An Improved Imitation Candle for use with Electric Incandescent Lamps.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left. 7th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Imitation Candle for use with Electric Incandescent
Lamps.
WALTER JOHN FRYER 2 Kellett Road Brixton London S.W. Electrical
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in imitation candles for use with candle-
sticks or candelabra or with any bracket where an ordinary candle can be used.
Hitherto it has been customary when using imitation candles with electric light
to use a fixed candle, thereby preventing the candlestick from ever being used (in
cases of emergency) with ordinary wax candles again.
By my invention I am able to connect or disconnect the candle by simply lifting
it out or pushing it into the socket which is suitably fitted to receive it this saves
all complications when the candlestick is required to be used with the ordinary
candle.
For this purpose I first take a tube of opal of any suitable length shown in
section Fig. 1. A. and make a brass socket or lining B; with a solid piece of some
insulator such as vulcanite or fibre or such like forced in to the depth of about
* inch at the bottom Fig. 1. C. C. this brass socket has two niches cut out from the
side shown Figs. 1. & 2. at D. D. this receives the lamp & forms 1 path for the
current to pass by; the return path is formed by forcing into the piece of
insulator C. C. a small piece of brass tube F. F. which receives a brass pin that is
attached to the bottom of the lamp and so completes the circuit as far as this end
of the candle is concerned.
I now take two pieces of wire G. G. down the inside of the opal, and connect
each wire onto two pieces of brass wire H. H. these two brass pins are screwed into
a solid piece of insulator Figs. 1 & 2, K, which can be of the same material as C.
This piece of insulator Khas a milled or screwed edge on the sides of it, so as
to make it more readily stick with the aid of plaster or some such like substance to
the opal; the whole of the intervening space between the insides of the opal tube
can now be filled in with either plaster or some such like insulating material.
The candle is now complete in itself, and all we have to do is to make two pieces
of brass tube to fit the pins D. D. and fix them in the nozzle of the candlestick
either in a wooden block or by filling in the nozzle with some insulating compound;
the two wires running through the candlestick having first been connected to these
two pieces of brass tube.
Dated this 6th day of March 1801
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Imitation Candle for use with Electric Incandescent
Lamps.
I WALTER JOHN FRYER of 2 Kellett Road, Brixton in the County of Surrey
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to imitation candles for use with electric incandescent
lamps, and it consists in an improved candle adapted to be fitted into candle-
sticks or candelabra so that upon its removal an ordinary candle can be used
if desired.

page_text: Hitherto it has been customary to use a fixed imitation candle which prevents the
candlestick or candelabra from being used with ordinary wax candles.
By my invention I am able to connect or disconnect the imitation candle by
simply lifting it out or pushing it into the socket which is suitably fitted with two
small pieces of brass tube to receive the connecting wires of the imitation candle.
The candlestick or candelabra can thus be readily adapted for cleaning or for use
with ordinary wax candles.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through the improved imitation candle.
Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of parts.
Fig. 4 is a cross section on line W Z and Fig. 5 is a cross section on line X Y
Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a cross section of the candlestick or candelabra socket with the arrange-
ment to receive the candle.
The imitation candle consists of a tube A of opal of any suitable length and about
1 inch in diameter. A brass socket B 14 inches long and inch diameter (Fig. 3)
having two splits B' in its side and four projecting lugs F is made to fit inside the
tube A. In the bottom of this socket B is forced a solid piece D of indiarubber or
fibre or any other insulating material having a hole through the centre (Fig. 5), a
piece of brass tube E is forced through this hole, having its end burred over so as
to prevent its falling out from the rubber D.
Two brass rods Hinch diameter and of suitable length are soldered one on to
the brass tube E and the other on to the brass socket B. A sheet of white paper C
is then taken formed into a cylinder and placed round the socket, two of the lugs F
being then bent over, so that they tightly hold the paper in its place (Fig. 1).
The tube of opal is now slipped over and allowed to rest on the two remaining
lugs F and a conical shaped piece of indiarubber K (Fig. 2) having two holes
through it is forced into and flush with the other end of the opal, the two rods H
passing through the holes and projecting about half an inch, the compression of the
rubber grips them thus holding the component parts firmly together and allows of
the rods H giving to any slight variation in the size of the candle socket.
For the purpose of fitting the candle socket to receive this imitation candle
another conical plug of indiarubber is used exactly the same as K Fig. 2 having
two pieces of brass tube flush with the topside and running through the two holes
and projecting about of an inch from the bottom. The wires that run through
the candle stick or candle branch are soldered one on to each of these tubes and the
plug is then forced into the socket until it is flush with the top.
The two projecting ends of the rods H Fig. 1 of the imitation candle are then
pushed into the two pieces of brass tube in the candle socket which completes the
connection. An incandescent lamp having suitable connections at the bottom is
then inserted into the upper end of the imitation candle. Should the candlestick
ever be required for use with ordinary wax candles, all that need be done is to lift
the candle with lamp attached bodily out from the socket, take out the india-
rubber plug, make two niches in the sides of the wax candle so as to make room
for the two pieces of brass tube and fit the wax candle in the socket, and use in the
usual way. The removability of the candle without the cutting of any wires
simply by lifting out the said imitation candle is an enormous advantage in case of
emergency where electric light goes out as candelabra can be used for either
electric or for wax lights. The fitting of the socket to receive imitation candle
being easily removable said candelabra is not spoilt in any way for after use with
ordinary candles as with some applications of electric light.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
An imitation candle consisting of an opal tube A a brass socket B with block D

page_text: and tube E connecting rods H H and plug K the said imitation candle adapted to
be fitted in a candle socket substantially as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of December 1891.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.