the sheet or article in wax, asphaltum,
varnish, grease, or any suitable material that will protect the surface of the sheet
or article from the action of the acid we employ in the after process. An acid
solution which will dissolve the metal under treatment is then applied (by
immersing the sheet or article in the solution or by washing it therewith) to the
unprotected surface until the coating metal (if any) over such surface is partly or
wholly removed, or the metal of such surface otherwise reduced or recessed to
receive the japan or other material to form the groundwork of the design to the

page_text: thickness which will bring it flush, or nearly so, with the surface protected with the
wax or other protecting material. The sheet or article is then washed and dried,
and the protecting material removed, after which the permanent japan or other
material to form the groundwork of the design is laid over the entire surface of
the sheet or article to the desired thickness, and is then rubbed or levelled down so
as to leave the raised metallic pattern exposed at or slightly above the surface of
the groundwork, thus producing the desired appearance.
Second. We form the design or pattern upon sheet metal with the design raised
above the surface of the metal to receive the groundwork of the pattern by laying
the metal sheet under treatment flat against another metal sheet which has the
design engraved or sunk therein, and passing both under great pressure through
smooth highly polished metal rolls. The metal of the sheet under treatment is
pressed into the engraved or recessed parts of the sheet against which it is placed,
thus forming the raised part of the pattern on the sheet under treatment with the
groundwork consequently slightly recessed. The entire surface is then coated with
the material to form the groundwork of the pattern and treated in the manner
before described. The wax or other protecting material and the acid solution
before mentioned are of course dispensed with in this process. The sheet with
the pattern engraved or recessed therein forms the matrix," and is used for
repeated operations.
66
Third. We produce the design upon surfaces of metal sheets or articles made
from metal sheet, by coating the parts to form the groundwork of the design in
japan or other permanent material, leaving the surface of the metal forming the
pattern clear and bright, or by coating the whole surface with the japan or other
material to form the groundwork, and then removing the part where the metallic
pattern is desired to appear, after which in either case metal is deposited by the
electro-process or by immersion in molten metal upon the bright or metallic surfaces
forming the pattern, until the metal forming the pattern comes level with or some-
what above the japan or other permanent groundwork.
Fourth. We produce the design upon surfaces of metal sheet and of articles
made from metal sheet in wax, varnish, or any suitable material that will protect
the metal from oxidation, and afterwards oxidise the unprotected surface in any
suitable manner according to the nature of the metal under treatment. The
oxidised part thus forms the groundwork of the design. The protecting material is
then removed and metal is deposited upon the bright surface exposed (and which
forms the design) by the electro-process or by immersion in molten metal, until
the surface forming the pattern is raised above the oxidised surface as much as
may be desired.
Fifth. We stencil the groundwork of the design upon sheet iron or upon articles
made therefrom in any suitable material which will protect the surface of the iron
fromp the action of the acid employed in the next process, leaving the pattern
exposed. We then deposit on the exposed parts nickel or other metal of high
fusibility by the electro-process. The protecting medium is then removed and the
groundwork oxidized, or japanned, or otherwise inlaid, as previously described.