An Improved Fire Lighter.
Year: 1885

page_text: 1 JOHN FLETCHER WILES of The Village Old Charlton in the County of Kent
Insurance Broker do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:―
My Invention relates to an improved fire lighter which is simple and economical
to construct is compact in form and can be readily ignited.
I form my improved fire lighter of two pieces of wood and in its construction
proceed in the following manner that is to say-I take a piece of wood say one
inch in thickness and of any desired length and saw the same into pieces say two
inches wide. I then partly saw such piece longitudinally in an angular direction
with regard to its surface and then angularly in the opposite direction so as to
cut out of the same a V shaped piece of wood which is suitable for bundle wood or
other purposes. After this the piece already grooved is passed to a cross cut bench
on which behind the cross cut saw there is a cutter block that grooves out another
space transversely which may be of any desired shape such as half round or
V shaped for instance and is preferably cut irregularly so as to leave a roughness
to facilitate the lighting of the block quickly-Two pieces thus cut are then
stuck or nailed together face to face in any suitable manner so as to form a block
with holes extending therethrough both longitudinally and transversely and if
desired a third hole can be readily punched through the thin portions at the top
and bottom of the grooves in the lighter to facilitate the draught therethrough-
The two pieces of wood thus joined are then dipped in any suitable inflammable
solution and the firelighter is then ready for use.
Dated this 11th d
D
1
100M
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire Lighter.
I JOHN FLETCHER WILES of The Village Old Charlton in the County of Kent
Insurance Broker do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
FIRE LIGHTER and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to an improved Fire lighter.
The Fire lighter of my Invention is formed of two pieces of wood suitably
attached together and is compact in form and can be easily and economically
constructed and ignites readily.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawing the same letters indicate the same parts fig. 1
shews separately the two pieces of wood and fig. 2 shows them pinned together
forming the complete fire lighter.
A represents one half and B the other half of the lighter-These halves being
duplicates of each other―The part A has a V groove a cut longitudinally in it and
also a cross groove a¹, a hole a³ is formed at the junction of these grooves-The
part B has grooves b, b¹ corresponding to a a¹ in part A and a hole b₁ similar to a
so that when the parts A and B are placed face to face the grooves are opposite
to each other forming holes through the firelighter both longitudinally and
transversely-The parts A and B are in this case shewn fastened together by
pins d.
The mode of construction of these firelighters is as follows-I take or prepare a
piece of wood of the requisite width and thickness for a firelighter and of any
convenient length and by means of a circular saw or saws cut out a longitudinal
V groove the whole length-I then put it on to a cross cut bench and cut it into
proper lengths-Behind the cross cut saw is a cutter block which cuts out the
transverse groove.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn this groove of a V section like the
longitudinal one but it might be semicircular or any other convenient shape and is
preferably cut somewhat roughly to facilitate the ignition of the block-I then
take two pieces and fasten them face to face in any suitable manner-The firelighter
has then the form of a rectangular block with holes longitudinally or transversely
and after being dipped in any suitable inflamable solution is ready for use-
When desired a hole can be punched through the thin part of the block at the
junction of the grooves giving further facilities for lighting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner it is to be performed I wish it to be particularly
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details shewn and described
but I do declare that what I claim is
1. Firelighters composed of two pieces of wood grooved longitudinally and
transversely in such a manner that when fastened face to face these grooves form
holes which facilitate the ignition of the firelighter.
2. The method of manufacture by means of a circular saw or saws and cutter
blocks substantially as shewn and described.
Dated this 11th day of September 1886.