IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRACKET, PILLAR, AND SUSPENDED LAMPS AND LANTERNS
Year: 1865

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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRACKET,
PILLAR, AND SUSPENDED LAMPS AND LANTERNS."-A communication from
abroad by James Ives, of Mount Carmel, in the State of Connecticut,
United States of America.
Sealed the 9th May 1865, and dated the 17th March 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th March 1865.
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BRACKET, PILLAR, AND SUSPENDED LAMPS AND LANTERNS," to be as follows:-
The chief object of this Invention is to provide an easy access to the
wick or flame of lamps, whether they be bracket lamps, pendants, standards,
or lanterns. This is effected in the case of bracket and standard lamps
and lanterns, and sometimes in chandeliers, by causing the oil vessel to
rock on a fulcrum, or the chimney cone and shade holder to turn on a
hinge, and thus expose the wick or lamp flame for the purpose of trimming
the wick or lighting or extinguishing the lamp.
Another arrangement applicable solely to pendants or chandeliers is to
Price Rd1

page_text: connect the supporting chains at one end with the lamp reservoir, and at
the other with the shade and chimney holders, and to pass the chains over
guide pullies as usual; thus the reservoir and glass holder may, by a slight
pull upon the former, be caused to separate, the one descending, and the
other ascending, and by pushing up the reservoir they will again be brought
into close proximity.
In making bracket lamps according to this Invention, the shade and
chimney holder are carried by an adjustable stem projecting from a hollow
bracket or holdfast. On the lower part of this hollow bracket is a lip,
which forms a fulcrum for an arm carrying a ring for holding the lamp and
reservoir to rock on. This carrying ring is retained in position by means
of a spring pressing on the tail of the arm with which the ring is cast. A
binding screw passing through a tapped hole in the arm bears against a
ribbed surface of the reservoir, and thus holds it firm in the ring. It also
serves to adjust the lamp axially with respect to the cone that guides the
air to the flame, which adjustment is important when the cone and the
wick tube are flattened. For supplying oil to the reservoir a filling tube
is placed at the side of the wick tube. This tube may either be closed by
a hinged lid or by a pad affixed to the under side of the cone.
In standard lamps and pendants on the fountain principle the shade
holder is hinged to an arm projecting from a seat ring encircling and made
fast to the upper part of the basket or gallery of the lamp. In this
arrangement the shade and chimney base rise, while the lamp is stationary.
A projection from this hinge rises through a slot in the shade holder, so
shaped as to form a stop, and prevent the moving parts when lifted from
rising higher than a given point; or pendent lamps may have the shade
holder as a fixture, and the lamp to drop as described in relation to the
bracket lamp. Snap springs may be used for holding the parts together.
In lanterns the cone base for the chimney may be held by elastic arms
springing into recesses cut to receive them in the lantern frame. The lantern
frame may be secured by a horizontal hinge to the lamp. The pendants
above referred to as carried by chains and guide pullies have their moving
parts connected together by rigid guide rods. Thus rods from the reservoir
pass up through the shade holder, above which they are cranked, and at top
they are coupled together by a metal strap, through which the chimney
projects. Their upper ends (above the strap) are connected to the pendent
chains. The other ends of these chains are secured to guide rods rising up
from the shade holder; these are likewise cranked, and their upper ends pass
through guiding holes in the metal strap, and thence to the chains. The

page_text: cranks in these rods are to offer an obstruction to an undue separation of the
moving parts. A modification of this arrangement consists in connecting the
chains to the guide rods of the shade holder only, and connecting these
together by a metal strap. The other guide rods will then pass through the
holder and through holes in the strap, and by means of coiled springs sur-
rounding the guide rods from the reservoir and interposed between that
holder and the crank in these rods. The lamp and glasses will have a tendency
to remain in position, but the springs will yield when pressure is put on the
lamp, and allow it to be drawn down clear of the glass holder.
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 16th September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special licence 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 thereaftor 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 OF BRACKET, PILLAB, AND
SUSPENDED LAMPS AND LANTERNS," being a communication to him from
abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 inauner the same is to

page_text: be performed, 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 relates to certain means of simplifying the construction
and enhancing the utility and convenience of lamps used in halls, public
buildings, dwelling houses, and in railway carriages, on boats and other
places, and also of lanterns used by railroad companies, in factories, and
other places, the chief object being to provide a ready access to the cap of
the oil reservoir and to the wick, for the purpose of recharging the reservoir
and of trimming or renewing the wick.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical central section and
partial elevation of a bracket lamp constructed according to this Invention.
The bracket A is made of metal, and of box form, as represented. B is a
metal arm, with a ring seat C formed on or with it, as shewn. In this ring
the oil reservoir D is seated, so as to be capable of moving round, but is kept
in position by means of a bead on the lamp itself and by a set screw a, which
has its nut in the curved back part of the arm B, as represented. The upper
outer surface of the lamp or reservoir is fluted as at b, and into one or another
of these flutes the conical end of the set screw a enters, and thereby prevents
the reservoir from turning around in its seat ring after it has been set, so as
to have its wick tube c register properly with the flame controller. In the
event of the oblong slot or orifice of the conical flame controller becoming out
of proper register with the wick tube, the set screw a is slackened, and the
reservoir being adjusted in its seat ring, so as to properly register with the
flame controller, the screw is again set up into one of the flutes 6. The inner
end of the arm B is inserted into the bracket A, and held therein by means of
a segment joint d and a spring e, as represented. The spring e is inserted
into the bracket over the enclosed end of the arm B by removing a side plate
from the bracket and by replacing the plate, and securing it by a screw f
through the plate and through a loop of the spring, as shown. The lamp thus
fitted to the bracket A is free to vibrate on the segment joint bearing d. This
movement of the lamp is illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. E is au
arm, seated by one end into a depression in the upper front part of the
bracket A, and confined in place by a clamp screw g, which enters au oblong
slot of the arm, and takes a firm hold in the bracket. The slot h allows the
arm to be set back or forward in case such adjustment is necessary in fitting
the lamp for use. The arm E is made of metal, and curves upward form its
seat, and then takes a horizontal or straight form, and terminates in a ring
seat F.
Into the ring seat a conical flame controller G is fitted, the same

page_text: being constructed to receive upon its flange a glass chimney G¹ and confine it
from lateral displacement, as represented in the Drawings. This flame
controller is open at bottom, and furnished with an oblong slot y in its top;
and in order to admit air between the cone and the chimney, a series of small
holes are punched through the cone near its base, as represented. The cap
I
of the reservoir D is furnished with a screw d', as is usual, also with an open-
work basket or gallery around the wick tube. This gallery extends up into
the ring seat F, and fits snugly in the same under the flanch of the cone when
the lamp and chimney are in proper relation to one another for use. Fig. 2
is a similar construction of bracket lamp to that shewn at Fig. 1, but with
the addition of a gallery for carrying a shade; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation
of a pair of pendent lamps constructed like the lamp shewn at Fig. 2.
In order to fill these lamps the lamp cap I is provided, as shewn in the
enlarged plan an elevation, Figs. 4, with a filling tube J, which is arranged
on one side of the wick tube, and is furnished with a hinged flap cover j.
The hinge flap opens automatically when the reservoir D is drawn down on
its hinge to the position represented by dotted lines in Fig. 1. This
filling tube is located so as to be enclosed by the chimney, and thus is out
of sight when the parts of the lamp are in burning position; this causes no
inconvenience, as the reservoir of the lamp can be moved down to permit
access to this filling tube. The filling tube located as described obviates
the inconvenience of having a clumsy filling hole in the body of the reservoir,
it also saves the trouble of unscrewing the cap to introduce the oil when
no other means of filling are provided.
In Fig. 5 an elastic stopper j' is shewn attached to the stationary cone
or chimney base, and the same is designed as a modification of the filling
contrivance shewn in Figures 4. The same style of filling tube or cap with
filling tube as is used on the lamp represented in Fig. 1 is applicable to all
the styles of lamp represented in the other Figures.
It is obvious that when the oil reservoir is drawn down to the position
shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1 the wick can be trimmed, the lamp filled,
or lighted, or blown out, accordingly as the necessities of the case may
require.
Fig. 7 shews in vertical section a lamp cap and combined shade and
chimney or cone base as applied to a hollow bracket of a pendent supplying
reservoir. There are to be two, three, or more hollow brackets extending out
from the reservoir after the manner of a chandelier, and all of these brackets
are to be supplied from the same reservoir D), but it is deemed unnecessary
to shew more than one in the Drawing. The reservoir D has a filling hole z

page_text: near its top, and the quantity of oil introduced into the reservoir will be
considerable, but the same must not be more than will maintain the proper
burning level at any time. The brackets may be supplied with wicks the
same as an ordinary lamp, so as to ensure a steady flow of the oil. The supply
of the oil is cut off and let on from the reservoir by means of cocks M¹. In
this arrangement the shade and cone or chimney base rises while the lamp cr
the burner remains stationary; and to secure this upward adjustment the
following construction is adopted :-M2 is an arm extending out from a seat
ring M, encircling and attached fast to the burner cap of the chandelier. The
outor end of this arm has a narrow triangular shaped guiden formed on it
about midway of its width, in such manner that the end of the arm presents a
shoulder o on each side of the guide; two lugs or ears p, p, (see the cross
section, Fig. 8,) corresponding in width to these shoulders, extend down (just
in rear of the shoulders) from the underside of the arm of the shade base, and
between these ears an oblong slot q is cut down through the arm of the shade
base. The front side of this slot is inclined towards the lugs. Up through
this slot the guide n extends some distance above the surface of the arm M³,
and through the lugs and rear end of the guide a hinge pin r passes, to unite
the shade and chimney or cone base to the arm of the lamp. In order that
the extent of upward movement of the base support to the shade and chimney
or cone may be controlled, a hook shaped stop 2 is formed on the highest
point of the guiden, as represented. It is obvious that when the combined
shade and chimney or cone base is raised by hand to the position represented
by dotted lines in Fig. 7 the lamp can be trimmed, or the light blown out,
or other operation performed, as the necessity of the case may require.
In Fig. 9 a lamp suspended by chains, rods, and pullies is shewn in elevation
and partial vertical section. The oil reservoir D in this lamp is set in a ring
seat C, so as to be capable of being turned therein, but it is kept from turning
after it has been properly set with respect to the orifice of the flame controlling
cone by means of two set screws a, a, entering the flutes 6 in the upper outer
surface of the reservoir, as before described. The set screws pass through
lugs or cars 3, 3, of the ring, which ears extend both down and upwards some
distance beyond the edges of the ring C, as shewn. To the lower extensions
of the ears a chain 4, for pulling down the lamp, is fastened, as represented,
and to the upper extensions of the ears angular rods 5, 5, are fastened, as
shewn. A combined shade and chimney or cone base K, furnished with a
cone or chimney and a shade, isrepresented as fastened to two angular rods 6, 6,
which extend up through a semicircular guide 7, located near the top of the
chimney, and are fastened permanently to it. The guide 7 partly encircles

page_text: the chimney, and thereby steadies and keeps it in place. The rods 5, 5, above
mentioned extend up through the arms of the base K, and also through the
guide 7, but they have no fixed connection therewith. To the upper ends of
the respective pairs of rods 5 and 6 the two ends of chains or cords 8 and 9
are attached, as represented. These chains are looped around pulleys 10, 11,
of a bow shaped suspender or bracket 12. The bends or angles in the
rods 5, 5, may be at such points as to control the extent of separation
which takes place between the lamp and base of shade and chimney.
It is evident from the foregoing description that when the lamp or oil
reservoir is moved down from the dotted to the drawn position, the shade and
chimney base will rise from the dotted to the drawn position, and that thus
the wick tube will be rendered accessible for the purpose oftrimming, lighting,
or extinguishing the lamp. In constructing this hanging or suspended lamp
the parts are to be so proportioned in weight that the chimney or cone and
shade base, with its attachments, will just about balance the lamp, and thus a
slight pull upon the chain 4 will cause the respective parts, vizt., lamp and
shade and chimney base, to recede from one another.
Fig. 10 shews a modification of the suspended lamp just described. This
lamp is not made with a shade basc, but has a cone or chimney base F, from
the sides of which two guide arms 13, 13, extend laterally. To these guide
arms 13, 13, are attached two suspension rods 6, 6, which extend up and
have a permanent connection with theguide 7. Above this guide they connect
with a suspension chain or chains 8, as represented. The rods 5, 5, of the
lamp reservoir D pass freely through both the arms of the base F and the
guide 7, and in place of suspending chains spiral springs 15, 15, are arranged
on the rods 5, 5, between their angles or bends and the guide arms 13, 13, so
as to support the lamp reservoir. With this arrangement a downward pull
upon the lamp reservoir will overcome the pressure of the springs, and the
reservoir will move away from the chimney or cone base, and permit access to
the wick of the lamp. When the reservoir is released the springs will return
it to its proper position for burning. In this modification the chimney base
remains stationary, and only the reservoir, with its attachments, moves.
In Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 the manner of applying a chimney or cone
base to the hinged reflecting frame of a lantern lamp is represented. Fig. 11
is a vertical central section of the lantern complete; Fig. 12 is a plan or top
view of a cone or chimney base, with a cone and gallery attached to it; and
Figures 13 and 14 are face views of supports for holding the chimney or cone
base in place on the lantern frame, and also allowing of its being detached at
pleasure. The cone G is constructed with a gallery s¹ to retain a chimney in

page_text: position. This cone has two inclined arms t, t¹, extending out laterally from
its base, so as to form with the cone a spring arch or bridge. The terminus
of one of these arms is forked, and that of the other is plain, but rounded off,
so as to slip into its position easily. u, u¹, are stops or ledges attached to
the inside of the metal spring reflecting plates T, T¹, of the lantern frame T2,
as represented. The ledge u is notched to match the forked end of the arm t,
while the ledge u¹ is grooved to match the plain rounded end of the arm t¹,
as represented. With this means of attaching the cone base to its seats it
can be readily sprung in and out of the lantern frame, it only being necessary
for seating it to set the arm t in its notches, and then press up the arm t¹
sufficiently to contract its whole length or to spring out the spring reflecting
plates of the lantern the required extent for the arm to fall into the groove
of ledge . The notches and groove, as described, prevent the cone or
chimney base from rising or falling after it is sprung into place. The
frame T being hinged to the lantern lamp U at w, it is evident that
when it is swung over on its hinge the cone or chimney base, with the
chimney, will move along with it, and thus the wick or cap of the lamp
will be exposed or made accessible without the necessity of handling a
hot chimney or cone in order to get to the wick.
The lantern chimney base, with chimney or cone attached to it, might be
applied to a globe lantern of usual construction by means of a metal ring
attached to the base of the globe, to which the arms of the cone or chimney
base are fitted in substantially the same mauner as in the square lantern frame.
If the lantern frame is hung up stationarily on a bracket or pendant, the
lamp or oil reservoir will be lowered on its hinge, or moved away from the
frame and chimney, the same way as the lamp or reservoir is moved in
Figures 1 and 2 and in some of the other Figures.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in
the Construction of Bracket, Pillar, and Suspended Lamps and Lanterns,"
as communicated to me from abroad, 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,-
First, the means above described for giving access to the reservoir and
wick of bracket and other lamps, chandeliers, and lanterns, viz., by
rendering either the cone base or chimney support, or the oil reservoir, or
both, moveable in the manner and for the purposes above set forth.
Second, the means above described for keeping the wick tube of a lamp
in proper register with the orifice of a conical flame controller, substantially
as herein described,

page_text: Third, making the bracket lamp detachable from its fixed bracket, in the
manner above described.
Fourth, the combination of the filling tube of the lamp cap with the
stationary chimney or cone base, and with the combined moveable shade
and cone or chimney base, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of September, in the of
year
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)