AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FAGOT OR FIRE-LIGHTER
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Stimpson, of Lower Road, Islington, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
CONSTRUCTION OF FAGOT OR FIRE-LIGHTER."
Sealed the 3rd December 1858, and dated the 2nd October 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Stimpson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd October 1858.
I, SAMUEL STIMPSON, of Lower Road, Islington, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FAGOT OR FIRE-LIGHTER," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a novel construction of what is known as the
patent firewood or fire-lighters (which are pieces of firewood combined so as
to form a kind of fagot that will burn with rapidity), the object being to
prevent these parts from falling to pieces before they are used, whereby great
loss is at present occasioned to the manufacturer and retail dealer. For this
purpose I arrange the pieces of wood that are to form the fire-lighter in such
a manner that they will lock together somewhat like the stones of an arch,
and be thus capable of sustaining rough usage without injury. The central
portions of the wood I arrange radially, as is now practised in making wheels
of firewood; and the periphery of the wheel I form by inserting key pieces

page_text: between the outer ends of the radial pieces, and then, to secure the structure,
I bind round the whole a strong cord. By this means all the pieces are
securely locked together, and will remain firmly combined so long as the cord
remains intact. The fire-lighter will in other respects be finished like those
of the ordinary construction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Stimpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
STIMPSON, of Lower Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Samuel Stimpson, Her special license that I, the said Samuel
Stimpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Samuel Stimpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FAGOT OR FIRE-LIGHTER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Stimpson, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 Samuel Stimpson, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 Drawing hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to a novel mode of constructing what is known as
the patent firewood or fire-lighters (which are pieces of firewood combined

page_text: so as to form a kind of fagot that will burn with rapidity), the object being
to prevent these fagots from falling to pieces from shrinkage
or rough usage,
whereby great loss is at present occasioned both to the manufacturer and the
retail dealer, the latter being not unfrequently deterred from keeping the
article in stock, although its advantages are highly approved of by the public.
To give the fabric increased stability, I now arrange the pieces of wood, of
which it is to be formed, in such a manner that they will lock together
somewhat like the stones of an arch, and thus integrant portions will have
less tendency than heretofore to slip out of place when subjected to rough
handling.
a
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews, in plan view, a wheel fagot
of the ordinary construction, wherein the stability of the fagot will be seen to
depend on the radial thrust of the pieces (which form, as it were, the spokes
of the wheel) upon the pieces b, composing the periphery. When, however,
by shrinkage, or the lateral shifting of the radial pieces a, they fail to press
out the several pieces b, so as to keep the binding string c at tension, there
remains no support for the parts b, and the fagot will, therefore, at a touch
fall to pieces. By my Invention, however, I am enabled to support the radial
pieces in position, and neutralize the effect of shrinkage.
The manner of carrying out the improvement admits of variation, but the
form of construction which I prefer for the fagot is that shewn in plan view
at Fig. 2, and edge view at Fig. 3. The central portions of wood, it will be
be seen, are arranged radially, as is now practised in making wheels of fire-
wood, but the periphery or felly of the wheel is formed by inserting segmental
key pieces 6, 6, between the outer ends of the radial pieces a, a; the structure
is then secured by a binding cord c of tarred string, as is commonly practised.
By this means all the pieces are securely locked together, and will remain
firmly combined so long as the cord remains intact. The fire-lighter will, in
respect of the rosin coating and the tuft of shavings for increasing its com-
bustible qualities, be finished like those of the ordinary construction.
Fig. 4 shews a modification of my improved fagot, wherein the felly of the
wheel is formed by straight (instead of segment-shaped) pieces b, b, with
bevilled edges inserted between the radial arms or spokes a, a, which are set
round a central boss a', the whole being secured by a binding cord, and the
fagot finished in the usual manner.
Fig. 5 shews another modification in which the bevilled edges of the
segmental key pieces lock together and form a felly, circumscribing instead
of locking into the radial pieces. This arrangement will, however, form a
very good fagot, as it embodies, although not perhaps in the best manner, the

page_text: principle of locking the parts together, which principle I believe to be
essential to the formation of a strong and cheap fire-lighter.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of an improved con-
struction of fagot or fire-lighter, and explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part
recited Letters Patent I claim, arranging the pieces that form the fagot or
fire-lighter in such a manner that they will lock together, and tend mutually
to support each other, in the manner and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Stimpson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Second day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
SAMUEL STIMPSON. (L.S.)