Part 1 — CORRESPONDENCE

BETWEEN THE U. S. COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS AND JAMES A. CUTTING, RELATIVE TO HIS APPLICATIONS FOR LETTERS PATENT.

United States Patent Office, April 17, 1854.

Sir: Your application for letters patent for an alleged improvement in making photographic pictures, having been submitted to the proper examiner, is rejected. As the use of alcohol to absorb water in hasty desiccation is understood to be commonly practical in most chemical laboratories, no reference is thought necessary for the rejection of the first claim.

Secondly, the mixture of alcohol and ether in unlimited proportions to dissolve gun cotton for photographic purposes, is common. [See Gaudin's Process, "Humphrey's Daguerreian Journal," vol. 4, p. 229.]

Thirdly, collodion with bromide basis, is not new. [See General Remarks on Collodion, by Gaudin, "Photographic Art Journal," 1st Series, vol. 6, p. 348.]

The two articles above referred to are translated from the French, and contain also, it is believed, sufficient to show that the subject of the fourth claim has been anticipated, rendering further reference unnecessary.

Respectfully yours, &c., S. F. Shugert, Acting Commissioner.

J. A. Cutting (care of C. G. Page), Washington, D. C.

Jane 17, 1854.

Sir: In regard to the use of bromide bases with collodion, I am prepared to show that I had it in successful use in the month of April, 1853; and if the circumstances require legal proof of the same, it will be furnished, though at some expense of time and money to me; and as the question is only between the public and myself, I trust the office will see fit to grant me a patent for the same.

James A. Cutting.

Hon. Chas. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.

United States Patent Office, April 19, 1854.

Sir: In your letter of the 17th, you say that, if necessary, proof can be given that you had in successful use, in the month of April, 1853, collodion prepared with a bromide oasis. On referring to the "Journal of the Photographic Society," of London, No. 6 (June, 1853), page 70, you will see that Sir John Herschel used bromide for the same purpose previous to the year 1840. Ammonia, in various combinations, has long been in use for the preparation of sensitive collodions. [See Report of the British Association, 1850, p. 150, "Journal of the Photographic Society" No. 9, 1853, p. 116.] F. M. Lyndes' process and compositions show that he has used iodine, bromide, and chloride of ammonium; and Count de Montegon, in the same journal, No. 2, April, 1853; page 24, for his fifth composition of collodion, used liquid ammonia. These are all regarded as equivalents for your compositions covered by the fourth claim; if, however, there is a difference, you are at liberty to show in what it consists; and the examination is accordingly postponed to await your action.

Yours, &c., C. Mason, Commissioner.

J. A. Cutting (care of C. G. Page), Washington, D. C.

Washington, June 21, 1854.

Sir: In reply to your communications of the 19th instant, and April 17th, 1854, I propose to modify my claims as follows, to wit:

After the first clause of the claim, nineteenth line, ending with the words "set forth," add as follows: "I do not claim the use of alcohol as a desiccating agent, but limit my claim to its special use and purpose, as herein stated."

Erase the fourth clause of the claim, commencing on the twenty-sixth line, and ending with the words "set forth" on the thirtieth line.

In reply to the objection raised by the office that "bromide was used in 1840," I have to say that I was fully aware of the employment of bromide in various ways for photographic purposes, and that I have also, in common with photographers, known the extreme difficulty of using bromide, and that notwithstanding the sensitiveness imparted by bromide to other compounds, it has been almost universally discarded by practical photographers. The discovery of collodion as a vehicle for sensitive materials is of recent date, and there seems to have been a backwardness on the part of photographers to attempt bromide bases with collodion, and so far, whatever trials have been made subsequent to my discovery, it is evident that they have been attended with the results of "misty pictures." To whatever my success may be due, I maintain that I have been the first to use a bromide base with collodion—and with that only do I claim it—and the results in my pictures show with what success.

Respectfully, James A. Cutting, By Att'y, Chas. G. Page.

Hon. Chas. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.

United States Patent Office, June 21, 1854

Sir: Your specification of an improvement in composition for producing photographic pictures is herewith returned for a slight amendment, which is, to omit the reference to specimens which do not accompany the patent, and to correct an error in the oath as noted on the margin.

Yours, &c., C. Mason, Commissioner.

James A. Cutting, 142 Hanover st.; Boston, Mass.

United States Patent Office, June 22, 1854.

Sir: By reading a paper by Mr. W. Crookes in the "Journal of the Photographic Society, London," No. 7, p. 86, "on the employment of bromine in collodion," it is believed you will be satisfied that the date there given on which he used bromized collodion is prior to your claim to having used it; he refers to p. 72, No, 6, published in June, 1853, for experiments made with bromized collodion, which paper is dated June 2d, 1853. Mr. Isaac Rehn, of Philadelphia, has testified to having seen you make use of a bromide base, viz., bromide of potassium and collodion, about the 1st of July, 1853, or about one month after the date of Mr. Crookes' paper in England. The specification is accordingly returned, that you may cancel the fourth claim, and amend the papers to suit.

Yours, &c., C. Mason, Commissioner.

Mr. J. A. Cutting, (care of C. G. Page), Washington, D. C.

PATENT FOR THE USE OF CAMPHOR IN COMBINATION WITH IODIZED COLLODION.

The schedule referred to in the Letters Patent, and making part of the same.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known, that I, James A. Cutting, of the City of Boston, County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful improvement in positive photographic pictures on glass, and I do hereby declare the following to be an exact description thereof:

The nature of my invention consists in the use of gum camphor, in addition to the existing materials in the preparation of collodion for positive photographic pictures on glass.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the process as follows:

Having prepared the collodion in the usual manner, I take a pint bottle, in which I introduce twelve ounces of collodion, to which I add one drachm of iodide of potassium, dissolved in alcohol. I then shake the mixture thoroughly, and add thereto eighteen grains of refined gum camphor, shaking the mixture again, until the whole is combined, then allow it to settle, when it is lit for use.

The advantages of my improvement consist in the increased vigor of the delineations of the half-tones of positive pictures on glass, giving greater depth and rotundity thereto, which render this combination exceedingly useful for microscopic pictures, as well as the ordinary purposes of portraiture.

T would have it understood that the combination of camphor with iodide of potassium and collodion, as above specified, is adapted solely to the production of positive pictures on glass and not to the production of negative pictures on glass, from which positive pictures on paper may be printed, as a sufficient degree of opacity is not thus afforded for that purpose.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the use of camphor, in combination with iodized collodion, as set forth in the specification.

James A. Cutting.

Samuel Grubb, I. Rehn. } Witnesses.

Dated, July 4th, 1854.

PATENT FOR THE USE OF BALSAM FOR SEALING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES ON GLASS.

The schedule referred to in Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, James A. Cutting, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful improvements in photographic pictures on glass, and I do hereby declare the following to be an exact description thereof:

The nature of my improvement consists in the application of a coating of balsam of fir to the side of the glass on which the picture is made, over which coating I place another glass of equal size with the one on which the picture is.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the process as follows:

After thoroughly cleaning a glass plate of the same size as that on which the picture to be secured is made, and moving all dust from the picture, I hold the glass containing the picture in a horizontal position with the pictured side uppermost, then apply the balsam in a line along one edge of the glass and placing one edge of the second glass in close contact with the first, containing the balsam, press them gradually together towards the opposite edge, causing the balsam to flow by a gentle pressure towards the opposite edge, in this manner excluding all air from between the glasses; then by an even pressure exclude the superabundant balsam. The advantages of my improvements are, that by a mechanical combination of the balsam with the picture it is greatly increased in strength and beauty, by an additional brilliancy and the exhibition of the most minute delineations; and by the application of the second glass in combination with the balsam, the picture is hermetically sealed and rendered entirely permanent, by being secured from the influence of both air and moisture, and also from injury by dust or other extraneous matter, or acid vapors, or any violence less than what could occasion the fracture of the plate glass.

I am aware of the previous use of balsam for the cementing of lenses and the securing of microscopic objects, and other like purposes, and do not therefore extend my claim to any of these uses; but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the combination of balsam with photographic pictures on glass, and with additional glass by which they; with the balsam, are hermetically sealed, as described in the specifications; and for the purposes therein set forth, and for no other.

James A. Cutting.

Issac Rehn, Samuel Grubb. } Witnesses.

Dated July 11th, 1854.

PATENT FOR DISPLACING WATER FROM SOLUBLE COTTON BY THE USE OF ALCOHOL; ALSO, FOR THE USE OF BROMIDE OF POTASSIUM IN COMBINATION WITH COLLODION.

The schedule referred to in these Letters Patent, and making part of the same.

To all to whom these presents shall come:

Be it known that I, James A. Cutting, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain improvements in making photographic pictures, and that the following is a full, clear and exact description of the principle or character which distinguishes them from all other things before known, and of the usual manner of making, modifying, and using the same.

My improvements relate to that class of photographic pictures in which the pictures are obtained upon a prepared film of glass or other substance.

The film which I employ is collodion, and in order to insure success, the collodion must be prepared after my own process, as follows: Take 3 ounces (Troy) of pure dry nitrate potassa, and pulverize in a clean glass mortar; add to this 2½ ounces, fluid measure, of pure sulphuric acid, and stir the mixture with a glass rod; immerse in this liquid, 80 grains of clean, dry cotton, and knead the mass of cotton in the liquid for about Ave minutes; remove the cotton and quickly wash it, till every trace of acid is gone, and it must then be dried quickly—for I have discovered that the more rapidly the cotton is dried, the more sensitive the collodion; and I have found the best effects produced by displacing the water from the cotton by strong alcohol.

To prepare the collodion, take 10 ounces concentrated sulphuric ether, 60° Baumé, and mix this with 6 ounces of 95 per cent. alcohol. To this mixture add the prepared cotton, in quantity sufficient to make a collodion as thick as it can, and yet at the same time flow evenly over the surface of glass. Let it settle clear, and decant the solution.

In order to "excite" this collodion, take a deep 1 ounce vial—introduce 2½ grains of bromide of potassium, and add water, drop by drop, to make a saturated solution. In this solution dissolve 2½ grains of iodide of potassium, then add 1 ounce of collodion, and shake well. Let it settle clear and decant for use.

The solution must be decanted every day. In order to make the most sensitive collodion, I dissolve the bromide and iodide of potassium and the collodion[G] in a saturated solution of carbonate of ammonia in water. In using this collodion, pour it upon a clean glass plate to form a film in the usual way, and as soon as the collodion has set, and before it becomes dry, immerse the plate in a bath of nitrate of silver, made with 30 grains of nitrate of silver, 2 grains of iodide of silver, and 1 ounce water. Take the plate directly from the bath to the camera, and after sufficient exposure, the plate is taken to a dark room to develope the impression with the following solution: 'Take pyrogallic acid, 4 grains; acetic acid, No. 8, 1 ounce; dissolve and filter. For use, take of this liquid 1½ drachms, diluted with 6½ drachms of water, and when the impression is sufficiently developed, pour off the liquid, and immerse the plate in a solution of the hyposulphite of soda, 4 ounces to the pint of water. Wash the plate with pure water, and dry it in the usual way.

The advantages of the above process are, the brief time required to produce an impression, and the sharpness of the pictures. Portraits can be taken with as much facility as with the Daguerreotype, and the pictures are sharp and of excellent tone. The impression thus obtained is negative, and the positive picture is produced in the usual way. I denominate this the mezzographic process.

What I claim as my improvements in the process of obtaining photographic pictures, are—

First. Displacing the water from the cotton, for this purpose, with strong alcohol, as set forth. I do not claim the use of alcohol as a desiccating agent, but limit my claim to its special use and purpose, as herein stated.

Second. The employment of bromide of potassium in combination with collodion.

James A. Cutting.

T. Campbell, Samuel Grubb. } Witnesses.

Dated July 11th, 1854.

PATENT FOR THE USE OF JAPANNED SURFACES PREVIOUSLY PREPARED UPON IRON OR OTHER METALLIC OR MINERAL SHEETS OR PLATES IN THE COLLODION PROCESS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hamilton L. Smith, of Gambier, in the County of Knox, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Photographic Pictures, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and of the manner of making and using my invention or discovery.

The nature of my invention or discovery relates to the taking of positive pictures by the photographic process, upon a black japanned surface prepared upon iron or any other metallic plates or sheets, and consists in the use of collodion, and a solution of a salt of silver, and an ordinary camera.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention. I will proceed to describe the manner of preparing and applying it which I have found to answer well in practice; not confining myself, however, to the special process or processes herein described, so long as the characteristics of the invention remain the same.

I first take metallic sheets, preferring for the purpose iron, as this metal is the only one, except the precious metals, which is without action on the silver salts generally used, as also the other chemicals; but other metallic or mineral sheets may be used, and I do not, therefore, confine myself specially to any particular metal. Upon each of the sheets is prepared a black japanned or varnished surface, such as is used by tinners or japanners for coating metallic and other surfaces. The japan or varnish may be made and applied as follows:—Take one quart of raw linseed oil; add to this two ounces of asphaltum and sufficient umber, or lamp black, to give the desired shade. Boil these ingredients until a portion dropped on a cool surface will remain in a round spot without flowing away. It is then thick enough to use. If it should be too thick, it can readily be thinned with spirits of turpentine. Apply the japan to the sheets or plates with a brush, and after allowing it to stand a short time, until the marks of the brush disappear, place the sheets or plates in a drying oven and submit them to heat until the surface will bear the finger to be drawn over it without bringing off the japan; it may, if found necessary, be coated again and treated in a similar way, and finally polished with rotten-stone and oil, or other polishing material. Other ingredients may be used in making the japan, such as mastic, lac or copal varnish, and other shades of coloring matter may be used.

By collodion I mean any solution of gun-cotton or pyroxyline; and by a solution of salt of silver, I mean any of the salts thereof which can be used in photography for obtaining positive impressions by a camera.

A japanned surface may be prepared on glass, or on leather and other fibrous materials. Or glass may be made black by means of coloring matter introduced or embodied with the glass, so as to be in instead of on the glass. But foreseeing the difficulty of embracing all these applications in one application, I do not desire to have them so considered; but reserve the right to hereafter apply for such application of my general principle as I may deem essential, or of sufficient importance to be protected by Letters Patent. And it might be proper to add, that vulcanized gutta-percha or indurated rubber may be used as the basis upon which, or in which the japanned surface may be made. The invention, however, consists mainly on the surface, so that a silver picture may be made upon it, said surface forming the background of the picture.

The ingredients for fixing and developing the positive impression, upon the japanned surface may be the same as those heretofore essayed by me in a former application, and need not again be repeated here. Though other chemicals, or other proportions of the same chemicals, may be used.

Having thus fully described the nature of my improvement in photographic pictures, and shown how the same may be accomplished, what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:—

The obtaining positive impressions upon a japanned surface previously prepared upon an iron or other metallic or mineral sheet or plate, by means of collodion and a solution of a salt of silver and a camera, substantially as herein described.

Hamilton L. Smith.

Geo. T. Chapman. James H. Lee. } Witnesses.

Dated February, 19th, 1856.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES ON OIL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Joel Haywood Tatum, of the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have discovered or invented a new and useful preparation of oil ground or body, and mode of preparing the same by which Photographic impressions, such as portraits of all sizes, landscapes or still life may be produced upon such oil prepared ground body or surface, whether upon canvass, mill-board, pannel, or other body whatever, without any permanent injury to such body, ground or surface for the reception of colors in oil (water) or dry (paste), without impairing the texture, quality, durability, or other desirable quality of the body ground, or surface rendered so impressible, and give the following as the Process used in accomplishing the result.

I take ordinary prepared canvass, mill-board, pannel or other substance for the reception of oil painting by any composition of oil (or oleaginous substance) and oxide of lead or zinc, Spanish whiting, Fuller's earth, or their equivalents, singly or in combination, and after having removed all irregularities or lumps from the surface I damp or wet the surface with spirits of wine, and wipe clean; after which, I treat the surface with a solution of potassium or any good alkali, regulating the strength to the amount of oil in the body-ground or surface to be treated (ordinarily 1 oz. of super, carb. soda to 1 pint of water), as soon as the surface has uniformly changed color allow the surplus solution to run off, wash off by pouring over the surface clean water, let dry, but not by the fire or in the sun, as that would bring out the oil to the surface. When dry, treat the surface again with a solution of the chloride of sodium (of the strength ordinarily used and prescribed for paper positives), decant from the surface the superfluous fluid after a minute, and let dry, as before; remove to a dark room, and treat the surface with a solution of the nitrate of silver, its strength being governed by the strength of impression desired, usually 18 grains of nitrate of silver to 1 oz. of distilled water; allow the solution to float upon the surface a few moments to insure uniformity of deposit, and then decant the surplus, in the bottle or lath; place a small piece of filtering paper on the edge of the body, and place that, edge down, to facilitate the drainage; when dry, place the negative impression (which must previously have been obtained, by the use of the camera, either on collodion or albumen upon glass or upon paper) upon the body or ground to receive the impression in the position the picture is desired, with the face of the negative to the surface of the body to receive the impression. If the negative impression does not cover the whole surface, then a mat should be used so as to extend to the edge of the ground on all sides. Expose to the light, and, when sufficiently long, remove the negative into a dark room (lighted with a feeble lamp); dash over the impression a weak solution of hyposulphite of soda, and let stand a few moments; then wash off with a very dilute acid of only sufficient strength to neutralize the alkalies remaining upon the surface, usually five or six drops of sulphuric acid to an oz. of water is sufficient.

What I claim as my own invention and discovery, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the mode of preparing and rendering oil (oroleaginous) bodies, grounds, or surfaces impressible or sensitive to the Photographic art by the temporary destruction or chemical change of the oil or oleaginous matter of the immediate surface only, by the use of spirits of wine and alkaline solution, or their equivalents, and, after fixing the impression by the use of hyposulphate of soda, the use of dilute acid, by which last application the alkalies are neutralized and the oil restored with the impression permanent upon the surface.

Disclaiming everything heretofore known in the production of Photographic pictures upon paper or any unoiled body or surface.

Joel Haywood Tatum.

J. S. Hollingshead, E. G. Handy. } Witnesses.

Original, dated April, 15. 1856. Re-issue, dated May 13, 1856.

PATENT FOR MAKING THE BORDER OF THE PICTURE TRANSPARENT, AND PLACING THE MAT BACK OF THE PICTURE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Albert Bisbee, of Columbus, in the County of Franklin and State of Ohio, and Y. Day, of Nashville, in the County of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful improvements in photographic pictures on glass, and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear and exact description of the same.

The nature of our invention consists in making the edges of the coating or film on the glass transparent so that the picture is made only on the central part of the glass, and extending so far as to meet the inside edge of the mat or border, generally used in putting up such pictures, and then placing the mat back of the picture.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe the same as follows:—

We place inside of the camera, and about one-tenth of the focal distance of the lens from the glass, a board having an aperture of any desired pattern that we wish the edges to have. This board shades the edges of the glass, thereby leaving them transparent in the picture. Then the picture, being taken in the usual manner, is finished by varnishing with transparent white varnish, and then backed with japan varnish, care being taken to have the japan on the back extend only to meet the inside edges of the mat. Then we place the mat back of the picture and secure it in its place with the preserver.

If applied to the process, as patented by J. A. Cutting, with two glasses, the picture is made as above described, and then the second glass is applied, and finished as before by backing with japan.

The advantage of our improvement, is in having the mat protected from being soiled, and making the picture appear more round, causing an illusion as though the picture or image was suspended in the atmosphere, clear from the background.

Having thus fully described the nature of our invention, what we claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is, making the border of the picture transparent and placing the mat back of the picture, as described in the above specification, and for the purpose set forth.

Witnesses to the signature of A. Bisbee. C. A. Barker, Wm. Field. } A. Bisbee.

Witnesses to the signature of Y. Day. B. Bingham, W. Atkins. } Y. Day.

Dated May 27th, 1856.

PATENT FOR THE APPLICATION OF COLORING SUBSTANCES, OR MATTER, TO PHOTOGRAPHIC IMPRESSIONS.

Be it known that I, Giles Langdell, and Marcus A. Root, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved mode of coloring daguerreotype and other photographic portraits or pictures made on glass, metal or other material; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description:—

The nature of our invention or discovery consists in providing and applying both mineral and vegetable coloring matters in solution to the daguerreotype or any other photographic impression, introducing the said coloring matter either into the collodion or the developer, or by pouring upon the plate after the impression is fixed by hyposulphite of soda, or the cyanide of potassium, or by any other means.

The several coloring substances, E. G. red saunders, alkanet, dragons' blood, &c., &c., can be used separately or in conjunction or compounded with various mineral substances, or with any coloring matters obtained from other roots, woods, gums or other vegetable matter, the proportions or quantity employed being varied or regulated by the lightness or depth and strength of tone which may, from time to time, be required.

The desired or similar results may be obtained from different formulæ. The following answers for all practical purposes, but may be varied at pleasure:—

Digest for two or three days red saunders (pterocarpus santalinus) half a pound in three pints of water to which the aqua-ammonia has been added. Then pour off the solution and precipitate by the addition of nitric acid. Wash the precipitate thoroughly with water and dry it. Then dissolve it in strong alcohol and dilute with the same as required to produce the tone or tint that may be desired. Alkanet (anchusa tinctoria) may be prepared in the same way. Dragons' blood dissolved in alcohol and treated in the same manner will produce the various shades of yellow. The foregoing articles, and also madder, indigo, cochineal, and some other coloring substances both vegetable and mineral alone or combined, will produce pleasing results when applied as follows (although they may be introduced into the collodion):—

We prefer first to develope the impression, then to fix and dry it, and afterwards to flow on the toning or tinting solution, as collodion or varnish, &c., is poured upon the plate, allowing the solution to run off the corner, and then levelling the plate to make the fluid flow uniformly over and tint the whole surface of the plate evenly.

Then wash at once and thoroughly with clean water, and stand the plate up to dry, after which it may be colored (the dress of any tint or color desired—the face, hands, &c., are flesh tint) with dry colors (as is usual in coloring daguerreotypes) applied to the collodion or upon the varnish.

What we claim as our invention and discovery, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the application of coloring substances or matter to Photographic impressions or pictures upon glass or metal, or other material in the form and manner herein described.

Giles Langdell [L. S.] M. A. Root. [L. S.]

James J. B. Ogle, Williams Ogle, } Witnesses.

Dated July 15th, 1856.

PATENT FOR THE USE OF ALBUMENIZED COLLODION.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it remembered, that I, Victor M. Griswold, of the City of Lancaster, in the County of Fairfield and State of Ohio, have invented certain improvements in the art and mode of taking Photographic Pictures, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof:

The nature of my invention consists in an improvement in the photographic art of taking pictures. To one quart of collodion prepared in the usual way or manner, I add three ounces of a solution prepared thus: The clear solution which results from the whites of eggs which have been well beaten, and one equal bulk of pure soft water. When this is added to the collodion, it is thrown to the bottom in long stringy white masses, which after a few days impart to the liquid albuminous properties, rendering the film closer in texture, and bringing out all the minor details more sharply and perfectly than by the ordinary collodion, and giving to the picture a glossy and sparkling tone, unlike any produced by other means.

Another method which I frequently adopt is thus; albumen as above, without water, to which is added iodide of potassium forty grains; this throws down the albumen in jelly-like masses, and, when added to the collodion, not only iodizes it, but produces the same effect upon the collodion as by the formula above. Also, another method: one ounce of chloroform, to which is added one half ounce of albumen, prepared as above, iodized; this forms also a soft semi-transparent jelly, which on being added to the collodion produces perhaps the best effect of any of these preparations.

This addition of albumen also answers a far better purpose, than any that has hitherto been employed for freeing old samples of collodion from free iodine held in suspension by which they can be rendered as clear and limpid as they were when first mixed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the addition of albumen to collodion in the manner and for the purpose herein and above specified.

V. M. Griswold.

Alfred M'Veigh, J. C. Heuley. } Witnesses.

Patented July 15th, 1856.

COLORING AMBROTYPES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, D. B. Spooner and H. B. Spooner, of Springfield, in the County of Hampden, in the State of Massachusetts, having invented new and useful improvements in coloring Ambrotype or Photographic Pictures on glass, and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof:—

The nature of our invention consists, in so preparing the collodion film containing the picture in alternate placers with gum or other suitable material, so that when a penetrating dye or pigment, in a solution that will penetrate the collodion film, may be deposited on any particular portion of the picture between the collodion film and the glass, in order to give it the requisite color properly distributed between the face, drapery, &c.

The following is the process adopted:—

After the picture is thoroughly washed and dried, proceed with a brush to cover any portion of the picture not designed to take the color, with a solution of gum or any other substance insoluble in the coloring solution, but soluble in any other liquid in which the coloring matter is not soluble.

E. G.—Take a solution of gum arabic in water, and apply it to a portion of the picture. Now take a solution of turmeric in alcohol, and pour it upon the collodion surface of the picture, and you immediately get a deposit of the coloring matter between the collodion and the glass, the portion of the picture covered with the gum not being penetrated by the alcohol, is protected from the color while all other portions are colored.

Then, by washing the picture in water, the gum is dissolved and washed off, and the parts uncolored may remain in their natural state without color, or, by applying the gum solution to the portion already colored with a part of the uncolored portion, another color may be produced by the use of another pigment in the same manner as before described.

In this manner any number of colors may be produced; or, when a small portion only of the picture is to be colored, the whole of the picture may be colored and dried, and then that portion which is to retain the color may be covered with the gum solution, and the coloring matter not protected by the gum may be extracted with alcohol or other solvent, and the gum washed off as before.

The advantages of our invention consist in depositing the coloring matter in its various tints on the front side of the picture between the collodion and the glass, instead of coloring the fibre of the collodion, or the upper side of it, as is common, which does not show through to the positive side of the picture on account of the opacity of the silver deposit which forms the picture.

We do not claim the coloring of a picture all over with a single tint, but

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the application of gum arabic or other equivalent material, as set forth in the specification, for the purposes therein described, and no other.

D. B. Spooner. H. B. Spooner.

George W. Adams Chas. H. Codman. } Witnesses.

Patented August 5, 1856.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE COLLODIO-ALBUMEN PROCESS.

COLLODIO-ALBUMEN PROCESS.

This is a process, invented by Dr. Taupenot, for obtaining negatives on glass, which bids fair to outrival all others, being easy of manipulation, and giving results of the most exquisite minutiæ and beauty. Glass plates, when prepared and excited by this process, may be kept at least a fortnight before being developed, and these plates when exposed in the frame may be developed immediately, or kept for days before commencing this operation. Indeed it is quite possible to prepare and excite a number of plates before leaving home to go on a tour of twelve or fourteen days; to expose the plates at any time or place during the journey, and bring them home to be developed.

The manipulation may be said to consist of nine distinct operations.

1. Cleaning the plate. 2. Coating with iodized collodion. 3. Exciting the collodion film. 4. Coating with albumen. 5. Exciting the albumen coating. 6. Exposure in the camera. 7. Developing the image. 8. Fixing the image. 9. Varnishing the plate.

Before describing these operations, I propose to give clear directions for preparing the necessary solutions, merely promising that, where I have deviated from the inventor's plan, it has been after performing careful experiments, to test the merits of the two modes of proceeding.

The necessary solutions for this process are:

Collodion bath solution. Iodized collodion. Iodized albumen. Albumen bath solution. Pyrogallic solution. Silver developing solution. Fixing solution.

Collodion Bath Solution.

Nitrate of silver in crystals 1 ounce.

Iodide of potassium 2 grains.

Distilled water 16 ounces.

Alcohol 2 drachms.

Dissolve the ounce of nitrate of silver in two ounces of the distilled water, and the two grains of iodide of potassium in one drachm of distilled water; mix the two solutions and shake well together until the precipitate which is first thrown down is re-dissolved; when this takes place, add the remaining fourteen ounces of distilled water, and the two drachms of alcohol. On the addition of the water a turbidness ensues, which must be removed by the solution being very carefully filtered through filtering paper; and the filtered liquid should be clear and transparent, free from any deposit or floating particles, and must possess a slightly acid reaction of test-paper.

In order to ascertain if the solution thus prepared possesses the necessary amount of free acid without superabundance, proceed to test and to correct it, if necessary.

Iodized Collodion,

The collodion to be used in this process must be one yielding good negative pictures—that supplied by Home & Thornthwaite under the name of negative collodion answers admirably. This is supplied either ready iodized, or the collodion and iodizing in separate bottles. As this collodion becomes less sensitive after being iodized a fortnight, it is advisable to iodize no more than will be used in that time—therefore, obtain the collodion and the iodizing solution separate, as the mode of iodizing this collodion is very simple. Half an ounce of the iodizing solution is mixed with one ounce and a half of collodion, and the mixture allowed to settle twelve hours before being used; and it is even advisable to pour off the clear solution into a perfectly clean bottle, in order to get rid of any insoluble matter which may fall to the bottom.

Iodized Albumen.

White of egg (free from yelk) 10 ounces.

Honey 1 ounce.

Iodide of calcium 2 scruples.

Yeast 1 tablespoonful.

Mix these together in a tall glass jar, or wide-mouthed bottle of at least one pint capacity; tie a piece of paper, pierce with small holes over the top to keep out dust; then place the whole near a fire or other warm situation, where the temperature is not lower than seventy degrees, or higher than ninety degrees. In a few hours fermentation commences, which is evident by the formation of bubbles of gas, rising through the liquid. This action continues for five or six days; when it ceases, pour the whole on a paper-filter contained in a funnel, underneath which must be placed a bottle to receive the liquid as it passes through. The fluid being of a viscid nature filters slowly, generally occupying twelve hours.

The filtered liquid is the "iodized albumen," which is said by Dr. Taupenot to keep good for years. It must be carefully preserved from dust or contact with any substance, as the success of the picture depends materially on the condition of this albumen.

Albumen Bath Solution.

Nitrate of silver 1 ounce and a half.

Acetic acid, glacial 1 ounce.

Distilled water 16 ounces.

Animal charcoal 2 drachms.

Dissolve the nitrate of silver in the distilled water, then add the acetic acid and animal charcoal, and keep in a closely stoppered bottle for use.

Pyrogallic Solution.

Pyrogallic acid 15 grains.

Glacial acetic acid 2 drachms.

Alcohol 2 drachms.

Distilled water 7 ounces.

Dissolve the pyrogallic acid in the distilled water, and then add the acetic acid and alcohol.

Silver Developing Solution.

Nitrate of silver 1 drachm.

Acetic acid 2 drachms.

Distilled water 7 ounces.

Dissolve the nitrate of silver in the distilled water, and then add the acetic acid.

Fixing Solution.

Hyposulphite of soda 2 ounces.

Water 1 pint—dissolve.

Varnish.

The varnish best adapted for this purpose is that supplied by Home & Thornthwaite, and termed negative varnish.[H]

Cleaning the Plate.

The plates must be cleaned in the usual way, merely premising that extra care must be observed to remove every impurity, as cleanliness in photography is an absolute necessity.

In order to hold large plates whilst being cleaned, the "screw plate-holder" is exceedingly useful. This is made in three sizes, and adapts itself to all sized plates.

The small size is useful for plates up to 7 inches by 6.

The second size is for plates up to 10 inches by 8.

And the third size for plates up to 14 inches by 10.

Coating with Iodized Collodion.

The plate having been thoroughly cleaned, and received its final polish by the use of a prepared chamois leather, is coated with negative collodion, which has been iodized at least twelve hours, and allowed to settle.

Exciting the Collodion Film.[I]

After the ether has evaporated, and the surface of the collodion appears set, the plate must be laid, collodion side upwards, on a glass dipper, and plunged with one downward movement into a bath filled to within an inch of the top with collodion bath solution, made as described at page 190, which must be carefully filtered through filtering paper before being used. After the plate has been allowed to remain in the bath one minute, it is lifted out three or four times, in order to facilitate the removal of the oily appearance the plate now presents. When the surface appears wetted uniformly, on being drawn out of the solution the plate is removed from the dipper, and the excess of solution drained off, and is then placed collodion side upwards, on a fixing stand, and distilled or filtered rain water poured over the surface, so as to remove as much as possible of the bath solution from the surface. The plate is now removed from the fixing stand; the back well washed with water, and then placed nearly upright on blotting paper, with the face against a wall for one minute to drain.

Coating with Albumen.

Having allowed the plate to drain one minute, place it again on a levelling stand, with the film upwards, and pour over it as much of the iodized albumen as the plate will hold, from a glass measure containing not more than enough of the albumen to coat two plates with, pour off the excess into the measure, and again cover the plate with albumen three separate times; ultimately drain off as much as possible of the excess of albumen, and place the plate nearly upright against the wall, with the coated side inwards, to dry, which takes place in an ordinary temperature in about one hour.

In coating with albumen, the presence of air-bubbles or dust must be guarded against. The former can be easily done by taking care, in pouring the albumen into the measure and on the plate, not to pour so as to generate air-bubbles in the liquid. But should any be detected, hold the plate horizontally and give it another coating of albumen, then incline the plate so that the bulk of the liquid shall pass over and carry off the bubbles with the running stream. Dust on the plate must be prevented by operating in a room as free from this photographic enemy as possible.

In order to render the coating of albumen as uniform as possible, the plate must stand to dry on two or three layers of filtering paper and the upper surface must touch the wall at one point only and not to be allowed to rest against it along its entire upper edge.

When the albumen coating is thoroughly dry (and not till then), the plate is ready to be excited, but if more have been prepared than are likely to be used for taking pictures on during the next ten days or fortnight, they may be stowed away in a plate box, ready to receive the sensitive coating at any time. The author's experience has led him to believe that these albumenized plates will keep good any length of time, as plates which had been coated a month, when excited, exposed, and developed, appeared to possess all the properties of recently prepared plates.

Exciting the Albumen Coating.

Prior to the plates being excited they must be thoroughly dry and free from any particles of loose dust on the surface, back, or edge. Sufficient of the albumen bath solution, page 192, must be filtered through filtering paper to fill a dipping bath of the required size, so that the plate can be immersed in it.

The careful filtering of the fluid is very necessary in order to free it from any floating particles, and to separate the animal charcoal.

The plate is now taken and laid, albumen side upwards, on the dipper, and then lowered into the bath with one steady downward movement, where it is allowed to remain one minute; it is then taken out, the excess of liquid drained off, and placed on the fixing stand, with the albumen surface uppermost, and a stream of water poured over it for at least one minute, so as to remove every particle of the bath solution. This complete washing is very necessary, in order to prevent stains in the after development, which invariably takes place around the edges, if not thoroughly washed. The plate having been thoroughly washed, is leaned against a wall to dry, or if required for immediate exposure, may be dried on a plate of heated metal or foot warmer, but in no case must the exposure in the camera take place until the surface is thoroughly dry.

Exposure in the Camera.[J]

As has been before stated, this operation may take place immediately the plate is thoroughly dry after being excited, or a fortnight may intervene between the excitement and exposure, provided the plate is kept very carefully excluded from light and any chemical or sulphurous vapors, in a plate-box adapted for that purpose, with the sensitive surface towards the back of the box. When the exposure is about to take place, or at any time previously, the camera-backs may each have a plate placed in them ready for exposure; to do this, the camera-back must be taken into the operating room and the door closed, so as to exclude all white light. The hinged flap of the camera back is opened, and the prepared plate laid, with its sensitive surface downwards, or next the sliding flap, so that its corners may rest on the silver wire corners of the plate frame previously placed within the camera back ready to receive it. The hinged flap is now closed and kept from opening by turning the flap button over it; the sliding flap is examined to see that it is pushed closely down so as to guard any access of light, and it is then ready to be placed in the camera, and may be taken into the open air with impunity. Should the exposure not take place immediately, or, should the camera back have to be carried any distance, it is advisable either to wrap it up in black cloth, or secure the flaps from the chance of coming open during transit, by a stout string being tied around the back.

The focussing is conducted in the usual way and the cap replaced on the lens; the focussing glass is now removed and the camera back fitted into the same aperture, with the sliding flap next the lens. The sliding flap is pulled up to its fullest extent, placing the hand on the camera back to prevent it rising out of the camera with this action. The cap of the lens is then removed, so that the light may be admitted into the camera, and to fall on the sensitive surface of the plate. After the necessary time of exposure has taken place, the cap is replaced on the lens, the sliding flap is pushed down, and the camera back withdrawn from the camera; the plate can then be taken into the operating room to be developed, or this operation may be deferred for days or even a week, or more if convenient. The time of exposure in the camera varies according to the intensity of the light and the aperture and focal length of the lens; therefore, to give the exact time of exposure would be impossible, still it may assist the amateur if I give the time required in summer with full sunshine, and merely state that this time may be increased to double in winter or dull weather.

In the ordinary sunshine of a summer's day the time of exposure will be:

30 seconds with a lens of 4-inch focus and ½-inch stop. 21 seconds with a lens of 4-inch focus and ⁵/₈-inch stop. 5 seconds with a lens of 4-inch focus and 1¼ inch aperture with no stop. 1½ minute with a lens of 6-inch focus and ½-inch stop. 4½ seconds with a lens of 6-inch focus and 2¼-inch aperture with no stop. 2 minutes with a lens of 8-inch focus and ½-inch stop. 1¼ minute with a lens of 8-inch focus and ⁵/₈-inch stop. 3¼ minutes with a lens of 10-inch focus and ½-inch stop. 2 minutes with a lens of 10-inch focus and ⁵/₈-inch stop. 5 seconds with a lens of 10-inch focus, 3¼-inch aperture, with no stop. 6¼ minutes with a lens of 14-inch focus and ½-inch stop. 4 minutes with a lens of 14-inch focus and ⁵/₈-inch stop. 2¼ minutes with a lens of 14-inch focus and ¾-inch stop. 8¼ minutes with a lens of 16-inch focus and ½-inch stop. 5¼ minutes with a lens of 16-inch focus and ⁵/₈-inch stop. 2¼ minutes with a lens of 16-inch focus and ¾-inch stop.

Developing the Image.

The camera back is taken into the operating room, from which all white light is carefully excluded, the plate removed from the camera back, and laid, albumen side upwards, on the fixing stand; as much distilled water is now poured on it as the surface will hold, taking care that every part of the sensitive surface is covered with the liquid; allow the water to remain on the surface for one minute, then pour off and drain slightly; replace the plate on the stand, and pour over the surface so as thoroughly to cover every part, the pyrogallic solution (made as described at page 192, and carefully filtered just before being used); allow this to remain on the plate for one minute, then drain off into a perfectly clean measure, and add to it an equal bulk of silver developing solution, page 192; mix these thoroughly together with a glass rod, and then pour the mixed liquids over the plate; allow them to rest until the picture begins to appear, which generally takes about from three to five minutes; then pour off and on repeatedly, until the developing fluid becomes opaque, which then contains floating particles, and these, if allowed to do so, would settle on the plate, to the injury of the picture; but this may be prevented by brushing the surface with a camel's-hair brush frequently during the development. When this opacity of the developing fluid takes place, drain all the fluid off the plate, and thoroughly wash with water; then mix another quantity of pyrogallic and silver developing solution in the same proportions as before, and pour this on and off the plate as before, until the picture appears sufficiently intense, and the middle shades well brought out; when this takes place drain off, and wash with water, so as to clean the surface thoroughly, and the plate is then ready for the next step, "fixing the image."

Should the picture begin to develope in less than three minutes after the application of the mixed developing fluids, thoroughly drain the plate, and wash well with water, then continue the development with a solution of three parts pyrogallic solution and one part silver developing solution; but should the picture not begin to appear in five minutes, the addition of half a drachm of the albumen bath solution to each ounce of mixed developing solution will be necessary, in order to obtain the middle shades and the required intensity. It may be stated, as a guide, that the best negatives which the author has produced occupied from ten to twelve minutes in developing.

Fixing the Image.

The plate, having been thoroughly freed from the developing fluid by careful washing, is now placed on the fixing stand, and the surface covered by the fixing solution, made as described at page 192, being poured over it. In a few seconds the yellow opalescent color of the film will begin to disappear, and its complete removal may be hastened by blowing gently on the plate, so as to disturb the fluid.

When every particle of yellowness has disappeared, the fixing solution is drained off, and the surface thoroughly washed, and it is then leaned against the wall to drain and dry.

Varnishing the Plate.

The plate, being thoroughly dry, is ready to receive a coating of transparent varnish.[K] in order to protect the albumen surface from injury during the printing process. To do this effectually the plate must be held before a fire, or over a lamp, until it is slightly warm all over; then pour over its surface the negative varnish, in the same manner as collodion is applied; allow the superfluous varnish to drain back into the bottle; hold the plate again before the fire until the whole of the spirit is evaporated; and, when cold, the plate is ready to be printed from, so as to produce any number of positive pictures on paper.

It will be observed, that in describing this process, the operator has been supposed to be so situated, that in case a second view of the same spot were required, he could return to his operating room, remove the plate which had been exposed, from the camera back to the plate box, and place another in the camera back, ready for taking another view. But, unfortunately, this is not at all times practicable. We, therefore, require some means of removing the plates, after being exposed, from the camera back into the plate box, and substituting others in their stead, whilst we are in the open air.

In order to effect this, the "field plate box" has been devised by the author, by the aid of which the plates may be removed from the box, exposed in the camera, and again returned into the box, without any possibility of access of light falling on it.

This box is but a trifle larger than the ordinary one, and is furnished with two sliding bottoms, working in grooves, one over the other; the lower bottom has a grooved channel, into which the side of the camera back slides; the camera back has an aperture through the side, closed by a narrow slide, and the lower bottom of the field box has a corresponding one. We now suppose the field box to have been previously filled with excited glass plates, having their sensitive sides towards the back of the box, and the box lid closed. The bottom slide is now pushed on until the aperture is in a line with any particular groove of the field box (which position is indicated by a numbered scale and index point). The camera back is then slid on to its place on the field box, so that the hinged flap is towards the front of the box, and its narrow slide drawn out. The upper slide is then withdrawn, and the box inclined, so that the plate in that groove opposite the aperture in the lower slide, may pass through into the camera back. When this has taken place, push in the narrow slide of the camera back, invert the box, and push in the inner slide; then withdraw the camera back from its channel, and expose the plate in the camera. When this is done, slide the back again into its channel, draw out the inner box slide, then the narrow camera back slide, invert the box, and the plate will then leave the camera back and pass into the field box, occupying the same groove as before.

In order to get out another plate, slide the lower bottom, so that the index points to the number on the scale, as that of the groove in which the required plate is situate. Then proceed as before directed.