IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES AND IN APPARATHIS TO BE ENPLAYED THEREIN
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jesse Ascough, of Handsworth, in the County
of Stafford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CANDLES AND IN APPARATHIS TO BE ENPLAYED THEREIN”
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Jesse Ascough at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 15th December 1870, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
"
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JESSE
ASCOUGH, of Handsworth, in the County of Stafford, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CANDLES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN,” and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :—
My Invention refers partly to certain improvements upon a former
Invention for which Letters Patent were. granted to me bearing date

page_text: March 21st 1870, and having a similar title to the above; a portion of
that Specification describes various improved methods of forming and
arranging the rods and blocks employed to carry the wicks of snuffless
and other dip candles during the process of dipping such wicks, and my
present Invention relates in the first place to further improved methods
of forming or arranging the said wick carrying rods for the purpose of
dipping the candles in pairs, the blocks or stocks in all cases being of
suitable form to receive and support the ends of such rods.
Referring to the Drawings, Figure 1 shews a portion of a dipping
rod (a) for carrying a series of wicks (6), so that the candles shall be
dipped in rows of pairs into the melted tallow or other composition,
instead of singly in rows, as in the ordinary way; (c) is a cap or cover
fitting over and upon the wicks (6), and keeping them in position during
the dipping process; the cap or cover (c) may be formed with solid ends,
as shewn at (c), Figure 2, so as to prevent the displacement or twisting
of the wicks, and in using, as I prefer to do, a plaitted wick, it is a
matter of importance to prevent such displacement or twisting.
Figure 3 is a form of rod having a groove (d) for receiving a square
bar (e), which fitting into the groove (d) securely holds the wicks (6) in
position. By another method, as shewn in Figure 4, I form a rod (f),
either circular, oval, or angular in section, and provided with a metal
serrated edge (9) let into the top of the rod, so that the wicks (6) in
passing over the rod become engaged upon the teeth of the serrated
edge (9), firmly holding the wicks during the process of dipping.
Figure 5 is a similar rod having a metal toothed plate (h), in this case
let into a hollow upon the top of the rod, so that the points of tho teeth
do not project beyond the circumference of the rod; or, as seen in
Figure 6, points or projecting teeth (i) may be arranged at intervals
along the top of the rod.
Figures 7 and 8 shew in section and part elevation a wick carrying
rod having a series of notches or cross grooves (k), into which the wicks
pass and obtain a seating, as shewn in Figure 7; or, as represented in
Figures 9 and 10, in addition to the series of grooves or notches (2)
small points or pins (m) may be let into the grooves or notches, and
the wicks becoming engaged thereupon will be securely held in place
for dipping.
Again, as illustrated in plan and part longitudinal section, Figures 11.
and 12, small metal spring clips (n) may be inserted and suitably

page_text: fastened in recesses or grooves in the rod (o) for receiving the wicks, or
in combination with the metal clips the points or pins before alluded to
may be used, as in the section, Figure 13; or again, if preferred, I form
the series of grooves to surround the rod, as illustrated in section and
part elevation, Figures 14 and 15; the rod is here shown as circular,
and the grooves (p) may be formed either with or without the points or
metal spring clips before described, or the grooves may be cut, so as to
cross each other, as scen in plan, Figure 15º, with a point or pin in the
centre if desired.
Figures 16 and 17 are other forms in section which may be suitably
employed for the grooved rods.
Figure 18 represents in part elevation a rod having a series of spring
clips (9) secured to the rod in suitable numbers, and under which tho
wicks may pass and be held for the dipping.
Figures 19 and 20-shew in part elevation and' section a combined form
of wick holding rod, consisting of a lower grooved rod (r) for receiving
an upper rod (s), the two rods being held firmly together and in place
by a moveable cap (s³) at either end; the upper rod (8) has a series of
cross grooves or notches and pins, as before specified, for holding the
wicks, and if required the lower grooved red (r) may have cross grooves
or notches (t), so that in turning the upper rod (8) to free the wicks for
stripping the candles the pins may pass on to the under side, when the
upper rod (s) will present a top edge, as shewn in part clovation,
Figure 21, thus allowing the candles-to be stripped from the rods.. It
may also be remarked that in using some of the other grooved rods
shown to strip the candles therefrom, it will be merely requisite to.turn
the rod partially round, when the wick will be freed from the grooves
and points. Figure 22 shows the cap or cover. (8') removed. from the
rods; it is of a form to suit the shape and size of the rods being used,
and may be applied to several of the weighted rods described in the
Specification of my former Patent..
By another method, as will be seen in Figure 23, F securo upon either
end of the smaller rod (u) a plate or catch picco (c) of any desired
shape, which, passing over a portion or the whole of the ends of the
lower rod (1) will hold the two rods in position.
I have already alluded to the "stripping" of the candles from the
rods after the dipping process, as in the ordinary manner in the case of
candles made in single rows, by preference, however, I take the candles

page_text: from the improved rods when made in pairs by passing the fingers under
the wicks and lifting the candles from the rods in suitable numbers, and
conveying them to be "weighed," "pounded," and "tied up," by which
means the wicks are readily released from the grooves, clips, or pins of
the rods.
The operations of "pounding" and "tying" the candles may be per-
formed in the usual manner, but I prefer to employ an ordinary scale
and beam adapted for my purpose, as shewn in Figure 21; the standard
or support (A) carries the beam (B), which is provided at its ono end
with a scale (C) for the weight, and has at the other end a peculiarly 1
shaped pendent arm (D), the fork (D') of which receives upon it the
candles to be weighed and tied, and which may be brought direct from
the rods and placed thereupon. I purpose forming in the fork (D¹) of
the arm (D) a hollow or recess, and in which a suitable length of string
or tying material (E) is laid before the candles are placed upon the ]
fork (D), so that the candles having been weighed the ends of the
string (E) may be secured; or I use the pendent arm (D) in combination
with a steelyard or dial plate instead of the scale arrangement; or I
attach a bobbin or ball of string or tying material to a suitable part of
the apparatus, and use it in a continuous length upon the fork (D') of the
arm (D), in which case it may be found requisite to provide the apparatus
with a small cutter or knife, for the purpose of cutting the string when
the candles are tied.
My Invention further relates to improvements in or addition to the
ordinary wick cutting machines, and are shewn in plan in Figures 25
and 26. (F) is the ordinary guage table, secured upon a bed in front of
the usual guillotine or cutting bar. I form a suitably shaped groove or
trough (G) to receive a wick rod, such as Figure 27, having a series of
wicks arranged thereupon ready for cutting. (H), Figure 25, is a
horizontal bar attached to the guage table (F), but capable of a slight
spring movement to or from the groove or trough (G) by means of the
slots (I) working upon the pins (I'), and actuated by the helical springs
and pegs (K), which partially work into or enter the back bar (L); tho
purpose of this arrangement of the guage table (F) is that of keeping
the wick rod securely in place, and the wicks from twisting, slipping, or
other displacement during the cutting operation.
In using these improvements for plaitted wicks I avoid the employ-
ment of the ordinary wick twisting board, and consequently the loss of

page_text: c
time involved in the operation, and in using rods, as before specified,
having a second or weight rod, such an arrangement of a spring bar (H)
will force into place the second or weight bar, and retain it in position
until removal; in place of the helical springs (K) horizontal or bow
springs may be used for obtaining a similar result. In the arrangement,
Figure 26, the moveable bar (M) is worked to tighten up or release the
wick rod by means of levers (N) attached to the bar (M) and back
bar (M), the centre (N') having a handle (N³).
In removing the rods with the cut wicks in pairs thereupon from the
cutting machine to be dipped it may sometimes be found that the two
lengths of some of the pairs of wicks will cling together, or become
slightly twisted, and to separate or free the ends in such a case I purpose
using any convenient means, such as a blade or separator, shewn in
elevation, Figure 28, secured to the side or frame of the tallow bath,
cutting machine, or other convenient support, so that the operator in
bringing a rod of wicks to be dipped may readily pass the wicks across.
the separator or blade to freo the partially twisted wicks; in practice,
however, such a provision will be seldom needed, as a slight shake of
the wicks prior to dipping will generally be found sufficient.
Figure 29 represents in side elevation an improved form of holder for
the ball, bobbin, or hank of the wick material; (O) is a holder or cup
with a hollow vertical tube (o'), capable of revolving upon a spindle (P)
secured to a stand or bracket, or otherwise as desired; the object of this
arrangement is, that when the wick material is drawn from the wick
holder it shall pass to the cutting machine without becoming twisted or
stretched in its length.
My Invention also relates to certain improvements in the formation or
composition of the wicks to be used in the manufacture of any description
of candle. I form a plaitted wick, and with each plait I use a cord, which
may, if preferred, be previously steeped in a solution of gutta percha or
india-rubber, or in a solution of the composition herein-after described;
the wicks aro made of any suitable animal and vegetable fibre used in
combination. Again I mix together cotton, woollen, hair, or other
suitable vegetable or animal fibre, using all or some descriptions of
5. such fibre together in suitable proportions, and either in a state of
solution, or cut or reduced to powder in combination with paper pulp,
white or colored, and with the admixture if requisite of gutta percha,
india-rubber, and other gums or resins in pieces, powder, or solution, to

page_text: such a consistency that the mass may be spread, dried, and rolled into
requisite thicknesses to be cut, drawn out, or pressed into suitable breadths
and lengths for forming candles or taper wicks, or cores, and either
round, spiral, flat, or of any other suitable shape; or I pass the pulp as
described through or into tubes or moulds of any convenient shape for
producing the composito wicks, tapers, or cores. I may also add to the
pulpy substance or composite mass if desired parafin or other similar
mineral product with fatty substances, vegetable or animal, either in
combination or separately, and with or without previous bleachings or
saponification, such additions to the composition rendering the moulded ]
forms or cut lengths of the material by one operation as taper or candlo
cores. I also purpose dipping any suitable plaitted or other wicks in a
solution of the above composition for the purpose of forming candles,
tapers, or candle cores.
In witness whereof I, the said Jesse Ascough, have hereunto sct 1
my hand and seal this Ninth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.