AN IMPROVED OIL LAMP
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emil Zerkowsky, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey,
Merchant, and Christian Reimers, of Mornington Road, Regent's Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Artist, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED OIL LAMP."
1000
I the on Contohan 1070.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Emil Zerkowsky and
Christian Reimers at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
22nd September 1879.
EMIL ZERKOWSKY, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, Merchant, and
CHRISTIAN REIMERS, of Mornington Road, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Artist. "AN IMPROVED OIL LAMP."
This improved lamp is composed of a closed chamber forming the burner through
which a tube provided with a slot passes. This tube extends above and below the
chamber and holds the wick which is raised or lowered by means of a key provided
with a toothed wheel, the teeth of which enter the slot in the tube for the purpose.
The bottom of the burner is screw threaded so as to screw into its reservoir, which
is provided with an inverted truncated cone or funnel. By causing the tube to
pass through and below the chamber and to enter the cone or funnel all overflow of
the oil is prevented.
This lamp is especially useful for vehicles, and also for domestic purposes.
-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Emil Zerkowsky and Christian Reimers in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th March 1880.
EMIL ZERKOWSKY, of Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, Merchant, and
CHRISTIAN REIMERS, of Mornington Road, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Artist. "AN IMPROVED OIL LAMP."
The object of our Invention is to construct a lamp by which all overflow of the
oil is prevented, and a better light afforded at an extremely reduced cost than
heretofore.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of our improved lamp;
Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof; Figure 3, a vertical section of the reservoir,
the burner being removed; and Figures 4 and 5, details of the burner and its
socket.
Our improved lamp is composed of two parts, viz., the burner, and the reservoir
or oil-holder. The Drawings show in full size a lamp specially devised for a
carriage. The burner consists of a hollow chamber A. and a socket B through the
first mentioned piece of which a tube C passes which holds the wick. This tube
C extends below the chamber A, as illustrated. This chamber A is screw-threaded
at its lower part, and fits into the socket B which is tapped to receive it, and which
is soldered to the reservoir or oil holder D.
This reservoir or oil holder D is furnished at its upper end as shewn, with an
inverted truncated cone or funnel E which is by preference soldered thereto, the
object of such funnel being to prevent the overflow of the oil. The reservoir is
fixed or placed in any suitable holder, as for instance, in the tubular part or socket
of a carriage lantern.
G is a key, and G*, the toothed wheel for raising or lowering the wick.
In using our improved lamp the reservoir or oil holder should be filled with
petroleum or other combustible fluid, the surface of which should just rise to the
level of the frustrum of the cone or funnel, and the outer end of the wick should be
wetted with the petroleum previously to igniting same.
The wick must then be
operated by the key so as to bring it flush with the upper edge of the tube C, and
when ignited a bright and steady flame with uniform colour will be produced, and
one which will not be easily extinguished by a current of air.
An extinguisher H may be added if desired.
Our improved lamp will be found preferable to the lamps at present in use, as
oil lamps as a rule and especially lamps of a similar character give a dull, unsteady,
and expensive light, and one which is attended with dangerous results.
We have found in use that a lamp constructed according to our Invention will burn
well without trimming for from 12 to 14 hours, and an oil holder of 33½ inches in
depth, as shewn in the Drawings will only require the 1/10 part of a pint of paraffine
for as many hours.
Having thus described our Invention what we claim as new and desire to secure
by Letters Patent is,―
First. The inverted truncated cone or funnel E fitted in the reservoir or oil-
holder of lamps, as and for the purposes described.
Second. The combination of the wick tube C and inverted truncated cone or
funnel E, as specified and shewn.
Third. The improved lamp having its parts arranged and combined, substantially
as herein described and shewn, whereby all overflow of the combustible fluid is
prevented, and a bright, steady, non explosive, and inexpensive light produced..
In witness whereof, I, the said Emil Zerkowsky, for myself and on behalf
of the said Christian Reimers, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Sixteenth day of March, in the year One thousand eight hundred and
eighty
EMIL ZERKOWSKY. (L.S.)