Mixture of quercitron and cochineal

—Pad in the aluminous mordant, and dye with 2 libs. of quercitron, and 4 ounces of cochineal, when a capuchin colour will be obtained. If we pad with the following mordant; viz. 1 gallon of acetate of alumina of 1·056 spec. grav., and 1 of iron liquor of 1·02 spec. grav., and dye with 1 pound of quercitron, and 1 ounce of cochineal, we shall obtain a shade like boot-tops, of extreme vivacity. Two ounces of cochineal will print a long piece of calico with rich pink figures, having acetate of alumina for a mordant. As the ground is hardly tinged by the dye, it neither needs nor admits of much clearing. I have already mentioned that goods are sometimes padded with solution of perchloride of tin before printing-on them the steam colours, whereby they acquire both permanence and vivacity. I have also stated that the salts of tin at a high temperature are apt to corrode the fibre of the stuff, and therefore must be used with discretion. This danger is greatly le ened by adding to the perchloride of tin a sufficient quantity of caustic potash lye to form a stannate of potash. The goods are padded through this substance, diluted with water, dried with a moderate heat, and then immersed in very dilute sulphuric acid, which saturates the potash, and precipitates the tin oxide within the pores of the cloth. Calico thus prepared affords brilliant and permanent colours by the steam proce , above described. Printing of silks or woollen stuffs, such as merinoes and mou elin de laine, as also of mixed stuffs of silk and wool, such as chalys. —All these prints are applied, not by the cylinder but the block, and are fixed by the application of steam in one of four ways; 1. By the lanthorn ; 2. By the cask ; 3. By the chest ; or 4. By the chamber . IMG:4147767755307473660_illo0237a.png:Lanthorn 1. By the lanthorn. —In this mode of exposure to steam, the goods are stretched upon a frame; and therefore the apparatus may be described under two heads; the lanthorn and the frame. The former is made of copper, in the shape of a box A B C D E , fig. 238. , open below, and with a sloping roof above, to facilitate the trickling down of the water condensed upon the walls. The sides B C D E are 4 1 ⁄ 2 feet high, 6 feet long, and 4 feet wide. The distance of the point A from the line E B is 2 feet. At F is a bra socket, which may be stopped with a cork; and there is a similar one at the other side. This kind of penthouse may be raised by means of a pully with cords fixed to the four angles of the roof E B ; and it rests upon the table G H , a little larger than the area of the box, which stands upon the four feet I K . Round the borders of the table there is a triangular groove a b , for receiving the lower edges of the box, and it is stuffed steam-tight with lists of cloth. Through the centre of the table, the two-inch steam pipe M pa es; it is surmounted with an hemispherical rose pierced with numerous holes for the equal distribution of the steam. Right above it, a disc N is placed upon four feet. The tube L communicates with a box P , which has a syphon Q to let off the condensed water. At the upper part of this box the tube L terminates which brings the steam. The little table G H slopes towards the part G , where the syphon R is placed for drawing off the water. The frame has such dimensions, that it may stand in the four corners of the table at S S , as pointed out by the dotted lines. The second part embraces an open square frame, which is formed by spars of wood 2 inches square, mortised together; and is 3 feet 8 inches wide, 5 feet 8 inches long, and 4 feet 3 inches high; it is strengthened with cro bars. Upon the two sides of its breadth, two rows of round bra hooks are placed, about half an inch apart; they are soldered to a copper plate fixed to uprights by means of screws. Before hanging up the goods, a piece of cloth 3 feet 8 inches long, and 4 feet wide, is placed upon the row of hooks; and 3 feet of it are left hanging out. One foot within, the hooks pa through the cloth. A similar one is fitted to the other side. This cloth is intended to cover the goods hung upon the hooks; and it is kept straight by resting upon strings. The pieces are attached zig-zag from one hook to another. When the frame is filled, the bag is put within the cloths; it has the same rectangular shape as the frame. The pieces are in this way all encased in the cloth; a bit of it being also put beneath to prevent moisture affecting that part. When shawls are framed, they are attached with pins; and if they be too large, they are doubled back to back, with the fringes at top. These arrangements being made, the frame is set upon the table, the penthouse is placed over it, and the steam is admitted during from 35 to 45 minutes, according to circumstances. The orifice F is opened at first to let the air escape, and when it begins to discharge steam it is stopped. The frame is taken out at the proper time, the bag is removed, the cloths are lifted off, and the goods are spread out for airing. Three frames and six bags are required for a constant succe ion of work. The above apparatus is particularly suitable for silks. IMG:4147767755307473660_illo0237b.png:Drum 2. The drum. —This is the most simple mode of steaming. The apparatus is a drum of white wood, 2 inches thick, fig. 239. ; the bottom is pierced with a hole which admits the steam-pipe F , terminating in a perforated rose. Four inches from the bottom there is a canva partition E , intended to stop any drops of water projected from the tube F , and also to separate the condensed water from the body of the apparatus. The drum is covered in by a wooden head H , under which the goods are placed. It is made fast either by bolts, or by hooks, G G , thus IMG:4147767755307473660_illo0237c.png:Flat S, to which weighted cords are hung. The frame 1, fig. 240. rests upon a hoop, a a , a few inches from the edge. The goods are hung upon the frame in the ordinary way, and then wrapped round with flannel. The frame is studded with pin points, like that of the indigo vat, fixed about 5 inches asunder. From 20 to 30 minutes suffice for one steaming operation. The upper part of the frame must be covered also with flannels to prevent the deposition of moisture upon it. At the bottom of the drum there is a stopcock to let off the condensed water. According to the size of the figure, which is 3 feet 2 inches, 50 yards may be hung up single; but they may be doubled on occasion. IMG:4147767755307473660_illo0237-8.png:Box 3. The box. —This steaming apparatus is convenient from the large quantity of goods admi ible at a time: it answers best for woollen stuffs. From 12 to 16 pieces, of 36 yards each, may be operated upon at once; and from 240 to 260 shawls. It is formed of a deal box, A B C D , fig. 241. , 4 feet wide, 6 long, and 3 high; the wood being 4 inches thick. It is closed by a cover of the same substance, I , which is made steam-tight at the edges by a list of felt. The lid is fastened down by 5 cro bars of iron, a a a a a , which are secured by screws, c c c c c , fig. 242. The ends of these cro bars are let into the notches, b b b b b , on the edge of the box. The safety valve M , fig. 241. , is placed upon the lid. For taking off the lid, there are rings at the four corners, d d d d , bearing cords, F F F F . These join at the centre into one, which pa es over a pulley. Eight inches from the bottom of the box there is a horizontal canva partition, beneath which the steam is discharged from the pipe L , fig. 243. There are two ledges, E F G H , at the sides for receiving the bobbins. The tube L runs round the box, as shown by the letters d a e b : the end d is shut; but the side and top are perforated with many holes in the direction towards the centre of the box. Fig. 244. shows the arrangement of the lower set of bobbins: that of the upper set is shown by the dotted lines: it is seen to be in an alternate position, one lying between two others. They are formed of pieces of deal 4 inches broad, 1 inch thick, and of a length equal to the width of the box. They are first wrapped round with 5 or 6 turns of doubled flannel or calico: the piece of goods is laid over it upon a table, and then wrapped round. At the end of the piece, several folds of the covering must be put, as, also, a roll of flannel. The two ends must be slightly tied with packthread. When these flat bobbins are arranged in the box, the steam is let on them, and continued about 45 minutes: it is then shut off, the lid is removed, and the pieces are unrolled. IMG:4147767755307473660_illo0238a.png:Chamber 4. The chamber. —The interior height of the chamber, A B C D , fig. 245. , is 9 feet, the length 12 feet, and the breadth 9 feet. The steam is introduced into it by two pipes, a b c , d e f . Their two ends, d c , are shut; but their sides are all along perforated with small holes. The frames E F G H , E F G H , are moveable, and run upon rollers: they are taken out by front doors, which are made of strong planks, shut by sliding in slots, and are secured by strong iron bars and pre ure screws. The cro rods, E F G H , are provided with hooks for hanging up the pieces. There is a safety-valve in the top of this large chamber. The dimensions of the frame are 10 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 7 high. Three feet and a half from the upper part of the frame, a row of hooks is fixed for hanging on a double row of pieces, as shown in the figure. Over the frame, woollen blankets are laid to protect it from drops of water that might fall from the roof of the chamber. When the hooks are two thirds of an inch apart, 24 pieces, of 28 yards each, may be suspended at once. The period of steaming is from 45 to 60 minutes. Muslins and silks do not require so high a temperature as woollen goods. When the stuffs are padded with colour, like merinos and chalys, they must not be folded together, for fear of stains, which are sometimes occasioned by the column in steam calico-printing, where the end which receives the first impre ion of the steam is seldom of the same shade as the rest of the roll of goods. The duration of the steaming depends upon the quantity of acid in the mordant, and of saline solution in the topical colour; the more of which are present, the shorter should be the steaming period. A dry vapour is requisite in all cases; for when it becomes moist, from a feeble supply or external condensation, the goods become streaky or stained by the spreading of the colours. 1. Black figures are given by decoction of logwood thickened with starch, to which a little oxalic acid is added while hot, and, after it is cold, neutralised solution of nitrate of iron. 2. Dark blue for a ground. —Decoction of logwood, and archil thickened with starch; to which, while the paste is hot, a little soluble Pru ian blue is added; and, when it is cold, neutralised nitrate of iron; see supra. 3. Deep poppy or ponceau colour. —Cochineal boiled in starch water, with oxalic acid (or tartaric), and perchloride of tin. 4. Rose. —Cochineal infusion; oxalic acid; perchloride of tin; thickened with gum.