The Platinotype Company's 'Palladiotype' paper, ca. 1917

[Mike Ware]

Introduced commercially by William Willis in 1917 as a substitute for printing in platinum, whose use was embargoed by wartime government, palladium has since grown in its application, and is now widely practised. Does any collection have a copy of the Platinotype Company's original instructions for the use of their commercial Palladiotype paper, or any other relevant information, please? I am researching the early history, use and problems of the process.

[Mike Ware]

The 1883 edition of the Platinotype Company's Instructions and prices lists sensitized fabrics: "nainsook, sateen, oatmeal cloth, linen, jaconette and jean"! But a footnote says: "Other fabrics, such as silk, satin, &c., are under experiment, and will probably be introduced shortly."
The 1885 edition of Willis & Clements (the US outlet) Platinotype leaflet gives detailed instructions for sensitising fabrics, but ends up with: "Silks and satins do not, as a rule, answer well; but some of the purer kinds of silk, which have very little "dressing" give good results. The denser kinds of Sarsanet and the soft silks are the best."
The next price list I have for Platinotype paper is 1908 - and it makes no mention of fabrics at all. It may be significant that by then the price of platinum had risen fourfold.
That's all I have, David, on the products: inconclusive, I'm afraid; but there must be more price lists out there...