IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FIXING CANDLES UPRIGHT IN CANDLESTICKS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge
and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
FIXING CANDLES UPRIGHT IN CANDLESTICKS."-A communication from
abroad by Emile Daire, of No. 15, Passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris,
France, Manufacturer.
Sealed the 17th June 1864, and dated the 23rd December 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedgo
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd December 1868.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR FIXING CANDLES UPRIGHT IN CANDLESTICKS," (a communication to
me from abroad by Emile Daire, of No. 15, Passage des Petites Ecuries,
Paris, France, Manufacturer,) to be as follows:-
Candles are often badly secured in the socket of the candlestick by reason
of the different thicknesses of candles of the same denomination, and this

page_text: results in many inconveniences, such as slanting to one side, guttering, and
others, to obviate which I purpose interposing between the socket and the
candle a species of tightening wedge of metal or other material. The length
of this wedge may remain parallel or taper from top to bottom; its bend may
embrace the circular form of the inside of the socket, and press with its entire
surface by two lateral ribs or by a single angular rib or projection against the
candle, or, lastly, by several bent ribs or corrugations. This wedge may be
diametrically repeated on both sides of the candle. It is bent over at its upper
part to form a ledge to be pressed upon in sinking the wedge between the
socket and the candle. This ledge instead of being at the top-may be at the
bottom, in which case the candle, being placed on the lower ledge of the wedge,
draws it with it down to the bottom of the socket, so that the candle is fixed
perpendicularly. The form or shape of these wedges may vary, and they may
if desired be joined to the socket.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward. Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd June 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the
said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Edward Gedge, 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 "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FIXING CANDLES
UPRIGHT IN CANDLESTICKS," a communication to me from abroad by Emile
Daire, of No. 15, Passage des Petites Ecuries, Paris, France, Manufacturer,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Gedge,

page_text: my executors of 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 William Edward Gedge, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto
annexed, and forming part of this Specification, and to the figures and letters
of.reference placed thereon :-
The steadiness of candles in their sockets is often badly secured in con-
sequence of the different. thicknesses of candles of the same caliber or
denomination, and gives rise to various inconveniences, such as slanting to
one side, guttering, and others.
This Invention has for its object to fix candles in the sockets of candlesticks
in a certain and efficient manner by means of various arrangements, to which
may be applied indifferently the term "candle fixer," and I will now
(reference being had to the annexed Sheet of Drawing), describe the
apparatus or arrangements independent of or forming part of the socket, by
which this object is attained; Figures 1 to 6 shew a sort of ledge or
tightening, wedge a, which interposes (see Figure 7) between the socket b
and. the candle c, .to keep this latter steady; it is of metal, bone, ivory,
cardboard, or other material. This ledge or wedge may be of equal thickness
throughout, or may taper from top to bottom, its bend may embrace the
inner circular form.of.the socket and press against the candle with. its entire
surface or by two lateral, ribs or ridges only (Figures 1 and 2); or, again, by
one angular rib. or. ridge only (Figures 3, 4, and 5); or, lastly, with severa!
undulating ridges or folds (Figure 6.) This ledge or wedge may be repeated
on each side of, the, candle, being placed diametrically opposite each other..
Figure 8 shews a stationary spring d, intended to fulfil the functions of a
candle fixer in lieu of the ledge or wedge a. This spring is fixed inside the
socket b, and bends when the candle c is inserted, afterwards. re-acting, and
insuring its steadiness.
Figures 9 and 10 shew another arrangement of candle fixer, it suffices to
place in the interior of the socket b a rib e-of any suitable shape forming a
cutting edge, which enters the candle when it is introduced into the socket.
This rib or cutting edge, may be. repeated on the inside of the socket and

page_text: even be in form of flutings all round the inner circle. An arrangement
which conspires to the same end is shewn, Figures 11 and 12, it consists of a
socket or slide g of thin metal, which is inserted within the ordinary socket.
This slide forms spring by means of vertical slits made around it similar to
those in the glass holder of a lamp. It will be understood that on forcibly
pressing the candle into this spring slide the slits spread apart to come
together again by their elasticity, and so perfectly secure the candle. Figure
18 assumes the candle to be held either by a lever h, a point or spike i, or by
a screw j.
The Figure A shews a wedge or prop, the concave part D of which is
split by a slit F, so that on being pushed down between the socket and the
candle the wedge cedes more readily to the pressure of the finger, or so as;
on the contrary, to render it more concave, and with less effort if it was not
sufficiently so to fill the space between said socket and candle, in one word, so
that it more easily contracts or expands according to the space to be filled
between the socket and the candle to keep the latter fixed and upright by
wedging it. The Figure B is a wedge or prop precisely similar to that A,
with the addition of a lower ledge R, on which the candle may be pressed
to enter them both at the same time into the candlestick.
In Figures A and B, S indicates candles; C; socket or candlestick ; A,
first mentioned wedge; B, second wedge; D, concave and slit part; F,
slit; n, upper ledges; R, lower ledges; m, outer and cut sides of the part D:
1 would here observe relatively to the wedges A and B, that the slit
or cleft F may be multiplied, that is to say, that one or more slits may
be made in the part D; n are upper ledges, which are pressed upon to
introduce the apparatus, but they may be suppressed in the wedge A,
and above all in that B, this latter being drawn down by the candle
itself, which rests and presses on the lower ledge R. The ledge n being
suppressed, the wedges A and B would completely disappear when
pressed into the socket. These ledges n may be one or several, and
suppose the apparatus of tin the lower ledge R may be composed of strips or
blades crossing over each other, which strips are obtained by slits made
as far as the break-forming ledge, so as to permit the part D to preserve
its concave form. The sides m of these wedges may be cut so as to
contract them, or to spread them out straight and parallel to each other,
accordingly, as they have to enter straight or conical sockets, and so as to keep
the candle upright.
•
These different wedges may be single, double, or multiple, simple, as
shewn on the Drawing, double, that is to say, two wedges opposite each

page_text: other and forming one united by the lower edge R, or of one piece or of
several.
Figure 1* represents the candle fixer already described with two slits or
clefts, upper and lower ledge, and parallel sides, only instead of being concave,
as before described, its convexity forms angle at the slits. The importance of
this improvement consists in giving it two points of adherence in lieu of one at
the tangent, as in the concave form these two points of adherence prevent the
tottering to one side, which might take place with one only. This arrange-
ment is of real importance, inasmuch as it gives an article the sole aim of
which is fixity. This wedge, Figure 1*, may be on two methods, either a
simple wedge without any spring elasticity, or, on the contrary, of metal forming
spring, which renders the pressure of these projections into the candle stronger
and more durable. The number and degree of the angles may vary as well
as, the slits, the ledges or lugs may also vary in number and size, and slits
may equally be made in the lower part. The Figures 2* shew this same
candle fixer having substituted in lieu of simple lower ledges, projections or
ribs cut out, or stamped reliefs in the full part or on the sides of the candle
fixer to replace these ledges, and for the same purpose. Figures 8* represent
the same candle fixer with the substitution in lieu of slits of blades cut out of
it, and which, stamped so as to form spring, press either against the socket, or
on the contrary against the candle accordingly, as they project outward or
inward, and tighten or fix the candle, notwithstanding the space existing
between it and the socket, the body of this candle fixer may be, angular or
concave, and the number of spring blades variable. Figures 4* represent
absolutely the same apparatus as Figures 3, with this single difference, that
instead of blades cut out only from the top, it has also similar ones cut at
bottom, an arrangement which presents the advantage of securing the
candle top and bottom equally and parallelly, and preventing its taking
an oblique position. The number of lower blades and springs is also
variable..
"
'
The Figures 5* represent another method, the principle of which is the oppo-
site of that Figure 1. In fact, while the candle fixer Figure 1 presses and holds
the candle by the two edges, that the fulcrum against the socket is the full
part, and lastly, that the candle tends to open the apparatus and render it
less concave, this one, on the contrary, clasps and holds the candle by the pres-
sure of the full part, against it, and by the spring of the sheet or plate the
fulcrum and points of resistance of which against the socket are the two edges,
and instead of tending to open it, the candle forces it to close and become
more concave. Further, while in Figure 1 one of these methods may have no

page_text: spring elasticity, and be but a simple wedge, this one, on the contrary, is but
& spring blade, which, by its resistance to the assumption of a concave form,
presses the candle against the opposite side of the socket; thus the candle fixer
Figure 1 may be very narrow, but cannot be too broad, this latter, on the con-
trary, must not be less broad than the diameter of the socket. This sheet may
be flat, slightly concave, or angular; it may have ears or lugs top and bottom,
and also slits and projections, or reliefs. It is evident that instead of slits,
which are intended to render the article more flexible, rows of small holes
might be pierced, or other equivalent arrangement be adopted.
"
The Figures 6✶ shew another arrangement of spring, of which the form is
sufficiently indicated by the Drawing. The Figures 7* shew small metal
frames, blades, or sheets, on which may be fitted, glued, or interlaced small
pieces of some textile fabric, sponge, caoutchouc, or other material, more or
less elastic and yielding, cause pressure and fill the vacant space. The
Figures 8* shew two twin wedges, the thickness and the breadth of which goes
on increasing towards the top, and which the more they are pushed down into
the candlestick, the more they consequently fill the space between the candle
and the socket. The Figure 9* also shews two twin metal wedges, the breadth
of which increases towards the top, they are concave or angular, and may be
slit so as to cede on the pushing down of the candle, they may have top lugs
or ledges. The Figure a shews a candle fixer with blades stamped out to
form a sort of socket, in which the candle is placed before inserting it in the
candlestick. The. Figures. b, c, shew an apparatus, the sheet of metal or
other material which constitutes it being folded like a fan, so that when the
candle is placed in the centre of the folds, it causes this apparatus to
assume the form (if such form has not been previously given to it) of a socket,
from which it results that from the elasticity of the fan blades which tend to
open, and the thickness of the material which increases the more the appa-
ratus is pushed into the candlestick, the candle is pressed and fixed, so that it
can no longer totter; and Figure d, shews another arrangement sufficiently
explained by the Drawing.
In conclusion, I claim as of this Invention all these arrangements of candle
fixer, adherent or non-adherent to the socket of the candlestick, and having
for object to secure the candle upright, no matter what the shape, materials,
and dimensions of the parts which constitute this fixity. The several forms
or models above described may be single, double, or multiple, single, that is
to say, such as described and shewn, twin or double, and forming but
one, whether cut out or made in one piece, or of several pieces re-united;
multiple, that is to say, repeated several times, and in indefinite number,

page_text: whether like the twin ones cut out or made of one piece, or whether made of
several brought together.
In witness, whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)