IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS AND IN HEATERS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS AND IN HEATERS FOR THE SAME." A
communication from abroad by Albert Lohmann, of Iserlohn, Germany.
Sealed the 3rd May 1878, and dated the 7th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1877.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS AND IN
HEATERS FOR THE SAME." "
[A communication from abroad by Albert Lohmann, of
Iserlohn, Germany.]
This Invention relates to improvements in smoothing irons, and in heaters for the
same.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I cast the bottom and sides of the
smoothing iron in one piece, leaving an interior space for the reception of the heater,
and I provide the said smoothing iron with a movable cover, which is attached to
the sides of the iron by means of hinges. When the said cover is closed it is held
securely by means of a movable bolt. I provide upon the base of the said smoothing
iron a number of pointed projections or studs, which project upwards within the
said interior space and support and keep in place the heater; they also serve to provide
a space for the free passage of air between the said base and the heater, and to com-
municate heat from the said heater to the base, and to accelerate, by reason of the
circulation of the air between the heater and the base, the heat contained in the
said heater. The said heater is composed of pulverized charcoal, to which is added a
small quantity of saltpetre, the composition being made into a block.
When it is desired to use this improved smoothing iron, the heater, made as
above described, is first heated upon a hot clear fire, and allowed to remain upon
the said fire for ten minutes at most, and is so placed that all its parts are equally
"
Pains all

page_text: heated. During the time that this heating is taking place, the smoothing iron
should also be heated by being placed upon a stove or other convenient article ;
then the said heater is placed carefully whilst burning upon the aforesaid studs or
projections within the body of the smoothing iron, and the cover is closed.
As the iron is passed over the linen or other fabric to be smoothed the heat
increases.
The iron, having in all parts the same degree of heat, may be moved in any direction,
and its points and sides may be used with great advantage for smoothing the linen
or other fabric being operated upon, and thus depressions and elevations may be
produced with great facility, and the operation of gauffering may be effected readily.
It will be necessary to remove from time to time the ashes of the heater by opening
the cover at the top.. This smoothing iron may be employed for the finest and
most delicate fabrics.
The advantages to be obtained by the use of my improved smoothing iron and
heater are as follows, that is to say:-The heater not being made of iron, the necessity
of frequent reheating, as is the case with those hitherto used, is avoided. The
heater itself burns so that the person using the iron may continue to use it for four,
six, or even ten hours without stopping, the heat remaining the same.
When the heater has been entirely consumed, it may be replaced by another
which has been heated, as herein-before described, and without any smoke or un-
pleasant odour having been occasioned.
The cost of my improved smoothing iron and heater is less than that of those
hitherto used, the said heater being made at the cost of a few pence.
In heating the heaters used with ordinary smoothing irons, the room or apart-
ment where it is done becomes full of smoke, and persons who are working in
the said room are thereby greatly inconvenienced, all of which is avoided by the
use of this Invention.
I am aware that smoothing irons are used containing charcoal, but their use,
as heretofore constructed, is attended by this inconvenience, namely, that the
charcoal has to be blown upon in order to light it, and sometimes bellows are
employed for this purpose, whilst with my said improved iron, the to-and-fro
movement thereof, when being used, is sufficient to keep alive and increase the
heat of the burning heater.
The ironer, if called away from time to time, may leave the iron without any
danger of the heater becoming extinguished, and on returning will find it ready
for use.
There being no iron heater to be taken out and reheated, and the smoothing iron
keeping at the same degree of heat for a great length of time, a given quantity
of work may be effected in a 'much shorter time than with the smoothing irons
hitherto used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
May 1878..
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake; & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS AND IN
HEATERS FOR THE SAME." A communication from abroad by Albert Lohmann, of
Iserlohn, Germany.
This Invention relates to improvements in smoothing irons, and in heaters for the
.same.
The manner in which I carry the said Invention into practice is illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, in which,―
Figure 1 is a perspective vlew of my improved smoothing iron; Figure 2 is a
perspective view of the inner bottom surface of the saine.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a heater, herein-after described.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section; and Figure 5, a transverse section of the said
iron drawn to a reduced scale.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
I cast the bottom a and sides a¹ of the said smoothing iron in one piece,
leaving an interior space for the reception of the heater b, and I provide the said
smoothing iron with a moveable cover c, which is attached to the side of the iron
by means of hinges d, and is provided with a suitable handle d'. When the said
cover is closed, it is held securely by means of a movable bolt or catch, as shewn
at e.
The sides of the said smoothing iron are provided with holes f for the
admission of air, and the base is furnished with pins or studs which project
upwards within the said interior space, and support and keep in place the heater b;
they also serve to provide a space for the free passage of air between the said base
and the heater, and to communicate heat from the said heater to the base, and to
augment, by reason of the circulation of the air between the heater and the base,
the heat contained in the heater b. The said heater is composed of pulverized
charcoal, to which is added a small quantity of saltpetre and dextrine, the composi-
tion being made into a block.
The proportions of these ingredients should be as follows, namely:-Charcoal,
fifty parts; saltpetre, four parts; and dextrine, four parts, the last-named substance
ensures the proper cohesion of these ingredients.
When it is desired to use this improved smoothing iron, the heater b, made as
above described, is first heated upon a hot clear fire, and allowed to remain upon
the said fire for ten minutes at most, and is so placed that all its parts are equally
heated. During the time that this heating is taking place, the smoothing iron
should also be heated by being placed upon a stove or other convenient article; then
the said heater is placed carefully whilst burning upon the aforesaid studs or pro-
jections g within the body of the smoothing iron, and the cover is closed. As the
iron is passed over the linen or other fabric to be smoothed, the heat increases.
The said iron, having in all parts the same degree of heat, may be moved in any
direction, and its points and sides may be used with great advantage for smoothing
the linen or other fabric being operated upon, and thus depressious and elevations
may be produced with great facility, and the operation of gauffering may be effected
readily. It will be necessary to remove from time to time the ashes of the
heater by opening the cover at the top. This smoothing iron may be employed for
the finest and most delicate fabrics.
The advantages to be obtained by the use of my improved smoothing iron and
heater are as follows, that is to say:-The heater not being made of iron, the
necessity of frequent reheating, as is the case with those hitherto used, is avoided.
The heater itself burns so that the person using the iron may continue to use it for .
four, six, or even ten hours without stopping, the heat remaining the same..

page_text: When the heater has been entirely consumed it may be replaced by another
which has been heated, as herein-before described, and without any smoke or un-
pleasant odour having been occasioned.
The cost of my improved smoothing iron and heater is less than that of those
hitherto used, the said heater being made at the cost of a few pence.
In heating the heaters used with ordinary smoothing irons, the room or apart-
ment where it is done becomes full of smoke, and persons who are working in the
said room are thereby greatly inconvenienced; this inconvenience is avoided by the
use of my Invention.
a
I am aware that smoothing irons are used containing charcoal, but their use, as
heretofore constructed, is attended by this inconvenience, namely, that the charcoal
has to be blown upon in order to light it, and sometimes bellows are employed for
this purpose, whilst with my said improved iron, the to-and-fro movement thereof,
when being used, is sufficient to keep alive and increase the heat of the incandescent
heater.
The ironer, if called away from time to time, may leave the iron without any
danger of the heater's being extinguished, and on returning will find it ready for
use.
There being no iron heater to be taken out and reheated, and the smoothing iron
keeping at the same degree of heat for a great length of time, a given quantity of
work may be effected in a much shorter time than with the smoothing irons
hitherto used.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, the improvements in smoothing irons, as shewn in the accompanying
Drawing, and as above described, and the employment, in combination with the
same, of the heater or block consisting of the ingredients above specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WM. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)