IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLUGS FOR MEERSCHAUM AND EVERY OTHER DE- SCRIPTION OF TOBACCO PIPES, CIGAR TUBES, AND HOOKAH PIPES, FOR PURI- FYING THE SMOKE AND PREVENTING THE FLOW OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL of TOBACCO IN THE STEM OF THE PIPE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Robert Cotton, of 38 and 109, Bishopsgate Street
Within, City, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLUGS FOR MEERSCHAUM AND EVERY OTHER DE-
SCRIPTION OF TOBACCO PIPES, CIGAR TUBES, AND HOOKAH PIPES, FOR PURI-
FYING THE SMOKE AND PREVENTING THE FLOW OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL of
TOBACCO IN THE STEM OF THE PIPE."
Sealed the 19th December 1876, and dated the 20th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Robert Cotton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1876.
JAMES ROBERT COTTON, of 38 and 109, Bishopsgate Street Within, City, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLUGS FOR
MEERSCHAUM AND EVERY OTHER DESCRIPTION OF TOBACCO PIPES, CIGAR TUBES,
AND HOOKAH PIPES, FOR PURIFYING THE SMOKE AND PREVENTING THE FLOW OF
THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF TOBACCO IN THE STEM OF THE PIPE."
I form in wire gauze a cup or receptacle with a cap or covering made of the like
material. I do not confine myself to any one description of wire gauze, by pre-
ference I use that woven from iron wire, but the cup or receptacle with the cap or
covering may be made in perforated zinc or any other suitable metal or material
such as pipeclay, glass, china, or earthenware. I then fill the cup or receptacle
with animal or vegetable charcoal in a granular form or in powder, by itself, or
combined with chalk, china clay, magnesia, or any material of an absorbent nature.
The plugs may be made of charcoal combined with other materials as before
mentioned and consolidated and used without the wire gauze.
I do not confine myself to any particular form of plug, either in the wire casing
or in the consolidated state, as the plugs in either case may be made of a shape
suitable to be inserted in the bowl, stem, mouthpiece, or at the bottom of the
bowl of the pipe and attached thereto by means of a screw, or in any other suitable
manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Robert Cotton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
December 1876.
JAMES ROBERT COTTON, of 38 and 109, Bishopsgate Street Within, in the City
of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PLUGS FOR MEERSCHAUM
AND EVERY OTHER DESCRIPTION OF TOBACCO PIPES, CIGAR TUBES, AND HOOKAH
PIPES, FOR PURIFYING THE SMOKE AND PREVENTING THE FLOW OF THE ESSENTIAL
OIL OF TOBACCO IN THE STEM OF THE PIPE."
First. My Invention consists of an improvement in manufacturing plugs to be
used in meerschaum and every other description of tobacco pipes, cigar tubes, and
hookah pipes, for purifying the smoke and preventing the flow of the essential oil
of tobacco in the stems of the pipes, cigar tubes, or hookah pipes.
For this purpose I form in wire gauze, or perforated metal, or like material a cup
or receptacle with a cup or covering of the same material. I then fill the cup or
receptacle with animal or vegetable charcoal, or chalk, china clay, magnesia, pumice
stone, or any other material of an absorbent nature, which readily absorbs and
retains the oil of tobacco, such charcoal and other materials being used either alono
or in combination of one or more of them, and being used in a granulated state.
The cup or receptacle having therein the charcoal or other absorbent material
aforesaid and being fitted with the cap or covering is then placed in the bowl, or
stem, or mouthpiece of the pipe, or the cigar tube, or hookah pipe, and the oil of
the tobacco is thus arrested and prevented from reaching the mouth of the smoker.
In order to manufacture the cups or receptacles aforesaid I employ screw presses
of the ordinary description with tools fitted therein, such tools being made of the
required size and form of the cups or receptacles to be produced. These tools
are of the description well known as being used by certain metal workers and are
called drawing tools.
"
I do not, however, confine myself to the use of such tools, as sometimes I find it
more convenient to fit into the presses, dies and punches, or forces, having fixed in
the bed of a press, a tool, or die of the required size of the cups or receptacle to be
produced, I then adjust in the upper part or noose of the press, or tool, punch, or
force corresponding in form and size to that of the counterpart tool or die fitted in
the bed of the press. I then place over the tool or die a piece of wire gauze, or
perforated metal or like material. The upper tool, punch, or force is then pressed
down, and upon being raised the cup or receptacle is found to be produced in the
required size and shape. It is then placed in a clipping press" to clip off any
metal or other material remaining round the edge. This clipping press is well
known, and is the same sort of press that is used for cutting out metal blanks,
checks, or counters. The cap or covering is formed and finished by the like process
required for the cup or receptacle and of the like materials. The cup or receptacle
is then filled with the suitable absorbent material above mentioned, and the cap or
covering is placed on and fixed round the cup or receptacle by means of pressure
in a steel tool made in the form of a cone or other suitable form according to the
shape of the cups or receptacle produced.
I am aware that it is not new to employ charcoal or other absorbent material
in tobacco pipes for the purpose of absorbing the essential oil of tobacco; I there-
fore do not claim the same when used alone and without being enclosed in a cup
or receptacle.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the means pursued by me
in performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to
the precise details herein described so long as the peculiar character of my Invention
is retained, but what I claim is,―
Firstly. The manufacture of plugs for tobacco pipes, cigar tubes, and hookah
pipes by enclosing in perforated cups or receptacles fitted with perforated caps or
coverings as herein-before described, charcoal, or other such suitable absorbent
material as aforesaid.

page_text: And, Secondly. I claim the application and use to and in tobacco pipes, cigar
tubes, and hookah pipes or cups or receptacles covered with caps or coverings as
herein-before described and filled with charcoal or any such suitable absorbent
material as aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Robert Cotton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named James Robert Cotton
on the day of the date hereof in the
presence of
A. A. HARFORD,
4, Bishopsgate Street Without,
London, E.C.,
Solrs' Clerk.
JAMES ROBERT COTTON. (L.S.)