IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
GRAHAM WILLIAM WAGSTAFF, of Bethnal Green, in the County of Middlesex,
Candle Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster; the Twentieth day of January, in the fifteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself; Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Grabam William Wagstaff, Her especial license, full power, sole'
privilege and authority, that I, the said Henry Graham William Wagstaff,
my exors; adñiors; and assigns, and such others as I, the said Henry Grahani
William Wagstaff, my exors, adiñors, 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 mentioned, 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, obliging me, the said Henry
Graham William Wagstaff, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what, manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters

page_text: 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
Henry Graham William Wagstaff, do hereby declare that the nature of my.
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following description
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention refers, firstly, to the treatment of wicks to be used in the
manufacture of candles; and, secondly, to improvements in the means of
inserting wicks into candle moulds, and retaining them in their proper
position during the operation of casting the candles.
In carrying out this Invention, I first steep the wick in the usual way to
assist combustion, but in the solution I make use of I introduce a small portion
of gelatinous matter, for the purpose of stiffening the wick, in order to prevent
its falling over too much when burning, and also to enable it to retain the form
which I impart by passing it while in a damp state between heated pressing
rollers. By this means the wick is pressed to the form of a flat band, and
this form enables me to place it with precision in the candles. I next take
two or more wicks prepared as above described, and pass them through a
cistern containing wax, tallow, or other fatty matter in a melted state, as
shewn in Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, wherein Fig. 1 represents
the cistern and its appurtenances in plan view, and Fig. 2 shews the same
in longitudinal vertical section. The wicks are wound upon reels a, a,
and, passing over tension pins, enter the cistern b, b, which is furnished at
that end through which the wicks enter with eyes corresponding to the
number of wicks required to be treated, and through these eyes the
wicks respectively pass.. When they have traversed the cistern for a
certain distance, and thereby received a coating of the fatty or other
fluid matter contained in the cistern, they are made to take a certain
relative position; that is, if but two wicks are being passed through the
fatty matter they are brought together as shewn in the Drawing, and
thereby form a double wick; when three wicks are intended to be treated,
they are passed through three eyes, formed in the end of the cistern, and are,
after absorbing a sufficient quantity of fatty matter, then brought together to
form by their section a triangular figure; when preparing four wicks, that
end of the cistern at which the wicks enter is fitted with four eyes, and the
wicks, after being independently coated with fatty matter, are brought together
so as to form in section a square figure. In the course of the progress,

page_text: through the cistern of the now-combined wicks these wicks take up or
accumulate a sufficient quantity of fatty matter to cause them to becomō
permanently united, though the several wicks are isolated or kept separate
by a portion of the wax, tallow, or other fatty substance remaining between
them, and they are drawn out at the opposite side of the cistern to which they
entered through an orifice of a suitable size. The wicks then pass into a
refrigerating apparatus, c, c, consisting of a cold-water cistern fitted with a
metal pipe d. Through this pipe the wicks are drawn immediately on their
leaving the cistern b, and thereby a proper amount of consistency is imparted
to them. The wicks thus prepared can be cut into lengths suitable for dip
or mould candles. In consequence of the peculiar nature of plait, the
tendency of which is to diverge in one particular direction, care must be
taken to enter the wicks properly through the eyes, so as to bring them back
to back, which will cause them to diverge from the centre of the candle, and
this divergence will thereby be maintained throughout the whole length of the
wick.
In making dip candles with loops I employ a novel construction of appa-
ratus, in order to effect the coating of the wicks with the melted fat. This
apparatus is shewn in side elevation at Fig. 3, and in front view at Fig. 4.
It consists chiefly of a reel, the radial arms a, a, of which carry alternately
a plate b, whose edges are bent up at right angles, and notched, and a flat
plate c, whose outer edge is notched. The plates 6, b, are provided with'
a row of pins d, d, which pins are equidistant from each other and from the
opposite edges of the plate. These pins are intended to receive the wick
which is to be coated with fatty matter, and the notches in the plates b and c
are for the purpose of retaining the wicks at tension in their proper position:
while undergoing the saturating process. The axle of the reel rests in bearings:
in a pair of arms d*, d*, which are capable of rocking on studs e, e, carried by:
the sandards ff. Jointed loosely to the arms d*, d*, is a saddle piece 9, 9,
which is connected by a cord (running over friction pullies) to a counter-
weight h, for the purpose of allowing the reel to be raised and lowered with*
facility. A winch handle i is applied to the axle of the reel, by which rotary
motion is imparted thereto, and immediately below the reel a cistern k, con-*
taining the fatty matter for saturating the wick, is placed. The reel is charged
with wicks in the following manner:-I take a piece of plait stiffened and
flattened as before described, and commence at one side of the reel, placing
one end of it in the first slit on one of the plates c. I then pass it to the cor-
responding slit on one of the adjacent plates b, and round the corresponding
peg, at the same time giving it a twist so as to bring it back into the second

page_text: slit of the pair in the proper position to ensure the required divergence of the
wicks, when burning. I then bring the plait down to the corresponding
slit in the plate c, and having again twisted the plait, I proceed in like
manner, filling the next, adjoining pair of slits or notches, and so on until the
row, of slits is full. The like, operation is carried on until the reel has been
fully charged, with plait. When this is effected I fit a cap ", provided, for the
purpose, over the plates b, which cap will keep the loops clean and free from
grease, when the wicks are immersed in the fluid fatty matter contained in the
cistern. By means of, the balancing apparatus I lower the reel until a certain
portion of the wicks are just immersed, in the fatty matter, and I then give
the reel one entire revolution, so that, the whole of the wicks acquire a thin
coating of such melted substance. I then instantly raise the reel from the
cistern by means of the said counterbalance arrangement, and give it a few
quick revolutions, through, the, air, in order to cool the fat, taken up by the
wicks. I then, repeat the operation of immersing and cooling until the wicks
have received a sufficient coating to connect together the folds of plait which
are to constitute one double wick. When arrived at this state, and when suffi-
ciently cool, the wicks, are severed by passing a knife along. the face of the
bar c; they may then be removed from the reel; and suspended on, rods, by the
loops, and dipped in the same manner as common dip candles. I would also.
add that wicks thus, prepared may be employed in, the manufacture. of mould
candles, in, which case the position of the plait must be reversed in the opera-
tion of charging, the reel, as the loop, instead of forming the top, will be placed
at the bottom of the mould candle.
.
The next head of my. Invention refers to the insertion of wicks into. the
moulds.used in making mould candles. This is effected by, the employment of
improved constructions of frames and, their, appliances, which are shewn in
several views in, Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
Fig. 5 represents, in plan view,, and. Fig. 6 in. longitudinal sectional eleva-.
tion, a frame, fitted, with several sets of mould pipes: intended to. receive the
wax.composition, or fatty material of which the, candles are, to be made. The
frame; is, rectangular, and is composed of longitudinal: and: cross bars. off
wood a, a, a. This, frame is, set at an angle; sufficient to facilitate theiflow. of
the melted material which is, to form, the candles. Affixedito and extending
across the frame, are plates; b, b, one; for each set of mould pipes c; c, c: These,
plates b, b, are fixed, edgewise, and are pierced with, holes which correspond. in
number, with the number of mould; pipes, that form, one.set, and are exactly..
opposite the centre of the moulds. The pipes are connected together. in. sets
by plates, or frames e, ethe; former, of which, together with the plates.bb;

page_text: form troughs f,f, for the reception of the melted material. The lower ends of
the mould pipes are fitted as usual with plungers g, g, which are pierced
centrally to allow the candle wicks to be passed through them, and have
a. conical recess corresponding to the shape of the head of the candles
to be cast. The use of these. plungers, as is well understood, is to effect
the discharge of the candles from the moulds. At the upper end of
the frame a number of reels h, containing the prepared wick, and cor-
responding to the number of moulds in one set, are usually mounted;, and
the frame laying. been filled with sets. of mould pipes, the wicks are
drawn from. the. reels, and severally passed through all the pipes which
lie in the same line. But..when double-wick candles are required to be inade
from the plait which has been treated as above described, with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2, a needle i, liaving a simple hook at one end, as shewn at
Fig. 6, and of sufficient length to. reach. from end to end of the frame, is
employed to thread the wicks into. the moulds:. This needle i, charged with a
suitable length of wick,, is passed down a line of the mould pipes, and drawn
out towards the lower end of the frame, and with it the double wick, one end
of which. is secured to a notched plate k at the upper end of the frame, and
the other to a plate k, which. is capable of moving. in guides formed in the
sides of the frame a, a, and has a tendency to move outwary reason of a
weight suspended therefrom for the purpose of keeping the wicks at a proper
tension. The needle i, having been recharged, is next passed througlia second
line.of moulds, carrying with it the wick which it deposits in the moulds,
and this wick is. in.like manner secured to the tension plates and *. By a
repetition of this operation all the moulds are charged with the prepared wicks:
When this is effected, the melted material is poured into the several troughs.f.f
whence it will find its way. into the moulds, and form a cylinder around the
wicks. When the tallow or other material of which the candles are composed:
lias remained a. sufficient time to cool; I sever the candles- from the mass of
fatty matter. in the troughs: and also. reduce the wicks to their proper length;:
by means of; a.knife. I next remove the several sets of moulds from the
frame, and discharge the candles from the moulds, in the, usual way: In
manufacturing double-wick mould candles by. the use of two separate wicks
which are. to be combined. in thei act of casting, I use a slightly, modified
arrangement of apparatus. This is in part shewn at Figs. 7'and' 8, Fig. 7-
being a partial longitudinali section of a frame with mould pipes applied
thereto; and: Fig. 8 a. cross section taken in the line 1; 2; of: Fig: 7.looking
towards the left land: The difference between this and the above-described:
arrangement consists. in the addition to the several troughs f, fi of swing

page_text: dividing plates m, the axle of which is weighted to give the dividing plates a
tendency to preserve their erect position. The upper edge of these dividing
plates m (see Fig. 8) is, notched for the purpose of receiving the two wicks
which have been passed through the fixed plate b, and of keeping the wicks at
a given distance apart. By fitting these plates m on a rocking axle, a free
passage is made through the several sets of moulds for the passage of the
needles by which the wicks are drawn into the moulds, as the guide plates
will yield to the thrust of the needles, and when they have passed will severally
rise to their former position, maintaining the wicks in their required position,
as already indicated. The form of needle used for threading in two wicks
simultaneously is shewn at Figs. 9. The wicks are in this instance drawn
from reels, as shewn at Figs. 5 and 6, and are held in tension by the notched
plates k and k*, as before described. In this instance, instead of using but
one needle for threading in the wicks, I find it advisable to employ as many
needles as there are pairs of notches in one dividing plate, and at the lower
end of the frame a, a, I apply a pair of pincers or nippers for laying hold of
the ends of the needles, and drawing them out simultaneously from the moulds.
These pincers are formed of two plates, as shewn at Figs. 10 and 11, which
are capable of sliding the one over the other. These plates are furnished
with slots, which correspond when the plates are in the position shewn at
Fig. 10 to allow of the ready insertion into them of the end of the needles,
but will ensure the retention of the needles when the relative positions of the
plates are changed as shewn at Fig. 11. The needles, being laid hold of by
this or analogous means, are simultaneously drawn out of the moulds, and the
wicks are sustained therein in their proper position by the dividing plates m, m,
assuming their vertical position.
In the manufacture of three-wick candles I employ a modification of this
apparatus, the design of which is to yield to the forward thrust of the needles,
and to preserve the relative positions of the wicks when inserted in the mould
pipes. Figs. 12 and 13 represent the contrivance adopted for this purpose;
Fig. 12 being a side view, and Fig. 13 an elevation at right angles thereto.
Affixed to a weighted rod or axis n are dividing pieces m, m, which stand up
in front of the openings in the plate b, through which the wicks are passed, and
have a vertical slot in their upper end, and are.otherwise shaped as shewn at
Fig. 13.
Connected to an arm of the axle n by a link o is an axle n*, which
carries a series of fingers m* corresponding in number to the dividing
plates m, and fitting into the vertical slots of those plates, but so as to leave a
space between the end of the finger and the bottom of the slot. By this
arrangement the holes in the plate 6 of the troughfare only partially covered,

page_text: three openings being left all equidistant from each other and from a common
centre. By means of the counterbalance weight on the arm of the axle n, a
tendency is given to the parts m and m* to lie close against the plate b. On
the insertion of the needles, which are provided with three hooks for holding
three wicks, as shewn at Figs. 14, the dividing pieces m and m will turn on
their axles, and allow of the needles passing through the several lines of
moulds, as above explained: But immediately the needles have been drawn
out of the moulds by the pincers or clipping plates, the dividing plates will
assume their former position, and preserve the wicks which have been drawn
into the moulds in their required relative positions. When manufacturing
four-wick candles I use the arrangement shewn in front view at Figs. 15
and 16 for maintaining the proper relative positions of the wicks. This
apparatus consists of slotted swing plates m, which are affixed to a rocking
axle n, weighted in the manner and for the purpose already explained, and also
a. slotted sliding plate m*. These plates have a simultaneous action, and are
intended to partially cover the holes in the plate b, through which the needles are
passed, leaving four openings equidistant from each other and from a common
centre, in which the wicks are securely held. The fifth or central hole is filled
with semi-solid fat or other like material. The plate m is furnished with a
guide bar p into a notch, of which a portion of a propelling worm or screw q,
mounted on the rocking axle, takes for the purpose of transmitting motion from
that shaft to the sliding plate m*, and effecting the simultaneous movement
of the plates m, m, and m*. In order to permit of the operation of threading
the wicks into the moulds, the wick dividing apparatus is brought into the
position shewn at Fig. 15, whereby a free passage is made for the insertion of
the needles into the moulds. When the needles (which I prefer to make of
the form shewn at Figs. 17) have been properly charged with wicks, and
passed into the moulds, I then withdraw them by means of the apparatus
shewn at Figs. 10 and 11, and the dividing plates will close upon the wicks by
taking up the position shewn at Fig. 16.
Having now described my Invention, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent I claim as of my improvements in the manufacture of
candles,
First, the treating or preparing of plaited candle wick as above described,
and also the apparatus above shewn and described for carrying out such modes
of treatment.
And, secondly, I claim the mode of manufacturing candles having two or

page_text: more wicks, as above described, and particularly the means above shewn and
described for sustaining the wicks in the candle moulds or mould. pipes..
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Graham William Wagstaff,
havo hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
(L.S.) H. G. W. WAGSTAFF.
AND BE. IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of July, in the
year of our Lord 1852, the aforesaid. Henry Grahani William Wagstaff
came before our said Lady the. Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the. Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fiftic twis