IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALL KINDS OF CANDLES FOR THE PURPOSE OF RENDERING THEM FREE FROM GUTTERING
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Eugene Carless at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th May
1860.
I, EUGENE CARLESS, of Bow Common, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ALL KINDS OF CANDLES FOR THE PURPOSE OF RENDERING THEM
FREE FROM GUTTERING," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in coating or covering all kinds of candles
with a composition, which during the burning of a common dip candle.
embraces the wick, and the said composition being sufficiently fusible con-
tinues to, adhere to the wick until the candle is consumed, at the same time
the composition is of that tenacity that it encases the tallow or other material
of which the candle may be made, and thus prevents the overflowing or
guttering of the melted portion which surrounds the wick of the candle. The
fusing point of the coating aforesaid will vary according to the nature of the-
material of which the different kinds of candles are made, and must be suited
accordingly.
In the case of composite, paraffine, or wax candles the composition does not;
embrace the wick, but turns over the edge and covers sufficient of the melted
surface to prevent its guttering. The following are the ingredients which I.
propose to employ for coating or covering candles generally according to this-
Invention. I dissolve by gentle heat in four pints of rain or soft. water 3

page_text: ounces of hard yellow soap, of best quality, or other saponaceous ingre-
dient, also about 2 ounces of the best French glue or other gelatinous
substance, or I use starch or other amglaceous substance instead of glue; to
this I add about 1 ounce of East India gum arabic, continually stirring the
whole until thoroughly dissolved; I next dissolve separately in as much hot
water as is necessary to effect entire solution, the following salts, namely,
about 1 ounce of biborate of soda, an ounce of alum, and about an ounce
of sulphate of zinc or acetate of lead, or any of the other salts possessing
similar properties to the foregoing salts. Having dissolved each of these salts
I then pour into the first-mentioned solution the solution of biborate of
soda, stirring the mixture continually until the ingredients are thoroughly
mixed and incorporated; I then proceed in the same manner to add thereto
the solution of alum, and next the sulphate of zinc. The mixture is then
brought to a temperature of about 200° of Fahrenheit's thermometer, keeping
same continually well stirred; sufficient water of the temperature of about
100° Fahrenheit is then added slowly until the entire quantity of the mixture
measures 9 pints, imperial measure. The above mixture I call solution No. 1.
I then dissolve in 1 pint of hot water in another vessel, in the manner afore-
said and using the same precautions, about 2 drachins of the best French glue
and 2 drachms of white East India gum arabic, about 1 drachm of alum,
a drachm of boracic acid, drachm of sulphate of zinc, and 1 drachm of
biborate of soda. This I call solution No. 2. I then take any quantity of
solution No. 1, which, when cold is of a very thick consistence, and add thereto
an equal quantity of hot soft water, and having well stirred it and allowed the
temperature to fall to about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the candles, manufactured
in the ordinary way, are dipped once into the solution aforesaid, and then hung
up to dry. The candles, when dry, I then proceed to dip in solution No. 2,
more or less diluted, as may be found necessary, and the candles when dry are
fit for use.