And fire Lighter.
Year: 1897

page_text: I, WILLIAM HARMER BRISCOE, of No. 33, Cox Street, Saint Paul's Square, in the
City of Birmingham, County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates as hereinafter described to an improved fire lighter and bas
for its object to provide a cheap and simple means for lighting fires. My invention
consists essentially of a handle supporting an iron pan containing a porous brick
about which is poured mineral or other oil which is absorbed by the brick and being
ignited gives a great heat and flame.
In carrying my invention into practice I form or fashion a rectangular pan or dish
from sheet iron or steel, the said pan provide with a projecting handle which may
be either tubular or solid. I furnish the said pan with a porous brick which exactly
fits the same and is held in position by projections formed on the upper edge of the
said pan. When the said device is required for lighting a fire I pour over the surface
of the brick a mixture of equal parts of petroleum and benzoline. This I find gives
the most satisfactory results though I do not confine myself to this mixture. I may
use any methylated or inflammable spirits. When the liquid is poured over the
brick it is entirely absorbed owing to the brick being of a porous nature.
It is then
ready for use, by simply passing it through the bars of the fire grate, the coal or
other fuel being put on in the ordinary way; upon application of a match it will
give off heat and flame at a high temperature.
My said invention may be applied to stoves by increasing the size of the brick, and
amount of liquid used, and may be employed for heating purposes.
Dated this 6th day of April 1897.
WILLIAM HENRY BARACLOUGH,
36, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.
An improved fire Lighter.
I, WILLIAM HARMER BRISCOE, of 33, Cox Street, Saint Paul's Square, Birmingham,
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, 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 as hereinafter described to an improved fire-lighter and has
for its object to provide a cheap and simple means for lighting fires. My invention
consists essentially of a handle supporting an iron pan containing a porous brick

page_text: about which is poured mineral or other oil which is absorbed by the brick and upon
being ignited gives a great heat and flame. In carrying my invention into practice
I form or fashion a rectangular pan or dish from sheet iron or steel the pan being
provided with a projecting handle which may be tubular or solid. I furnish the pan
with a porous brick which fits the same and is held in position by projections formed
on the upper edge of the pan. When the device is required for lighting a fire I
pour over the surface of the brick a mixture of equal parts of petroleum and
benzoline. This I find gives the most satisfactory results though I do not confine
myself to this mixture. I may use any methylated or inflammable spirit. When
the liquid is poured over the brick it is entirely absorbed owing to the brick being
of a porous nature. It is then ready for use by simply passing it through the bars
of the fire grate the coal or fuel being put on in the ordinary way. Upon applying
a match it will give off heat and flame at a high temperature.
My said invention may be applied to stoves by increasing the size of the brick and
amount of liquid or it may be applied for heating purposes. I will describe my
invention by reference to the accompanying drawings the same letters of reference
indicating similar parts throughout.
Figures 1 and 2 show a plan and vertical section respectively of my improved fire
lighter in which A represents an iron or steel pan or dish provided with handle B.
D a porous brick held in the pan or dish by means of the turned over
projections E.
Figure 3 shows the firelighter with a tubular handle B2 which is attached to the
end of the pan instead of to the side.
In Figure 4 a plan of a similar firelighter is shown having a pointed end for use
in small grates or stoves.
Figure 5 shows in cross section a fire lighter having a recess F formed in the
porous brick D into which is attached a small portion of plaited asbestos fibre G by
which I am enabled to use ordinary petroleum instead of using a mixture of
petroleum and benzoline.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The improved firelighter consisting of a porous brick held in a dish or pan
upon which is poured mineral or other oil capable of being ignited substantially as
described and for the purpose set forth.
2. The improved fire-lighter consisting of a porous brick to which is attached a
portion of asbestos fibre the whole being held or retained in a dish or pan
substantially as described and illustrated and for the purpose set forth.
3. The improved fire-lighter substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1,
2, 3, 4 and 5 and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 5th day of January 1898.
WILLIAM HENRY BARACLOUGH,
36, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.