CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES, AND ALSO IN THE MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH MATTERS
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
OCTAVIUS PALMER, of Great Sutton Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of November,
in the thirteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her
especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, for me and them,
and such others as they or I should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of fourteen
years therein expressed, to make, use, exercise, and vend my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES, AND ALSO IN THE
MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH MATTERS," within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso
requiring that I, the said Frederick Octavius Palmer, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, and should cause the same to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Frederick Octavius Palmer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
to consist,-
First, of improvements in the manufacture of candles, by the employment of
the description of wicks hereafter explained. And,
Secondly, an improved machine, which I call a double fly, for performing
cross gymping on wicks to be used in the manufacture of candles.
And in further compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Frederick
Octavius Palmer, do hereby more particularly describe such my Invention
and several improvements, and the manner in which the same are to be
performed, by the following statement thereof,-
First, I would premise that some descriptions of candles have heretofore
been made with one, two, or more wicks introduced or placed within the tallow
or material composing such candles in a helical form, for their better combus-
tion, and such wicks have hitherto been ordinarily composed of a number of
straight yarns or threads of cotton bound together into a wick by a thread or
yarn. I have discovered that it is desirable to give additional strength to
maintain such description of wicks until consumed.
Now, the first part of my Invention consists of improving such descriptions
of wicks by the addition to the ordinary straight yarns or threads of cotton
above mentioned a strand of cord or twisted cotton, or other suitable fibre,
harder, firmer, or stiffer in substance, which I insert with sue straight threads
before they are gymped or bound together, the object and purpose thereof
being to give additional strength to the wick, to support the wick from falling,
and to incline it the more to retain its form of a helix; and, having introduced
such strand or cord with the others, I then bind them together with the
gymping or binding thread as heretofore, or by the cross gymping or binding
herein-after described. For this purpose I employ a cord consisting of three
strands of No. Eight yarn, and twisted hard, say about ten turns to the inch,
but I do not confine myself thereto so long as a harder twisted cord is
employed to give strength to the wicks made, by binding together yarns or
threads, in place of having all the yarns or threads of the same kind.
. The second of my Inventions consists of the use of spiral wicks of a more
simple character, and better adapted to some classes of candles, such as those
made of palm oil, or matters more combustible than tallow and less expensive.
It consists of an ordinary cotton cord, such as have been heretofore used for
wicks of candles, which from its firm twisted nature I find peculiarly adapted
for retaining the form of a helix, in which form I introduce wicks into candles,
and this I do in the manner ordinarily resorted to for introducing the bound or
gymped wicks in the form of a. helix into candles.

page_text: My next improvements are in platted wick candles. I would premise that
platted wicks in their simple form are, when applied to. candles made of
tallow or other materials, melting at low temperatures, liable to droop when
burning, and they then require additional support; and although some
attempts at improvement of such wicks for such purposes have been made, by
binding up with such platted wicks a braid or cord of stiffer material for their
better support, and also by gymping two platted wicks together with a single
thread, yet I find them capable of greater improvement, which I effect as
follows: To render such wicks more combustible, and better able to sustain
their position without the incumbrance of such additional braid, cord, or plait,.
which I effect by my peculiar method of gymping, and by combining with such
platted wicks a thread impregnated with bismuth, mixed with oil or fatty
matter, as now applied to other candle wicks. This I accomplish either by
inserting such metalized thread in the wick with one of the cords in the. plat-
ting, or else by laying a thread so impregnated with bismuth upon the surface.
or alongside of the platted wick when made, and in either case binding them
by a single gymp in my improved mode of gymping, or by means of my.
improved cross gymping herein-after referred to, which I prefer by reason of.
the additional strength, firmness, and sustaining power which such cross
gymping gives to the wick.
My next improvement is in the making of slack gymp candle wicks for
increasing their means. of capillary attraction, which I effect by an improved
mode of manufacturing such wicks, whereby I acquire greater equality and
uniformity in the wicks, and mainly avoid the inequalities produced in the
ordinary mode of gymping, by the greater or less strain of the gymping thread
upon the wick occasioned by the greater or less facility with which the thread
is unreeled. These improved wicks I make and gymp in the ordinary way,
but with the assistance of a wire, which I use in the formation of such wick to.
form; a foundation on which to gymp the wick and occupy a space in it, which
space is to be afterwards vacated; and around this wire or substance (which I
place within the tube of an ordinary gymping machine) I arrange and distri- .
bute the threads or yarns, or I lay a platted wick, with the metalized thread.
beside it, which are intended to be gymped, and I proceed to bind them
together by the gymping in the ordinary way, but on this improved principle,
and the wick is thus bound on the wire from which it is drawn off as it is
gymped or bound. The wire from which the wick is withdrawn leaves a.
corresponding space within the wick, which then allows the internal threads or
yarns, or the platted wick as the case may be, to expand and distribute them.

page_text: selves in the vacant space so left by the absence of the wire, which renders the
wick thus formed more soft and better capable of capillary attraction, and
wicks are thus manufacted with much greater regularity and uniformity.
These wicks may, if preferred, be gymped with my improved or cross
gymping herein-after described in a similar manner, and they are thereby
rendered consideraby more firm, and capable of retaining their position when
burning.
I now proceed to describe my improvements in what I call cross gymping,
which I apply to any kind of wick, platted or otherwise made. I should here
premise that candle wicks of different descriptions have heretofore been made
with thread, either partially twisted or laid longitudinally straight, and then
bound together by a single thread, which has acquired the name of gymp or
gymping; and by this means also threads impregnated with metallic substancest
have been incorporated with the wicks for assisting combustion and destroying
the wick when coming in contact with the atmosphere at the exterior of.the
flame; but wicks so formed I have found capable of great improvement by addi-.
tional gymping laid on or wrought upon wicks in a cross or traverse direction. This
cross gymping consists of an exterior binding of the materials composing the
wick, with two or more threads crossing each other, thereby better confining
the materials of the wick, and giving to the wick increased support and utility..
One of the methods by which I can effect this cross gymping is in an ordinary
gymping machine, in which, after having gymped the wick in one direction.
throughout, I reverse the motion and gymp the wick over again the other way, so
crossing the gymp threads at each revolution; but I much prefer doing the cross.
gymping with the improved double fly herein-after described, which at once finishes
the gymping, crossing it at the same time with a more even and uniform presurs
and more perfect binding of the materials. This cross gymping. I perform in a
machine similar to the ordinary gymping machines, but provided with two flies-
and spindles to carry the bobbins, both revolving in different directions, on the
fixed tube through which the threads or materials of the wick: are passed. One
fly is driven by a band, and, by means of an intermediate bevel tooth. wheel
running upon an axis fixed on to the tube between the flies to connect them,
drives the other fly in a contrary direction; each of these flies is provided with
an arm to carry the bobbin and direct the gymping thread upon the wick to be
gymped. One fly and réel rotates within the circle described by the longer or.
more extended arm of the other fly and reel; and as the wick is drawn through
the tube it is bound round. by the rotatory movement of the flies and bobbins.
which carry the gymping threads, and which at each revolution makes the

page_text: gymping threads cross each other, back and front, upon the wick, and thus is
performed the double or cross gymping required.
In describing the machine by which I now effect this operation, I by no
means limit myself to the precise details of the machine, nor the particular
means described of performing the operation of cross gymping, for it may be
performed in other ways. Nor do I limit myself to the peculiar' means
which I have described for making my; improved wicks of uniform tightness in
gymping, as it may be done by other means.
I claim as my Invention,―
First, the manufacture of candles with the improved coiled wicks herein-
before mentioned, and the making of coiled wicks, by the application of twisted
cotton cord, into the form of a helix.
Secondly, the manufacture of candles with the improved platted and gymped
wicks, as herein-before described, and the application of metallized thread or
yarn in platted wicks.
Thirdly, the means of manufacturing slack and uniformly gymped wicks, as
herein-before mentioned.
Fourthly, the manufacture of the improved cross gymped wicks for candles,
herein-before described.
And,
Lastly, the construction, use and manufacture of the improved double
fly or cross gymping instrument, suitable for manufacturing gymped wicks, as
herein-before described.
And such my Invention is, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new, and never before used in that part of Her Majesty's United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the said Domain of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, or in the Islands of Jersey,
Gurnsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, or in any of Her Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad. I do hereby declare this to be my Specification of the
same, and that I do verily believe this my Specification doth comply in all
respects, fully and without reserve or disguise, with the provision in the
said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained; whereupon
I hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my said
Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Octavius Palmer, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Second day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty.
FREDERICK OCTAVIUS (L.s.) PALMER.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Second day of May, in the
year of our Lord 1850, the aforesaid Frederick. Octavius Palmer came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.

page_text: In the Matter of a Patent granted to FREDERICK OCTAVIUS PALMER, of
Great Sutton Street, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for his
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES,
AND ALSO IN THE MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH MATTERS,"
bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, and to which a Specification
has been duly inrolled.
DISCLAIMER proposed to be entered by the said Frederick Octavius
Palmer with the Clerk of the Patents of England, pursuant to the Act.
fifth and sixth William 4th, intituled "An Act to amend the Law touching
Letters Patent for Inventions."
.I, the said Frederick Octavius Palmer, since the inrolment of my said
Specification, have been informed and believe that that part of the Invention
claimed in the following words, "and the application of metalized thread or
yard in platted wicks," was not new at the date of the said Letters Patent, for
which reason I wish to disclaim and I do hereby disclam all parts of the said
Specification which describe and claim "the application of metalized thread or
yarn in platted wicks.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Octavius Palmer, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
FREDERICK
To the Clerk of the Patents of England.
AVIUS PALMER. (L.S.)
This is to certify the above-named Frederick Octavius Palmer has applied
to me for leave to enter with you the above-written Disclaimer of part of the
Specification of a certain Invention for which Letters Patent were duly granted
to him under the Great Seal of Great Britain, dated at Westminster the Second
day of November, One thousand eight hundred and fifty, and a Specification
to which was duly enrolled. And on considering the said application, and no
objection having been made to the same, I have accordingly granted leave
to the said Octavius Palmer to file his said Disclaimer pursuant to the Statute

page_text: passed in the fifth and sixth years of the reign of His late Majesty King
William the Fourth, entitled "An Act to amend the Law touching Letters
Patent for Inventions."
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixth day of December, in the
year of our Lord 1852, the aforesaid Frederick Octavius Palmer came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Dis-
claimer aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Disclaimer aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.