IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE FIRE- LIGHTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Charles Duffy, of 134, Florence Terrace, Grange
Road, Bermondsey, in the County of Surrey, and Francis Hoole Davids, of
Oak Lodge, Bushey Hill Road, Camberwell, in the same County, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE FIRE-
LIGHTS
13
Sealed the 28th May 1878, and dated the 10th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Charles Duffy and
Francis Hoole Davids at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
10th December 1877.
MICHAEL CHARLES DUFFY, of 134, Florence Terrace, Grange Road, Bermondsey,
in the County of Surrey, and FRANCIS HOOLE DAVIDS, of Oak Lodge, Bushey Hill
Road, Camberwell, in the same County. * IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF COMPOSITE FIRE-LIGHTS."
This Invention consists in improvements in the manufacture of composite fire-
lights.
For the purpose of carrying it out we take sawdust, preferably from hard wood
or tan dried and powdered, also tallow or other fatty substances, oil, and
hair, and mix them thoroughly. Ground rezin is then added and thoroughly
mixed with the compound, or heat may be applied for the purpose of admixing the
resin with the substances. The material so formed is then moulded into the form
of cakes by bydraulic or other pressure.
We find that a cheap product resulting from the dying and dressing of fur-
skins, and known as fur-skin dressers waste, contains hard wood sawdust
impregnated with oily and rezinous matter, and some amount of hair; and we use
this material as a substitute for sawdust in the mixture with rezin, as above, varying
the proportion of the remaining ingredients as necessary from the state of the said
fur-akin dressers' waste.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Michael Charles Duffy and Francis Hoole Davids in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 29th May 1878.
MICHAEL, CHARLES DUFFY, of 134, Florence Terrace, Grange Road, Bermondsey,
in the County of Surrey, and FRANCIS HOOLE DAVIDS, of Oak Lodge, Bushey Hill
Road, Camberwell, in the same County. "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMPOSITE FIRE-
LIGHTS."
This Invention consists in improvements introduced in the manufacture of a
special composition to be used for lighting fires (termed "fire-lights ") or as artificial
fuel.
In carrying out our said Invention we take sawdust, preferably that from hard wood
or tan powdered. We emloy also tallow or other fatty or oily substances and
hair, and well mix the whole. Ground or pulverized resin is then added and
thoroughly mixed with the previously named ingredients.
Heat may also be applied to further assist the admixture and commingling of the
resin with the other ingredients, the proportionate quantities which we prefor to
employ being in the ratio of four parts of resin to five parts of the total of the
several other ingredients first named The resultant material so compounded is
then pressed and moulded into the form of cakes or pieces of convenient size and
shape (and which we prefer to call the "compostella fire-lights) ready for use
either for igniting other fuel or as fuel itself. The moulding or shaping and
pressing of the material when compounded we effect by the employment of
hydraulic or other pressing apparatus.
We find that a cheap product resulting from the dyeing and dressing of fur-
skins, technically known as "fur-skin dressers' waste," contains hard wood sawdust
impregnated with oily and resinous matters, and some amount of hair
We reserve
to ourselves the right to use this latter substance or material as a substitute for
sawdust in the mixture with resin.
In this latter case the proportionate quantities of the other ingredients (namely,
the unctious or fatty matters and the hair), as also the mode of incorporating or
mixing the same, will depend upon the state or condition of or the properties
possessed by the said residual product or "fur-skin dressers' waste."
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner of
carrying out the same, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the exact details herein described, as these may be modified or
varied without departing from the main or essential features of our said Inven-
tion, as herein-before described and set forth; but what we claim is,-
First. The combining together of the several ingredients herein named for the
production of "fire-lights" and artificial fuel.
Second. The utilization specially, for the purposes herein named, of the residual
product or "fur-skin dressers' waste," herein described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Michael Charles Duffy and Francis Hoole Davids,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fourth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.