A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THE MAGNESIUM LIGHT."
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ross Bamber, of Jersey, Commander Royal
Navy, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
THE MAGNESIUM LIGHT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ross Bamber at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th June 1865.
I, CHARLES ROSS BAMBER, of Jersey, Commander Royal Navy, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR PRODUCING A MAGNESIUM LIGHT," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of a new or improved apparatus
whereby the light from the metal magnesium may be produced in a continuous
stream, and rendered applicable and useful to many purposes, such as to throw
a light through a railway tunnel by the engine driver as a security against
accident, to signal on railways, or from steamers or other vessels, for light-
houses, and any other purposes where such light may be required. The
apparatus consists of an oblong case of wood or metal to contain the working
parts; at one end of this case I arrange a conical barrel or reel around
which the magnesium tape is oed,. in the middle of the case a standard
is fixed containing two friction wheels placed one over the other, between
which the tape is drawn from the barrel, the standard also supports in
bearings a spring barrel from which rotary motion is' communicated to the

page_text: friction wheels; this spring barrel is wound by a key and secured by a pall
and ratchet in the ordinary manner; an adjusting spring and screw is arranged
to act on the upper friction roller to regulate the speed of the take-off motion;
and a hand lever is employed whereby the working parts are set in motion and
stopped. A. guide is placed on each side of the rollers and another close to
the reflector in order to lead the tape from the barrel and through the reflector
in front of the instrument, above which a funnel or ventilator is placed, and
beneath or under the reflectors there is a second ventilator, and an ash-pan to
receive the refuse of the burning magnesium. It is thus obvious that by use
of this apparatus a continuous light can be produced from magnesium, and
thrown by the reflector to a great distance so as to effect the various objects of
the Invention. The apparatus may be furnished with differently colored lights
such as white, red, green, blue, or otherwise, in order to provide a code of
signals to be determined on.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Ross Bamber in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
Ross BAMBER, of Jersey, Commander Royal Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Ross Bamber, Her special licence that I, the said
Charles Ross Bamber, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Charles Ross Bamber, 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 "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THE MAGNESIUM
LIGHT," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Ross
Bamber, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
hnd. 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

page_text: 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 Charles Ross Bamber, 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:-
This Invention relates to the construction of a new or improved apparatus
whereby the light from the metal magnesium may be produced in a continuous
stream and rendered applicable and useful to many purposes, such as to throw
a light through a railway tunnel by the engine driver as a security against
accident, to signal on railways, or from steamers or other vessels, for light-
houses, and any other purposes where such light may be required. The
apparatus consists of an oblong case of wood or metal to contain the working
parts; at one end of this case I arrange in suitable bearings a conical barrel
or reel, around which. the magnesium tape is coiled; in the middle of the case
a standard is fixed containing two friction wheels placed one over the other,
between which the tape is drawn from the barrel; the standard also supports
in bearings a spring barrel from which rotary motion is communicated to the
friction wheels; this spring barrel is wound by a key and secured by a pall and
ratchet in the ordinary manner; an adjusting spring and screw is arranged
to act on the upper friction roller to regulate the speed of the take-off motion;
and a hand lever is employed whereby the working parts are set in motion and
stopped. A guide is placed on each side of the rollers and another close to
the reflector in order to lead the tape from the barrel and through the reflector
in front of the instrument, above which a funnel or ventilator is placed, and
beneath or under the reflectors there is a second ventilator, and an ash-pan to
receive the refuse of the burning magnesium. It is thus obvious that by use
of this apparatus a continuous light can be produced from magnesium, and
thrown by the reflector to a great distance so as to effect the various objects
of the Invention. The apparatus may be furnished with differently colored
lights, such as white, red, green, blue, or otherwise, in order to provide a code
of signals to be determined on.
In order that my said Invention may be completely understood I annex the
accompanying Drawing which represents a longitudinal vertical section of
the apparatus enclosed in a case.
a is the reel or conical barrel round which the magnesium tape is wound;
b, b, are the two wheels between which the tape is drawn; c is an adjusting
screw and spring made to act on the upper wheel, and thereby compress tho
magnesium tape and reduce the rate of burning by two-thirds; d, the lover

page_text: by which the machine is set in motion and stopped; e, the frame in which the
upper wheel works; f, the spring barrel; g, the fair leaders for tape, which
should be introduced into the reflector at the upper part thereof, say at about
one-fourth of the diameter from the top; h, the reflectors; i, the pivot to
receive the winding-up key; j, the case of the apparatus; k, the chock for
case; 7, the funnel on a dome; m, the ash-pan; n, the ventilator.
From the above description the Invention will be readily comprehended,
and therefore having now described the nature of the same, and the manner
in which it is to be carried into effect, I would remark in conclusion that I
do not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts I have
expressed and shewn, as the same may obviously be varied or modified without
in any degree departing from the principles thereof; but what I claim and
desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent are
the general combination and arrangement of parts substantially as herein
specified, constituting a new or improved apparatus for producing the magne-
sium light as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ross Bamber, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
CHARLES ROSS BAMBER. (L.S.)
Witness
WALTER E. GUNDRY,
Sussex House, St. Heliers,
Jersey..