IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES AND NIGHT LIGHTS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Clarke, of 55, Albany Street, Regent's Park,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES AND NIGHT LIGHTS."
Sealed the 2nd June 1857, and dated the 6th April 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Clarke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th April 1857.
I, SAMUEL CLARKE, of 55, Albany Street, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES AND NIGHT LIGHTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of candles
and night lights; and the Invention consists, first, in a mode of preparing
rushes to be used as wicks; and, secondly, in the making of night lights in
such manner that a considerable portion of the tallow or candle stuff used shall
be above the case or holder in which it is burned. In preparing rushes for
wicks for mould and other candles, each rush has the bark or outer skin
removed, leaving a comparatively thin streak of bark or skin on one side only;
and the peculiarity of the first part of the Invention is in subjecting rushes to
be used as wicks to a solution of borax and ammonia, in order to ensure their
consuming as they turn out from the flames of the candles. In preparing rush
wicks for night lights, each rush is divided lengthwise into several pieces,
leaving to each piece only a comparatively thin streak of skin or bark, and

page_text: such wicks are also subjected to the action of a solution of borax and ammonia.
In making mortars in such manner that they may have wicks of rush or other
material which will bend out of the flames and yet not require that the mass
of tallow or other stuff should become fluid in the case or holder, each night
light is formed with a comparatively shallow box or holder, or it is so formed
that it may be consumed in a separate comparatively shallow holder. To
accomplish this, the upper part of a night light is cast of considerably less
diameter than the lower part, which is in the case or holder, and it is preferred
that the same should be cast in steps. By these means a night light will at
the upper part burn as an ordinary candle, and the mass will only become
fluid when the diameter becomes large as compared with what the wick will
consume.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Clarke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
CLARKE, of 55, Albany Street, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Samuel Clarke, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel Clarke, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel
Clarke, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF CANDLES AND NIGHT LIGHTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Samuel Clarke, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Clarke, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
candles and night lights; and the Invention consists, first, in a mode of
preparing rushes to be used as wicks; and, secondly, in the making of night,
lights in such manner that a considerable portion of the tallow or candle stuff
used shall be above the case or holder in which it is burned. In preparing.
rushes for wicks for mould and other candles, each rush has the bark or outer.
skin removed, leaving a comparatively thin streak of bark or skin on one side
only; and the peculiarity of the first part of the Invention is in subjecting
rushes to be used as wicks to a solution of borax and ammonia, in order to
ensure their consuming as they turn out from the flames of the candles. In
preparing rush wicks for night lights, each rush is divided lengthwise into
several pieces, leaving to each piece only a comparatively thin streak of skin
or bark, which is not new, and such wicks are also subjected to the action
of a solution of borax and ammonia. The combined solution used consists
of 2 ozs. of borax and 4 ozs. of ammonia in one gallon of water. The
divided rushes, having only a thin strip of bark on one side, are dipped in this
solution till they are well saturated therewith, they are then taken from the
solution and dried, when they are fit for use. The proportions of borax and
ammonia above mentioned are those which are believed to be the best for the
purpose; I do not however confine myself thereto. In making mortars in such
manner that they may have wicks of rush or other material which will bend
out of the flames and yet not require that the mass of tallow or other stuff should
become fluid in the case or holder, each night light is formed with a com-
paratively shallow box or holder, or it is so formed that it may be consumed in
a separate comparatively shallow holder. To accomplish this, the upper part
of a night light is cast of considerably less diameter than the lower part, which
is in the case or holder, and it is preferred that the same should be cast in
steps. By these means a night light will at the upper part burn as an ordinary
candle, and the mass will only become fluid when the diameter becomes large
as compared with what the wick will consume.
DESCRIPTION. OF THE DRAWING.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 show a side view, a section, and a plan of one form or
shape by which this part of my Invention can be carried into effect, but the
form or shape may be varied; and Figures 4, 5, and 6 show a side view, a

page_text: section, and a plan of another form or shape of a night light according to my
Invention, which consists in making night lights with comparatively short cases,
or suitable for being burned in comparatively shallow trays or vessels, as the
main body of the material does not become fluid till the upper parts of smallar
diameter have been consumed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
First, the subjecting rush wicks, suitably prepared for turning out of the
flames of candles and night lights when burning, to a solution of borax and
ammonia.
And, secondly, I claim the forming the upper parts of night lights in steps,
or of different diameters, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Clarke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
E. BARKER.
SAM CLARKE. (L.S.)