Improvements in the Manufacture of Fire-kindlers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 31st May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Fire-kindlers.
MARTHA LOUISA HOWELLS of Pembroke House Conway Road Canton Cardiff in
the County of Glamorgan, Manufacturer of Firelighters do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention refers to the manufacture of firelighters in the composition of which
sawdust forms the body of the substance; such composition is formed of sawdust and
resinous matter by which a solid is produced and the requirements of a firelighter in
some measure effected; and its objects are the removal of the objections present in the
existing processes and the introduction of certain desirable results that are absent in
all other firelighters; to these ends I mix together, in proportions which I have
discovered to satisfactorily produce the necessary composition, the following ingredients
vi. Sawdust, tar, resin, royal daylight petroleum oil, and ground nitre.
The proportion of resin which I put is sufficient to give the whole a firm and solid
form I put sufficient tar to saturate the particles of sawdust & render them susceptible
to the other ingredients; the proportion of petroleum oil is that proportion which I
have found to permeate the substance to such a degree that in burning it will give off
a hot & consuming flame without leading to dangerous results; and the nitre which I
blend is for the purpose of promoting regular and complete combustion and I include
a quantity which I have found suitable for that purpose.
I heat these ingredients to a degree sufficient to produce assimilation and I apply
the petroleum oil at a point at which explosion will not take place.
Whilst the heat is great enough to produce adhesion I put the composition into
moulds and subject it to pressure sufficient to compress it into a firm and solid mass
by which process the burning propensities are rendered more slow regular &
gradual.
And another part of my invention is that whilst it is capable of giving off gas at so
small a temperature as to be ignitable direct from an ordinary match, it will neverthe-
less produce heat and flame sufficient & for so long a period that without the interven-
tion of paper or wood, a fire of coal or coke in an ordinary firegrate may be kindled
by one firelighter produced by the process of my invention at a cost so low as to
permit of such firelighters being sold to the public at a retail price of one penny for
three.
These effects obtainable at so small a cost are the result of the specific quantities in
the admixture and the particular process of assimilation which I have discovered.
11: 504h Jase of 1800
MARTHA LOUISA HOWELLS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Fire-kindlers.
I, MARTHA LOUISA HOWELLS of Pembroke House Conway Road Canton, Cardiff in
the County of Glamorgan, Manufacturer of Firelighters do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention refers to the manufacture of firekindlers in the composition of which
sawdust forms the body of the substance such composition is formed of sawdust and
resinous matter by which a solid is produced and the requirements of a firekindler in
some measure effected; and the objects attained by my invention are the removal of

page_text: the objections present in the existing processes and the introduction of certain desirable
results that are absent in all other firekindlers.
To these ends I mix together in proportions which I have discovered to satisfactorily
produce the necessary composition these ingredients viz. :-Sawdust, tar, resin, royal
daylight petroleum oil, and ground uitre in the quantities herein described.
For the purpose of lucidity in demonstration of the mode of blending and the
specific proportions of the particular ingredients employed, reference is here made to
the manufacture of 40 firelighters as a given quantity and the proportions and other
particulars hereinafter indicated are those which I employ in the manufacture of that
given quantity. The specific proportions which I employ in the manufacture of that
given quantity of firekindlers are as follows:-Sawdust 34 lb. tar 13 oz. resin 3 lb.
royal daylight petroleum oil 34 oz., and ground nitre oz.
This proportion of resin I find to be sufficient to give the whole a firm & solid form
and this proportion of tar suflicient to saturate the particles of sawdust and render
them susceptible to the incorporation of the other ingredients this proportion of
petroleum have found to be the proper quantity to permeate the substance to such a
degree that in burning it will give off a hot and consuming flame without leading to
dangerous results and the quantity of nitre which I indicate is that which I have found
suitable for the purpose of promoting regular and complete combustion.
The manner of using my invention is as follows:-1 proceed to heat these
ingredients to a degree sufficient to produce assimilation. I put in a galvanized iron
vessel sufficiently large to contain the whole of the ingredients for the given quantity
first of all the specified proportion of resin together with the specified quantity of
ground nitre these melt by placing the vessel upon a heating apparatus and I
keep it there until the resin and nitre are converted into the condition of a fluid.
I then add the specified quantity of tar and heat the whole to 2 degrees above boiling
point. I then add the sawdust at the same time applying a rapid revolving motion by
means of a rod inserted into the mixture for that purpose in order that the various
ingredients may be properly distributed.
I keep it boiling until the general appearance of the body of the mixture has changed
to a black color, I then add the petroleum oil and again apply the revolving motion
with sustained rapidity taking care that the temperature does not rise whilst so doing.
The time necessary for the boiling is not always the same being in a measure influenced
by the state of the weather also by the texture of the sawdust and the quality of the
wood from which it is produced, but the change in color indicating the sufficiency of
boiling is readily apparent to an operator of ordinary experience have generally found
that ten minutes from adding the sawdust is sufficient in which to prepare it for the
woulds.
When the composition has been thoroughly mixed I permit the applied heat to
gradually subside but whilst the retained heat is sufficient to produce adhesion I remove
the composition from the vessel and subject it to a pressure sufficient to condense it
into a firm and solid mass by which process the burning propensities are rendered more
slow regular and gradual. For the purpose of effecting this compression I employ a
frame of moulds or cells into which I remove the composition whilst it is still hot &
having levelled it into the cells I apply a pressure equal to 30 lbs. per cubic inch for the
purpose of condensing it into a solid. The apparatus which I have used for this
purpose is a wooden device in three pieces it consists of a plain level bed upon which I
place a series of longitudinal & transverse divisions of wooden strips joined together
into a frame somewhat in the design of a portcullis, which resting upon the bed forms
a series of cells, around these I place an outer border, frame of wood which binds the
other two pieces in position until the pressure has been applied to the composition &
then may be removed to facilitate the ready displacement of the firekindlers.
The instrument with which I have applied the pressure is an ordinary block of hard
wood the surface of which is cut into sectional blocks fitting into the cells and which
being so placed with the composition between it and the bed of the apparatus is beaten
with a mallet or other suitable implement & so the necessary weight is administered;

page_text: but it is obvious that this compression may be effected by other means of condensation
and I consider that a modification of the ordinary arrangement in use in brick yards
for the pressing of bricks might be made to secure the purpose and there may be other
means of effecting the same ends but to secure the full advantage of my invention it is
absolutely necessary that the composition should be condensed at the relative point of
time herein specified and that the pressure should be applied whilst the heat is
sufficient to produce adhesion.
In the result the firekindlers produced by the process of my invention are capable
of immediate ignition from an ordinary match giving off gas at a low temperature
but nevertheless free from any attribute by reason of which explosion could result
from use in the purpose for which it is intended, they are gradual and durablo in
burning & the flame produced is hot and scorching so that it effectually kindles
without the intervention of wood or paper, a fire of coal in an ordinary firegrate.
Its form too is so portable and concentrated that it is easy of storage & capable of
inexpensive transit to distant parts.
It is superior to all existing firelighters in point of general efficiency and is free
from the several objections which have prevented the more extensive employment of
manufactured kindling material.
In the kindlers made of sawdust and resin in the methods which has hitherto
obtained, the resin creates a tentative flame and concurrently liquefies itself and runs
out upon the bars of the grate discolouring the surface, at the same time leaving much
to be desired in the matter of kindling unless the fuel be of very easy ignition. The
wooden lighters which have under existing methods been treated veneered coated or
saturated with pickle composition or liquid in which any of the ingredients which I
have adopted have been either alone or in conjunction with others, used blended
applied or incorporated have the objections that in the burning such composition or
preparation is liberated in liquid form in greater or less degree as the manner of
application may effect with the additional disadvantage in some that the flame is
for a short period exceedingly fierce & accompanied by a great danger of firing
chimneys in which there may be any corrosion of soot. The chemical compounds
which have hitherto been made into firekindlers have objections in some measure
similar to those I have mentioned and are frequently dangerous in use they generally
give off a temporary flame the effect of which is in a large proportion lost and then
they collapse leaving as residual that portion of its composition which formed the
substance of its body. The effluxions and residuals from these have a discoloring
and in some cases damaging effect upon the firegrate and its surroundings & their use
in drawing rooms and some other places is consequently for the most part prohibited.
None of these objections which I have indicated are present in the lighters produced
by the method of my herein described invention.
The flame is not only durable but regular it is at no period so great as to endanger
the chimneys or other surroundings the moisture which emanates when burning is a
minimum quantity and is perfectly harmless & unobjectionable in effect by reason of
the blending and assimilation to which the various ingredients have been subjected in
the process of manufacture as herein described. The ingredients are rendered totally
consumable so that the residual in every particular is reduced to a minimum. It has
no tendency to collapse or otherwise suffer extinguishment from the pressure or
contact with the fuel to be ignited and its process of manufacture is free from danger
or harmful effects upon the constitution of the persons engaged therein, the fumes
given off by the composition when at heat are not ditrimental to health but on the
contrary are beneficial in some affections of the respiratory organs. One of the forty
firelighters referred to in this specification as a given quantity is of itself sufficient to
kindle au ordinary fire and by the process of my invention herein described is
produced at a cost so low that such firekindlers may be sold to the public at the retail
price of one penny for three.
These effects obtained at so small a cost are produced by the specific quantities of
the ingredients of which the admixture is composed and the particular process of
assimilation which I have discovered.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The combination of the herein described ingredients for the production of a
composition producing a fire kindler capable of ignition from an ordinary match but
of sufficient durability and self contained požency of combustion to effectually kindle
a fire of coal in an ordinary firegrate substantially as described.
2. In the herein described firelighter the application of the particular ingredients
enumerated for the purpose herein assigned in the relative effects arising from each
other and the counteracting tendencies of either for the production of a complete &
efficient composition producing a firekindler capable of ignition from an ordinary
match but of sufficient durability and self contained potency of combustion to
effectually kindle a fire of coal in an ordinary fire-grate substantially as described.
3. In the herein described firekindler the specific quantities proportions, and volumes
of each of the particular ingredients enumerated for the purposes herein assigned in
the relative effects arising from each other and the counteract ng tendencies of either
for the production of a complete and efficient composition producing a firekindler
capable of ignition from an ordinary match but of sufficient durability and self
contained potency of combustion to effectually kindle a fire of coal in an ordinary
firegrate substantially as described.
4. In the herein described firekindler the particular order and process of admixture
of the specific quantities proportions and volumes of each of the particular ingredients
enumerated to effect the due and necessary assimilation for the accurate evolution of
the active principles required for the purpose herein assigned in the relative effects
arising from each other & the counteracting tendencies of either for the production of
a complete and efficient composition producing a firekindler capable of ignition
from an ordinary match but of sufficient durability and self contained potency of
combustion to effectually kindle a fire of coal in an ordinary fire-grate substantially as
described.
5. In the within described firekindler the application of a process of compression
sufficient to render firm and solid the composition herein described by the administra-
tion of such compressing process whilst the composition is in a malleable condition but
whilst it is also retentive of the power of adhesion acquired by reason of the heat to
which it had been subjected in the process of assimilation substantially as described
and by which compression it is formed in a portable and convenient condition and
substance suitable for adaptation to the purpose of kindling.
6. The within described fire-kindler wherein is combined the process of admixture
and assimilation of the herein described ingredients in the specific proportions,
quantities and volumes in the condition and manner herein substantially described
and application of a method of compression whereby the composition herein
substantially described is converted into a firekindler of portability and practical
utility.
I's L
CM 1900