AN IMPROVED FIRE-LIGHTER
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN FLETCHER WILES of the Village Old Charlton in the County of Kent
Insurance Broker do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "AN IMPROVED
FIRE-LIGHTER" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved fire-lighter which is simple in construction
compact in form and can be easily ignited.
In carrying the said invention into practice I take a block or solid piece of
wood of the desired dimensions for the fire lighter and cut therein one or more
series of grooves which are parallel to each other and extend preferably in the
direction of the grain of the wood. In some cases also I cut a groove through
the block of wood at right angles to and intersecting the longitudinal parallel
grooves.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn several fire lighters constructed in
accordance with my invention.
In Figure 1 I have shewn a block a of wood having a series of parallel grooves
or slots b formed therein longitudinally from one end nearly to the other end these
grooves serving to create or permit the draught necessary to facilitate the burning
of the fire lighter.
In Figure 2 I have shewn the grooves or slots 6 cut in both ends of the fire
lighter longitudinally.
In Figure 3 1 have shewn the longitudinal grooves b intersected by another
groove cat right angles to the grooves b so as to still further facilitate the burning
of the fire lighter.
In order to cut the grooves b as above described and shewn I in some cases
simply employ a circular saw bench with one or more saws arranged upon one
spindle or if preferred I can employ a frame saw machine having the number
of saws desired to produce the necessary number of cuts or grooves in the
block a.
In Figure 4 I have shewn a fire lighter having a series of grooves b extending
through the body of the wood these grooves in this case being preferably formed
by a multiple mortising machine that is to say; a machine having a series of
mortising tools adapted to act at one and the same time or by means of circular
saws by pressing the wood upon the top of the saws.
I coat my improved fire lighter with, or dip the same in, resin or any other
suitable inflammable material to insure its quick ignition. The said fire lighter
may be made of any dimensions the sole operation necessary in its manufacture
being the cutting of the grooves so as to ensure a proper draught to facilitate its
combustion as berein explained.
Dated third day of Santambon 1001

page_text: I JOHN FLETCHER WILES of The Village, Old Charlton in the County of Kent
Insurance Broker do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for." AN IMPROVED
FIRE LIGHTER" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying drawing forming part of this Specification:-
My invention relates to an improved fire lighter which is simple in construction
compact in form and can be easily and readily ignited.
In carrying the said invention into practice I take a block or solid piece of
wood of the desired dimensions for the fire lighter and cut therein one or more
series of grooves which are parallel to each other and extend preferably in the
direction of the grain of the wood. In some cases also I cut a groove or grooves
through the block of wood at right angles to and intersecting the longitudinal
parallel grooves.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn in perspective fire lighters con-
structed in accordance with my invention.
In Figure 1 I have shewn a block a of wood having a series of parallel grooves
or slots b formed therein longitudinally from one end nearly to the other end these
grooves serving to create or permit the draught necessary to facilitate the burning
of the fire lighter when ignited.
In Figure 2 I have shewn the grooves or slots b cut in both ends of the fire
lighter longitudinally.
In Figure 3 I have shewn the longitudinal grooves b intersected by another
groove cat right angles to the grooves b so as to still further facilitate the burning
of the fire-lighter.
In order to cut the grooves b as above described and shewn I in some cases
simply employ a circular saw bench with one or more saws arranged upon one
spindle or if preferred I can employ a frame saw machine having the number
of saws desired to produce the necessary number of cuts or grooves to the
block a.
In Figure 4 I have shewn a fire lighter having a series of grooves 6 which
extend through the body of the wood, these grooves in this case being preferably
formed by a multiple mortising machine that is to say a machine having a series
of mortising tools adapted to act at one and the same time or such grooves or
slots may be formed in the block by pressing such block down upon a series of
circular saws so that openings will be cut completely through.
I coat my improved fire lighter with or dip the same in resin or any other
suitable inflammable material to insure its quick ignition The said fire lighter
may be made of any dimensions the sole operation necessary in its manufacture
being the cutting of the grooves so as to ensure a proper draught to facilitate its
combustion as herein explained.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
A fire lighter consisting of a block or piece of wood having a series of longitudinal
grooves b (with or without the grooves c) cut therein substantially as herein set
forth and for purpose specified.