An Improved Toasting Fork.
Year: 1896

page_text: An Improved Toasting Fork.
I, HERBERT WILLIAM DOUDNEY of St. Helen's Rectory, Hastings Student,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improved toasting fork is designed to enable bread and other articles of food
to be toasted before a fire without the careful watching which is necessary with.
the toasting forks now used.
For this purpose a toasting fork of any suitable shape or size is pivotted or
hung so as to turn easily at or near its centre upon a rod. One end of the fork
carries the prongs and the other a sliding or otherwise adjustable weight or
weights. When in use, the bread is placed upon the prongs in the usual way and
the weight or weights are adjusted to counterbalance the bread and keep the fork
in a horizontal position. The toasting fork and rod are hung in front of a fire by
means of any convenient hanger or stand. As the toasting proceeds the article
being toasted becomes lighter owing to evaporation, this causes the weighted end
of the fork to slowly descend and lifts the article to be toasted away from the fire.
When the toasting is complete the weight or weights if properly adjusted, will
have raised the toasted article away from the fire.
A bell or other suitable signal can be attached to the toasting fork to cause
sound when the toasting is finished.
Any number of prongs may be used to carry the article to be toasted but I find
four of different length and not in one row to be most effective in holding the
article.
The toasting fork can be made adjustable upon the hanger or stand.
Two or more of these forks could be used on one hanger or stand if desirable.
Dated this 25th dox of February 1896
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, Patent Agent.
I HERBERT WILLIAM DOUDNEY of St. Helen's Rectory Hastings Student,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :--
My improved toasting fork is designed to enable bread and other articles of food
to be toasted before a fire without the careful watching which is necessary with
the toasting forks now used.
For this purpose a toasting fork Fig. 1 (A) of any suitable shape or size is
pivoted or hung so as to turn easily at or near its centre upon a rod B. One end
of the fork carries the prongs C and the other a sliding or otherwise adjustable

page_text: weight or weights D. D 1. The fork is so bent that when it and the cross rod are
held horizontally the said weight or weights are above the plane in which the
prongs are. When in use the bread is placed upon the prongs in the usual way
and the weight or weights are adjusted to counterbalance the bread and keep the
fork in a horizontal position.. The toasting fork and rod are hung in front of a
fire by means of any convenient hanger or stand (Fig. 2 E). As the toasting
proceeds the article being toasted becomes lighter owing to evaporation this causes
the weighted end of the fork to descend and lift the article to be toasted away
from the fire. When the toasting is complete the weight or weights if properly
adjusted, will have raised the toasted article away from the fire.
A bell or other suitable signal Fig. 1 (F) is attached to the toasting fork to
cause sound when the toasting is finished. Any number of prongs may be used
to carry the article to be toasted but this toasting fork usually has four either in
or not in a straight line. The fork can be adjusted upon the hanger or stand so as
to vary its distance from the fire.
Two or more of these forks can be used on one hanger or stand if desirable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
.claim is :-
1. The method of balancing and utilising a toasting fork as before described.
2. A balanced automatic toasting fork constructed and arranged as, or sub-
stantially as, herein set forth.
Dated this 20th day of November 1806