US378420A - Method of decorating metal - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

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PATENT Ormes.

JOHN BAYNES, OF VVESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF DECORATlNG METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,420, dated February 28, 1888.

Application filed Muy 21,1887. Serial No. 238.990. (No specimens.)

Beit known that I, JOHN BAYNES, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Westchester county, New York, United Stat-es of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decorating Metal, of which the following is a specification.

The improvement; is intended to apply to all cases where portions of a previously-plated surface are bitten by acid in the manner generally known as etching I have discovcred that a peculiar effect, highly conducive tothe ornamental appearance, is induced by polishing with a soft surface, as a buff-wheel, so that the effect will be felt on the elevations and a little distance down into the depressions, thus rounding the corners 'or edges ot' the high parts, and ultimately1 coating the whole with lacquer' and staining the whole or a portion of the surface.

l' will describe the invention as applied to the decoration of watch-backs.

The accompanying drawings form a part of thisspecitication and represent what l consider thc best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure l is a transverse section through a watch-baci; which has been plated with gold or other metal and having a coating of resist dissolved away according to the iigures required. It is the condition ready for immersion in the acid.v Fig. 2 shows the same immersed in the acid. Fig. 3 shows a portion of the same on a larger scale after the biting by the acid has been completed and all the re inaining resist has been cleaned off. Fig. 4 shows the saine watch-back in the act of being treated by a soft buftwhcel to polish the entire surface, which enters the depressions, rounding or chanifcring thc edges thereof. Fig. 5 is a section of a portion on a larger scale, showing the condition induced in the boundaries or edges of its several depressions by the action ofthe buff-wheel. Fig. 6 shows the same after a. uniform coating of lacquer has been applied. Fig. 7 is a face view of the completed watclr back.

A is thc body of the mclalof the watch-back. c is a coating o1." gold or other metal thereon;

l, a partial coating of wax, bitumen, or other material or composition, which is capable of serving as a resistf for the acid.

l employ photography in producing the proper designs with the patches B of resist, or with clear spaces left between them. Such are detailed in a patent to me dated August 7, 1883, No. 282,485, and is briey as follows: A mixture of ninety per cent. of asphaltum with ten percent. of gum-kauri is sufficienti y sen sitive to the action of light to bea practicable photographing medium. lt is also a resist for the ordinary etching-acid. By coating the whole surface with a thin uniform layer of this resist, then exposing the surface to a strong light undera negativehaving the proper figure sharply defined for a sufficient period, C eight hours is prefcrable,) then a light washing with oil of turpentine or benzole to remove all the unaffected parts will leave the portions where the light has struck still continuously coated with the resist. When the acid has bitten the metal sufficiently to bite through the plating a and also to some depth into the body A, the Whole is liberally washed with water, and the patches of resist B are removed by a suitable solvent, as oil of turpentine, and the entire metal surface nally thoroughly cleaned. The etched or sunk portions c are roughened by the action of the acid, and present a different appearance by reason of that fact. The snrface thus roughened also holds very tenacionsly the staining material which is applied.

Vhen the etching and cleaning operations are completed, l apply the entire surface gently and skillfully to a rapidlyrevolving mass, D, of soft material, as cotton, fabric, felt, or chamois leather, technically termed a buff- Wheel, holding the Watch-back in various positions thereto. The soft material rubs' across its surface, and entering by gentle pressure a little into the everal depressions c, delicately rounds the edges of all the raised parts b, as indicated by b. This changes the eiiect. The decorated surface now shines in all positions in which it may be held if there is a sufficient quantity of light thrown on it in any direction. By applying any suitable staining ma terial, G, the spaces c are given any desired tint, and the stain is wiped from the high portions b while it is fresh. Finally, the whole surface is covered with athin and highlytransparent lacquer, H. The decoratedsurface thus produced differs materially from any before lOO known to me both in the mode of its manuwhich consists in photo-etching, staining the facture and in' the decorative effect produced. sunk and roughened portions, and rounding The designs may be varied indefinitely. the edges thereof by bufng.

' hat I claim as my invention is- In testimony whereofhavesigned my name 15 5 1. The method of decorating metl, substanto this specification in the presence of two sul)4 tially as hereinbel'ore set forth, which consists scribing Witnesses. in plating` with a different metal, photograph- T r ing designs thereon in resist, etching the ex- JOHD RAYA ES' posed surfaces and bufng the edges thereof. Vitnesses: 1o 2. The method of decorating metallic sur- P. KEMBLE, Jr.,

faces, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, BERNARD J. KELLY.

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