IMPROVEMENTS IN CANDLESTICKS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CANDLESTICKS." A communication from abroad by Andrew Jackson Smith
and Edward Warren King, both of Ukiah City, in the County of Mendocino,
State of California, United States of America.
ealed the 26th August 1879, and dated the 19th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th March 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CANDLESTICKS." [A communication from
abroad by Andrew Jackson Smith and Edward Warren King, both of Ukiah City,
in the County of Mendocino, State of California, United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to provide a candle-stick that will hold the candle
more firmly and evenly than those now in use, that admits of burning the whole of
the candle, is arranged to form a receptacle for matches, and is adapted to be easily
cleaned. It consists of a cylindrical box fixed in an upright position to an ordinary
bottom or stand, over which is slipped a sleeve or cap, and over this is again placed
the candle socket. The cylindrical box has vertical slits extending from its top
about half way down to the bottom, and its top is turned over so as to reduce the
opening. This forms the match box, and the slits are made in it to give it a spring
to hold on the sleeve or cap cylinder which is slipped down over it until its end
rests on a collar on the base or bottom of the candle-stick, thus closing the match
box and shielding it from the melted tallow, &c. Over this cap is slipped another
cylinder or sleeve forming the candle socket, the upper half whereof is provided
with vertical slits extending to the top forming fingers which are preferably slightly
bent in towards each other, and on the unslitted lower part is placed a ring by
means whereof it is slipped up and down. The candle is placed between the spring
fingers with its lower end resting on the top of the sleeve or cap.
candle is first placed in the stick the fingers are pushed up about half way of its
length so as to hold it steady, but as it burns down to the fingers these are drawn
When the

page_text: down until the end of the candle socket bears against a collar on the lower end of
the sleeve or cap, by which time the fingers clasp the end of the candle, and thus it
is held until entirely burned.
The Invention may be modified by attaching the sleeve or cap directly to the
bottom or base, omitting the match box; also by providing a lifter placed within
the fingers with a handle projecting through the slits, and moving up and down to
lift and lower the candle. Further, the lower end of the sleeve or cap cylinder
where it is passed over the match box may be slitted, thus making fingers to clasp
the match box and hold itself in place. The device can also be applied to the
socket of an ordinary candle stick after the same is broken off or becomes injured
by slipping the sleeve down over the socket.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
September 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CANDLESTICKS." A communication from
abroad by Andrew Jackson Smith and Edward Warren King, both of Ukiah City,
in the County of Mendocino, State of California, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to provide a candle-stick that will hold the
candle more firmly and evenly than those now in use, that admits of the burning of
the whole of the candle, is arranged to form a receptacle for matches, and is adapted
to be easily cleaned. It consists of a cylindrical box fixed in an upright position to
an ordinary bottom or stand, over which is slipped a socket piece or cap, and over
this is again placed the candle socket, having its upper half slotted to form spring
fingers which clasp the candle. In the accompanying Drawing a vertical section of
the improved candle stick is shown.
Referring to the Drawing A represents the base, bottom, or standard of the
candle-stick, from the centre whereof on the upper side rises a cylindrical box B
with vertical slits a extending from its top about half way down to the bottom, and
having its top turned over so as to reduce the opening. This forms the match box,
and the slits are made in it to give it a spring to hold on the socket piece or cap
cylinder C which is slipped down over it until its ends rests on the collar b, thus
closing the match box and shielding it from the melted tallow, &c. Over cylinder
C is slipped another cylinder or sleeve D, the upper half whereof is provided with
vertical slits extending to the top, forming fingers c, which are preferably slightly
bent in towards each other. On the unslitted lower part of cylinder or sleeve D is
placed a ring d by means whereof it is slipped up and down. E is the candle; it
is placed between the spring fingers c with its lower end resting on the top d of
the cap C. When first placed in the stick the fingers are pushed up about half way
of its length, as shown in the Drawing, so as to hold it steady, but as it burns down
to the fingers these are drawn down until the end of sleeve D bears against the
collar e on the lower end of cylinder C, by which time the fingers clasp the end of
the candle, and thus it is held until entirely burned. The Invention may be modi-
fied by attaching cylinder C directly to the bottom A, omitting the match box; also
by providing a lifter placed within the fingers with a handle projecting through the
slits, and moving up and down to lift and lower the candle. Further, the lower
end of cylinder C where it is passed over the match box may be slitted, thus
making fingers to clasp the match box and hold itself in place.
The device can also be applied to the socket of an ordinary candle stick after the
same is broken off or becomes injured by slipping the cap C down over the socket.
In this way a candlestick is furnished, adapted to hold the candle more securely
than those now in use, and which can be kept cleaner with less trouble, and that
enables the candle to be burned entirely up, thus preventing waste and dispensing
with save alls."
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Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters-Patent is,-
1st. As an improvement in candle-sticks the sleeve or cylinder D with spring
fingers c to clasp the candle, in combination with the cylinder or socket piece Č
connected with the bottom A directly, or by slipping it over another socket or
standard, substantially as described.

page_text: 2nd. The cylindrical box B rising from the bottom A, and adapted to receive the
matches, in combination with the cylinder or sleeve C and cylinder D with spring
fingers c to clasp the candle, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
A M. CLARK. (L.S.)
A M. CLARK. (L.S.)