Improvements in Candle-holders or Candlesticks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1889.
Specification Accepted, 1st June, 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Candle-holders or Candlesticks.
We, ALFRED NIND HOPKINS, of the firm of J. H. Hopkins and Sons, of Granville
Works, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, tin-plate workers and japanners,
and THOMAS JAMES BAKER, foreman in the employment of the said firm, 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:
A form of candle-holder or candlestick has been heretofore employed, in which
the candle has been contained within a barrel or tube and has been pressed up by
means of a spring against a cap fixed on the top of the barrel, such cap having an
opening through the top for the passage of the projecting portion of the wick, and
as the candle has been consumed it has been moved up by the spring so that the
upper end has constantly pressed against the cap. There are two objections to this
arrangement, namely that the cap has to be removed to enable the candle to be
inserted within the barrel, and that it cannot be seen what length of candle remains
at any time within the barrel without first removing the cap.
Now, the object of this invention is the construction of a candle-holder or candlestick
which embodies the advantages of that above described and is free from the objections
referred to.
According to this invention, a vertical barrel or tube or corresponding pillar is
screwed or otherwise fixed to the base of the candlestick, and a cap, which projects
sideways therefrom, is fixed at the top. A sliding-piece is carried by the pillar and
is shaped with a part to fit easily within the pillar so as to be capable of being slid
up and down therein, with a part to pass through a vertical slot in the pillar, and
with a part to project from the pillar so as to be in position vertically beneath the
projecting portion of the cap. The lower end of the pillar is closed, and a spiral
spring is inserted within it and bears against the bottom thereof and against the
underside of the part of the sliding-piece which is within the pillar, and the spring
is so made that when free it will press the sliding-piece to the upper end of the pillar
and bring the projecting portion against the underside of the projecting portion of the
cap. To fix the candle, the sliding-piece is drawn down against the pressure of
the spring which is of course thereby compressed into a shorter space, and the candle

page_text: is then inserted between it and the cap and the sliding-piece is released and presses
the upper end of the candle against the cap, and securely holds the candle between
itself and the cap. The candle is thus always exposed to view; and it is not necessary
to remove the cap in putting a fresh candle in place.
This invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which figure 1 is a vertical section of a candle-holder constructed
according to this invention, figure 2 a front elevation thereof with part of the base
broken away for convenience of illustration, figure 3 a section taken on line ax of
figure 1, with the base omitted, figure 4 a side elevation, with a portion of the base
shewn in section and with the pillar and candle broken in height, of a candlestick
constructed according to this invention, but with a different character of base to that
shewn by figures 1 and 3, and figure 5 a side elevation of a candlestick, also con-
structed according to this invention, but shewing another variety of base and with
the handle fixed to the pillar instead of to the base.
A vertical tube a, forming the pillar, is screwed or otherwise fixed to the base b.
A vertical slot c is formed down one side of the pillar, and a cap d is screwed, or
otherwise fixed, to the top of the pillar by means of a part e from which the part d
projects sideways so as to stand out somewhat from the pillar. The part d of the
cap is formed of a hollow conical shape to receive the upper end of the candle, and
is open at the top, as shewn, for the wick to project through. A sliding-piece has
a neck g which
passes through the slot e in the pillar and a part h which fits easily
within the interior of the pillar. The bottom of the pillar is closed, as shewn, and a
spiral spring i is inserted within the pillar between the bottom end thereof and the
underside of the part of the sliding-piece. The candle j, which is shewn by broken
lines, is held between the cap d, within which its upper end is inserted with the wick
projecting through the open top thereof, and the sliding-piece. As the candle is con-
sumed it is pressed up by means of the spring operating through the sliding-
piece f.
No claim is made in respect of the base of the candlestick.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A candle-holder or candlestick in which the candle is held between a cap and
sliding-piece which project from a pillar, whereby the candle is constantly exposed to
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicants.