IMPROVEMENTS IN LENSES FOR SHIP, RAILWAY, AND OTHER SIGNAL LAMPS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Haden Richardson, of Tutbury, in
the County of Stafford, Glass Manufacturer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LENSES FOR SHIP, RAILWAY, AND OTHER SIGNAL LAMPS."
Sealed the 10th November 1871, and dated the 13th May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Haden
Richardson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 13th May 1871.
I, JOHN THOMAS HADEN RICHARDSON, of Tutbury, in the County of
Stafford, Glass Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LENSES FOR SHIP, RAILWAY, AND OTHER
SIGNAL LAMPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to the manufacture of lenses for ship,
railway, and other signal lamps, by the use of a glass peculiarly coloured,

page_text: the resultant of the use of colour producing materials, such as carbon
(for instance coal dust) which I mix with the glass during the process
of manufacture; or in substitution for or addition to the carbon I
employ iron and manganese, the glass being then moulded and pressed
into form. If it be desired to change the effect of the peculiar colour
referred to into a more perfect resemblance of the ruby coloured lens now
in use I can stain my peculiar coloured lens manufactured as aforesaid by
the glass staining process. And I can also by the use of the materials
above described produce the peculiar coloured lens aforesaid by such
staining process, lenses so manufactured being capable of transmitting
light to a great distance.
A configuration for the surfaces I prefer to use for ship signal
lamps is on the outside surface composed of curved surfaces which
I term "pillars," and angular surfaces which I term "prisms," as,
for instance, an arrangement consisting of a large curved surface or
pillar extending longitudinally across the centre of the lens, and
having parallel thereto and on each side of the same two or more
smaller curved surfaces or "pillars," with angular surfaces or prisms
between them, that is to say, between each of the two smaller
curved surfaces or "pillars." On the inside of these lenses for ships'
lamps I prefer to form in the centre an oval or circle by means of
indentations, "mitres," or "splits," around which at a short distance
therefrom I form by the means aforesaid a second and larger oval or
circle, and at a short distance from this larger oval or circle I form
also by the same means two or more segments of a third and yet
larger oval or circle. From the central oval or circle I form a number
of radiating lines consisting of indentations, “mitres," or "splits,"
and by means of these several arrangements the power of my lens is
greatly intensified.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Thomas Haden Richardson in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 11th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS HADEN RICHARDSON, of Tutbury, in the County of Stafford,
Glass Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Thomas Haden Richardson, Her
special licence that I, the said John Thomas Haden Richardson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Thomas Haden Richardson, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
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 LENSES FOR SHIP, RAILWAY, AND
SIGNAL LAMPS,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Thomas Haden Richardson, my executors or administrators, 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.
OTHER
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Thomas Haden Richardson,
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 following statement :-
:-
This Invention has reference to the manufacture of lenses for ship,
railway, and other signal lamps by the use of peculiarly coloured glass
the resultant of the use of colour producing materials, such as carbon
(for instance coal or coke dust) which I mix with the glass during the
process of manufacture, the proportions I usually prefer to use being

page_text: sand 140 parts, lime 10 parts, fluor spar 20 parts, soda ash 60 parts,
coal or coke dust 1 part; or in substitution for the carbon I employ
iron and manganese with the above base in proportion suitable to the
heat of the furnace. I also vary the proportions or substitute other
fluxes to meet the heat of the furnace in which the glass is made. The
glass with the above substances incorporated is to be moulded and
pressed into form or blown in the usual way. If it be desired to change
the effect of the peculiar colour referred to into a more perfect resem-
blance of the ruby coloured lens now in use I can stain my peculiar
coloured lens manufactured as aforesaid in the usual way by any suitable
glass staining process. Lenses so manufactured are capable of trans-
mitting light to a great distance.
66
A configuration for the surfaces I prefer to use for ship signal
lamps is on the outside surface composed of curved surfaces which
I term "pillars," and angular surfaces which I term prisms, as, for
instance, an arrangement consisting of a large curved surface or pillar
extending longitudinally across the centre of the lens, and having
parallel thereto and on each side of the same two or more smaller
curved surfaces or 66
pillars" with angular surfaces or prisms between
them, that is to say, between each of the two smaller curved surfaces
or pillars." On the inside of these lenses for ships' lamps I prefer
to form in the centre an oval or circle by means of indentations
mitres," or "splits," around which at a short distance therefrom I
form by the means aforesaid a second and larger oval or circle, and
at a short distance from this larger oval or circle I form also by the
same means two or more segments of a third and yet larger oval or
circle. From the central oval or circle I form a number of radiating
lines consisting of indentations, mitres, or splits, and by means of
these several arrangements the power of my lens is greatly intensified.
66
For railway and other signal lamps I adopt the ordinary forms of
lenses at present in use, but any suitable form may be used if desired.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification illustrate by Fig. 1,
back view, and Fig. 2, sectional view, the form and configuration of
ships' lens aforesaid. A, pillars; B, prisms; C, splits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and;
object of my said Invention, and in what manner the same may be
performed or carried out in practice, I hereby declare that I claim the

page_text: Invention of "Improvements in Lenses for Ship, Railway, and other
Signal Lamps," wherein the production of lenses coloured in either
manner aforesaid, whether for ships' use or for railway purposes, and
the use of the lenses for ships and other purposes as herein described
are the important features."
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Haden Richardson,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-one.
Witness,
JOHN THOMAS HADEN RICHARDSON. (L.S.)
R. B. STEVENS,
Tutbury,
Staffordshire.