IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR SEWING MACHINES AND OTHER MACHINES OF LIKE CHARACTER
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Powley Alexander, of 36, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and British and Foreign
Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR SEWING
MACHINES AND OTHER MACHINES OF LIKE CHARACTER." A communication
from abroad by Guillaume Cheri Desprin, of Pujols-de-Libourne, Gironde, in
the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Powley Alexander
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1881.
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 36, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and British and Foreign Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR SEWING MACHINES AND OTHER MACHINES OF
LIKE CHARACTER.” A communication from abroad by Guillaume Cheri Desprin,
of Pujols-de-Libourne, Gironde, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of lamp and
its accessories specially adapted for use with sewing machines and other machines
of like character, whereby such machines can be more conveniently employed after
dark, the sewing instruments as well as the work itself being more effectually
illuminated, and with less inconvenience than by the aid of candles or any of the
ordinary lamps hitherto employed for that purpose. The body of the improved
sewing machine lamp, which may be constructed either of metal or of porcelain,
glass, or other suitable material combined with a metal burner consists of a
reservoir of any convenient shape for containing the liquid to be burned, whatever
may be its nature. To the centre of the cover of this reservoir is fitted a tube,
which descends some distance inside the same, thereby facilitating the supply of
oil or other liquid, and at the same time indicating the level of such liquid in the
reservoir. This tube is closed at the top by a screwed or other cap or cover. Under-
neath the cover of the oil reservoir and at the rear side thereof there is provided a
leaden or other counterweight for maintaining the proper balance and steadiness of
the lamp. The front or opposite side of the oil reservoir has a large opening made
•
F

page_text: therein, to which is soldered or otherwise secured a horizontal tube or hollow arm
in the form (by preference) of a truncated cone with its smaller end outwards, to
which outer end there is fitted a cup, having its sides perforated for the free
admission of air therein, the upper rim of such cup being provided with a hollow
projecting moulding or flange for the reception of the glass or chimney, and with a
toothed or notched gallery and three lags or catches, two of which are inclined
and the third upright, and traversed by a pinching screw for fixing the glass or
chimney. To the side of the perforated cup there is soldered or otherwise secured
a curved wick tube fitted with the usual appliance for elevating the wick therein.
On the top of the said perforated cup there is fitted the usual perforated cap or
cone of the burner. The glass or chimney is of peculiar shape; it is formed at its
lower end or base with an outer lip, immediately above which it is contracted or
curved inwards and then expands, or is enlarged suddenly, so as to form the globe,
and gradually contracts again towards the top. The object of this peculiar form is
to maintain the flame as low as possible. The reservoir of the lamp fits into a
recessed supporting plate or base on the upper end of a vertically adjustable
screwed spindle fitted by suitable nuts to any convenient part of the table of the
machine, so as to admit of the lamp being placed at any elevation which will best
illuminate the work and sowing instruments. The wick of the lamp may be either
flat or round. In the latter case the wick tube may be maintained in position by
three rigid wires extending across the hollow arm of the lamp and terminating on
a plate, which unites them, and rests upon the bottom of the reservoir, the said
wires serving at the same time as guides to the wick. When the body of the
lamp is of porcelain or such like material the perforated cup should be provided
with a lateral metal socket to enable it to be readily fitted onto the end of the
hollow horizontal arm of the lamp.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Powley Alexander in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1881.
"t
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER, of 36, Southampton Buildings, in the County
of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and British and Foreign Patent Agent.
IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS FOR SEWING MACHINES AND OTHER MACHINES OF
LIKE CHARACTER." A communication from abroad by Guillaume Cheri Desprin,
of Pujols-de-Libourne, Gironde, in the Republic of France.
The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of lamp
and its accessories specially adapted for uso with sewing machines and other
machines of like character, whereby such machines can be more conveniently
employed after dark, the sewing instruments as well as the work itself being
more effectually illuminated and with less inconvenience than by the aid of
candles or any of the ordinary lamps hitherto employed for that purpose. The
body of the improved sewing machine lamp which may be constructed either of
metal or of porcelain, glass, or other suitable material combined with a metal
burner, consists of a roservoir of any convenient shape for containing the liquid to
be burned, whatever may be its nature. In the centre of the cover of this reservoir
is fitted a tube which descends some distance inside the same, thereby facilitating
tho supply of oil or other liquid and at the same time indicating the level of such
liquid in the reservoir. This tube is closed at the top by a screwed or other cap
or cover. Underneath the cover of the reservoir and at the rear side thereof
there is provided a london or other counterweight for maintaining the proper
balance and steadiness of the lamp. The front or opposite side of the oil reservoir
has a large opening made therein to which is soldered or otherwise secured a
horizontal tube or hollow arm in the form (by preference) of a truncated cone with
its smaller end outwards, to which outer end there is fitted a cup having its sides
perforated for the free admission of air therein, the upper rim of such cup being
provided with a hollow projecting moulding or flange for the reception of the glass
or chimney, and with a toothed or notched gallery and three lugs or catches, two
of which are inclined and the third upright and traversed by a pinching screw for
fixing the glass or chimney. To the side of the perforated cup there is soldered or
otherwise secured a curved wick tube fitted with the usual appliance for elevating
the wick therein. On the top of the said perforated cup there is fitted the usual
perforated cap or cover of the burner. The glass or chimney is of peculiar shape;
it is formed at its lower end or base with an outer lip, immediately above which it
is contracted or curved inwards, and then expands or is enlarged suddenly so as to
form the globe, and gradually contracts again towards the top. The object of this
peculiar form is to maintain the flame as low as possible. The reservoir of the
lamp fits into a recessed supporting plate or base on the upper end of a vertically
adjustable screwed spindle fitted by suitable nuts to any convenient part of the
table of the machine so as to admit of the lamp being placed at any elevation
which will best illuminate the work and sewing instruments. The wick of the
lamp may be either flat or round; in the latter case the wick tube may be main-
tained in position by three rigid wires extending across the hollow arm of the lamp
and terminating in a plate which unites them and rests upon the bottom of the
reservoir, the said wires serving at the same time as guides to the wick. When the
body of the lamp is of porcelain or such like material the perforated cup should be
provided with a lateral metal socket to enable it to bo readily fitted onto the end
of the hollow horizontal arm of the lamp.

page_text: And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is an exterior view of the lamp placed on its
3. The supporting plate.
The main body of the lamp consists of a reservoir P, by preference of cylindrical
formn, containing the liquid to be burned. To the centre of the cover thereof is
soldered a tube t dipping a short distance into the reservoir and serving to introduce
the liquid whilst marking the level it ought to reach. This tube is closed by a
screwed cap v.
Under the cover of the reservoir and at the back part thereof only there is
placed a weight M for the object of balancing the lamp, which without this pre-
caution would be liable to fall on its burner when nearly empty.
The front part of the reservoir P is formed with a large aperture to which the
horizontal tube C is soldered in the form of a truncated conc. To the other end
of this tubo thore is fitted a part A in the form of a cup pierced on its circum-
ference with rows of holes for the passage of air, and furnished at its upper part
with a projecting rim bor hollow flange in which is placed the glass V and a
notched gallery (Figure 1). In addition three claws or hooks are provided, two of
which a, a, are inclined, and the third a¹ is traversed by a pressing screw i which
bears on the glass.
To the side of the cup A is soldered the bent wick carrying tube L formed with
an opening on one side for the passage of the elevator R which raises and lowers
the wick, and which is worked as usual by the button c.
The cup A is surmounted by a 'cap or cone O pierced at the base with holes
like that of an ordinary lamp, as shown in detail at Figures 5 and 6.
The glass or chimney has a peculiar form shown in the Drawing.
It has a
projecting lower part, above which it contracts, then it enlarges suddenly in the
form of a globe and narrows considerably towards the top. This arrangement has
the effect of keeping the flame as low as possible.
The support H is carried by a screwed spindle T which passes through the table
of the machine, to which it is fixed by the nut E and thumb nut F. This plate is
hollowed according to the form of the lamp which it is to receive. The lamp
may burn petroleuin essences or oil, and have a flat or round wick. In the latter
case the interior tube of the wick holder can be sustained by three rigid metal
wires which are prolonged across the tube C, and terminate in a plate which
unites them and which rests on the bottom of the reservoir P. These rigid wires
serve at the same time to guide the wick.
The support is fixed to the table at any convenient position which will admit
of the burner of the lamp being brought near the middle of the horizontal part
of the machine standard so that the light may directly illuminate the needle.
The lamp may be made in copper or any other metal, or of porcelain, earthenware,
and the like.
Figure 4 shows the manner in which the metallic cup A is fitted to the arm of a
porcelain lamp.

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The general construction and arrangement of a lamp specially adapted
for application to sewing and other like machines, as specified.
Secondly. The combination in a lamp of the reservoir P, horizontal tube C, and
cup A, as specified.
Thirdly. The combination of the lamp as described with the glass V of the
special form herein set forth, and with a support H, of which the height is
regulated at will.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Powley Alexander, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
EDWIN P ALEXANDER.
(LS)
EDWIN P ALEXANDER.
(1.8)