AN IMPROVED NIGHT LAMP CLOCK
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS' PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the firm of Hughes &
Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, W. C., for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED NIGHT LAMP CLOCK."-A communication
from abroad, by Louis Montanari, of Lyons, in the Empire of France..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th June 1859.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents,
123, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED NIGHT LAMP CLOCK," a communication to me
from abroad, by Louis Montanari, of Lyons, in the Empire of France, to be
as follows:-
On a base or foot step is placed a cylindrical vessel similar to a candlestick,
with a vertical slot in it, on which is placed a perforated cup or vessel, move-
able at pleasure; inside the said cylinder is placed a glass tube, having a
graduated scale upon it in a groove. This glass tube contains the necessary
wick and oil, the wick being made of an equal substance, expressly for the
purpose. The consumption of oil will always be regular, so that by watching
the consumption by the gratuated scale, it will indicate the time it has been
burning. Another vessel may be placed on the top of the cup, which being

page_text: over the light, will be useful to warm any liquid that may be desired. It is
evident that this apparatus will be very useful in the sick or nursing chamber,
and can be used as a time-piece, night light, warming vessel, and a candle-
stick.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Thomas Hughes, in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th December 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the firm of Hughes & Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery
Lane, London, W. C., send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Thomas Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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 "AN IMPROVED NIGHT LAMP CLOCK," a communication from abroad, by
Louis Montanari, of Lyons, in the Empire of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
I employ a holder of any suitable design or material, having, when desired,
a handle for the convenience of moving it, and a base or footstep for the

page_text: purpose of keeping it steady. The holder may be cylindrical or of any other
form, but in the side there is a rectangular opening, in order to be able to
examine the interior. Within the holder is placed a lamp consisting of a
glass tube or vessel for containing the oil, on which is floated a wick holder of
porcelain or other suitable material, supplied with a wick of an even or equal
substance made expressly for the purpose, so that a certain depth of oil will
be consumed in a certain interval of time, the lapse of which is indicated by
painting or fixing on the exterior of the tube a graduated scale or horological
table, having a number of horizontal spaces, each corresponding with the.
depth of oil consumed in an hour, so that when the oil has descended from
one line to the next, one hour of time has elapsed, and so on for a consecutivo
number of hours. The graduated scale on the exterior of the glass tube may
be made of any desired width, but I prefer it to occupy one third of the cir-
cumference, another third being clear in order that the lamp may give light,
and the other third opaque, so as to cause darkness; the said distances corre-
sponding with the rectangular space in the lamp holder. It is evident that
the lamp can be employed for beating any liquid or mixture by placing upon
the top of the holder a cup or frame to support the vessel containing the
liquid. These improvements will be clearly understood by referring to the
figures and letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1
is a section of the glass tube or vessel for containing the oil, with its wick
holder and wick; Fig. 2, a plan of the same; Fig. 3, an external view of the
glass tube, having a graduated scale or horological table on its exterior;
Fig. 4, an external view of the lamp holder, shewing the rectangular opening
to expose the scale; and Fig. 5, the same holder in another position, but sup-
porting a cup or frame to hold a teapot or warmer. The glass tube or vessel
is supplied with oil to the level of the line a, corresponding with the line of
the scale above the Figure 7 in the first vertical line of figures, so that when
the said vertical line is placed in contact with one of the vertical edges of the
rectangular opening of the lamp holder, the gradual decrease of the oil as it is
consumed can be noted, and when its level has descended to the line above the
Figure 8, one hour has elapsed, and so on for each successive hour. The
other columns of figures on the scale are for adapting the lamp to different
hours of commencement, thus, when the lamp is lit at 8 o'clock, the second
column is used; when at 9 o'clock, the third column, and so on. The
graduated scale is calculated for the consumption of olive oil of the best
quality. If inferior oil is used the scale must be adjusted according to the
quality. The notch b, in the glass tube fits a projection on the cup or frame c,
see Fig. 5, so that the tube may be turned to any position, either for noting

page_text: the time of night or for turning the opaque or luminous division to the opening
of the lamp holder. If any correction should be required, it will be found
that by forcing the wick more or less into the wick holder, the consumption
of oil will be regulated. By thus combining a night clock with a night light,
an important feature is added to the comfort of invalids.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of the said Invention,
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I would have it distinctly
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details as herein described;
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the principle
thereof; but I claim the general arrangement, construction, and combination
of apparatus for a night clock and night light, as herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifthteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Edward Thomas Hughes in the
presence of
JULES MULOT.