AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR IGNITING CIGARS, CIGARETTES, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES.”
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry George Boston, Traveller for the Firm of
Messieurs John Bellerby and Son, of the City of York, in the
County of York, Manufacturers, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR IGNITING CIGARS, CIGARETTES, AND OTHER
SIMILAR ARTICLES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry George Boston.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th December 1871.
I, HENRY GEORGE BOSTON, Traveller for the Firm of Messieurs John
Bellerby and Son, of the City of York, in the County of York, Manu-
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “An
IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR IGNITING CIGARS, CIGARETTES, AND OTHER
SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
.
My Invention consists in applying to that end of the cigar, cigarette,
or other similar article which it is intended to ignite a composition that

page_text: will only ignite upon a chemically prepared surface. The composition
applied to the end of the cigar, cigarette, or other similar article,
consists of a mixture of say 22 parts of nitre, 3 of chlorate of potash,
2 of plaster of Paris, 2 of whiting, 6 of lignum vita dust, 18 of charcoal,
and 10 of gum, the whole mixed with water to form a paste, or other
ingredients possessing similar properties; upon this I apply a second
composition, consisting of a mixture of 6 parts of chlorate of potash,
2 of oxide of iron, 2 of bichromate of potash, and 3 parts of glue or
other suitable composition, that will only ignite on a prepared surface,
consisting of a mixture of 10 parts of amorphous phosphorus, 16 of
sulphuret of antimony, and 8 of glue or other suitable chemically pre-
pared surface.
By rubbing the prepared end of the cigar, cigarette, or other similar
article against the chemically prepared surface, the composition is
ignited and the light spreads over the whole surface of the end of the
cigar, cigarette, or other similar article. The compositions applied to
the end of the cigar being entirely free from phosphorus or other
noxious chemicals do not injure the flavour.
Instead of applying two compositions to the end of the cigar as
described a composition possessing the properties of both may be
applied. The proportions given are only approximate.
I propose to make cases to contain the cigars, cigarettes, or other
similar articles with a portion of the chemically prepared surface applied
thereto for the convenience of smokers, or the chemically prepared
surface is spread upon card tablets.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry George Boston in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th June 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
GEORGE BOSTON, Traveller for the Firm of Messieurs John Bellerby a
and Son, of the City of York, in the County of York, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year of

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Henry George Boston, Her special licence
that I, the said Henry George Boston, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry George Boston, 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 "AN
IMPROVED MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR IGNITING CIGARS, CIGARETTES, AND OTHER
SIMILAR ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henry George Boston, 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

page_text: applied thereto for the convenience of smokers, or the chemically pre-
pared surface is spread upon card tablets.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the means pursued
by me.
The composition which I apply to the end of the cigar, cigarette, or
other similar article, is prepared in the following manner :-I take by
weight twenty-four parts of chlorate of potash, four parts of wood or
glass, four parts of oxide of iron, four parts of bichromate of potash or
charcoal, two parts of manganese, and one part of red oxide of antimony;
these ingredients being in a state of fine powder are passed through a
sieve, so that they may be intimately mixed together; six parts of gluc
are then dissolved in water to a thick creamy consistency, and the
powdered ingredients are gradually added to the solution of glue and
the whole is well mixed to form a paste.
The cigars, cigarettes, or other similar articles to be operated upon,
are placed in a perforated board or rack, and the end of each is protected
by means of a metal thimble or shell; the composition above described
is then applied with a pallet knife and left to dry until it is hard.
The prepared surface against which the end of the cigar, cigarette,
or other similar article must be rubbed to produce ignition, is composed
of a mixture of ten parts by weight of amorphous phosphorus and
sixteen parts of sulphuret of antimony combined with six to eight parts.
of glue dissolved in water; the paste or composition so prepared is spread
on the side or end of the cigar or cigarette case, or on to portable cards
or memorandum tablets.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described a
convenient mode of performing the same, I wish it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the proportions of the ingredients given,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character
of my Invention; and I declare that I claim,-
First. The improved composition described when applied to the ends
of cigars, cigarettes, and other similar articles, for igniting them by
friction against a suitably prepared chemical surface.

page_text: And, secondly. Applying the chemically prepared surface for igmang
cigars, cigarettes, and other similar articles to cigar or cigarette cases,
and to portable cards or memorandum tablets.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry George Boston, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.