Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted. 23rd Nov., 1888
We JAMES PAIN of the firm of J. Pain & Sons Pyrotechnist and ALFRED ALBERT
CRAIG Foreman to the said firm both of 9 St. Mary. Axe in the City of London do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in fireworks and in signal lights of the
character described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to the said James
Pain and dated the 18th February 1873 No. 600 the cases and caps or covers of such
signal lights having heretofore usually been made of paper.
Now according to one part of our present improvements we find it advantageous to
make the cases and caps of such signal lights of metal (advantageously zinc) by which
means these signal lights can be made with greater accuracy and are thus made
waterproof.
Another part of our improvements consists in the method of applying a screw cap
or caps to the igniting end of such signal lights.
The method which we find most advantageous of arranging and applying screw
caps to the igniting end of signal lights in accordance with our improvements consists
in forming the igniting end of the metal case with a screw thread to receive the end
of a tubular screw cap which not only serves to protect the end of the combustible
composition and igniting substance but also serves to ignite the signal its outer end
being coated with a chemical composition which on removal of this cap from the end
of the signal can be applied to the igniting composition on the end of the charge the
chemical action of the two compositions when brought into contact causing the same
to ignite as in the Bryant & May and other well known safety matches. Over the
screw cap previously described another shorter screw cap is applied in order to protect
the igniting composition on the end of the other screw cap.
When the signal light is required for use the outer screw cap is removed and
thrown away the other screw cap is then removed and the composition on its outer
end applied to the igniting composition on the end of the charge by which means the
signal light is ignited.

page_text: Other suitable means of igniting the charge may be employed if desired.
Another method of attaching or securing the outer cap on the end of the signal is
by fixing a piece of tape over it with the ends passing down the opposite sides of the
signal and securing them thereto by a band or otherwise. The cap (which is shallow)
may be readily removed by taking hold of one end of the tape and pulling it smartly
towards the cap thus breaking the band or other fastening which holds it, the tape
thus acting to remove or detach the cover or cap from the end of the screw cap which
is then employed to ignite the signal as previously described.
In place of applying the igniting composition to the screw cap as previously
described the screw cap may simply serve as a protecting cover to the charge
provided as before with igniting composition on its outer end-the other part of the
igniting composition being applied to the end of a plug inserted in the handle of the
signal light so that when the screw cap is removed the plug is drawn out of its socket
and the chemically prepared end applied to the igniting composition on the end of
the combustible composition in order to ignite the same.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signal Lights or other Fireworks for Use at Sea
or elsewhere.
We JAMES PAIN of the firm of J. Pain & Sons Pyrotechnists and ALFRED ALBERT
CRAIG Foreman to the said firm both of 9 St. Mary Axe in the City of London 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in fireworks and in signal lights of the
character described in the specification of Letters Patent granted to the said James
Pain and dated the 18th February 1873 No. 600 the cases and caps or covers of such
signal lights having heretofore usually been made of paper.
According to one part of our present improvements we find it advantageous to
make the cases and cap or caps of such signal lights of suitable easily fusible metal
(advantageously zinc) although such screw caps may also be made of wood paper or
other suitable materials-by which means these signal lights can be made with greater
accuracy and are also thus made waterproof.
Another part of our improvements consists in the method of applying a screw cap
or caps to the igniting end of such signal lights.
And in order that our present invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into practice we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
The method which we find most advantageous of arranging and applying screw caps
to the igniting end of signal lights in accordance with our improvements consists in
forming the igniting end of the metal case with a screw thread as shown to receive
the end of a tubular screw cap b which not only serves to protect the end of the
combustible composition y and igniting substance a Figure 2 but also serves to ignite
the signal its outer end c being coated with a chemical composition which on removal
of this cap from the end of the signal can be applied to the igniting composition a
on the end of the charge the chemical action of the two compositions c and a when
brought into contact causing the same to ignite as in the Bryant and May and other
well known safety matches-Over the screw cap previously described another shorter
screw cap d is applied in order to protect the igniting composition of the other
screw cap.
When the signal light is required for use the outer screw cap d is removed the
other screw cap 6 is then removed and the composition c on its outer end applied to
the igniting composition a on the end of the charge y by which means the signal
light is ignited.
Other suitable means of igniting the charge may be employed if desired.
Another method of attaching or securing the outer cap on the end of the signal is
shown in Figure 3 by placing a piece of tape e over it with the ends passing down the
opposite sides of the signal and securing them thereto by a band g or otherwise.

page_text: The cap (which is shallow as shown) may be readily removed by taking hold of
one end of the tape e and pulling it smartly towards the cap f thus breaking the
band g or other fastening which holds it the tape thus acting to remove or detach the
cover or cap from the end of the screw cap 6 which is then employed to ignite
the signal as previously described.
In place of applying the igniting composition to the screw cap b as previously
described the screw cap may simply serve as a protecting, cover to the charge which
latter is provided as before with igniting composition x on its outer end-the other
part of the igniting composition being applied to the end of a plug such as shown for
the sake of example in Figure 2 inserted in the handle of the signal light so that when
the screw cap is removed the plug h is drawn out of its socket and the chemically
prepared end applied to the igniting composition x on the end of the combustible
composition in order to ignite the same..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The construction of the cases of hand signal lights and similar fireworks of the
character shown in the drawings of easily fusible metal such as zinc substantially in
the manner and for the purposes set forth.
2. The use and application of a screw cap or screw caps for hand signal lights and
similar fireworks substantially as set forth.