IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' NIGHT SIGNALS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cotton Symonds, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS'
NIGHT SIGNALS."
Sealed the 28th July 1857, and dated the 2nd February 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Cotton Symonds at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
February 1857.
I, COTTON SYMONDS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHIPS' NIGHT SIGNALS," to be as follows (that is to say):
The object of this Invention is to prevent the collision of vessels at sea
during the night, by enabling them distinctly to denote their position and track
by means of the colour of the light shown from the signal lantern, which it is
proposed to construct in such a way that it shall be capable of showing three,.
four, or, more various coloured lights by means of coloured lenses or bulls-
eyes, but only one lens of one colour at a time.
A lantern or apparatus can be constructed, according to this Invention, by
mounting upon a vertical spindle or axis a good lamp of 'any convenient form
or kind, having at the back of the burner a reflector, or a screen and a'

page_text: reflector, of such a form that will concentrate and throw forward the light,
and at the same time effectually screen the light from about three-fourths of
the circle arround the lamp. A frame of ribwork may be carried from the
vertical spindle under the lamp, and up the back and sides of the reflector or
screen, and then carried so as to meet at a point above the lamp, and in a
vertical line with the lower spindle, from which they spring, where they are
united, so as to form or support an upper short vertical rod or axle, on the
top of which a handle is mounted or formed. The lamp, reflector, and so
forth, is surrounded by a suitably-shaped lantern body, which is supported
upon a collar, disc, or groove upon the vertical shaft or spindle which supports
the lamp, reflector, and ribbed framework, described, and which is capable of
being readily revolved round the lamp, which is supported and is stationary
on the head of the lower vertical spindle in the interior of the lantern. The
lantern body or outer covering has fitted on its vertical sides lenses or bulls-
eyes of the required colour, say green, red, and white, to denote the ship's
track, say red to indicate the vessel having her starboard tacks on board,
green to denote the port tack, and white to be shown when running free. A
blue lens or bulls-eye may be used as a signal of distress. These coloured
lenses or bulls-eyes may be so fitted to the lantern that they can be removed
to be replased by white or colourless ones, so that by removing the reflector
(or the reflector and screen when both are used) to adopt it for a masthead
lantern when at anchor. The lantern is provided with a pin or spring catch
to hold the body of the lantern in the required position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Cotton Symonds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st August 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, COTTON
SYMONDS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Cotton Symonds, Her special licence that I, the said Cotton Symonds, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Cotton
Symonds, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
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 SHIPS' NIGHT
SIGNALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Cotton
Symonds, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par
ticularly 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 Cotton Symonds, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say);:-
The object of this my said Invention is to prevent the collision of vessels at
sea (or when in harbour) during the night time, by enabling them distinctly
to denote their position and track, and which I do by means of the colour of
the light shewn from the signal lantern, which I construct in such a way that
it is capable of shewing three, four, or more variously coloured lights, but
only a light of one colour at one time, by means of diversified coloured glasses,
lenses, or bulls-eyes fitted into the sides of the lantern frame, and which is so
constructed that it can be turned round the lamp contained within the lantern.
The lamp is provided at the back and two sides with a reflector, or a screen,
or a screen and a reflector combined, of such a form that will concentrate and
throw forward the light, and at the same time effectually screen the light for
about three-fourths of the circle around the lamp. The lamp is mounted
upon a spindle, which extends down through the bottom of the lantern, and
is held stationary by a socket formed in a metal frame or rib, which extends
from the bottom of the lantern frame and up the back of the exterior. of the
lantern, and is bent over at the top, so as to allow a strap or collar to be
formed upon its end to embrace an upper pin or spindle upon which the
lantern frame rotates. This frame or rib is used to secure the lantern to the
bowsprit end or other convenient situation. A screw, or a spring catch, or
a pin is used to keep the lantern in the position required to present the
requisite coloured glass at the front. The lantern frame may be constructed
of any convenient, shape, which will in some instances depend upon the number
of colours required to be shewn.
A lantern or apparatus can be constructed, according to this Invention, by

page_text: mounting upon a vertical spindle or fixed axis a good lamp of any convenient
form or kind, having at the back of the burner a reflector, or screen and
a reflector, of such a form that it will consentrate and throw forward the
light, and at the same time effectually screen the light from about three-
fourths of the circle around the lamp, as herein-before described; a frame
of ribwork being carried from the vertical spindle used to support the lamp
up the back and sides of the reflector or screen, and then brought together,
so as to meet at a point above the lamp, and in a verticle line with the lower
spindle from which they spring, where they are united so as to form or
support an upper short vertical rod or axle, on the top of which a handle may
be mounted or formed. The lamp reflector and ribwork I then surround by
a suitably shaped lantern body, which is supported on a collar, disc, or groove
formed upon the lower vertical shaft or spindle, which supports the lamp,
reflector, and ribwork, described, and which is capable of being readily
revolved round the lamp, which is supported and is stationary on the head of
the lower vertical spindle in the interior of the lantern.
The lantern body or outer covering has fitted in its vertical sides lenses,
bulls-eyes, or glass of the required colour, say green, red, and white to
-denote the ship's track; say red to indicate the vessel having her starboard
tacks on board, and green to denote having the port tack on board, and white
to be shewn when running free, and blue'may be used as a signal of distress:
The coloured glass lenses or bulls-eyes may be so fitted to the lantern
that they can be removed to be replaced by white or colourless ones, and then
by removing the reflector (or the reflector and screen (when both are used) to
adopt it for a masthead lantern, shewing a white light all round to be used
when at anchor.
The object I have in view by this my said Invention is not only to express
by the colour of the light shewn the position a ship is in and the way she is
going, which to a nautical person will at once be evident, but also by con-
sentrating the light, and not showing it too broad," the direction of the
ship's head is more clearly defined; and as it is certain no contact between
two vessels can occur unless the bow of one at least is directed towards the
other, consequently collisions can be readily avoided under all ordinary
circumstances.
:
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention',
and in what manner the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not confine-myself to any precise details; but what I claim is, the
use of a fixed light, having attached thereto a reflector or screen, or a 'screen

page_text: and reflector, of such a form that the light is concentrated and thrown for-
ward, and at the said time prevents the radiation of light from the lamp
through the back and sides of the lantern, and surrounding the fixed light and
reflector or screen with a rotating lantern frame glazed with suitably coloured
lenses or glasses, as herein-before described.
In witness thereof, I, the said Cotton Symonds, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
10 Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street, Liverpool.
COTTON (L.S.) SYMONDS.