IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF 'FIRE LIGHTERS
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION left by James Wadsworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th March 1874.
I, JAMES WADSWORTH, of 139, Collyhurst Road, Manchester,
'Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF 'FIRE LIGHTERS,'" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to what are technically known as "fire lighters"
and consists of improvements in the manufacture of the same.
The objects of the improvements are to obtain a more continued and
perfect combustion of the materials of which fire-lighters are composed
to cause the same to better retain their shape and consistency during
burning, and to more effectually utilize refuse substances in their
manufacture, as well as to more economically produce the same as
articles of commerce, such "fire lighters" to be used as lighters or
renovators of fires or as temporary producers of heat in domestic or
other fire-grates.

page_text: !
vegetable, animal, or other refuse containing the requisite carbon or
combustible matter or qualities. Any or all of these or other suitable
substances I prefer to take in a granulated or powdered state, and mix
them along with creosote, resin, coal tar or coal tar crystals, or powdered
mineral or vegetable pitch, or any suitable combination thereof or
proportions. I then place the same or any modification thereof into
moulds, presses, or dies of any desirable shape or design, but by preference
I adopt a shape cylindrical on its outside, being hollow or cored out,
and with its inner configuration somewhat conical, as by this form a
better supply of oxygen is obtained for combustion purposes, such
cylinder being constructed singly or in pairs or in any suitable number
conjoined.
The moulds, presses, or dies I cause to be made hot or heated to a
sufficient degree for the object in view, either by steam jacketing the
same, or by gas, or by any suitable means of obtaining the requisite
heat. It is by this method or principle of hot moulding, pressing, or
stamping the materials into the desired shape that the requisite amount
of consistency or adhesiveness is obtained, and with the minimum
amount of pitch or other like or similar substances, thereby obtaining
'economy of manufacture. At the same time the proper combustion of
the particles of which the fire lighter is composed is achieved by means
of the powdered state in which they are built up or manufactured, as by
that means the heat is able to permeate the whole mass; or it may be
that the materials are moulded, pressed, or stamped in hot, moulds,
presses, or dies without being previously pulverized or powdered, in
which case a somewhat inferior fire lighter is produced, but still superior
or at less cost than those manufactured or pressed in a plastic statè in
cold moulds or presses or in any other ordinary manner at present
in use. After having thus moulded, pressed, or stamped the fire lighters
in hot or heated moulds, presses, or dies I prefer to dip the same into
pitch, melted resin, or some other suitable or inflammable substance or
liquid, when upon becoming set they will be ready for use..