IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
Year: 1852

page_text: Sealed the 8th December 1852, and dated the 7th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Mitchel Thomson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th October 1852.
I, MITCHEL THOMSON, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon,
Surgeon in the Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more essentially to a peculiar arrangement of
candle lamp, suitable for lighting ships at sea, and barracks, and for
signals, but inore especially where the sailors or parties requiring the
light are using salt provisions. The object of the contrivances involved
in the Invention is the obtainment of a cheap, simple, and easily
manageable light-giving apparatus, which shall burn up and economise

page_text: the hitherto waste fat derived from the provisions of the sailor in
cooking.
The annexed diagrams are illustrative of the general arrangements
which are adopted in carrying the Invention into practice. Each lamp
is intended to be furnished with six tubes, to be screwed off and on at
pleasure, accordingly as they are filled and empty. It is obvious that
the general aim of the plan may be carried out under various forms of
apparatus, of which the annexed Figures exhibit one series, and that the
lamps are available for various other purposes than those herein-before
referred to.
Figure 1, is an elevation of the candle lamp complete and burning;
Figure 2, is a view of the lamp without the piston or propeller, and
fitted for bed room purposes; Figure 3, represents the lamp with the
piston detached from the pedestal. A, is the tube for the wick; B, the
upper cylinder with piston; D, the pinion; F, is a pin with a chain for
trimming wick. Figure 4, is a view of the upper cylinder; A, the
screw which unites it to the lower one. Figure 5, is the lower cylinder;
A, the pinion. Figure 6, represents two views of the tube holder; A,
and B, are openings in the tube for admission of grease. Figure 7,
represents two views of the wick tube; A, A, two rods by the raising of
which heat is instantly conveyed to the grease at lighting, and which
aids in the liquifying of the fat for carrying on combustion; B, B, wires
for lifting out the tube. Figure 8, shews the bottom of the lower
cylinder; A, A, are upper and lower screws which unite the pedestal and
cylinder. Figure 9, is an oil can to be to be introduced when oil is used.
Figure 10, is a vertical section of the whole lamp; A, the wick tube;
B. wick tube holder; C, the upper cylinder; D, the lower portion of the
grease cylinder screwed on to the upper end of the piston cylinder; E,
the piston or grease propeller; F, an iron rod uniting the piston to a
similar construction at the base of the cylinder; G, G, two cogs to be
used for racks when introduced in the propeller, or as guides to the
band; H, is a broad band which, when rolled up by the pinion I, forces
the piston and grease upwards and towards the flame. Figure 11, is
the top with screw. Figure 12, is a section of the lower cylinder with
the band for lifting up the piston. Figure 13, is a view of the lower

page_text: cylinder with two rods to be used at pleasure. Figure 14, is the lower
cylinder without the iron rod.
Figure 16, are the two rods.
is the bottom of the piston.
20, is a full view of the top.
circular tube and wick.
Figure 15, is a pin for trimming lamp.
Figure 17, is the iron rod. Figure 18,
Figure 19, is the pinion and band. Figure
Figure 21, is a horse-shoe top for semi-
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Mitchel Thomson in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 6th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
MITCHEL THOMSON, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, Surgeon in
the Royal Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Mitchel Thomson, Her special license
that I, the said Mitchel Thomson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Mitchel Thomson, 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
LAMPS AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Mitchel Thomson, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly 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 at the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that I. the said Mitchel Thomson, do hereby

page_text: declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:
My said Invention relates more essentially to a peculiar arrangement
of candle lamp suitable for lighting ships at sea, and barracks, and for
telegraphic night signals, but more especially when the sailors or parties
requiring the light are using salt provisions. The object of the
contrivances involved in my Invention is the obtainment of a cheap,
simple, and easily manageable light-giving apparatus, which consuming
readily oil or fat shall burn up and economise the hitherto waste fat
derived from the provisions of the sailor in cooking.
Figure 1, of the Sheet of Drawings represents a side elevation of a
ship's candle lamp of my improved construction; Figure 2, is a corre-
sponding plan of the upper end of the lamp; Figure 3, is a longitudinal
vertical section of the same taken through the centre of the lamp;
Figure 4, is a vertical section of the telegraphic night signal lamp or
portable hand lamp on the same principle; Figure 5, is a corresponding
plan of the same, drawn full size; and Figures 6, to 14, are separate
details of the wick tube and wick tube holder detached. A, B, are two
metal tubes or cylinders screwed together at C, serving also to connect
the candle lamp to the bottom of the lantern, and forming the main body
of the lamp; within the lower cylinder B, slides freely the cylinder D,
which is fitted with a leather packing E, at its upper extremity. This
packing fits tightly into the bore of the upper cylinder A, thereby form-
ing a piston for the purpose of pushing up the grease or fat F. This
piston is actuated by the spindle G, and cord H, or by an ordinary rack
and pinion; the material proposed to be consumed in these lamps is
ordinary fat oil, or the refuse fat obtained on board ship from the liquor
in which the salt provisions have been boiled, and known to the sailors as
"slush." Before burning inthelamp the "slush" is clarified and freed
entirely from all saline particles by washing with boiling water. It
is put into the lamp in a cold state similar to tallow; the upper cylinder,
being forcibly pressed down into the fat, and being entirely filled with

page_text: it, forms a candle; this cylinder is then screwed on to the lower
one B, and as the upper surface of the fat is consumed a fresh supply
is brought to the wick I, by winding up the piston E. A number of
these slush holders may be kept ready filled and screwed on to the lower
cylinder of the lamp as fast as they are emptied. A tightly fitting cap
J, is attached by a pin and bent slot to the bottom of the lamp to catch
the drippings in case oil should be used instead of fat. The peculiar
arrangement of piston for supplying the fat as it is consumed, and con-
struction of wick holder, form the principal features of my Invention,
and consist in the first place of a piston as described above, and a wick
tube holder K, a side elevation of which is shewn detached at Figure 6.
It consists of a flat or other shaped chamber having a circular dished
piece of metal L, soldered or brazed to its upper edge. The sides of this
chamber are perforated at M, to admit of the passage of the melted fat
or oil to the internal wick. The wick itself is composed of several
twisted strands of cotton, and is contained in the wick tube N, shewn
in its place in the chamber K, in the section Figure 7, and detached at
Figure 8. Figure 9, is a corresponding plan of the upper edge of the
wick tube; this tube is also perforated at its sides, but is made with an
open bottom to admit the grease more freely to the wick which it
contains. 0, 0, are two slide wires, which are only required when the
grease or oil contain impurities, and which are pulled up a
short Sway
when the lamp is lighted, in order that they may be heated by the flame,
and consequently melt the grease below which is in immediate contact
with the wick. In trimming the lamp the new wick is well oiled or
greased before insertion into the wick tube, in order that there may be
no difficulty in lighting it when required. In the small telegraphic
signal lamp or hand lamp, Figures 4, and 5, the use of a grease
propeller or piston is dispensed with, the tube A, being merely filled
with fat, and the wick tube holder B, pushed into it. The cap C, is
then screwed on, and the wick tube D, with its wick, put into its place
in the holder B. Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, are separate details
of the wick tube holder, and wick tube of a horse-shoc form, but made
on precisely the same principle as the burners last described. It will be
obvious to the practical man that these lamps may be burnt with great

page_text: economy, and are equally applicable to the decks and holds of ships, and to
signalling purposes, and may be made of various forms according as they
are wanted for hand or fixed lamps. The lamp shewn at Figures 1, 2,
and 3, is intended to be screwed into a ship's deck lantern, and may be
used in the ship's tops, decks, or cabins.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of lamps as herein-
before described.
Second, the application and use of a piston and wick tube holder as
herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of the fat propeller in the manner and
for the purpose herein-before described.
Fourth, the application and use of the heating wires in the manner
and for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Mitchel Thomson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Fifth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-three.
MITCHEL THOMSON.
(J.S.)