Air brushIn 1881, Leslie L. Curtis of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, patented an air brush painting device. His patent No. 248,579 describes an "Atomizer for Coloring Pictures," which was a "device for easy, accurate, and rapid distribution of coloring and shading upon drawings and paintings." Coloring matter could be projected upon the picture in the form of a fine spray. It was drawn up a tube from a bottle when air passed over an aperture in the upper end of the tube and was separated into a fine spray. The fineness of the spray could be regulated. Holes were provided in the rear of the air-tube to be covered with the thumb of the hand that held the container while in use. Removing the thumb caused the flow of coloring material from the fine nozzle to cease. |
