IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR ADAPTATION OF CERTAIN FITTINGS FOR GAS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gedge of 4, Wellington Street, South, Strand,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
Sealed the 8th August 1854, and dated the 21st February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gedge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st February
1854.
I, JOHN GEDGE, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR ADAPTATION OF CERTAIN FITTINGS FOR
GAS," being a communication, to be as follows:-
I propose, , in order to obtain a great body of light from gas at a cheaper rate
than the mode or fittings at present in use permit, to use a ring composed of
those burners usually termed fish-tail burners. The burners for this purpose
are at present merely enlarged argand burners, or rings, with gas jets from
holes perforated therein. The former are irregular, the flame increasing or
decreasing with the pressure of gas, and are moreover expensive in use; the
latter wholly inefficient for the purpose required, which is the obtaining of a
great central light. Over the ring of fish-tail burners is suspended a glass;
but as the form or description may be varied, it is not sought to protect any
particular one.
The second part of the Invention is an improved means' of holding: the

page_text: water necessary where gas fittings are made to slip up and down, such as
chandeliers, &c. By the mode at present in use evaporation goes on rapidly,
and the cup or receiver is soon dry. To obviate this I propose, by means
of a funnel of glass or other material screwed into the cup or receiver, to close
such cup, rendering it air-tight, and converting it into a species of fountain
from whence the funnel or tube before mentioned will receive a supply of
water, and the evaporation being confined to the funnel will be almost insen-
sible, and the apparatus will act.several years without any fresh supply of water,
obviating any danger of escape and explosion, and economical from the little
additional expense it occasions in fixing gas apparatus which requires a supply
of water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
August: 1854..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GEDGE, of 4, Wellington Street, South, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Gèdge, Her special licence that I, the said John Gedge,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
John Gedge, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OR ADAPTATION OF CERTAIN FITTINGS FOR GAS," (being a, com-
munication made to me from abroad,) upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Gedge, 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 John Gedge, do hereby declare the-
nature of the said- Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,. to the
diagrams shewn thereon, and to the letters of reference marked on such
diagrams.
In order to obtain a great body of light for illuminating gas at a cheaper
rate than the mode or fittings now in use permit, I prepare a metal circle or
ring shewn at a, Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawing, of such size as
the body of light required will render necessary. This circle is attached or
brazed on to the gas pendant, and is furnished with numerous small branches b,
each having a fish-tail burner e on its end (the Drawing only shews six
burners, but any number may be used); these being covered with any suitable
glass will be found to give an equal and steady light; or a circle may be made
at any enlargement from the pendant (at its centre), and joined thereto by
branches in the ordinary manner of joining metallic circles to centres, and on
the upper edge of such circle as many fish-tail burners (or the nipples only
thereof) may be affixed as are necessary for obtaining the amount or body of
light required. The reason I use the burners known as fish-tail burners is,
that they can be burnt with a regular flame, and set to an equal height of
flame. The burners now used to obtain a great body of light are mostly
enlarged argand burners, or rings, with gas jets from holes perforated therein.
The former are irregular, the flame increasing or decreasing with the pressure
of gas, and this mode is moreover expensive in use. The latter is wholly
inefficient for the purpose required, when that purpose is the obtaining a great
central light.
The second part of my Invention consists of an improved means of holding
the water usually used where gas fittings are made to slide up and down, such
as chandeliers. By the mode at present in use evaporation goes on rapidly,
and the cup or water receiver is soon dry. To obviate this I use a funnel a,
made of glass or any similar material, screwed in at 6, in which the suspending
rod c works; this closes the cup and renders it air-tight, converting it into a
species of fountain, from whence the funnel or tube receives a supply of water,
and the evaporation being confined thereto will be almost insensible, and the
apparatus he found to act several years without requiring any fresh supply of
water, obviating any danger of escape or explosion; also, from the little addi-
tional expence incurred in fitting the tube, much real economy will be secured
by its use to all gas fittings where a supply of water is required.
Having now described the nature of the Invention communicated to me,
and the manner in which it is carried into practical effect, I wish it to be
clearly understood that I do not claim the exclusive use of any of the parts

page_text: described or shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawing taken as parts,
but only when in combination for the purposes of this Invention, which I
declare to be, and I claim,-
First, the combination of metallic rings or circles armed or furnished with
fish-tail burners or nipples as herein-before described.
Secondly, the funnel or dip tube for lessening evaporation as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Gedge, have hereunto affixed my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
EDWARD WATSON GEDGE,
Charles Street,
Somers Town.
JOHN GEDGE.
(L.S.)