IGNITING CIGARS, PIPES, CANDLES, LAMPS, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Albert Pollet at the Office of the
A communication from
Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July 1878.
abroad by Theodore Jonas, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
ALBERT POLLET, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, but temporarily of
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
IGNITING CIGARS, PIPES, CANDLES, LAMPS, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS ARTICLES."
[A communication from abroad by Theodore Jonas, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.]
The object of this Invention is to produce an igniting apparatus of a cheap and
simple character and of a convenient and compendious form, suitable for being
carried in the pocket and capable for being used for lighting cigars, pipes, candles, or
lamps, and for other analogous purposes.
The igniting apparatus consists of a tubular chamber made by preference of
metal and divided into several compartments for receiving the several parts of the
apparatus.
The igniter itself consists of a strip of dry collodion, on one side of which is a
preparation of phosphorus which will ignite by friction when struck or rubbed
quickly by some hard substance. This phosphorized strip of collodion is placed in
a long narrow chamber, which extends down the tube, and is held in its place by a
spring clip which bears against the back of the strip and presses it forward against
the edge of the chamber, but not so hardly as to prevent it from being pushed out
by means of a small plunger actuated in any suitable manner at the other end of
the tube.
The spring clip also excludes the air from the chamber and prevents the ignited
part of the collodion from communicating its fire to that part which is enclosed in
the tube.
The phosphorized collodion is ignited by means of a spring finger, which, when
released (after having been forced back), will fly forward with energy and strike the
phosphorus, which will then ignite the dry collodion and produce a flame which
will burn for a few seconds.
Immediately contiguous to the exit opening of the igniter are two tubular
chambers or compartments, one for containing a small candle or taper which is

page_text: capable of being moved up and down therein by means of a pin or stud connected
with the candle or taper holder, and projecting outside through a slot made in the
side of the chamber. In the other tubular chamber or compartment is placed a
round cord or rope made of German tinder. As it is convenient to have a con-
siderable length of this tinder cord or rope a clear hole is made through the igniter
from end to end, and a toothed pinion is adapted thereto for the purpose of
propelling the cord along the tubular chamber. A space of irregular shape behind
these two chambers or compartments serves as a reservoir for a supply of slips of
the dry collodion, access to which may be obtained through a covered opening at
the other end of the apparatus.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-A short length of the phosphorized
collodion slip is projected up through its opening. If it be desired to light the
taper or candle the latter is pushed out of its tube until the wick is level with the
projecting end of the igniter. The German tinder rope may also, if desired, be
pushed out in the same way by means of the toothed pinion. Then upon drawing
back the spring igniting finger and allowing it to fly suddenly forward it will
strike against and ignite the phosphorus on the collodion slip and cause the latter
to burst into flame; then upon inclining the apparatus a little on one side the wick
of the taper and the tinder will be ignited by the flame of the burning collodion
if both of them are projecting from the end of the apparatus. The collodion
flame will then go out, but will leave the taper or tinder, or both of these, burning
as long as may be required.
The tubular casing of the igniter is provided with covers at each end, and the
apparatus is for convenience placed in an outer box or case which is divided
into several compartments for the reception of a supply of,-(1), wax tapers or
small candles; (2), a length of German tinder rope or cable; and (3), a box
containing a number of strips of the phosphorized collodion igniters.
Being thus provided with supply of everything that is required for the
apparatus, the possessor will find that he is amply provided for several months with
everything that is necessary for lighting pipes, cigars, candles, lamps, or other
articles that require ignition; and that pipes, cigars, or analogous articles may be
ignited either in or out of doors, and even when exposed to strong winds.
In order that the apparatus may be made more serviceable, I make the cover
at the lower end of the box with projecting flanges so as to form a foot, that
the box may stand upon the table, and thus take the place of the ordinary
candlestick.