IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR IGNITING AND HOLDING MATCHES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to the Honourable George Cadogan, of Park Place,
in the City of Westminster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR IGNITING AND HOLDING MATCHES."
Scaled the 27th July 1875, and dated the 28th January 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Cadogan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th January 1875.
I, the Honourable GEORGE CADOGAN, of Park Place, in the City of
Westminster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR IGNITING AND HOLDING MATCHES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus in which
ordinary wax or other matches are contained, and from which they can
be ignited and expelled one by one as required, each match when so
lighted being protected if necessary from the weather, or from currents
of air by which it might be extinguished.

page_text: In order to carry out my Invention I take a cylinder of any suitable
material, but preferably of thin metal, corrugated longitudinally with a
series of corrugations, in cach of which an ordinary wax or other match
is placed. The heads of the matches, which are prepared in the usual
way, so as to be casily ignited by friction, are all arranged at the same
end of the cylinder; and the latter is enclosed in an outer cylinder or
case of thin metal or other suitable material, so that the inner cylinder,
together with the matches arranged as described in its corrugations, may
be made to revolve within the outer case. At the side of the outer case
I make a narrow longitudinal slit, in which works a carrier, tlie inner
part of which is provided with a socket, into which the lower ends of the
matches are forced when the carrier is raised. The outer part of the
carrier is provided with a knob or button, by which it may be passed
along the slit from one end of the outer cylindrical casc to the other
as required. If the carrier is brought down to its lowest point, and the
inner corrugated cylinder is then turned round until one of the corru-
gations with its contained match is directly in line with the socket
when the latter is raised by means of the external button it embraces the
lower end of the corresponding match and raises it with it. The carrier
may be raised by the pressure of the finger applied to the button, or in
the method herein-after described, or it may be constantly forced up by
a metal or india-rubber spring.
Within the corrugated cylinder already described I fit another cylinder
having attached to its upper part a disc or flat ring of sufficient diameter
to cover the upper ends of the matches contained in the corrugations,
and this inner cylinder and disc may be made to take a partial revolution
backward and forward within the corrugated cylinder by means of a
handle or lever attached to its lower end, and working at each end of its
stroke, against a stop formed upon or attached to the outer cylindrical
case. The lower side of the disc described is roughened at the part
where it covers the heads of the matches, and it has a notch or opening
formed in one part of its circumference in such a position that when
the handle described is at the forward end of its stroke the notch is then
exactly above the particular match which is held by the carrier, as
already described, and the match can accordingly be raised through the
notch and used as desired.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The corrugations described
having been filled with matches, and one of them being exactly abovo

page_text: the carrier which has been brought to the bottom of its stroke, the latter
is then pressed up either by hand or by its spring, and the upper end of
the match is thus pressed against the lower roughened surface of the
disc. At the same time the latter is made (by a sharp movement of the
lever or handle) to make a partial revolution, and the head of the match
is thus ignited. At the end of the movement of the lever the notch in
the disc has been brought opposite the ignited match, which is forced
through it by the carrier and raised into a convenient position for use.
In order to bring the next succeeding match into its proper position
when the carrier has again been forced down to the bottom of its slit
I arrange upon its lower end a ratchet wheel having as many teeth as
there are corrugations. This ratchet wheel is actuated by a pall or
catch connected to the inner cylinder which carries the roughened disc
and the handle, as already described, in such manner that when, after
each operation as described, the handle and inner cylinder are returned
to their original position, the pall turns the ratchet wheel round one
tooth, and thus brings the next corrugation into its proper place above
the carrier.
Sometimes instead of a ratchet wheel and pall, as described, I arrange
the corrugated cylinder, so that it can be turned round by hand when
required.
In order to protect the ignited match when raised from the weather
I sometimes arrange an external outer shield or lantern, which slides up.
a suitable guide formed upon or attached to the outer cylindrical case.
This lantern may be made to occupy a sufficient segment of a circle in
plan, and it may be provided with additional leaves folding back against
it when not in use.
The lantern may be made to rise by means of the pressure of the
finger or thumb applied to a stud at its back, or by means of a spring;
and the lantern may be arranged so that when raised its lower edge
raises the button upon the match carrier, which is thus raised with the
lantern. The lantern may be left raised whilst the match is burning; or
it may be brought down, leaving the match exposed.
The apparatus described may be held in any convenient way, but I
prefer to attach to it a ring or loop of leather, metal, or other suitable
material, which fits upon the finger of the person using it. The internal
cylinder may be used as a reservoir of matches, and sometimes I add

page_text: another cylinder arranged parallel to and adjoining the first. The second
cylinder may be constructed in the same way as that already described,
or it may be used as a reservoir of matches; and the ignited match is
raised at or near the point where the cylinders are joined, the shield or
lantern being carried partly round both cylinders, so as to afford more
complete protection, and in this case the additional leaves are not
required. Glass, talc, or other transparent substance may be fitted into
the open part of the shield or lantern.
The apparatus may be made of any convenient size or form, and
where it is not required to be carried about, but to be used for domestic
purposes it may be made sufficiently large for the internal cylinder to
contain an inkstand or other article, whilst the outer part may be made
of silver or other ornamental material, and of any appropriate design.
Suitable appliances may be provided for carrying a lamp or candle, and
for lighting the same from the ignited match, and for warming or
cooking food, and similar purposes, especially when used in travelling.
Another form of arrangement which I sometimes adopt instead of
that above described is the following:-I make the outer cylindrical
case sufficiently thick for a single match to lie in the slit within which
the carrier works, and I use no corrugated cylinder but I make the
inner cylinder (provided with a roughened disc and handle, as already
described) serve as a reservoir for the matches; and I form on one side
of it a longitudinal slit, which when the handle is at the inner end of
its stroke corresponds with the slit in the outer cylinder. In this position
therefore a match can be allowed to fall from the inner cylinder into the
slit in the outer one, the inner cylinder being then turned round by its
handle to the other end of its stroke, so as to enclose the match in
the slit, and it is then pressed up and ignited in the way already
described. Where a spring is used for forcing up the carrier the latter
should be temporarily held down whilst the inner cylinder is being
turned round. The outer cylinder may have the groove into which the
match passes formed in a projection upon its outer circumference instead
of in its thickness, and in this form. I make the friction disc turn upon
a separate centre arranged excentrally, so that the edge of the disc does
not project over the remainder of the cylinder and interfere with the
working of the shield or lantern.
In order to fill the corrugated cylinder first described with matches
I form one part of the circumference of the outor cylinder with a hinged

page_text: or sliding door, which when opened uncovers a sufficient number of
corrugations which are filled with matches. The corrugated cylinder
is then turned partly round and the remaining corrugations are then
filled in the same way. When the inner cylinder is used as a reservoir
for matches it is closed by a cover or stopper.
Another form of apparatus which I sometimes adopt when fusees are
to be used instead of matches consists of a flat disc of sufficient thickness
to contain the fusees, which I make with short stems arranged radially
in recesses round its outer edge. Each fusee is expelled outward as
required by bringing a carrier (which turns upon a centre) opposite its
stem and forcing it outwards, and at the same time an external
roughened plato or ring is rubbed against the outer end of the fusee
until a hole or notch in the ring has been brought opposite to the fusee,
which having been ignited by the friction is then forced through the
hole or notch.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Cadogan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, the
Honourable GEORGE CADOGAN, of Park Place, in the City of West-
minster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said the Honourable Georgo
Cadogan, Her special licence that I, the said the Honourable George
Cadogan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said the Honourable George Cadogan, my executors, admi-
nistrators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR IGNITING AND HOLDING MATCHES," upon the condition (amongst others)

page_text: that I, the said the Honourable George Cadogan, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and scals, 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 dato
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said the Honourable George Cadogan,
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 and accompanying Drawing (that is
to say):-
My Invention relates to improvements in apparatus in which ordinary
wax or other matches are contained, and from which they can be
ignited and expelled one by one as required, each match when burning
being protected, if necessary, from the weather or from currents of air
by which it might be extinguished.
I take a cylinder of any suitable size and material, but preferably of
thin metal, corrugated externally with a series of longitudinal corruga-
tions, in each of which an ordinary wax or other match is placed. The
heads of the matches are all arranged at the same end of the cylinder,
which is enclosed in an outer cylinder or case of thin metal or other
suitable material so that the inner cylinder together with the matches
contained in its corrugations, as described, may be made to revolve
within the outer case. At one side of the outer case I make a narrow
longitudinal slit, from end to end of which works a carrier or driver, the
inner part of which is provided with a socket into which the lower ends
of the matches are forced when the carrier is raised. The outer part of
the carrier is provided with a knob, button, or handle by which it may
be passed along the slit in the outer cylindrical case as required. If the
carrier is brought down to its lowest point and the inner corrugated
cylinder is then turned round until one of the corrugations with the
match contained in it is directly in line with the socket upon the carrier
then when the latter is raised by its external button it embraces the
lower end of the corresponding match and raises it with it. The carrier
may be raised by the pressure of the finger applied to the button, or in
the method herein-after described, or it may be constantly forced up by
a metal, or india-rubber, or other spring.

page_text: The corrugated cylinder has fitted within it another cylinder or spindle
having attached to its upper end a disc or flat ring of sufficient diameter
to cover the upper ends of the matches contained in the corrugations,
and this inner spindle and disc may be made to take a partial revolution
backward and forward within the corrugated cylinder by means of a
'handle or lever attached to the lower end of the spindle and limited in
its stroke at each end by a stop formed upon or attached to the outer
cylindrical casc. The lower side of the disc described is roughened at
the part where it covers the heads of the matches, and it has a notch or
hole formed in one part of its circumference in such position that when
the handle described is at the forward end of its stroke the notch is
then exactly above the particular match which is held by the carrier,
as already described, and the lighted match can accordingly be raised
through the notch and used as desired.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The corrugations described
having been filled with matches, and one of them being exactly above
the carrier (which has first been brought down to the bottom of its
stroke), the latter is then pressed up either by hand or by its spring,
and the upper end of the match is thus forced against the lower
roughened surface of the disc. The latter is at the same time made (by
a sharp movement of the lever or handle) to make a partial revolution,
and the head of the match is thus ignited. At the end of the move-
ment of the lever the notch in the disc has been brought exactly over
the lighted match, which is forced up through it by the carrier and
raised into a convenient position for use. In order to bring the next
succeeding match into its proper position after the carrier has been again
brought down to the bottom of its stroke I arrange upon the lower end
of the corrugated cylinder a ratchet wheel having as many teeth as
there are corrugations, and I actuate this ratchet wheel by a pall or
catch fixed to or driven by the handle upon the spindle which drives
the roughened disc, in such manner that when (after a match has been
lighted and expelled and the carrier returned to the bottom of its stroke
as described) the handle is returned to its original position, the pall
turns the ratchet wheel round one tooth and thus brings the next
corrugation with its match into its proper place above the carrier.
Instead of a ratchet wheel and pall as described I sometimes arrange
the corrugated cylinder so that it can be turned round and adjusted by
the hand of the person using it; and sometimes I make the corrugations

page_text: themselves serve as teeth upon which the pall operates, or in which a
detent may engage in order to fix them in their proper position.
The apparatus described may be held in any convenient way, but I
prefer to attach to it a ring or loop of metal, leather, or other suitable
material, which fits upon the finger of the person using it. The spindle
which carries the roughened dise may be made hollow so as to be used
as a reservoir for an additional supply of matches.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 is a side view; Figure 2, a
vertical section; Figure 3, a plan; and Figure 4, a horizontal section of
the apparatus described.
a is the cylinder having corrugations b, b, &c., &c., round it to receive.
the matches; c is the outer cylindrical case surrounding the cylinder a
and having the longitudinal slit d, in which works the carrier e which
has a handle at its outer part and a socket to hold the match at its inner
part; fshews an annular ring or block fixed inside the cylinder c, and
having a recess into which the socket upon the carrier e passes at the
bottom of its stroke; g is the hollow cylinder or spindle (used as a
reservoir of matches) which fits within the corrugated cylinder a, and
has at its upper end the flat disc h, the lower side of which is roughened
(and is shewn having an annular groove) above the heads of the
matches. The cylinder g can be turned partially round, backward and
forward, by the handle i which works against stops upon the case e, and
the disc has a notch / (shewn in Figure 3) in such a position that
when the handle i is at the forward end of its stroke the notch / is
exactly above the socket upon the carrier c. The ratchet wheel by
which the corrugated cylinder is turned round is shewn at m, Figure 2.
Sometimes I add another cylinder arranged parallel to and adjoining the
first one.
This second cylinder may be constructed in the same way as
that already described, or it may be used as a reservoir for spare
matches, and in either case the match when ignited, as already described, is
raised at or near the point where the two cylinders are joined, and some-
times I make a shield or lantern of thin metal or other suitable material
which fits partly round the two cylinders, so that when raised it affords
protection to the burning match from the wind or weather. The carrier
for the match may be raised either by hand or a spring, as in the
arrangement first described, and the shield or lantern described may be
connected to the handle by which the carrier is raised, so that they can

page_text: either be raised or lowered together, or the shield or lantern can be
raised or lowered separately.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 5 is a vertical section; Figure 6,
a side view; Figures 7 and 8, horizontal sections; Figure 9, a front view;
and Figure 10, a plan of this arrangement. c, c', are the two cylindrical
cases fixed side by side; c' being used as a reservoir for spare matches.
a is the cylinder provided with corrugations for matches, as already
described. The cylinder c has a longitudinal slit provided with a
carrief e, similar to that already described, arranged at or near a point
where the cylinders c and c' nearly touch. The carrier e may be raised
by hand or by a spring contained in the tube n, in which an arm upon
the carrier works; h is the flat disc roughened below and actuated by a
spindle which passes through the centre of the corrugated cylinder a,
and has at its lower end the handle i which is made moveable, as shewn,
so that the disc h and spindle g can be withdrawn when desired. The
disc 7, spindle g, and handle i arc shewn separate in Figure 7*; m is a
wheel with ratchet shaped teeth connected to the corrugated cylinder a,
and actuated by a spring catch or pall driven by the handle i (as shewn
in Figures 5 and 8) in order to bring a fresh corrugation with its match
into position above the carrier e. The shield or lantern o is shewn
fitted partially round the cylinders c, c', so that it can be raised, if
desired (as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 9). A hinged cross bar p is
shewn attached to the lower part of the shield o and fitting into the
handle at the outer part of the carrier e, which works through a slit in
the plate which connects the cylinders c, c', together. By turning
back the cross bar p the shield o can be raised or lowered without the
carrier e, and the match and the shield can be raised cither by the
carrier e, by the lantern o, or by a spring in the tube n. The handle /
is for carrying the apparatus. A shield or lantern of the kind shown
may also be used in the form of apparatus first described. Glass,
tale, or other transparent substance may be fitted-into the open part
of the lantern, the top of which may also be entirely or partially
closed.
Another form of arrangement which I sometimes use instead of those
just described and shewn consists of making the outer cylindrical case,
or a part of its circumference, of sufficient thickness to contain a slit
large enough for a single match to lie in it; and I make the carrier
work from end to end of this slit, as already described, and I use no

page_text: corrugated cylinder, but I make the inner cylinder (provided with a
roughened disc and handle as already described) serve as a reservoir for
the matches, and I form on one side of it a longitudinal slit, which,
when the handle is at the inner end of its stroke, corresponds with the
slit in the outer cylinder. In this position therefore a match can be
allowed to pass from the inner cylinder into the slit in the outer one,
and the handle being then turned back to the outer end of its stroke the
match is enclosed in its place ready to be ignited and used, which is effected
by turning the handle and inner cylinder (which carries at its upper
end a roughened disc of the kind already described) sharply forward, and
at the same time pressing up a carrier which raises the match in the
way already described. Two outer cylinders constructed in the way just
described may be fixed side by side, each having an inner cylinder and
handle, and being arranged so that a match from cither cylinder may be
admitted into the slit, which is formed between the two, and contains
the carrier actuated by a handle; and instead of a roughened disc for
igniting the match I sometimes form at the upper part of the slit two
roughened surfaces of suitable shape and size, which are held together
by suitable springs, and between which the match is forced, and thus
ignited when the handle and carrier are raised.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 are in illustration of this arrangement,
Figure 11 being a vertical section; Figure 12, a transverse section ;
Figure 13, a plan from above; and Figure 14, a front view. c, c¹, are
two cylindrical cases fixed side by side, and each having a longitudinal
slit at the point where they nearly meet. They are fixed at such a
distance apart that there is room for one match to lie in a chamber
formed between the two slits, and which contains a carrier e worked by
a handle through a slit in a plate » which connects the cylinders. The
cylinders c, c¹, contain hollow internal cylinders a, a¹, which can be
turned partially round by handles i, i, which work in guides upon the
outer cylinders, as shewn. By turning back either of the handles i, i,
until a slit in the internal cylinders a or a coincides with the slit in
the corresponding outer cylinder c or c¹ a match is allowed to fall into
the chamber between the cylinders, and is retained there when the
handle is turned back. When the carrier e is raised the match is forced
up between the two friction surfaces h, h¹, which are held together by
springs, but separate sufficiently to allow the match to pass up between
them after its head has been ignited.

page_text: Another modification of the apparatus which I sometimes use, consists
of a box circular or oval in section, and containing a central longitudinal
chamber large enough to receive one match only. This groove or
chamber is open along one side, and is provided with guiding wings or
5 projections at its sides, so that when desired a match can be shaken into
it from the box. The opposite side of the groove or chamber has a
longitudinal slit from end to end, which is provided with walls or plates
connecting it with a corresponding slit in the box, and the handle of a
carrier which works in the groove or chamber passes between these
plates and is connected to a handle outside the box. The match may be
ignited by a roughened disc or by being forced between two friction
surfaces in the methods already described.
In all the different arrangements of apparatus, a shield or lantern of
the kind already described may be used.
Apparatus constructed according to my Invention may be made of
any convenient form or size, and where it is not required to be carried
about but is to be used for domestic purposes, it may be made sufficiently
large for the internal cylinder to contain an inkstand or other article,
whilst the outer part may be made of silver or other ornamental material,
and of any appropriate design.
Suitable appliances may be provided for carrying a lamp or candle,
and for lighting the same from the ignited match, or for warming and
cooking food and other analogous purposes, especially when used in
travelling. Or the apparatus may be fitted inside a cigar case or other
portable article, for which purpose the arrangement shewn in Figures 11,
12, 13, and 14, is particularly applicable, and the carrier may be
connected to a stem or wire carried vertically down and fixed at its lower
end, so that if the box is pressed down the match is ignited and expelled.
Or the box may be fixed and the match ignited and expelled by pressing
the wire stem up. Suitable openings are provided in the several boxes
described for the purpose of filling them with matches, and they may be
closed by hinged or sliding doors or covers.
"
. Where "fusees are to be used instead of matches, I prefer to use a
modified form of apparatus, in which the box is made in the form of a
flat disc of sufficient thickness to contain the fusees (which I prefer to
make with very short stems) arranged radially in recesses round its outer
edge. Each fusce is expelled outward as required by bringing opposite

page_text: to its stem a carrier and forcing it outward, whilst at the same time
an external roughened plate or ring concentric with the box is rubbed
against the outer end of the fusee, until a hole or notch in the plate or
ring has been brought opposite to it, and the fusce having been ignited
by the friction is then forced through the hole or notch and is ready for
use.
The recesses in which the fusees are arranged are made to revolve, so
that a fresh fusce is brought opposite to the carrier when required, and
this revolution may be effected by ratchet shaped teeth upon the recesses,
and a spring catch or pall connected to the roughened plate or ring in a 1
manner analogous to that already described.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is, to
be performed, I claim,-
First. The methods of constructing and arranging apparatus for
holding matches or fusces, so that cach match or fuscc in succession is
brought into the proper position to be ignited and used, substantially as
described.
Also, the method of igniting and expelling matches or fusces arranged
in apparatus constructed as described, by means of movcable carriers by
which the match or fusee is pressed against roughened, fixed, or moveable
surfaces, substantially as described.
Also, the combination with apparatus for holding and igniting matches
of a moveable-shield or lantern, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Also, the general arrangement of the apparatus, substantially as
described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said the Honourable George Cadogan,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of
July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five.
2 CADOCAN Gol