CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-LIGHTERS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Whittaker and William Poole, both
of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
Sealed the 20th December 1875, and dated the 22nd June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Whittaker and
William Poole at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 22nd June 1875.
We, THOMAS WHITTAKER and WILLIAM POOLE, both of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-LIGHTERS,'
to be as follows:—
"
The Invention is designed for the purpose of manufacturing a novel
description of fuel igniter, which in some cases will also serve as a
temporary fire for boiling, cooking, or heating purposes.
The improvement consists, first, in producing in a rough length of
wood having by preference a square or oblong section, a number of deep
grooves or recesses cut by means of saws or grooving tools streight or
diagonally at right angles with each other. The rough length of wood
when so grooved or recessed forms one combined length, which is thẹn

page_text: cut up into squares or blocks, each one of which will contain a number
of the said grooves or air spaces. Each combined square or block con-
taining a number of projecting splints or lengths of wood is then dipped
in liquid rosin or other suitable inflammable material.
The interstices or grooves between the splints or lengths of wood in 5
each square or block form thoroughfares or channels for the passage of
air, which when the block is ignited enables it to emit great heat, and
burn with facility until consumed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Whittaker and William Poole in the Great 1
Seal Patent Office on the 22nd December 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, THOMAS
WHITTAKER and WILLIAM POOLE, both of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Thomas Whittaker and William Poole,
Her special licence that we, the said Thomas Whittaker and William
Poole, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said Thomas Whittaker and William Poole, our executors, ad-
ministrators, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-LIGHTERS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Thomas Whittaker and William Poole, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Thomas Whittaker and William
Poole, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :—
:
The Invention is designed for the purpose of manufacturing a novel
description of fuel igniter, which in some cases will also serve as a
temporary fire for boiling, cooking, or heating purposes.
•
The improvements consist, first, in producing in a rough length of
wood having by preference a square or oblong section (but which may
also partake of a circular or sphereoidal formation), a number of deep
grooves or recesses out therein by means of saws or grooving tools
which will have a straight or diagonal direction across the wood in
two ways or courses at right angles to each other. The rough piece or
pieces of wood so grooved or recessed when made in lengths are cut up
or broken off into squares or blocks, each one of which will contain a
number of the said grooves or air spaces divided by the projecting
splints. Each combined square or block containing a number of these
splints or lengths of wood is then boiled, "stewed," or immersed in liquid
rosin or other equally suitable inflammable material. Each piece so
immersed is allowed to remain in the hot liquor until thoroughly
permeated therewith, which gives them when dry the quality of great
inflammability.

page_text: shorter lengths. These recesses when cut in both directions convert
the wood into a number of splints, which are kept in position, as shewn,
by reason of the wood not being cut through. This combined length
when cut or divided (at the deeper grooves before mentioned) into
narrower or smaller .lengths or pieces similar to that shewn at A
is immersed in boiling rosin and stewed therein until thoroughly
saturated therewith.
The interstices or grooves between the splints or lengths of wood in
each square or block form thoroughfares or channels for the passage of
'air, which when the block is ignited, aided by the inflammable nature
of the wood, causes it to emit intense heat and burn with facility until
consumed.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, together with
the method of carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to be
particularly understood in conclusion that we do not wish to confine :
ourselves to the exact and precise shape or formation of block shewn,
as the same may partake of other forms or configurations; but what
we wish to claim as new and as of our Invention is, forming lengths
or pieces of wood into combined splints, and thoroughly permeating the
same with boiling rosin in the manner and for the purpose as herein-
before substantially described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the
Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Whittaker and William
Poole, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
day
of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight.
hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
G. A. M. FORSTER,
3, Bond Street,
Manchester,
Commission Agent.
THOʻ. WHITTAKER. (L.S.)
W". POOLE.
(L.S.)