CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS, LAMP GLASSES, CANDLES, AND SHADES
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MCGARY; of Hoxton, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman; 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 Sixth day of July, in the tenth year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant unto me, the said William
McGary, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said William McGary, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
McGary, my executors, administrators, 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 expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, excrcise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in
the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS, LAMP GLASSES, CANDLES, AND SHADES;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said William McGary,
should cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her said
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in

page_text: and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and a
Jarge appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William McGary, hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, 'aro fully described in and by the
present Specification thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed; that is to say:-
My Invention consists,-
Firstly, of an improved candle lamp, a sectional elevation of the prin-
cipal portions whereof is given in Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
A' is tho pillar of the lamp. A is the inner tube which holds the candle.
B the stool (shewn separately in Figure 2), which rests by a disc a on a
diameter somewhat less than the inner diameter of the tube on a spiral
spring S. is the candle socket. ca flange which projects from the stem of
the stool a little way beneath the socket 6, and is intended to receive any
grenso which may run down the sides of the candle and over the socket. dis
a disc of nearly the same diameter as A, which serves to intercept such of the
grease as may fall over from c, and prevents it from reaching the spring S.
When the candle has burnt out, and the spring S is in its most expanded
state, as represented in Figure 1, the parts b and c of the stool are both above
the top of the tube A, and the part d is immediately under the top flange I, so
that really access can be had to all these parts in order to free them from any
ndhering grease. C is a waste pan attached to the tube A. A plan of the
lamp on a line drawn through this pan is given in Figure 3. D is a nozzle
piece, of which an elovation and top plan are given separately in Figures
4 and 5, which fits by a bayonet joint on to the tube A at a point a little way
above the bottom of the pan C. The parts of this nozzle piece are three in
number. First, there is an inner tube f, which immediately surrounds the
main tube A; second, an outer tubo g, concentric with the other, which is
turned over at bottom and joined to the inner tube f, so as to close up at
bottom the space between the two tubes; and, third,' a' cone h, which is
bevilled off at the apex, as shown, and comes a little way down over the head
of the inner tube f, and is attached by stays i, i, (see Figure 5) to the outer
tube. The waste from the top of the candle has thus two channels of escape
into the space or recess between the two tubes, one on the insido of the cone
down the space k, and the other on the outside of it down the space l¹. All
risk of the cono becoming fixed with grense when the lamp is out of usc (ns
happens commonly with candle lamps of the ordinary description) is thus
completely obviated. The space between the two tubes ƒ and g may be left

page_text: open at bottom to the pan c, but I prefer having it closed at bottom, so that
on taking off the nozzle all the waste which has collected there may be
removed along with it. F is a moveable glass and shade holder which fits
by the bottom ring m upon the outside of the waste pan C. n is a flanged
ring for supporting the glass chimney G, which is fixed in such a position as
to be about an eighth of an inch below the top of the cone h, and o a flat ring
at top from which rise three angular brackets p, p, p, which support the
shade H. A plan of the ring o and brackets p is given separately in Figure 6.
The spaces between the brackets are of such width as to allow the glass
chimney to be slipped casily in between them and then passed down through
the ring. The chimnoy glass is of the peculiar form shewn in Figure 1,
which I find better calculated to ensure perfect combustion than those in
common use.
Secondly, my Invention consists in the modification of the candle lamp last
herein-before described, which is represented in Figure 1 of the Drawings
hereunto annexed. The cone of the nozzle pieco D, instead of being distinct
from the outer tube g, and placed at a little distance from it, forms in this
modification a mere continuation of that tube, and may be cast or otherwise
made in the same piece with it; and instead of being levelled off at top it is of
the exact form of a cone from the base to the apex. No passage is thus left for
the escape of the waste by the outside of the cone into the interior; but to
make up for the want of this the apex of the cone is surrounded by a small
gallery G, of the peculiar form separately shewn in plan in Figure 2ª, which
catches any waste thrown out from the candle, and projects it downward
through the open space v, in the floor of the gallery, into the receiving space
between the outer and inner tubes f and g. In all other respects this lamp is
the same as that first herein-before described.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of a candle lamp of the class called "mid-
size lamps," which is constructed in the manner represented in Figures 7, 8, 9
aud 10. A is the pillar, A the candle tube, and S the spring, all as before.
B is the stool, a section of which is given separately in Figure 8; 6 is a pan
or tray of two concentric compartments c¹ and c, the inner one of which, c',
serves as a socket for the candle, and the outer as a receptacle for waste. The
periphery of the inner compartment c is perforated with several small
holes h, h, so that as the candle burns to the bottom and heats the grease
in the outer compartment the melted grease flows in through these holes
and becomes consumed. D is a nozzle piece, shewn separately in section in
Figure 9, which fits by a bayonet joint on the top of the candle tube A. The
cone is in this case made much shorter than in the lamp first herein-before

page_text: described, and the orifice in the apex for the wick is surrounded by a pan i for
the reception of waste, from which, as the candle burns out, it flows into the
interior of the nozzle. E is a glass holder, which consists of a short perforated
metal cylinder soldered to a flat circular ring by which it rests on the top of
the pillar A. The glass G is supported on pins affixed to the inside of the
perforated cylinder. The air necessary to combustion is supplied to the candle
thongli the apertures in the cylinder.
. Fourthly, my Invention consists of an improved chamber oil lamp, constructed
in the manner represented in Figures 11, 12, 18, and 14 of the annexed
Drawings. A is the basement or stand. Ba reservoir for oil formed of two
concentric cylinders 6, 6, closed at top and bottom. C is a tube (Figure 12)
which fits loosely into the inner cylinder 3, and rests by a broad flange c on the
top of the reservoir B. The inner cylinder is perforated below the linea, =,
with a number of holes which admits the oil to flow freely from the reservoir B
into the lower part of the tube C. D is a small bucket (Figure 13) for
containing the oil and the wick holder F (Figure 14). It is placed within
the tube C and is supported at the top of it when the lamp is burning by
means of a projecting pin d, which passes through a straight and open
groove in the surrounding tube C, and then into a curved or spiral groove g
on the inner face of the cylinder &, which prevents its descent down tho
straight groove. To fill this bucket with oil as wanted it is lowered and
raised to and from the bottom of the tubo C, which communicates at bottom,
as before mentioned, with the reservoir B, first by turning the tube Ċ round
by means of the handle G in a direction coinciding with the line of descent of
the spiral groove 9, which causes the pin d to descend that groove and carry
the bucket along with it, and then by turning the tube round the reverse way,
which producing a reverse action of the pin, raises the bucket again to the
top. The bucket requires to be filled once only every eight hours when a
good wax wick is used, and the reservoir will contain oil enough for a week's
use. L, L, L, are supports for the glass chimney.
Fifthly, my Invention consists in forming candles of the shape of an
inverted frustrum of a conc, that is to say, with the baso or broad end of the
frustrum uppermost, as represented in Figures 15. I find that candles of this
form burn brighter and with less waste than those of other forms, and when
used in lamps they are attended with this further advantage, that they diminish
in weight by burning in a constantly decreasing ratio, inch for inch, while the
force or upward pressure of the spring is diminishing in precisely the sama
ratio. I cast these candles in moulds of the form shewn in an elevation, partly
in section, of a set of these moulds given in Figure 16. Each mould is in

page_text: two pieces, A and B, the picce A forming tho head of the candle, and the
piece. B. the body of it, and the whole of the pieces B are connected together
by one frame. piece C, so that when the process of casting bas been finished
thoy may be all detached at once, and the removal of the candles be thereby.
facilitated.
Sixthly, my Invention consists in giving two different sets of ornamental
forms to candles, first of a polygonal form, as quadrangular, pentagonal,
sexagonal, or octagonal (as shewn in Figures 17 and 18), but preferring the.
sexagonal because of its packing better than any other; and second, fluted:
or reeded form, as shewn in Figures 19 and 20. These candles may be.
formed round near the bottom for sake of suiting the better the present
ordinary shape of candlesticks, and the bottom may also be made of larger
dimensions than the body of the candle, and have ornaments given to it of a
distinct character from the body, as exemplified in Figures 19 and 20, taking
care always that the ornament be such that none of the parts ever reach
beyond the perpendicular line, or that in which the candles are lifted out of
the moulds. And any of those ornamental forms may be given to candles
whether they are formed as usual of one thickness throughout or made of a.
conical shape, as described under the preceding head of this Specification.
Seventhly, my Invention consists in forming fluted or reeded shades for
lamps and other purposes of a hemispherical, polygonal, or other curved or
straight line shape in entire pieces, without any gores or joinings. I make
these shades out of flat picces of paper or cloth, or other suitable material, by
compressing them into the desired shapes, by means of a machine or machines.
such as I shall next proceed to describe.
Figure 21 is a sectional elevation of a machine adapted to the production
of hemispherical shades, the section being taken in a vertical line through
the centre of the machine. A, A, is a framework of wood. or other suitable
material. B, a metal socket securely fixed to the cross piece A¹ of the frame-
work A, A. F is a block of a dome shape, such as is intended to be given. to
the shade, which has a number of grooves or flutes cut upon its surface in
right lines from the apex to the base; it is mounted upon an upright spindle
G, which is accurately fitted in bearings H, HI, attached to the framework.
On one side of this spindle there. is a rack by which it can be, raised or
lowered at pleasure by means of a small pinion fixed on the end of the
spindle I. The upper end of the upright spindle G fits into the socket B,
whereby the block is kept in its proper position. C, C, are a series of levers
attached to the socket B by a pin of wire a, a, which passes through the

page_text: upper ends, and serves as a common axis to the entire series. To these
levers there is connected by links E, E, a corresponding number of jacks
D, D, the under edges of which are formed so as to fit exactly into the
grooves of the block F. K, K, is a circle or ring, suspended from, the frame-
work by the four cords or chains L, L, (two only of which are seen in the
Drawing) which are carried over the small pulleys M, M, to the lower part
of the frame, where they are attached to a treadle. N is a circular disc of
metal, with a single tooth cut upon its periphery in the manner more clearly.
represented in the separate Figures 22 and 23, of which Figure 22 is a plan and
Figure 39 an elevation. Upon its upper side it has attached to it a small
bevil wheel Q, which takes into another bevel wheel P fixed upon the shaft
Q. The manner of using the machine is as follows:-The block F is first
lowered down until the upper end of the upright spindle G is some distanco
clear of the bottom of the socket 13; a circular piece of paper or other suitable
material is then laid upon the block F, the jacks having all previous to this
been raised up by means of the ring K, K, and the treadle attached to the
cords L, L, to such a height as to bring the part c, c, of the levers C, C, within
the range of the action of the disc N, which when turned takes up each of
the levers C, C, separately as the tooth v of the disc N successively passes
under the bent pieces c, c, of the levers. In order that these bent pieces
c, c, may more readily run upon the upper surface of the disc they are pro-
vided with small friction pulleys. The whole of the levers C, C, and conse-
quently the jacks D, D, are now to be considered as resting upon and sup-
ported by the disc. The ring K, K, is then lowered down until it arrives at.
such a height that it shall form a stop for the levers C, C, when they are
allowed to fall down. The block F is next to be raised up until its apex
comes in close contact with the socket B. The disc N is now gradually
turnod round by turning the handlo R, when the levers C, C, and their corre-
sponding jacks fall down one at a time as liberated from the disc, cach jack
coming over its corresponding groove upon the block F, whereby the thin
paper, cluth, or other substance used for forming the lamp shade becomes
pressed into the grooves and partakes of the form of the block. The process,
in so far as regards the form to be given to the lamp shade, is now completed.
In the machine which has been just described the block F is represented as of
a hemispherical shape, but it might be of any curved or straight line figure;
instead also of the flutes or grooves on the surface of the block being
parrallel to its axis they might be cut in a spiral direction, provided always that
the jacks are made to correspond to these lines in shape.

page_text: Figure 24 is a sectional clevation of another machine, which more
especially applicable to the forming and compressing of such lamp shades as
are made of woven silk, paper, or other such light fabrics. A is the
compressing block, the surface of which is grooved or reeded in lines
commencing at the apex, where they are small, but gradually encreasing
in size towards their termination at the base. It is affixed to a cross.
frame B, B, at the top of the machine, which is connected by four rods
C, C, (two only of which are seen in the Drawing, to another cross frame
D, D, at the lower part of the machine, which latter frame is securely
affixed to the upright spindle E, which has a bearing in the cross piece F of
the stationary framework G, G, of the machine. This spindle E is inserted
into a rectangular bearing in the cross piece F, being free to move up and
down within certain limits, but not to turn round. His a pinion which takes
into a rack formed on one side of the spindle E, and which by a crank handle
affixed upon its shaft is the means whereby an upward or downward motion
may be communicated to the spindle E, the frames D, D, and B, B, and tho.
block A. I is another cross frame forming the top of the machine, through
which a rod K, affixed to the block A, is passed, and acts as a guide to the
block A in its ascent or descent. It is still further guided by the side rods
L, L, against which the ends of the cross frame B, B, are made to slide.
M, M, is a heavy ring of metal, to which the cords a, a, are connected by.
means of the screws b, b, the nuts c, c, and the helical springs d, d. The cords
a, a, are carried in an upward direction, and suspend the ring M, M; they are
passed over a series of pulleys e, e, towards the central part, of the machine,
where they are joined to a ring N, common to the whole series. The length
of the cords a, a, are so regulated by means of the screws b, b, and the nuts c, c,
that the centre of the ring N shall exactly coincide with the pin o in the apex
of the compressing block A. f.f, are two of another series of pulleys, the
number of which, as also that of the series of pulleys e, e, exactly corresponds with
the number of cords a, a, and the number of flutes or reeds upon the block A.
Both the sets of pulleys e, e, and f, f, are supported from the cross piece G' of
the frame G, G, by the upright rods P, P, and Q, Q, to the top of which thero
are attached the rings P1, P¹ and Q, Q, upon which the axles of the pulleys
are fixed..The manner of using this machine is as follows:-All the parts being
in the position represented in the Drawing, a circular piece of the material
used for forming the lamp shade is laid upon the upper surface of the cords a, a
(this piece of material may have been previously damped or not, according as
the nature of the fabric may require); the compressing block A is now brought

page_text: down by turning the crank handle placed upon the spindle of the pinion II, which
forces the paper, &c. down upon the cords a; a; but as the heavy frame M, M,
is free to rise up, the cords a, a, gradually sink down before the block A and
give the desired form to the lamp shade, which may then be removed from the
machine either before it is dried or not, according as the material used will
admit of its being so treated. When the shade so far formed is taken from
the machine the lower edge is stiffened by a ring of wire covered over by a
band of paper.
•
And eighthly, my Invention consists. in the employment in lamps of a flame
spreader, or button made of porcelain or fused tale. It may be, of any suitable
form, but I prefer making it of the shape of an inverted conc.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention in the different
parts of which the same consists, I declare that what I claim is as follows:-
First, I claim the improved candle lamp firstly herein-before described in
the general combination of parts of which the same consists, that is to say, in
so far as regards the stool with under flange,, the nozzle piece, the glass; and
sbade holder and the glass lamp, and the new combination of things, partly old
and partly new, of which they form a part.
Second, I claim the modification of the said nozzle piece secondly herein-
before described.
Third, claim the employment in candle lamps, whether of the improved
forms comprehended, under this Patent, or of any other form, of the said stool
with under flange, the nozzle (of both varieties) and the glass and shade holder,
all or any of then.
Fourth, I claim the employment in candlo lamps of a stool and nozzle piece
of the peculiar forms respectively described under the third head of this
Specification.
Fifth, I claim the improved chamber oil lamp before described, in so far as
regards the peculiar system of action by which the bucket is lowered and
raised in order to its being supplied with oil.
Sixth, I claim the manufacture of candles of a conical shape, as before
described.
Seventh, I claim the manufacture of candles of the two sets of ornamental
forms before described, namely the polygonal and the fluted or reeded.
Eighth, I claim the forming of fluted or reeded shades for lamps and other
purposes, of a hemispherical, polygonal, or other curved or straight line
form in entire picces, without any gores or other joinings, by means of the
machines, and in manner before described.

page_text: And ninth, I claim the employment in lamps of flame spreaders, or buttons
made of porcelain or fused talc.
In witness whereof, I, the said William McGary, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
(L.B.)
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that the Instrument aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year of the reign of
His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Sixth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-seven.