Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1889
I GEORGE RIDSDALE BLAKE of Crewkerne in the County of Somerset Accountant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1. I propose to make a domestic or other Firelighter from wrought, cast or malleable
iron or steel to consist of a small saucer or hollow receptacle, either square, rectangular,
round, diamond shaped, or any other form, and from two to four inches in length by
from two to four inches in width, and from half an inch to one and a half inches in
depth, or thereabouts, or such other dimensions as may be deemed advisable, but
ordinarily of such a size as to admit of its easy admission and egress between the bars
of a domestic firegrate. To this saucer, or hollow receptacle I propose to have a
handle from six to nine inches in length so as to admit of its facile portability, with a
hole at the end for convenience in hanging. Over the top or mouth of this saucer,
or hollow receptacle I propose to fix or secure through slots, grooves or holes in the
sides or top of the said receptacle, and by means of screws, pins, wire, cement, or
otherwise, a cover of wrought, cast, or malleable iron or steel with holes, perforations,
or slots, cut, moulded, or cast in the same, or of woven steel wire, woven iron wire, or
netting, or asbestos sheeting, asbestos millboard, or other similar material. In the
interstice, or space between the said cover, and the bottom of the aforesaid saucer, or
hollow receptacle, I propose to place asbestos, or other similar indestructible absorbent
material,
2. The action of the Firelighter is demonstrated as follows:-On pouring Paraffin,
or other inflammable oil through the interstices, perforations, or slots, in the cover of
the Firelighter, it is absorbed by the asbestos, or other similar material within, and on
the same being ignited, and placed between the bars of a grate, it will readily light a
fire from the coal or other fuel within the grate.
Doted this Twenty ninth day of November 1888.

page_text: I GEORGE RIDSDALE BLAKE of Crewkerne in the County of Somerset Accountant
do hereby declare the nature of this 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 an indestructible domestic or other Firelighter, and its
object is to provide a ready, simple, and inexpensive mode of lighting ordinary
domestic fires.
The invention consists of a watertight saucer, box or hollow receptacle made of
wrought, cast or malleable iron, steel, brass, tin, or other metal, or of fireclay,
terra-cotta or other suitable material, and in shape either square, rectangular, round,
oval, diamond, octagonal, hexagonal, or any other form, and of the following dimen-
sions from two to four inches in length, from two to four inches in width, and from
half an inch to one and a half inches in depth,.or thereabouts, or such other size as
, may be found convenient, but generally of. such a size as to admit of its easy
admission, and egress between the bars of an ordinary domestic firegrate or stove.
To this saucer, box, or hollow receptacle is a handle from six to nine inches long,
or such other length as may be found requisite for convenience of transit, and a
hole at the end thereof for convenience in hanging or suspending. Over the top
or mouth of this saucer, box, or hollow receptacle, I propose to cast or mould
either in one piece or casting with the said saucer and handle, or to fix or secure
through slots, grooves, or holes in the sides or top of the said saucer by means of
pins, studs, screws, wire, cement, or otherwise a cover of metal, fireclay, terra cotta,
or other suitable material with holes, perforations or slots of any form or design cut
moulded or cast in the same. Or if deemed advisable I propose to fix as aforesaid a
cover of woven steel wire, woven iron wire, metal netting, or asbestos sheeting, asbestos
millboard, or other similar suitable material. Around the sides of the aforesaid saucer,
and projecting above the level of the cover is a small rim. Above this if desired I
propose to have a removeable metal cover or lid.
If deemed advisable, and this is an alternative form of Firelighter, I propose to
insert or form in the centre of the bottom of the aforesaid saucer a tube or aperture of
any desired shape, and carry same to a level with the aforesaid rim, and form on the
underside of the aforesaid saucer, radial channels, leading from the edge to the central
aperture for the passage of air to support combustion.
In the insterstice or space between the said cover, and the bottom of the said
saucer, I propose to place asbestos, slag wool, spongy iron, or a mixture of asbestos
and spongy iron, asbestos cement, or other suitable incombustible absorbent material.
For using the said Firelighter the following are the directions :-Petroleum, or
other inflammable oil is poured through the interstices, perforations or slots in the
cover of the Firelighter. This is at once absorbed by the asbestos or other material
within. A light is applied to the material thus soaked with oil, and the Firelighter

page_text: passed between the bars of a grate. It will then readily light a fire from the coal, or
other fuel within the grate. One or more of the Firelighters may be used as desired.
The Firelighter may also be used in conjunction with a metal stand for boiling, frying
or other purposes.
I now proceed to give a description by way of drawings of this apparatus
Figure 1 shows the saucer, box or hollow receptacle, with handle and cover in one
piece or casting of a diamond shaped Firelighter (the cover in this case being formed
of the letters R F" in lieu of a perforated cover of any other design), and of
the size, which I find most convenient for use.
Figure 2 shows the saucer of similar dimensions to Figure 1 with handle and cover
(the cover in this case being formed of the letters "RF" in lieu of a perforated
cover of any other design) and with à central tube, or aperture and radial channels
cut, cast or moulded in the bottom thereof for supporting combustion.
I am aware that apparatus for lighting fires have been previously used, such
apparatus being a box containing a porous substance, which absorbs oils when
supplied through a handle or tube, therefore I make no claim in a general sense
to any such apparatus, except as above described, and shown on the annexed
drawings.
Having now fully described, and ascertained the nature and object of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A watertight saucer, box, or hollow receptacle made of metal, fireclay, terra
cotta, or other suitable material of any convenient shape or size, with or without a
central tube, and radial channels as specified, with a handle as described, and having
a perforated cover either fixed or moveable, and with or without a removeable lid, which
together form a case for the reception of asbestos, spongy iron, or other suitable
incombustible material for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. The application of the principle of burning Petroleum, or other oil by means of
asbestos, or the like material in watertight saucers, boxes, or hollow receptacles of the
shapes and sizes berein before described, constructed either of metal, fireclay terra-
cotta, or other suitable material.
3. The application of the said Firelighter in conjunction with a metal stand, for the
purposes of boiling, frying, and other domestic purposes substantially as described.
. Dated this Ninth day of January 1889.
G. RIDSDALE BLAKE.