CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VESTIBULE LAMPS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Ratcliff, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Lamp and Chandelier Manufacturer, for the Inven-
tion of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VESTIBULE LAMPS."
Sealed the 2nd December 1870, and dated the 4th June 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Ratcliff at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th June 1870.
I, EDMUND RATCLIFF, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Lamp and Chandelier Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VESTIBULE LAMPS," to
be as follows (that is to say) :-
:―
My improvements in vestibule lamps have for their object the pro-
viding of ready means for the application and removal of the globular
or other shaped. glass shade intended to be used with such lamps, as

page_text: also the provision for ready lighting and extinguishing the light supplied
with the same.
I give effect to my Invention by placing ornamental foliage or filigree
work radially around the shade in a line with the triple pendant metal
tubes or other supports, one of which will be occupied in carrying the gas
from the ceiling to the burner within the shade, and to one or other or
both of these triple pendant supports I attach the segment or segments
of ornamental foliage or filigree by a hinge or swinging joint in such
a way that the said ornamental foliage or filigree may be swung out-
wards, thereby leaving a sufficient vacancy between the pendant support
or supports (to which such segment or segments are attached) and the
globular or other shaped shade to permit the shade to be readily with-
drawn or removed for cleaning or other purpose, and when desired the
same may be replaced and the ornamental side segment or segments
turned inward, radially or horizontally, with the shade and pendant
support or supports to retain the globe between the triple vertical
radial segments.
The turning on and off of the gas is effected as usual by a stop-cock
suitably placed, by preference, concentrically with the base support, and
the support being made with apertures permits a match, taper, or spill
to be inserted for the lighting of the lamp when desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edmund Ratcliff in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDMUND 2
RATCLIFF, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Lamp and
Chandelier Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Edmund Ratcliff, Her special license that I,
the said Edmund Ratcliff, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
3

page_text: or such others as I, the said Edmund Ratcliff, my executors, adminis-
trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN VESTIBULE LAMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Edmund Ratcliff, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edmund Ratcliff, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement (that is to say) :-
My improvements in vestibule lamps have for their object the
providing of ready means for the application to such pendant lamps
of and removal of the globular or other shaped glass shade intended to
be used with the same, as also the provision for ready lighting and
extinguishing the gas or other means of illumination applied to such
lamps.
In giving effect to my Invention I place vertical ornamental foliage
or filigree work radially around the shade, in a line with the triple
pendant metal tubes or other supports, one of which may be occupied
in carrying the gas from the ceiling to the burner, within the shade,
and to one or two of these triple pendant supports I attach the segment
or segments of ornamental foliage or filigree by a hinge or swinging
joint, in such a way that the said ornamental foliage or filigree may be
swung outwards, thereby leaving a sufficient vacancy between the
pendant support or supports (to which such segment or segments are
attached), and the globular or other shaped shade to permit the shade
to be readily withdrawn or removed for cleaning or other purpose; or,
if desired, the same effect may be obtained by making an axis of the ends
of the triple pendant supports, and securing the ornamental segments

page_text: radially with the shade and pendant support or supports, to retain the
globe between the said triple, vertical, radial segments as above stated.
When gas is used for illumination, the turning on and off is effected as
usual by a stop-cock suitably placed, by preference concentrically with
the base support for the globe or shade, and the support being made
with apertures permits a match, taper, or spill to be inserted for the
lighting of the lamp when desired.

page_text: which differ only from Figures 3 and 4 in the design of the ornamental
segments within the pendant rods G, H, and I, and the form of the
joint L, which in this case has a vertical parallel axis from c to d, and
represented here with a view of showing that my improvements are not
restricted to design, which obviously may be extended to the outside as
well as the inside of the pendant rods when elaboration is required,
without affecting the object of my Invention; Figs. 7 and 8 are merely
repeats of Figures 5 and 6, showing the segment J placed radially
outward to permit the glass globe A to be removed.
Although I have shown the globe in each case with a metallic corona
and dome marked e and f, nevertheless the same may be omitted or dis-
connected from the globe, and the same or any other equivalent deflector
applied or attached to the triple pendant rods; and further, the globe A
instead of being spherical as here shown may be of any other desirable
or effective shape, the pendant rods and necessary filigree or ornamental
segments being adapted to the form of the shade used. Or instead of
attaching the segment to a pendant rod with a hinge joint I may make
the rod itself the axis, thus enabling me to much restrict the character
of the ornamental foliage or filigree work, or increase the bulk or form
of the globe, and yet afford all the facility required for its removal or
application; Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate this arrangement. The pendant
rod W, shown detached at Fig. 11, admits of a central projection,
extending down from the rose ✗ to enter a concentric hole formed
through the radial part marked g', to which arm a corresponding radial
part is attached at the bottom marked h, and which part has a concentric
hole for the burner or other central projection to pass up through
forming its axis, so that by passing the said arm in either lateral
direction space will be given for the removal of the globe, which is
shown in dotted lines at Figure 10.
Having now described the object and purpose of my Invention, and
the manner in which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it
understood that what I claim under these my in part recited Letters
Patent is, the arrangement of the triple pendant rods of such lamps,
that by the outward or lateral removal of a radial segment or segments
as here exhibited, space will be afforded for the globe or shade to be
removed or applied at pleasure, the said globe or shade being retained
concentrically in position by the restoration of such segment or segments,

page_text: thus holding or retaining such globe or shade concentrically within
their radial curved edges or projections.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Ratcliff, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
WILLIAM LOACH,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
EDMUND RATCLIFF. (L.S.)