Im- PROVED SIGNALS HAVING FOR THEIR ÜBJECT TO PREVENT CULLISIONS AT DE
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Donald Charles Grant, of Stoke, in the County
of Devon, but at present of 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVED SIGNALS HAVING FOR THEIR ÜBJECT TO PREVENT CULLISIONS AT DEB
Sealed the 28th April 1874, and dated the 29th October 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Donald Charles Grant
at. the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
* on the 29th October 1873.
I, DONALD CHARLES ĠRANT, of Stoke, in the County of Devon, but
at present of 166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "
"IMPROVED SIGNALS HAVING FOR THEIR. OBJECT TO PREVENT. COLLISIONS AT
SEA," to be as follows, that is to say:
-
"This Invention which relates to improved signals whose object is to
prevent collisions between ships at sea during night or in a fog, consists
as follows: The signals are formed of an ordinary fire-work case, which
is charged with red or green fire. The two different colours indicate to
approaching ships the tack which a ship exhibiting either of the lights
:

page_text: is on.
Into the case there is also introduced an explosive agent such as
gunpowder or gun cotton, so that should the distinctive colour of the
lights not attract the attention of the officers of an approaching ship,
the sound of the material when exploding does 80.
'
The handles of the lights are made of different shapes for the different
colours, so that they may be easily selected for being lit and exploded
from a number at night, or during a fog when they cannot be seen.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Donald Charles Grant in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DONALD
CHARLES GRANT, of Stoke, in the County of Devon, but at present of
166, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
send greeting.
.
L
WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three,
in the 37th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Donald Charles Grant, Her
special license that I, the said Donald Charles Grant, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Donald Charles
Grant, my executors, administrators, or 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 In-
vention for "IMPROVED SIGNALS HAVING FOR THEIR OBJECT TO PREVENTI
COLLISIONS AT SEA," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said:
Donald Charles Grant, 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
calender months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters,
Patent
1

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Donald Charles Grant, 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, that is to say:-
My said Invention which consists of improved signals whose object
is to give warning or notice so as to prevent collisions between ships at
sea during night or in a fog, consists as follows:- The signals are
formed of an ordinary firework case which is charged with red or green,
or other coloured fire. The two different colours indicate to approaching
ships the tack which a ship exhibiting either of the lights is on. Into
the case there is also introduced an explosive agent, such as gunpowder
or gun cotton, so that should the distinctive colour of the lights not.
attract the attention of the officers of an approaching ship, the sound of
the explosive agent when exploding does so.
The handles of the lights are made of different shapes for the different
colours, so that they may be easily selected (for being ignited and
exploded) from a number at night or during a fog when they cannot
be seen.
And having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which
the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the improved signals consisting of a case
containing a coloured fire, and provided with an explosive agent; also
having handles shaped correspondingly to the colour, so that the required
lights may be selected on a dark night or in a fog without using any
artificial lights.
In witness whereof I, the said Donald Charles Grant, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of April, One