US179316A - Improvement in processes of preparing and producing colored photographs on glass - Google Patents

Description

BENJAMIN T. IRISH, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES OF PREPARING AND PRODUCING COLORED PHOTOGRAPHS ON GLASS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

179,3 l6, dated June 27, 1876; application filed May 15, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN T. IRISH, of New Bedford, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and Improved Methods of Making Colored Photographs on Glass, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to the production of colored pictures by mounting a photograph on glass, removing the paper, so as to render the print transparent, and then coloring the picture on the back. This method has been practiced for many years with more or less success; but as heretofore practiced it has been difficult and uncertain, and the results obtained have not been considered artistic.

My invention consists in certain improve ments on the method referred to, which result in the obtaining of efiects superior to those obtained by any. other system known to me.

I shall first describe my process or method in detail, and will then point out those features and then peeling the card away from the pho-. tographic paper. The unmounted photographis now attached by its face to a glass by means of a paste made of ten parts water, four parts starch, and one part nitrate of strontium, stirred, dissolved, and boiled until the mixture has cooked well.

Other pastes or materials, however, may be used to attach the photograph to the glass, if desired. The paste above described is one good material for the purpose.

After the photograph is aflixed to the glass, as stated, it is left until all moisture has dried out of it, and the paper is then made transparent as follows: The paper is ground down until it looks quite dark and very thin, or, possibly, until the surface film next to the glass begins to be very slightly scratched. The grinding is effected by emery-cloth or fine sandpaper, or the like, with which the back of the photograph is rubbed briskly until the paper is nearly ground 011' from the glass. When it is thus ground sufficiently and evenly-i-t is placed in a bath of melted parafiine, for which other substances, such as bees-wax or spermaceti, may be substituted. ,It is there left for a few moments, and is then removed, and all surplus wax is rubbed with a cloth from the back of the picture. It cools immediately, andr'is then clear and transparent, and ready for coloring or painting.

This method of rendering photographic paper transparent, and preparing it for coloring or painting, is a decided improvement over any system heretofore devised. The improvement is due to the conjoined operations of grinding and treating the paper with paraflinewax or its equivalent.

I am aware, as above said, that it is not new with me to remove the greater portion of the body of the mounted paper; but I am not aware that this has ever been before effected by grindingdown the dry paper. Nor am I aware that the grinding operation, or, indeed, any method of removing the paper, has ever ment. I exclude from the category of wax the balsams, oils, and varnishes which have been used for the purpose of giving the picture not attained by any other method of which I have knowledge.

In addition to the beauty of the effect, further advantages are derived, in that there is freedom from liability to spot, or to become injured by dust, moisture, handling, 85c, and durability of the transparency and picture is obtained. After the photographic print has been rendered transparent, as described, it is then painted with oil-colors; or such parts as may be desired are touched up direct upon the back of the picture itself. Then another glass isplaced at the back of the picture, and oilcolors are put upon the back of this second glass, and the various tints are placed opposite such' parts of the picture as may be debeen used in conjunction with the wax treatthe picture with a softness, and yet brilliancy,

The process of preparing and producing 001- 1 ored photographs on glass, by first mounting the photograph on glass, facedownward, then grinding it thin from the back, and then treatin g it with parafline or its equivalent, as specified, for the after reception of oil-colors, ap-

plied directly totheback of the picture, or to a second glass, to be applied as a backing, substantially as herein described.

In testi'lnonywhereoflhave hereunto signed my name this 13th day of May, A. D. 1876. BENJAMIN '1. IRISH. Witnesses: v

LEML. T. WILIICOX, GEO. A. COVELL, Jr.