IMPROVEMENTS IN MELTING FAT, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PALMER, of Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-eighth day of
February, One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the eleventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Palmer, my exors, admors, and assigns,
Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the
said William Palmer, my exors, adñors, and assigns, or such others as 1,
the said William Palmer, my exors, adñors, or assigns, should. at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed,, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MELTING FAT, AND IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a
proviso that I, the said William Palmer, should cause a particular description
of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner, the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear..
NOW KNOW YE, that, in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Palmer, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: .
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention consists,―
First, of improvements in the process of melting fat.
Secondly, my Invention consists of an improvement in the manufacture of
candles by combining distilled fatty matters with two or more wicks in the
making of a candle.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of an improvement in the manufacture of
candles where two or more wicks are used in each candle by causing the
separate, platted, or other wicks which are capable of turning out when being
burned, to be first coated and kept straight with candle stuff, so that when
they are combined in making a candle they may be held separate by such
coating.
Fourthly, my Invention consists of an improvement in making hollow
candles to receive wicks after moulding.
Fifthly, my Invention consists of so arranging apparatus that two or more
wicks may be continuously supplied to moulds for making candles with two or
more wicks.
Sixthly, my Invention consists of a mode of preparing wicks for dip
candles.
Seventhly, my Invention consists of a mode of fastening up several dip
candles into bundles, ordinarily called "pounding" dip candles.
Eighthy, my Invention consists of improvements in the manufacture of
candles by applying wicks cut from woven fabrics.
Ninthly, my Invention consists of improvements in the manufacture of
candles by applying narrow woven fabrics as wicks.
Tenthly, my Invention consists of an improvement in the manufacture of
mould candles by applying a cord or strap to keep the wicks distended in the
moulds. And,
Elevently, my Invention consists of improvements in the apparatus called
the spreading machine, employed for preparing wicks for making dip candles.
And in order that my Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
In melting rough fat, that is, fat in the state it comes from the butchers, a
process has lately been introduced, under a Patent granted to Robert Mollett
and Jesse Bridgman on the Twenty-eighth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-four, whereby the rough fat is subjected to a crushing
S

page_text: process between surfaces, and by preference between grooved rollers heated to
a considerable temperature, as described in the Specification enrolled to the
said Letters Patent, the fat in such process being brought to the rough pressing
surfaces in the cold state in which it comes from the butchers. Now I have
discovered that the process of melting rough fat is greatly improved by first
heating the fat for about half an hour at about two hundred and twelve
degrees of Fahrenheit, either by placing it in hot water or otherwise. The
fat is then to be passed between the rollers or surfaces, as described in the said
Specification. The melted fat is then to be strained or filtered, and that which
remains in the strainers or filters is to be pressed, and generally it will not be
found necessary to reheat the same before such pressure, but if the product
becomes too cold it will require reheating. I have not found it necessary to
heat the rollers or surfaces with steam or other heat, the preparatory heating
of the rough fats being sufficient for the process.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which has for its
object an improvement in the manufacture of two or more wick candles."
Within the last few years large quantities of fatty matters have been distilled
previous to their use in the manufacture of candles, but heretofore only one
wick has been employed in each candle, and in making such candles the
distilled fatty matters have been used in combination with fatty matters, both
in the acid and unacid state, which have not been distilled. I do not, there-
fore, claim the use of distilled fatty matters generally in the making of candles,
but only the combining therewith the use of two or more wicks in each candle,:
by which I am enabled to make a superior class of large candles, principally..
suitable for candle lamps, and in making such candles the two or more wicks
are to be introduced in the manufacture of candles in like manner to making
candles as heretofore practised, when the materials used have not contained
any distilled fatty matter, and the distilled fatty matters are combined, and
employed in carrying out this part of my Invention in like manner to when
making candles each with a single wick, and for making such candles with two
or more wicks I employ cord wick prepared on one side so as to turn out in
burning, which wicks are now well known by the name of striped wicks,' and
are made according to a former Patent granted to me (or other wicks which
in burning turn outwards, so that the ends of the wicks may pass out of the
flame and be dissipated, as is well understood), may be used in carrying out
this part of my Invention.
•
I will now describe the third part of my Invention, which relates to the
manufacture of candles having two or more wicks, which are capable of
turning out when burning, and such improvements cousist in causing such

page_text: wicks (having such property of turning outwards) to be coated with candle stuff
before applying the same in making candles each with two or more wicks,
and I believe that the best means of applying such, coating is to dip such.
single wicks into the candle stuff which is to be used, and drawing them
while warm on to a smooth metal surface to harden, taking care that the
wicks lie perfectly flat and even and without twist, repeating such dipping
process at periods till the desired coating is obtained; and in order that the.
several wicks in the same candle may be equally coated, I sometimes draw
the wicks through holes in a plate kept sufficiently hot to melt off any
excess, and then in making a candle therewith, to combine two or more
together, and make a candle in the ordinary manner, taking care that the
two or more wicks shall be so placed in the candle that each wick shall turn
out of the flame. The object of using such coating is to ensure the wicks
being separate in the candle, which is very important in the making of candles
each with two or more wicks, as it often happens that such descriptions of
wicks when used two or more in the same candle without previous preparation
adhere to each other, and are thereby prevented turning out from the flame.
I would remark, that I am aware that candles made with two wicks, such as.
are used by shoemakers, have been heretofore made by first dipping the
separate wicks into candle stuff, and then combining two to make a candle
by dipping them into the candle stuff, but in such cases only ordinary cotton
wicks have been used, not capable of turning out from the flame, and I wish.
it to be understood that this part of my Invention is confined to the manu-
facture of such candles as have that class of wicks which is capable when
being burned to turn out of the flame.
I will now describe the. fourth part of my Invention, which consists of an
improvement in the manufacture of hollow candles. Heretofore, in manu-,
facturing hollow candles, the internal mandril has been cylindrical or slightly
conical, which is very unsuitable for the making of two-wicked candles. Now
the present improvement consists in using a four-sided mandril, or such as to
produce a hollow of a figure to be proper for receiving two wicks placed
so that when two wicks are drawn through a candle, they will fill or
nearly fill the hollow, in place of having curved spaces on either side, as
is the case with like candles when made with cylindrical hollows through
them.
I will now describe the fifth part of my Invention, which also relates to
the manufacture of mould candles, each with two or more wicks. In carrying
out this part of my Invention, I employ similar apparatus to that originally
invented by Mr. Morgan, by which single wicks were continuously supplied,

page_text: to candle moulds, the removing of a candle from a mould being the cause of
re-wicking such mould, and my present improvements consist of so arranging
such apparatus and the nozels of the moulds that two or more wicks may
be applied continuously to a mould; the removal of a candle from a mould.
causing the mould to be re-wicked with two or more wicks. The arrangement
of apparatus shewn in the Drawings being for applying two wicks to each
mould, a workman would from the description here given, aided by the
Drawings, readily arrange the apparatus for introducing more than two wicks:
by having the nozels' made with more than two openings, and arranging a
suitable number of bobbins with wicks to supply each mould. The nature-
of these machines being well understood it will only be necessary to describe
those parts which relate to the present improvements, as a workman will
readily understand the working of the machines by a careful examination of
the Drawings.
g
Figure 1 shows a front view, Figure 2 a vertical section through the line
(1), (1), Figure 8 a plan, Figure 4 a side view, and Figure 5 a longitudinal
section, of the apparatus, arranged suitable for carrying out this part of my
Invention. Figures 6 and 7 shew a plan and section of the mould frame on
a larger scale. a, a, is a mould frame arranged with two bobbins 6, 6', to each
mould, and it will be seen that the nozzles c, c, of the moulds are formed with.
two openings e and e', for the purpose of separating the wicks at that end of
the mould. The wick from the bobbin 6 passes over the guide bar d through
the opening e, and the wick from the bobbin 6' passes over the bar d, and
through the opening e', and the two are kept separate by the cross piece f in
the nozzle of the mould; the two wicks, after passing through the mould, are.
held between the bars 9 and h, ready to be taken hold of by the metal clip or
holder, which is described under another part of my Invention, and a flexible.
cord is passed between the wicks at the bottom of each mould in order to
keep them separate, or other means may be used for this purpose. In using
this machine, the workman first cottons the moulds by threading the wicks
through with a suitable needle, and places the ends between the holding bars
g and h; he then takes hold of the ends with the wick holder, and fixes it in
its place, then by hand the wicks are each tightened at the nozzle end of the
moulds, and the slack of the wicks taken up by turning the grooved discs i, i,
on the ends of the spindles which carry the bobbins, and there are wire springs
i, which are caused to press into the grooves by a turn-button k, in order to
retain them tight whilst filling the moulds with candle stuff. After having
filled the moulds, and the candles are cold, the string or cord which separates
the wicks is drawn out; the wick holder is then cut away by a thin sharp

page_text: knife cutting all the wicks near the ends of the moulds. The frame is to be
again placed on the table, to have the candles forced out of the moulds, the
nature of which process will be readily understood on examining the Drawings,
the wicks being slackened from the bobbins before forcing out the candles.
The candles having been forced out on to the grooved table m are held by!
the spring holding bar n, whilst the forcers are withdrawn from the moulds,
the moulds being recottened with two wicks by the act of forcing out the
candles; the notched bar g is then to be raised, so as to bring its edge to tho
centre of the moulds) by turning the handle g' on the axis g, that axis having
two arms g³, which when turned press up the stirrup frames g', fixed to the
ends of the rods g', which are attached to the notched bar g. The wick-
holding bar h (which turns on a pin joint on one side of the machine, is then
to be turned down to hold the wicks, whilst the candles are cut off by scissors
or knife, and there is another bar g*, which turns on hinges attached to the
bar g, which is turned back (as seen by dotted lines) when the candles have
been cut off, and a length of wick equal to the thickness of the bar g* is left
projecting over the bar g, for the wick holder to take hold of threads ready to
repeat the operation.
I will now describe the sixth part of my Invention, which has for its object
the preparation of wicks for dip candles so as to cause the wicks to become
straight by coating them in the manner herein described with candle stuff.
Figure 8 shews a side section, and Figure 9 a plan, of a table used in
carrying out this part of my Invention. Figure 10 shews the two ends of a
stick for holding the wick, and Figure 11 an end view of the same. The
stick consists of a bent plate of sheet iron or other metal, the elasticity of
which tends to keep open the jaws a, b, but by turning down the two bent
wires d (one near each end of the stick), the jaws are caused to come together
and hold the wicks between them, the springs c having a tendency to open the
jaws, such springs aiding the elasticity of the bent metal of the stick to remain
open when not closed by the clamping wires d, but other holding sticks may
be used for this purpose, the sticks above described being suitable when single
wicks of plat or other fabric are used. The upper surface of the table e is of
metal and has a step at f, on which the stick or holder of the wicks rests in
such manner that the wicks may come straight on to the table. The work-
man, in using this table, causes the wicks to be dipped into the melted candle
stuff and holds them up till the melted stuff no longer continues to drop; he
then draws them from the back towards the front end of the table, where the
step is, and if he find the wicks not drawn sufficiently straight before the
holder comes to about half-way across the table, he uses a brush to straighten

page_text: them, and then draws them again on the table till the holder comes to the step,
and there the wicks are to remain till the candle stuff is hard, and then the
wicks are ready to have the candles completed by successive dippings, as is
well understood. I would here remark that the wicks in cooling seldom
adhere to the table, but when they do a thin knife may be passed between
them and the table to release them from the surface thereof.
I will now describe the mould wick holder or clip before referred in connec-
tion with the mould-wicking apparatus just above described. Figure 12 is a
side view, Figure 13 a front view, Figure 14 a back view, and Figures 15.
and 16 two end views, Figure 15 shewing the instrument when open, and
Figure 16 when closed to hold the wicks. a, a, are two bent plates, which are
hinged to and turn upon the axis b, and are kept open by the springs c.
d are
forked pressing levers turning on the axis d', which serve as handles to hold
the instrument by when taking hold of the wicks, and when turned into the
position shewn by dotted lines the narrow part of the fork presses the two
plates, and causes them to turn on the axis b, and bring the jaws into close-
contact so as to hold the wicks tightly between them.
Another wick holder for wicks for dip candles is shewn, Figure, 15* and
Figure 16x, which show respectively part of a plan and transverse section.
The holder consists of a bont plate of metal to obtain stiffness with lightness,
the wicks being held by placing them in notches a, a, a, the holder being
carried in "blocks" bas heretofore, when rods are used in making dip
candles.
I will now describe the seventh part of my Invention, which has for its
object the fastening up of dip candles into numbers equal to a pound or
other required weight. Heretofore this has been done with facility by reason
of cach candle having a loop, but now that platted and other wicks have
come into use for dip candles, and in which to make loops would be very
expensive except where two wicks are used in each candle, it becomes
important to use some convenient and cheap means of connecting such a.
number of dip candles together into one bundle as there are in a pound or
other desired weight, so that as heretofore dip candles may be sold in quanti-
ties of a pound or other weight as heretofore, notwithstanding they are made
with platted, linked, or other single wicks. And this part of my Invention
consists in using a needle and thread, and passing the same through the
platted or other single wicks of so many candles as go to a pound or other
weight, and then fastening the ends of such thread, by which each bundle of
dip candles will as heretofore consist of one pound or other determined weight,
by which means much time and expense will be saved in what is called
"pounding" dip candles made with single wicks without loops.

page_text: I will now describe the eighth part of my Invention, which consists of
improvements in the manufacture of candles by the application of wicks cut
from woven fabrics. In carrying out this part of my Invention I cause narrow
strips to be cut in the direction of the warp from woven fabrics, which I
employ in making candles in like manner to what other descriptions of wicks
have heretofore been used, but I prefer to employ for this purpose wicks made
from such fabrics as will in burning as wicks in candles have the power of
turning out from the flames; for which purpose I use strong thick woven
fabrics of cotton, and those which I have found best for the purpose are what
are called moleskin, fustains, corderoy, and velvet, but I do not confine
myself thereto, as the wicks may be cut from other weavings suitable for the
purpose of carrying out this
part of Invention..
my
I will now describe the ninth part of my Invention, which has for its
object another mode of making woven wicks for candles, and consists of
weaving narrow webs, each of a suitable width for a wick from cotton. For
this purpose I employ a loom such as is now employed for weaving narrow
goods, and I so work the same as to produce thick fabrics similar to what are
called moleskin, fustains; velvet, and such like fabrics, and I would state that
I have found that in all cotton fabries which have the two surfaces of
different substance or texture, when the same are used as wicks in candles,
they have the property of turning out from the flames in burning.
I will now describe the tenth part of my Invention, which consists of
using a flexible cord or strap to hold the wicks in ordinary mould frames.
It has hitherto been usual to hold the wicks of several moulds by a short wire
to each pipe or mould, or by a long one passing over the ends of a row of
pipes or moulds; now I I have found that the use of the former is very
troublesome, and the latter is very liable to become crooked, for which reasons
I substitute a flexible strap or cord, which can readily be stretched across the
centre of the openings to the moulds or pipes, and held securely by tyeing or
otherwise at its two ends; for this purpose I cause such flexible strap or cord
to be passed through the loops fixed at the ends of the several wicks in place
of the long wire heretofore employed, and I draw such cord or strap tight,
and fasten it by its two ends to the mould frame.
'I will now describe the eleventh part of my Invention, which has for its
object the spreading and cutting in proper lengths those kinds of candle
wicks which have no loops by which they can be held, as in the. ordinary
candle or dipping rod used in making dip candles, and as the ordinary
spreading machine is well known, it will only be necessary to describe so much
of this machine that a workman may carry out this part of the Invention. In
the spreading machine now in use, the workman places a candle rod behind

page_text: the ends of the cotton which are held under a bar, and draws it towards the
front of the machine a distance suitable for a candle wick; the cotton is by
such means looped over the rods, and then cut off, and again held to repeat
the operation. Now my object is, so to arrange apparatus that the ends of
the wicks as they come from the bobbins or balls may be taken hold off by the
clip or wick holder, first above described, and drawn out to the proper length
for a single candle wick; the wicks are then held, as hereafter explained, whilst
being cut, the clip or wick holder being used in the place of an ordinary candle
rod. The nature of this machine will be readily understood on examining
the Drawings, where Figures 17 and 18 show two front views, and Figures 19.
and 20, two sections of the machine in the two positions the parts would
assume previous to and when cutting off a row of wicks. a, a, is the framing
of the machine; b, b, are bobbins from which the wicks are supplied, and
which are passed under wire loops or guides on the tilting board or table c;
d, d, is a frame which is caused to rise and fall by means of the levers e and
.cams f, which carry the knife g on the pins g', and the cams f turn on axes fixed
to the cross bar a', carried by the supports a², attached to the main framing.
The levers e are fixed to the cams f, and are connected by the link h, and
when the handle of the levers e is raised, the frame d descends, bringing down.
the tilting board c, pressing hard on the wicks, and being roughed, holds the
wicks tightly, whilst the knife descends to cut off the required length of wick.
c¹ is a fixed bar between the tilting board and the space through which the knife
cuts, and is for the purpose of leaving a short length of cotton hanging over the
tilting board c, to enable the workman to take a fresh hold of the cotton to
repeat the operation. In raising the knife, the upper surfaces of the cams f
press against the under surface of the bar d' of the frame d, and raise the knife
into the position shewn in the Drawing. The tilting board is at all times
pressed on by weights at one edge, which cause the front edge of this board
to rise.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that. I do not
confine myself to the details herein described so long as the peculiar character
of either part of my Invention be retained. But what I claim is,
First, the heating of rough fats before subjecting the same to pressure
between rollers or surfaces, as herein explained.
Secondly, I claim the mode of manufacturing candles, each with two or
more wicks, by combining therewith matters containing more or less of
distilled fatty matters.
Thirdly, I claim the manufacture of candles, each with two or more wicks,

page_text: where that class of wicks which are capable of turning out of the flame are
used, by first coating the wicks over with candle stuff.
Fourthly, I claim the manufacturing of hollow candles by employing four
sided or other mandrils, such as herein described.
Fifthly, I claim the so arranging apparatus that two or more wicks may be
continuously supplied to a mould in such manner that the removal of a candle
from a mould shall be the cause of re-wicking the mould with two or more
wicks.
Sixthly, I claim the mode of strengthening candle wicks in the manufacture
of dip candles. And I also claim the metal wick holders for holding wicks of 1
dip and mould candles, as above described.
Seventhly, I claim the mode of fastening candles into pounds or other
weights, as herein explained.
Eighthly, I claim the manufacture of wicks for candles by cutting them
from woven fabrics.
Ninthly, I claim the manufacture of candles with woven fabrics, as herein
described.
Tenthly, I claim the application of a cord or strap for holding the ends of
the wicks, as above described. And,
Eleventhly, I claim the improved arrangement of spreading machinery
herein described.
In witness, I, the said William Palmer, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eighth day of August, One thousand eight hundred
and fortnight