IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Albert Tilghman, of the City of Philadelphia,
United States of America, Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES."
Sealed the 28th September 1855, and dated the 2nd August 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Albert Tilghman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd August 1855.
I, RICHARD ALBERT TILGIMAN, of the City of Philadelphia, United States of
America, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES" to be as follows:-
Candles as commonly made are liable to the inconvenience of running and
dropping, particularly when carried about or exposed to currents of air.
In the common dip candle this effect is lessened, from the wick being so
large in proportion to the diameter of the candle, that it can absorb and hold
by capillary attraction much of the melted tallow that would have run down
the sides of the candle, had a thin wick been used. Most candle materials
are more combustible than the tallow used in dip candles, and therefore.
require a much smaller wick to give a proper flame, the size and consequently

page_text: the useful absorbent power of the wick having to be diminished as the com-
bustibility of the candle material is increased.
My Invention consists in using in candles filaceous or spongy substances,
which will act like a very thick wick, in absorbing the fluid grease below the
base of the flame, but which are so prepared by chemical processes, that, on
the approach or contact of the flame itself, they are gradually destroyed or
shrivel up, thereby leaving the true wick of the candle of only the proper size
for keeping up the combustion. I have found gun cotton suitable for this
purpose, and I apply it by wrapping it in a loose bulky form round the
ordinary wick of the candle. Other substances of similar properties may be
substituted for it.
Another part of my Invention consists in applying a solution of gun cotton
or other similar substance upon the outside of candles, so as to form a skin or
varnish, dry and smooth to the touch, and which as the candle consumes
forms a pelicle over the melted grease at the base of the flame, and tends to
prevent its running. I have used the solution of gun cotton in ether, called
collodion, for this purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Albert Tilghman in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 2nd February 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ALBERT TILGHMAN, of the City of Philadelphia, United States of America,
Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Albert Tilghman, Her special licence that I, the said Richard Albert
Tilghman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the
said Richard Albert Tilghman, 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 "IMPROVE-

page_text: MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard Albert Tilghman, my executors or 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 Richard Albert Tilghman, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
Candles as commonly made are liable to the inconvenience of running and
dropping, particularly when carried about or exposed to currents of air.
In the common dip candle this effect is lessened, from the wick being so
large in proportion to the diameter of the candle, that it can absorb and hold
by capillary attraction much of the melted tallow that would have run down
the sides of the candle, had a thin wick been used. Most candle materials are
more combustible than the tallow used in dip candles, and therefore require a
much smaller wick to give a proper flame, the size and consequently the
useful absorbent power of the wick having to be diminished as the combusti-
bility of the candle material is increased.
My Invention consists in using in candles filaceous or spongy substances,
which will act like a very thick wick in absorbing the fluid grease below the
base of the flame, but which are so prepared by chemical processes, that, on
the approach or contact of the flame itself, they are gradually destroyed or
shrivel up, thereby leaving the true wick of the candle of only the proper size
for keeping up the combustion. I have found gun cotton suitable for this
purpose, and I apply it by wrapping it in a loose bulky form round the ordi-
nary wick of the candle. Other substances of similar properties may be
substituted for it.
Another part of my Invention consists in applying a solution of gun cotton
or other similar substance upon the outside of candles, so as to form a skin or
varnish, dry and smooth to the touch, and which as the candle consumes forms
a pelicle over the melted grease at the base of the flame, and tends to prevent
its running. I have used the solution of gun cotton in ether, called collodion,
for this purpose.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.

page_text: One part of my Invention, as above stated, consists in surrounding the
ordinary wicks of candles with a mass of capillary substance, which, absorbing
the fluid grease existing below the base of the flame, is of such a nature as to
be gradually shrivelled up, melted, evaporated, or destroyed on the contact
of the flame with it, leaving the true wick of the candle alone to carry on the
combustion.
This addition (which from its object I call the sop wick) assists in raising
to the true wick an abundant supply of melted matter, and thereby tends to
keep the flame a greater distance above the cup of the candle than it would
otherwise be. This increased distance of the flame allows more fusible candle
stuff to be used, and the more distant position of the flame is also advan-
tageous when exposed to currents of air, as the flame does not then strike so
much against the sides of the cup of the candle. The material best adapted
to the formation of what I have called the sop wick is that preparation of
vegetable matter by acids, known as gun cotton, which I apply as a loose
sliver or roving round the true candle wick.
Another part of my Invention, as above stated, consists in giving to each
candle the effect in part of the nozel of a candle lamp, by making each candle
with an outer skin or pelicle, which as the candle is consumed constantly
contracts at the upper end, and partly covers the cup of the candle, thus
resisting the running over or dropping of the melted material. For this
purpose, I apply to the outer surface of each candle a thin film of matter,
which will curve or contract inwards as the candle consumes, and so leave
a thin pelicle or sack over the surface of the melted grease in the cup
of the candle, which is thus prevented from escaping down the sides of
the candle.
This film has also the advantage of making the surface of candles niade of
tallow or low melting material more dry and less greasy to the touch. For
this purpose, the material best adapted for the film, pelicle, or coating is that
preparation of vegetable matter called collodion, and the most convenient
mode of application is by dipping each candle into the collodion, or it may be
applied by brushes or otherwise. I find it useful in some cases to add to the
collodion a solution in ether, or other solvent of hard stearine, paraffine,
spermaceti, or such like dry but fusible matter, which has the effect of pre-
venting the film of collodion from being too stiff.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best
manner I am acquainted with of performing the same, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the details; but what I claim is,-

page_text: First, the mode of manufacturing candles herein described by using what I
have called "sop wicks" and true wicks.
And, second, I claim the mode of manufacturing candles herein described,
by applying an outer coating or pelicle to each candle, which contracts or
turns inwards at the upper part as the candle consumes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Albert Tilghman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
GEO. PITT,
4, Old Square.
R. A. TILGHMAN. (L.S.)