IMPROVEMENTS TV DIZAINA
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Samuel, of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
TV DIZAINA
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Samuel
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th March 1870.
I, WILLIAM HENRY SAMUEL, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN FRICTION LIGHTS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED
THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to the employment of certain new com-
positions or agents in the manufacture of so called friction lights of the
class rendered or made combustible throughout their entire length, and
capable of being ignited at any point by friction or percussion; and also
to certain novel devices or improvements in holders for the same, and
consist,-

page_text: First. In combining any ordinary or convenient friction match
composition with oil, when such oil is solidified by the addition of
chloride of sulphur, and employing such composition either by itself or
in admixture with caoutchouc or other gum as an agent for saturating
cord or other length of fibrous material, or for forming lengths by itself,
or for placing amongst tinder in threads, and in either case constituting
so called friction lights.
According to one method of carrying this part of my Invention into
operation I add to every hundred parts of any convenient friction match
composition from 35 to 90 parts of oil, and thoroughly mix these together
with or without the assistance of heat. Thereafter I add to the mass
from 3 to 10 per cent. of liquid chloride of sulphur and again mix the
ingredients well together, heat being used if desired.
Second. In combining any ordinary or convenient friction match
composition with pyroxyline, and employing such composition either by
itself or in admixture with caoutchouc or other gum as an agent for
saturating cord or other length of fibrous material, or for forming lengths
by itself, or for providing threads to be placed amongst tinder, and in
either case constituting friction lights.
According to one method of carrying this part of my Invention into
operation I take 100 parts of pyroxyline prepared in the manner adopted
in the manufacture of parkesine, 300 to 500 parts of a solvent therefor,
and from 100 to 250 parts of a friction match composition and oil pre-
pared as described under the above first part of my Invention. These
ingredients I well mix together and afterwards drive off the solvent by
heat and collect it if desired.
Third. In constructing a portable or pocket apparatus or holder for the
above or any similar length of friction lights of any convenient external
form, and in fitting therein a travelling piece in such manner that it can
be propelled at will towards the delivery end so as to cause a portion of
the friction light sufficient to give a light to project. The means which
I employ under this head of my Invention for propelling the said
travelling piece, and consequently projecting the required length of
friction light, are screw threads or helical grooves and nuts, some of the
convenient forms resemble pocket pencil cases. A removable cap is
employed to cover the lighting end.
Fourth. In constructing a portable or pocket apparatus or holder for
the above or any similar length of friction lights of any convenient

page_text: external form, and in fitting therein a travelling piece in such manner
that it can be moved by an external push piece so as to cause a portion
of the friction light to project when required. A removable cap is
provided to cover the lighting end.
Fifth. In the employment of two or more spring gripping prongs in
connection with holders of any kind for the above friction lights as
means for catching into the surfaces and propelling a length of friction
light from a holder at intervals as required.
Sixth. In the employment of a cap in combination with the spring
gripping prongs described under the above fifth section as means for
enclosing the lighting end of the holder, and compressing the ends of the
prongs against the friction light so as to feed forward the required length
for a light each time the cap is removed.
Seventh. In the employment of one or more propelling spring grippers
in combination with holders, fitted with travelling propeller pieces as
described under the above third and fourth sections, as means for securely
holding the length of friction light and preventing it from receding
when projected the required distance at the igniting end, and also for
drawing in the length of friction light into the holder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Henry Samuel in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY SAMUEL, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Henry Samuel, Her special license
that I, the said William Henry Samuel, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Henry Samuel, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
4

page_text: 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 “IMPROVEMENTS IN
FRICTION LIGHTS AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THERE WITH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Henry Samuel, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 William Henry Samuel, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of illustrative Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
My improvements relate to the employment of certain new com-
positions or agents in the manufacture of so called friction lights of the
class named continuous matches. By the term continuous matches Is
mean that class of friction lights of which the leading characteristics are
that they are ignitable at any point of the composition or of their length
by ordinary friction or percussion on any ordinary hard or suitably
prepared surface, the resulting ignition being capable of being stopped
at pleasure by excluding the air wholly or partially, or by concussion, or
by other means, and that they are then capable of being reignited by
renewed friction or percussion as before at the point at which the
previous ignition left off, as distinguished from the ordinary friction
lights now in use known as matches, lucifers, vestas, fusees, and such
like, which are ignitable by friction or percussion at special points only,
and in which the friction composition is chiefly employed for com-
municating ignition to the substance to which it is attached, which
substance is not itself ignitable by ordinary friction or percussion, and in
which said matches, lucifers, vestas, fusees, and such like, the ignition
of the friction or percussion composition is not arrested or renewed at a
will. If so desired the ingredients or agents employed may be so pro-
portioned that the resultant continuous matches may be used without a
tubular holder. My improvements also relate to certain novel devices

page_text: or improvements in holders for continuous matches; and such improve-
ments consist,---
66
First. In combining any ordinary or convenient friction match
composition, including what is known as 'patent safety," with oil or
oily matters, when such oil or oily matters in combination with the
match composition is or are solidified or caused to solidify by the addition
of chloride of sulphur in manner similar to the Inventions of Mr. Parkes,
and particularly described in the Specification of the Invention for
which he obtained British Letters Patent, No. 2359, of the year 1855,
and employing such composition either by itself or in admixture or
combination with caoutchouc or other gum as an agent for saturating
cord or other length of fibrous material, or for forming lengths by itself,
or for placing in threads amongst or as a core in tinder or other ignitable
material.
The said oil, chloride of sulphur, and match composition, with or
without caoutchouc or other analogous gum, can be employed in different
proportions, as will be obvious; but that others may be enabled to
beneficially carry my improvements under this head into effect I will
now proceed to set forth the quantities of materials employed in and
one mode of preparing the same.
I take any convenient friction match composition, such as a com-
position of one ounce saltpetre, one half ounce powdered orris root, onė
eighth ounce of minium, and one ounce of phosphorous. To these
ingredients, the phosphorous being dissolved, I add one to two ounces of
oil, preferably castor oil, varying the quantity according to the nature
of the oil and the resultant tenacity or flexibility required. After all
the ingredients are well incorporated I add thereto chloride of sulphur in
the proportions of from ten to fifteen parts of liquid chloride of sulphur
to every hundred parts of oil, agitate quickly, and shape into the form
required either by moulding, cutting, pressing, or drawing.
When-it is desired to use lengths of a fibrous material they may be
saturated or coated with the above composition, and oil without the
chloride of sulphur, which is subsequently applied in order to solidify
the composition.
:
When it is desired to increase the tenacity and flexibility of the above
friction light or continuous match composition, caoutchouc or other
suitable ignitable gum should be added in solution in varying quantities,

page_text: say, about ten per cent., before the addition of the chloride of sulphur.
It will be obvious the solvent must be driven off.
Second. In combining any ordinary or convenient friction match
composition with pyroxyline and employing such composition, either by
itself or in admixture with caoutchouc or other gum, as an agent for
saturating cord or other length of fibrous material, or for forming lengths
by itself, or for providing threads or other suitable lengths to be placed
amongst or as a core in tinder or other ignitable material.
In carrying this part of my Invention into effect I employ one hundred
parts of pyroxyline (by the term pyroxyline I include xyloidine and gun
cotton) 300 to 500 parts of a suitable solvent, and 100 to 250 parts
of the match composition described under the above first part of my
Invention, but without the addition of the chloride of sulphur. Incor-
porate these ingredients well together, drive off the solvent, and shape.
into the form required either by moulding, cutting, pressure, or drawing,
or by saturating or coating cord or other length of fibrous material.
When it is desired to impart increased tenacity or flexibility to the
above composition caoutchouc or other suitable ignitable gum should
be added in solution in various quantities, say, about ten per cent.,
driving off the solvent; or varying quantities, say, about ten per cent., of
oil may be added (in addition to or in substitution of the caoutchouc or
other suitable ignitable gum) to the solution of pyroxyline before the
admixture of the match composition; after the admixture of which said
match composition liquid chloride of sulphur is added in the proportion
of 10 to 15 parts to every 100 parts of oil.
If slow ignition is desired, as would be the case with fire lighters, the
proportion of the match composition would in all the above cases be less
than if the a quick ignition was desired; and if ignition was desired by
friction or a specially prepared (phosphoric) surface, then the proportion
of the phosphorous would be materially reduced. In cases where it is
desirable to diminish the chances of spontaneous ignition the finished
articles may be coated with collodion or other analogous varnish.
Third. In constructing a portable or pocket apparatus or holder for
certain descriptions of the above or any similar length of friction lights
or continuous matches of any convenient external form, and in fitting
therein a travelling piece in such manner that it can be propelled at
will towards the delivery end so as to cause a portion of the friction
light or continuous match sufficient to give a light to project. The

page_text: means which I employ under this head of my Invention for propelling
the said travelling piece, and consequently projecting and withdrawing
the required length of friction light, are screw threads or helical grooves
and nuts; some of the convenient forms resemble pocket pencil cases.
A removable cap is employed to cover the lighting end.
A form of pocket holder constructed in accordance with this part of
my Invention is illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto appended. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the holder
closed; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the cap being removed and shewn;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation shewing two grippers protruding and ready
to receive a length of the friction light; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal
section, the travelling piece being close to the igniting end. In all these
views like letters are employed to indicate the same parts.
The external casing is formed in two lengths, marked respectively a
and a¹; these parts are not joined rigidly together, but are free to be
turned independantly, a serving as a protector and as a sheath for the
end of the closing cap b, and a¹ as a connection and means for trans-
mitting motion when turned by the fingers to the internal propelling
mechanism. a¹ is connected by a strong pin a² to the internal slotted
tube c.
Through the slot in c one or more studs formed on or
attached to the propelling piece d project. These studs enter the helical
groove or way formed on or connected to the internal surface of the
tube e.
The tube e is rigidly secured to the part d. f is a protector
picce formed with a flange shoulder or projection 9; the said flange
shoulder or projection y serves to assist in preventing the liquid deposit
formed during the combustion of certain lights of this kind from spreading
backwards and from coming into contact with the interior of the cap b,
and is of considerable utility in practice. h are the grippers hereafter
more particularly referred to under the seventh head; i shews a portion
of a friction light or continuous match. By rotating a¹ in one direction
or the other it will be seen c and d must rotate with it; in consequence
however of d fitting into the helical groove or way in-e, d is made to
partake of a forwards or backwards motion and hence to propel the
friction light or continuous match beyond the end off, or to draw it
within f. Ignition is effected by striking or rubbing h on any resisting
surface, and if a specially prepared surface is necessary from the character
of the friction composition employed, or if an ordinary roughened surface

page_text: be desired, then that prepared or roughened surface may be attached or
formed with convenience on the cap b.
Fourth. In constructing a portable or pocket apparatus or holder for
certain descriptions of the above or of any similar length of friction
lights or continuous matches of any convenient external form, and in
fitting therein a travelling piece in such manner that it can be moved
by an external push piece so as to cause a portion of the friction light
to project when required. A removable cap is provided to cover the
lighting end.
Figs. 5, 6, and 7, shew this fourth part of my Invention. Fig. 5 is a
side clevation of the holder closed; Fig. 6 a side elevation of the holder
and cap, the latter being removed; and Fig. 7 a longitudinal section of
Fig. 5.
Like letters denote the same parts.
jis the containing tube formed with a slot in its side; j¹, collar; k,
the travelling piece with protruding push at 7; m, cap; n, length of
friction light or continuous match. The required length of n is caused
to protrude at the igniting end by forcing the push 7. and travelling
piece forwards towards the igniting end. The cap m can be dispensed
with when the matches give off little or no smell or liquid deposit.
A modification under this part of my Invention is illustrated by 1
Fig. 7. Here is the containing slotted tube; the travelling piece.
connected by the ring to the push piece m', which latter is moved
along the external surface of the protecting slotted tube n¹; o¹, cap
passing inside n¹. The slots in k¹ and n' are on opposite sides of the
tubes, hence air is partially shut off.
Fifth. In the employment of two or more spring gripping prongs in
connection with holders of any convenient kind for certain descriptions
of the above friction lights or continuous matches as means for catching
into the surfaces and propelling a length of friction light or continuous
match from a holder at intervals as required.
430
This fifth part of my Invention is illustrated by the Figures 8, 9,
and 10 of the Drawings. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the spring grippers
combined with a holder; Fig. 9 a side clevation, the cap being removed;
and Fig. 10 a longitudinal section. Here o is the containing tube of the
holder formed with two closed slots at p. q are the spring gripping 3
prongs formed with or connected to the collar "; s is a shoulder or ring

page_text: to prevent q from moving too far backwards; t, length of friction light
or continuous match. When 9 are pressed together the points enter t,
and when it is desired to cause a portion of t to project they are pushed
forwards towards the igniting end.
Sixth. In the employment of a cap in combination with the spring
gripping prongs described under the above fifth section as means for
enclosing the lighting end of the holder and compressing the ends of the
prongs against the friction light so as to feed forward the required length
for a light each time the cap is removed.
This sixth part of my Invention is also illustrated by Figs. 8, 9, and
10. is the closing cap. The internal diameter or size of this cap is
less than that of the spring gripping prongs q, hence when the cap u is
pushed on q. are compressed and caused to enter or catch t. When the
cap is withdrawn q is drawn outwards as far as it will come, hence every
time the cap is removed a length of t sufficient for a light is left ready for
ignition.
Seventh. In the employment of one or more propelling spring grippers
in combination with holders fitted with travelling propeller pieces as
described under the above third and fourth heads as means for securely
holding the length of friction light or continuous match and preventing
it from receding when projected the required distance at the igniting
end, and also sometimes for drawing in the length of friction light or
continuous match into the holder combined with the form of holder
illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, or in any other convenient holder, in
order to enable the last portion of the match to be removed easily.
Figs: 11 and 12 shew this seventh part of my Invention in side
clevation drawn to a larger scale. vare the propelling spring grippers
formed of one piece of bent metal passed through an eye in the travelling
propeller piece w, or such spring grippers may be formed of two or more
pieces. The prongs may have sharp edges or teeth to catch into the
length of friction light or continuous match, and they may be so formed
that when within the holder they are compressed. When propelled
outwards to the full extent so as to protrude, as in Figure 3, they open
or may be opened so as to lose their hold of the fag end of the friction
light or continuous match, or they may be in the form of a split tube
through which the last remaining portion of the match may be pushed
out by a pin either from without or connected with the propelling appa-
ratus, by means of which the said pin could be made to push up beneath

page_text: the last remaining portion of the match and push it out. In every form
of holder for continuous matches every portion coming into contact with
the match should be lined or made with tin, and when the continuous
matches do not give a liquid deposit and a more or less disagreeable
smell the cap and the collet may be dispensed with. The cap may be
open or closed at the top according as the smell from the match is
objectionable or not, and may be composed of one tube or of several
pieces connected together with or without intermediate spaces, and may
fit into the interior or on to the exterior of the case, or may slide down
into the case. For holders similar to those illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4, I prefer the shape given in Fig. 2, which facilitates ingress and
egress without coming into contact with the liquid deposit at the end
of the holder. The cap is also useful to cause or to complete the
extinguishment of the flame, and may be so shaped as to be capable of
being used as a knife, pen, pipe pricker, tobacco stopper, cigar holder,
piercer, or cutter, which several articles may also be combined with the
holder as well as a pencil and other useful articles..
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and par-
ticularized the several parts by practicable details, I would have it
understood that what I claim is, the composition or agents, the mode of
preparing and using the same, and the holders and parts thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Samuel, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.
In the presence of
J. T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
WILLIAM H. SAMUEL. (L.S.)