An Improved Illuminant to be used in connection with Gas and Kerosene Lamps and Candles and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Illuminant to be used in connection with Gas and
Kerosene Lamps and Candles and the like.
We JESSIE CHISHOLM ROBERTSON of Davis Street Richmond in the Colony
of Victoria Hosiery Manufacturer and JOHN ALSTON WALLACE of Collins
Street Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria Member of the Legislative Council
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 the incandescence of the flame of a
burner, also kerosene lamp and candle wicks.
"Bunsen " gas
We are aware that incandescent gas mantles composed of metallic oxides and
various costly chemicals are at present in use by being suspended over the flame of
a Bunsen burner, where they are heated to incandescence, but we have found that
a mantle in the form of the thumb stall of a glove, saturated with a solution of more
common and cheaper chemicals mixed and dried under certain treatment produces
an improved illuminant which is the subject of this invention.
For the purpose of applying our improved illuminant 1st to a Bunsen gas
burner we solute with the illuminant an ordinary cotton or silk mantle frame
knitted preferably in Cardigan and rib stitches diminishing in number of stitches
conically from the bottom of the frame to a shoulder near the top, and then more
suddenly to an apex, (after the form of the thumb stall of a glove) 2nd to kerosene
lamp and candle wicks the ordinary wicking may be used but we prefer a Cardigan
or rib stitch knitted cotton or silk wicking as we find it more readily absorbs the
illuminant.
The methods of mixing and applying the illuminant to the knitted mantle frames
and wicking, and the quantities (apothecary measurement) of the various chemicals
used to solute twelve mantle frames or twelve " kerosene lamp wicks or twenty-
four candle wicks is as follows:-
The mantle frames or wicks are first thoroughly cleansed in soap and water and
then rinsed in pure water and afterwards dryed, they are then dipped into a solution
of half an ounce of Epsom salts or sulphate of barium diluted with six table-
spoonfuls of pure water and afterwards dryed in a warm oven. They are then
soaked for two hours in a well mixed solution of one and a half ounces of fluid
carbonate of magnesia (British Pharmacopea) one dram of rock alum (reduced to
fine powder) half a dram of nitrate of cobalt or sulphate of iron and one dram of
voglite or xanthite they are then dryed in the oven as before and finally dipped
into the solution of Epsom salts or sulphate of barium before mentioned, and again
dryed in the oven. The cotton or silk frame of the mantle is then "burnt out" by
holding over an ordinary Bunsen flame leaving a pliable mantle consisting of the
ingredients of the solution. The lamp and candle wicks are burnt respectively in
kerosene and wax in the usual way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1st. The saturation of cotton or silk incandescent gas mantle frames (knitted in
Cardigan & rib stitches, diminishing in number of stitches conically from the
bottom of the frame to a shoulder near the top and then more suddenly to an apex,

page_text: after the form of the thumb stall of a glove) and lamp and candle wicks, with a
solution consisting of Epsom salts or sulphate of barium, fluid carbonate of
magnesia, rock alum, nitrate of cobalt or sulphate of iron, voglite or xanthite,
incorporated in the proportions as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Sixteenth day of December 1895.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.