IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PALMER, of Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Ninth day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of Her reigu,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Palmer, my exors, adñññors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William Palmer, my
exors, adiñors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Palmer,
my exors, adiiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said William Palmer, should cause
a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
my band and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said

page_text: in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Palmer, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, first, of moulding candles in such manner that the
two ends of each candle are moulded, and in conjunction therewith several
candles may be simultaneously moulded on to the same wick.
Secondly, my Invention consists of apparatus for coating wicks or applying
candle stuff so as to combine two or more wicks, and yet keep the wicks
in a candle separate, and, when desired, two wicks in contact with each
other.
Thirdly, my Invention consists in manufacturing that description of candles
called mortar night lights, and also that description of mortar candles I am
about to describe with coatings or casings of woven fabrics or of glass.
Fourthly, my Invention consists of manufacturing candles of less length
than they are in diameter with two or more wicks in each candle; and this
part of my Invention also consists of moulding candles with angular sides, so
that they will pack more closely than when made cylindrical.
Fifthly, my Invention consists of modes of applying instruments in candles
to uphold the last part of the wicks, so as to prevent the same falling when
nearly consumed.
Sixthly, my Invention consists of a mode of constructing candles with three
or more wicks.
Seventhly, my Invention consists of a mode of manufacturing candles with
spirally formed wicks.
Eighthly, my Invention consists of another method of manufacturing candles 3
with spiral wicks.
Ninthly, my Invention consists of manufacturing candles with double platted
wicks.
Tenthly, iny Invention consists of manufacturing candles with a new arrange-
ment of platted wicks.
And, eleventhly, my Invention consists in manufacturing mortar candles of
all sorts with an instrument to hold the wicks obliquely.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
]

page_text: Figure 3 shews a side view of the same; and, Figure 4, a section thro' one of
the moulds; Figure 5 shows the plan of a table, having thereon several frames
of moulds, such as is shewn at Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view, and. Figure 7,
an end view of Figure 5.
In each of these Figures the same letters are used to indicate similar parts.
a, a, are the tubes of the mould, which are to be made of the proper sizes as
heretofore; b is the nozel, which, on the interior, forms the upper end of the
candle, and the outer surface forms the closing part of the next candle mould,
consequently the lower end of the candle will be formed against such part,
hence both ends of the candle will be cast or moulded. The nozels of the
several moulds are connected together by plates c, which enter into notches or
grooves formed in the nozels, as shewn. The nozels are made to slide within
the tubular moulds when about to deliver the candles from the moulds, and the
nozels are kept out when moulding by means of the pieces d, d, which are
hinged to the end plates e, which are fixed to the frame f, f, such frame being
fixed to the moulds a, a; and the slide plates c are retained from being moved
outwards too far by the end plates e of the frame f, f, being turned inwards,
as shewn. The melted material of which the candles are to be formed is
poured in at the long trough or hopper 9, g, there being an opening h from
such trough into each of the moulds, and i are openings through which the air
in the moulds may pass away as the moulds become full of melted matter.
Wicks are introduced through the succession of moulds by a hook or needle,
there being a loop formed for the hook to hold by; and when the melted
material has been poured into the moulds and has become cold or sufficiently
set, the superfluous material remaining in the trough is to be scraped out; the
candles are then delivered from the moulds in the following manner, commenc-
ing with the frame of moulds at the right hand end of the table, Figures 5, 6,
and 7. The nozels of these moulds resting against the hinge piece z, which
acts as an abutment for the nozels b, the workman turns back the hinged
pieces d, and then he draws the frame f and towards the hinge piece, so
that the moulds a are drawn on to the nozels and the candles are pushed, out
of the moulds a short distance, the act of doing which serves to loosen the
candles from the moulds. The hinge piece z is then to be turned down into
the position indicated by the dotted lines, and this frame of candle moulds may
then be drawn off from the row of candles, and the wicks of the several
candles cut from those of the next frame by means of a thin knife. The same

page_text: course is to be pursued in respect to the next frame of candle moulds, and so
on till all the moulds are empty. I would state that in applying the wicks to
the succession of moulds the two ends are to be pegged or fixed to retain the
wicks tight, and the ends of the moulds of the last frame will have plugs or
end pieces, such as are shewn at Figure Z.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention. Figure 8 shews a
side view, and Figures 9 a plan, of a machine for coating two or more wicks
with material used in the manufacture of candles. This machine consists of a
cylinder having a piston therein worked by a pinion taking into a rack on the
piston rod: The machine is shewn suitable for being worked by the hand, but it
may, if desired, be worked by other power; a pinion on the axis of the crank
handle gives motion to a cog wheel on the axis of a pinion which takes into and
drives the rack of the piston, as is clearly shewn in the Drawing. The cylinder
is capable of moving on axes or trunnions in order to allow it to assume a
vertical position when being filled.
In Figures 8 and 9 the apparatus shewn applied to the cylender is suitable
for coating and combining wicks in such manner that they may be kept
separate.
The apparatus shown at Figures 10 and 11, also that at Figures 13 and 14,
combine and coat the wicks in a cylindrical form; and the apparatus at
Figure 8 & 9, 8* and 9*, produce an oblong sectional form. The wicks
in each case are conducted into the interior of the nozle by side tubes a, a,
and in such manner that the wicks are at a distance from each other when in
a candle, as will be understood by Figures 14, 15, and 16, where the products
of the apparatus are shown. The wicks being properly guided into the
tubes a, and stearine of tallow (which is the material I usually employ, but do
not confine myself thereto,) in the cylinder, the handle is turned by one
*person, and another person draws out the wicks (and places them on a board
placed to receive them), using a little force; when as much as the length of the
board is drawn out the combined wicks are cut off, the board is to be shifted a
little and another length is obtained, and so on till the board is full; it is then
to be taken away for the wicks to harden, and another board is to be put in its
place. There is a small hole at x in the pipe through which the wicks and
stearine are passing, and the stearine is constantly forced through, so long as the
working is going on properly. The chief object of this part of my Invention
is to obtain wicks to be used in the making of candles by inserting such
coated wicks into moulds, or else they may be used in making dip candles as
coated wicks have before been employed for such purposes; and I would state
that I make no claim to the use of coated wicks in the manufacture of candles,

page_text: whether mould candles or dip candles, it not being new to coat candle wicks
before making candles therein. The wicks being coated by apparatus such
as herein described, they are to be cut up into suitable lengths for use.
And I would state that apparatus such as herein described may, by being made
of suitable diameters, be used for coating and combining two or more wicks,
and thereby at once form candles, as has before been done when only one wick
has been used. And I would state that I do not claim the making of candles
by forcing candle stuff in a solid state through orifices; this part of my
Invention consisting of applying this process when two or more wicks are
employed, the apparatus being made suitable for introducing such two or
more wicks separate from each other, so that though combined and coated
they will be at a distance from each other when in a candle.
The object in keeping the wicks separate in the candles when two or more
wicks are used in the same candle is, that platted or other wicks capable of
turning out from the flame may be used, and this apparatus will be found
particularly applicable when using such wicks as have the capability or pro-
perty of turning outwards from the flame, as such wicks may with great
certainty be conducted in such manner as to keep the bending side of the wick
in the direction required. In addition to using two or more single wicks
capable of turning out from the flame, I can when very large flames are desired
cause two wicks to pass in at each opening of the apparatus, taking care that
the two wicks are turned in the same direction, and so that they will conjointly
turn out of the flame when burning. By this means coated and combined
wicks or candles will be produced having two or more compound wicks, each
compound wick bending outwards from the flame when burning. This part of
my Invention is also applicable when using only one compound wick in the
same candle, that is a wick composed of two parts which have heretofore, when
used in making candles, been first connected by winding round them a thread,
or by sewing, or otherwise fastening them together, such compound wicks
turning out of the flame when burning. In making apparatus for introducing
a compound wick where only one compound wick is to be in a candle, each part
of the compound wick may go through separate passages and come together in
the center, or they may both go together through one passage, which is the
mode I prefer, in each case taking care that the two parts of which the com-
pound wick is to be formed will have the bending surface thereof in the same
direction, so as to turn together out of the flame. By this means the trouble
of first securing such compound wicks will be saved.
I will now describe the third part of my Invention, which has for its object
an improvement in the manufacture of that description of candles called night

page_text: lights, wherein a very small wick is used compared with the diameter of the
fatty or other candle matter used. And this part of my Invention is also
applicable when making the description of candles which I have called mortar
candles, and consists of employing a covering or case of woven fabric in place
of the paper heretofore used, and for this purpose I prefer to employ fine gauze
or lace, or other open fine fabric, the interstices of which are filled up with size
or transparent material, as is well understood, when for covering looking-
glasses and other articles. In thus using woven materials I make it into
boxes open at top and closed at bottom (as pasteboard boxes have been before
made for such purposes), and in some cases, particularly in making large
diameters, I employ glass vessels, and I make the mortar candles in such
vessels in place of paper.
I would here state that in manufacturing these mortar candles and night
lights and mortar candles according to the fourth part of the Invention, I use
any kind of material or mixture of material which have been used in candle
making, care however must be taken that such material be sufficiently soft to
melt by the heat of the flame or flames of the wicks used therein.
I will now describe the fourth part of my Invention, which consists in
making candles shorter than their diameters when using two or more wicks.
This manufacture of candles I call mortar candles, because they are similar to
mortars, except that the wicks employed are comparatively larger as when
making candles which are to consume a like quantity of matter in the same
time; the wicks I prefer for these candles are double flat wicks combined
together, and so as they will both turn together out of the flame. The object of
this part of my Invention is to obtain candles capable of giving considerable
quantities of light, such as for hall lanterns, or other places where it is desirable
to avoid having the candle high, and yet obtain a large light; and such short
candles I either make in a transparent case, by preference of woven fabrics, or
of glass, as described, in respect to night light candles; and in such short
candles I employ two or more wicks in each candle; and where these candles
are not made in cases, I consume them in glasses made of a suitable size
to receive them; and when the wicks used have not the property of bending
outwards from the flame, I employ inclined tubular wick-holders with feet,
such as are described under the eleventh part of my Invention; and such
inclined wick-holders are also applicable for night light candles where small
wicks are used, and the tubes in each case are made of a size freely to admit
the wick; and this part of my Invention also consists of moulding mortar
candles, whether night lights or mortar candles, with angular sides, so that
they will pack closer together than when made cylindrical.

page_text: I will now describe the fifth part of my Invention, which consists of modes of
applying instruments in candles made suitable for being burned in candle lamps
n order to uphold the last portions of such descriptions of candles and prevent
them falling against the glass chimneys used with such lamps. Figures 17
& 18 shew several views of such upholding instruments; and Figures
19 & 20 shew sections of candles containing such instruments.
I apply them
as follows:-I introduce one of these holders a into the hole left in with-
drawing the wire (when candles are made with wires for introducing the
wicks), and fix it on to the candle by pressing the legs which turn up into the
candle whilst the candle is in the mould; the hole in the candle is then
filled up and the end scraped off, as is well understood. And I also place one
of these holders 6 on the exterior of a prepared or coated wick, which by its
elasticity will be sustained wherever it may be placed. These constructions
of holders for wicks are those I prefer, but their shapes may be varied so
long as they are so made up with candles and capable of upholding the last
portions of the wicks. I would state, that I am aware that instruments. have
heretofore been employed for a similar purpose when making night lights
cased with paper.
I will now describe the sixth part of my Invention. Candles with more
than two wicks that bend out from the flame is usually made require a
chimney to prevent flickering and smoking. To obviate this I place the wicks
five-eighths of an inch apart from each other; when using a round wick one-
eighth of an inch thick, a less distance will be effective, particularly when
smaller wicks are used.
I will now describe the seventh part of my Invention. Candles having
four spirally-formed wicks to burn in lamps are liable to flare and smoke. I
prevent these results by twisting them on a larger wire than heretofore used,
and for this purpose I use a wire or rod three-eighths or more of an inch
diameter when using a wick one-eighth of an inch thick, but a rod or wire
may be used somewhat smaller, in such case, however, the size of the wicks
used should also be reduced.
I will now describe the eighth part of my Invention. My object is to
obtain a large flame from the smallest number of wicks when introduced
into a candle in a spiral form. For this purpose I employ a flat woven tape,
using cotton fit for candles in weaving such wicks; and I, in making candles
therewith, wind the same around wires or rods in like manner to what other
wicks have before been used in the manufacture of candles.
.
I will now describe the ninth part of my Invention, which consists of
making candles with two or more compound platted wicks. I find it advan-

page_text: 5
tageous, particularly in tallow, to use the doubled platted wick, that is, two
wicks bending one way, and together making one wick; but heretofore when
using such compound wicks in candles I have only used one in each candle,
and I have found that when it is desired to obtain a very considerable light
from a candle that two or more such compound wicks may with advantage be
employed; each compound wick being so placed as to turn out of the wick in
different directions.
I will now describe the tenth part of my Invention, which consists of modes
of placing platted wicks in candles, by which I obtain a great body of flame,
and not very liable to be affected by the draft. of the chimney of the lamp in
which they are burnt. Our mode is the placing platted wicks in a row of
three or more, and the other mode is the placing four or more platted wicks
in two lines or double rows, the wicks being back to back (as shown by the
diagram, Fig. 21,) so that in turning out of the flame the wicks of one row
will bend in the opposite way to the wicks of the other row.
I will now describe the eleventh part of my Invention. I employ a stand,
(as shewn at Fig. 22. & 23) to .hold wicks for mortar candles, whether for
night lights or otherwise, in an oblique direction, so that a wick, not of itself
bending out of the flame to meet the air by its inclination, does incline out of
the flame, and so does not want snuffing; and it is the application of such
instrument according to the modes above mentioned in this branch of the
manufacture of candles which constitutes the novelty of this part of my
Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the details as herein described so long as the peculiar character of any part
of my Invention be retained, but what I claim is,-
First, the manufacturing of mould candles in such manner that both ends
of each candle will be moulded, and also several such moulded candles on the
same wick.
Secondly, I claim the apparatus for coating or applying candle stuff so as to
combine two or more wieks.
Thirdly, I claim the manufacturing of night lights and mortar candles with
a case or covering of woven fabrics; and I also claim the making such
descriptions of candles in vessels of glass.
Fourthly, I claim the manufacturing of candles (of suitable candle material
as described) of less length than they are in width when using two or more
wicks. And I also claim the manufacturing of mortar candles and night, lights
with angular, sides, as described.

page_text: Fifthly, I claim the modes of manufacture of candles suitable for being
burned in candle lamps, with instruments therein to uphold the wicks, as
herein described.
Sixthly, I claim the placing wicks (when several are used in the same candle,
and which bend out of the flame in burning,) with a space between the exterior
of each of not less than five-sixteenths of an inch.
Seventhly, I claim the placing of four spirally twisted wicks on a wire or
rod of five-sixteenths of an inch thick and upwards.
Eighthly, I claim the manufacturing of candles with woven and flat wicks
in a spiral form.
Ninthly, I claim the manufacturing of candles, each having two or more
compound or double platted wicks.
Tenthly, I claim the arrangement of platted wicks in two rows in candles,
as described.
Eleventhly, I claim the use of upholders for wicks of mortar candles and
night lights, to hold the short wicks therein in an inclined position.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Palmer, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.
Enrolled the Ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-nine.