Fire-lighter.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Fire-lighter.
DAVID THOMAS, Clerk 18 Skinner Street, Swansea and WILLIAM PHILLIP
THOMAS, Baker and Confectioner of 23 Evans Terrace Swansea do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists in the utilisation of German peat or "moss litter," or such
peat or "litter" imported from abroad, as a fire-lighter. We use it as imported or
in its natural state, or in a state of disintegration. We prefer to impregnate,
saturate or moisten it with mineral or any other oil or oils, such as petroleum, or
with an addition to it of any oleaginous or fatty substance or substances.
use it with or without the addition of coke or coal dust or "slack."
We also
One way of using or applying the said peat or "litter" is as follows:
We take about two handfuls or a packet of it, of about two and a half ounces in
weight, preferably divided or disintegrated into small pieces, of about the size of
ordinary-size walnuts. This quantity, more or less, is placed in the grate or other
place where a fire is to be kindled. It is not placed on the bare bars, but by
preference on a bottom of coke or coal and by preference, rather nearer to the
back part of the grate than to the front bars, keeping the peat or "litter" heaped
up together; we then moisten or impregnate it with or add to it any kind of oil or
fatty substance, such as petroleum, as is generally done with various kinds of fire-
wood about a table-spoonful of coke or coal dust or slack," preferably in a dry
state, may be added to or sprinkled upon the fire-lighter. It is now rather closely
surrounded and covered with a few small lumps of coal or coke, but allowing a small
space or opening towards front bars, to permit the application of a light, and of
the usual fanning or blowing with a bellows &c. More coal or coke may now be
added, and our fire-lighter is immediately ready for ignition. Thus saving the time
and labour of cutting up firewood.
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In using the peat or "moss litter" as a fire-lighter, we do not confine ourselves
to the manner hereinbefore described as the only manner of using it for that
purpose.
Dated this 27th day of December 1890.
DAVID THOMAS.
WILLIAM PHILLIP THOMAS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Fire-lighter.
DAVID THOMAS, 196 Carmarthen Road Swansea (late 18 Skinner Street) Clerk,
and WILLIAM PHILLIP THOMAS 23 Evans Terrace Swansea, Baker and Con-
fectioner, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for a FIRELIGHTER and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
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Our invention consists in the utilisation of peat or moss litter" such as is
imported from abroad as a firelighter. We mix or combine with the peat or litter
various substances, such as cannel-coal bituminous or anthracite coal, coke or
pitch; all, by preference, finely ground. We also moisten or impregnate the
mixture with a solution of common washing soda, and finally with any mineral
oil such as well-refined petroleum. We find the following proportions to give
good results:

page_text: Peat, disintegrated to dust, rough powder and small pieces together, or separately,
seven parts: coal dust one and a quarter parts, coke dust one and a quarter parts,
pitch finely ground, two and a quarter parts. The whole is mixed and impregnated
with water having in solution half a pound to the gallon of common washing soda.
The mixture is now pressed into a suitable mould, which has been heated to the
boiling point of water. The cake or brick is set aside to dry, after which it is
impregnated or moistened with well-refined petroleum, when it is ready for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
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The utilisation of German peat, otherwise called moss litter," whether
imported from abroad or found in this country, as a firelighter. Substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of September 1891.
DAVID THOMAS.
WILLIAM PHILLIP THOMAS.