Ix- PROVEMENTS IN NIGHT LIGHTS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Michael Letchford, of Three Colts Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Chemist, for the Invention of “ Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN NIGHT LIGHTS."
Sealed the 5th August 1878, and dated the 10th April 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Michael Letch-
ford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th April 1873.
I, ROBERT MICHAEL LETCHFORD, of Three Colts Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN NIGHT LIGHTS," to be as follows:-
Night lights as at present made frequently go out through the wick
falling over into the melted fat.
By my Invention I remedy that defect by fitting a coil of wire loosely
round the wick. I take a small piece of fine iron wire and commence at
about two inches from the end to twist it three times round a metal pin
about inch thick; then I withdraw the pin, cut off the length of wire,
andpass the plain end of the piece through a perforated flat piece of tin
of the usual size used in night lights. I twist the end once round the tin

page_text: to fix it, and then pass a wick through the wire coil and through the
hole in the tin; I then tie a knot in the usual way.
A wire may be worked in the wick or a perforated tube used in place
of a wire coil to produce a similar result, but I prefer the method above
indicated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Michael Letchford in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th October 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
MICHAEL LETCHFORD, of Three Colts Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Michael Letchford, Her
special license that I, the said Robert Michael Letchford, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Michael Letchford, my executors, administrators, 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 NIGHT LIGHTS,” upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Michael Letch-
ford, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Michael Letchford, do hereby.
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-

page_text: Night lights as at present made frequently go out through the wick
falling over into the melted fat.
By my Invention I remedy that defect by fitting a coil of wire loosely
round the wick. I take a small piece of fine iron wire and commence
at about 2 inches from the end to twist it 3 times round a metal pin
about 1/8th inch thick; then I withdraw the pin, cut off the length of
wire, and pass the plain end of the piece through a perforated flat piece
of tin of the usual size used in night lights. I twist the end once round
the tin to fix it, and then pass a wick through the wire coil and through
the hole in the tin; I then tie a knot in the usual way.
A wire may be worked in the wick to produce a similar result, but I
prefer the method above indicated.
In the annexed Drawing, Figure 1 is a section of a night light made
according to my Invention. a, a, is the ordinary paper case, and 6, the
perforated piece of tin for holding the wick; c is a fine thread-like iron
wire which I employ to support the wick and prevent it falling into the
melted fat when the night light is in use. The end of the wire is
passed through a hole in the piece of metal b, and it is bent around the
metal; d is the wick of the night light; it is inserted into the coiled
wire c.
Figure 2 is a section of a similar night light, but the use of the piece
of metal 6 is dispensed with. In this instance the bottom of the case a
is perforated with two holes through which the wire c is threaded and
then bent down. A disc of thin paper is pasted over the bottom of the
night light to close the holes.
What I claim is the construction of night lights with a wire sup-
porting the wick, substantially in the manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Michael Letchford, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of October,