IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR IGNITING CIGARS, PIPES, CANDLES, LAMPS, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Albert Pollet at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1878. Partly a com-
munication from abroad by Theodore Jonas, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
ALBERT POLLET, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, but temporarily of
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
IGNITING CIGARS, PIPES, CANDLES, LAMPS, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS ARTICLES."
[Partly a communication from abroad by Theodore Jonas, of Paris, in the Republic.
of France.]
The object of this Invention is to produce an igniting apparatus of a cheap and
simple character, and of a convenient and compendious form, suitable for being
carried in the pocket, and capable of being used for lighting cigars, pipes, candles, or
lamps, and for other analogous purposes.
The igniting apparatus consists of a tubular chamber made, by preference, of
metal, and divided into several compartments for receiving the several parts of the
apparatus.
The igniter itself consists of a strip of collodion, on one side of which is a
preparation of phosphorus which will ignite by friction when struck or rubbed
quickly by some hard substance.
This phosphorized strip of collodion is placed in a long narrow chamber which
extends down the tube, and is held in its place by a spring clip which bears against
the back of the strip, and presses it forward against the edge of the chamber, but
not so hardly as to prevent it from being pushed out by means of a small plunger
acted on by a screw at the other end of the tube. The spring clip also excludes the
air from the chamber, and prevents the ignited part of the collodion from communi-
cating its fire to that part which is enclosed in the tube.
The phosphorized collodion is ignited by means of a spring finger, which when
released (after having been forced back), will fly forward with energy and strike
the phosphorus, which will then ignite the dry collodion and produce a flame which
will burn for a few seconds. Immediately contiguous to the exit opening of the
igniter are two tubular chambers or compartments, one for containing a small
[Price 2d1

page_text: candle or taper which is capable of being moved up and down therein by means of a
pin or stud connected with the candle or taper holder, and projecting outside
through a slot made in the side of the chamber.
In the other tubular chamber or compartment is placed a round cord or rope
made of German tinder. As it is convenient to have a considerable length of this
tinder cord or rope, a clear hole is made through the igniter from end to end, and a
toothed pinion is adapted thereto for the purpose of propelling the cord along the
tubular chamber. A space of irregular shape behind these two chambers or com-
partments serves as a reservoir for a supply of slips of the dry collodion access,
to which may be obtained through a covered opening at the other end of the
apparatus.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-A short length of the phosphorized
collodion slip is projected up through its opening by turning the propelling screw
below.
If it be desired to light the taper or candle, the latter is pushed out of its tube
until the wick is level with the projecting end of the igniter.
The German tinder rope may also if desired be pushed out in the same way by
means of the toothed pinion. When upon drawing back the spring igniting finger
and allowing it to fly suddenly forward, it will strike against and ignite the
phosphorus on the collodion slip, and cause the latter to burst into flame, then upon
inclining the apparatus a little on one side the wick of the taper and the tinder
will be ignited by the flame of the burning collodion if both of them are projecting
from the end of the apparatus. The collodion flame will then go out, but will leave
the taper, or tinder, or both of them, burning as long as may be required.
The tubular casing of the igniter is provided with covers at each end, and the
apparatus is for convenience placed in an outer box or case, which is divided into
several compartments for the reception of a supply of (1), wax tapers or small candles;
(2), a length of German tinder rope or cable; and (3), a box containing a number of
strips of the phosphorized collodion igniters. Being thus provided with a supply of
everything that is required for the apparatus; the possessor will find that he is
amply provided for several months with everything that is necessary for lighting
pipes, cigars, candles, lamps, or other articles that require ignition, and that pipes,
cigars, or analogous articles may be ignited either in or out of doors, and even
when exposed to strong winds.