IMPROVEMENTS IN WICK-HOLDERS FOR LAMPS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Defries, of the Firm of Jonas Defries and
Sons, of Houndsditch, in the City of London, Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WICK-HOLDERS FOR LAMPS."- A commu-
nication from abroad by Joseph Van Gelder, of Paris, in the Empire of.
France.
Sealed the 8th November 1864, and dated the 20th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Defries at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th May
1864.
I, HENRY DEFRIES, of the Firm of Jonas Defries and Sons, of Houndsditch,
in the City of London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WICK-HOLDERS FOR LAMPS," (a communi-
cation to me from abroad from Joseph Van Gelder, Paris, France, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to arrangements for supporting and elevating the
wick in lamps burning light or heavy oils, and consists,-
Firstly, of a metal ring supported by a semicircular plate, on the exterior
of which is a second plate of similar shape, one of the sides or edges of.
which is attached to the first plate by one or more hinges upon which it pivots,
like a door, and on the exterior of which second plate is fitted a rack, such as is.
usually used for elevating wick-holders by means of a pinion suitably placed.
ir the burner. When the wick is to be fitted on to the holder the outer plate.

page_text: is made to pivot on its hinge or hinges, and come away from the inner one
carrying the ring, the wick is then passed on to the ring and down the inner
plate, the outer plate is then made to pivot back on to the wick, which it
presses against the inner plate, and the ring being passed over the central tube
of the lamp and the rack into a guide on the burner the wick may be raised
and lowered at pleasure. Both the inner and outer plates or either of them
may be perforated to carry off any excess of oil.
Secondly, of a tube, having on its exterior a semicircular plate extending
along the tube in its entire or part of its length, attached thereto by a hinge
at its bottom, and having on its exterior an ordinary rack, which may however
be more solidly fixed than usual, inasmuch as it may be fastened to the semi-
circular plate in its entire length. The semicircular plate being made to pivot
on its hinge downwards from the tube, the wick is passed on to this latter, the
plate is then brought up again, pressing the wick against the tube, which is
passed over the central tube of the lamp, and the rack being in gear with the
pinion suitably placed in the burner, the wick may be raised and lowered.
The wick-holder last described is more especially intended for those lamps.
known as moderators; but both these wick-holders may be adapted to oil
lamps of every description.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Defries, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
DEFRIES, of the Firm of Jonas Defries and Sons, of Houndsditch, in the
City of London, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Henry Defries, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Defries,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Defries, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-

page_text: MENTS IN WICK-HOLDERS FOR LAMPS," (a communication to me from abroad by
Joseph Van Gelder, of Paris, in the Empire of France,) upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Defries, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, 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 in 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 Henry Defries, do hereby 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 fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Draw-
ing forming part of this Specification. Figure 1 being a sectional elevation
of part of a lamp with wick and wick-holder in position; Figures 2 and 3,.
back and front view of wick-holder detached and open; and Figures 4 and 5
same closed.
This Invention consists in two arrangements for supporting and elevating
the wick in lamps burning light or heavy oils, and their object is to facilitato
the placing of the wick in the lamp and its removal in order to trim it and
raise the quantity of wick required for consumption.
The first arrangement consists of a metal ring a supported by a semicircular
plate 6, on the exterior of which is a second plate of similar shape c, one of
the sides or edges of which is attached to the first plate by one or more hinges
d, upon which it pivots like a door, and on the exterior of this second plate is
fitted a rack e such as is usually used for elevating wick-holders by means
of a pinion suitably placed in the burner. When the wick is to be fitted
on to the holder the outer plate c is made to pivot on its hinge or hinges, and
come away from the inner one 6 (see Figures 2 and 3); the wick is then
passed on to the ring a and down the inner plate, the outer plate is then
made to pivot back on to the wick, which it presses against the inner
plate, and the ring being passed over the central or air tube f (Figure 1) of
the lamp and the rack into a guide on the burner the wick may be raised and
lowered at pleasure. Both the inner and outer plates or either of them may
be perforated or cut out as at g to carry off any excess of oil.
The second arrangement consists of a tube having on its exterior a semi-
circular plate extending along the tube in its entire or part of its length
attached thereto by a hinge at its bottom, and having on its exterior an ordi-
nary rack, which may however be more solidly fixed than usual, inasmuch

page_text: as it may be fastened to the semicircular plate in its entire length. The
semicircular plate being made to pivot on its hinge downwards from the tube,
the wick is passed on to this latter, the plate is then brought up again, pressing
the wick against the tube, which is passed over the central tube of the lamp,
and the rack being in gear with the pinion suitably placed in the burner, the
wick may be raised and lowered at pleasure. The wick-holder last described
is more especially intended for those lamps known as moderators; but both
these wick-holders may be adapted to oil lamps of every description.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the means by
which it is carried into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the precise details herein given, as such may be modified
without departure from this Invention, but what I claim is the binging of
the plate c on to the plate b, and herein-before described and shewn on the
annexed Drawing as regards the first arrangement or as described in reference
to the second arrangement.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Defries, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
HENRY DEFRIES. (L.S.)