AN IMPROVED FURNACE FOR HEATING SOLDERING IRONS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED FURNACE FOR HEATING SOLDERING
IRONS." A communication.
Sealed the 30th September 1856, and dated the 7th June 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th June 1856..
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery. Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare.the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED FURNACE FOR HEATING SOLDERING
IRONS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel construction of furnace (for tinmen's use)
which admits of coal being burned therein in substitution for the more expen-
sive fuel, charcoal.
The furnace, which somewhat resembles a German stove, is made of cast
iron, with a trough at bottom for holding water. The fire-place is fitted with
radial cells for the reception of the soldering irons, and over the furnace is sus-
pended a hood with a vent for conducting off the gases of combustion. This
hood, when the day's work is done, may be lowered into the trough, and it

page_text: will then act as an extinguisher to the fire. When the furnace is in use,
the ignited fuel must surround the cells, so as to bring them to a cherry-red
heat on all sides; the tools being 'then inserted in the cells, will be quickly
heated, and that without any risk of overheating. The cells when burned out
may be easily renewed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66,-Chancery Lane, in tlie County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand. eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, 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 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 "AN IMPROVED FURNACE
FOR HEATING SOLDERING IRONS," being a communication: from abroad, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby declare
the nature of the 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed; and. to the
letters and figures, marked thereon. (that is to say):-
:::
This Invention, as conununicated to me by my foreign correspondent,

page_text: relates to a novel construction of furnace (for tinmen's use) which admits
of coal being burned therein in substitution for the more expensive fuel,
charcoal.
The furnace, which somewhat resembles a German stove, is made of cast
iron, with a trough at bottom for holding water. The fire-place is fitted with
radial cells for the reception of the soldering irons, and over the furnace is
suspended a hood with a vent for conducting off the gases of combustion.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews the furnace in sectional eleva-
tion; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan, shewing the position and shape of the cells;
and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the furnace, shewing the hood in section, as
suspended over it by a cord.
The employment of a furnace for heating soldering irons so constructed as
to admit of the use of bituminous or anthracite coals as a substitute for char-
coal, becomes highly iniportant when the number of persons employed in the
tinman's business is taken into consideration. By the employment of the
furnace there are several advantages gained, viz:-First, the copper bits or
soldering irons are heated in a more cleanly manner than it is possible to do
even with charcoal used in the ordinary manner. Second, they are heated
with greater certainty of being in working order. Third, the bolt or bit is
preserved from destruction, as well as the tinned portion from oxidation
arising from over heating, as well as protecting it from the action of the gases.
of combustion. Fourth, an economy is effected in using a fuel which is low
priced in comparison with charcoal; and, even when that is employed, its con-
sumption is lessened by the controul of the draft without interfering with the
introduction of the tools. In the ordinary fire pot the opening for the draft
and the tools is the same. Fifth, the furnace answers as a stove in heating
the shop; and, by dispensing with the necessity of frequent replenishing with
fuel, effects a saving in attendance, besides being perfectly safe from acci-
dentally setting fire to the building by negligence.
The following description will enable others to construct and use the
improved furnace:-A is a stove or furnace case, of cast iron; B, the grate
bars, for supporting the fuel; C, a dish at the foot of the case, for holding
water; D, a smoke pipe; E, E, E, cells or small cups of cast iron, introduced
through suitable openings in the case of the furnace; F, F, the copper bits or.
soldering irons; G is a cover or hood, suspended over the furnace at a height
sufficient to permit of the insertion of the tools in the cells. When the day's
work is done this cover may be lowered, so that its edge will enter the water
of the dish C, and thus the supply of air to the fire will be shut off. G* is a
pipe, which may be connected with a sliding one entering the chimney of the

page_text: shop: This improvement renders the use of bituminous and anthracite coal
an efficient substitute for charcoal.
In the use of the furnace, the fuel should surround the cells, so as to bring
them to a cherry-red heat on all sides; the tools being then introduced into
the cells, the heating will be, accomplished in half the time required when
using the charcoal fire of an ordinary fire pot, and the amount of heat imparted
thereto may be regulated simply by introducing the tools a greater or less
distance into the cell. When it is thought desirable to reduce the number of
the cells, they may be withdrawn and caps placed over the openings. The
cost of renewing the cells, when with lengthened use they are burnt out, will
be very trifling.
Having now set forth the nature and object of the Invention of "An
Improved Furnace for Heating Soldering Irons," as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood, that, under the above in part recited Letters
Patent, I claim constructing a furnace provided with cells, substantially in the
manner described, for the purpose of heating soldering irons.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)