A LAMP INTENDED TO BE CALLED 'THE ECONOMICAL AND UNIVERSAL LAMP,' CON- STRUCTED BY MEANS OF THE FLAME OF THE WICK BEING KEPT IN A CONSTANT AND EQUAL DEGREE OF CONTIGUITY TO THE OIL, SO AS TO CONSUME IN PROPORTION TO THE LIGHT IT GIVES A LESS QUANTITY OF OIL THAN OTHER LAMPS, AND ALSO TO GIVE A CONTINUED LIGHT OF ALMOST UNVARIED BRILLIANCY
Year: 1818

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALLINGHAM, of Smith Street, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His present Majesty King George the Third, in and by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Nineteenth day of February
last, for Himself, His heirs and successors, did give and grant unto me, the
said Thomas Allingham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, His special
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Thomas
Allingham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every of them, by
myself and themselves, or by my and their deputy or deputies, servants or
agents, or such others as I, the said Thomas Allingham, my exécutors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of years therein
unexpired, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "A
LAMP INTENDED TO BE CALLED 'THE ECONOMICAL AND UNIVERSAL LAMP,' CON-
STRUCTED BY MEANS OF THE FLAME OF THE WICK BEING KEPT IN A CONSTANT AND
EQUAL DEGREE OF CONTIGUITY TO THE OIL, SO AS TO CONSUME IN PROPORTION TO THE
LIGHT IT GIVES A LESS QUANTITY OF OIL THAN OTHER LAMPS, AND ALSO TO GIVE A
CONTINUED LIGHT OF ALMOST UNVARIED BRILLIANCY;" in which said Letters
'Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Thomas Allingham,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe

page_text: and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Ilis Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereto had, will more fully appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Allingham, do hereby describe and ascertain the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by the following
description thereof, that is to say:-.
The lamp consists of a cylindrical, globular, or other shaped glass open at
the top, and at bottom is a chamber of smaller diameter or otherwise (or the
chamber may be omitted altogether) to contain the oil; at this end of the glass
is a shank or stem made for the purpose of its being inserted in a stand, in
which is a hole or socket made to fit the shank or stem, and by that means
the glass or lamp is supported; which stand may be made of wood, porcelain,
metal, glass, or any other material capable of being formed for the purpose, or
the lamp and stand may be made of glass wholly and entire in one. A float of
Savarmah cedar, or any other light wood, or of cork, or any other floating
substance (such being painted, varnished or japanned to preserve it from the
oil) must be made so as to contain and support-the-wick at the top of the oil
in the cylindrical or other shaped glass, having a grove cut deep enough
round the edge thereof, or in any other way to allow sufficient wick to be
wound or placed therein or thereon to last three months more or less, and in
the centre or other part or parts of this float may be fixed a tube or tubes
made of brass or other metal about one inch in length more or less, and the
<liameter therein according to the number of threads required, from two to any
number. The wick is to be wound in the grove of or round the float, and the
end inserted into the tube at the bottom, and brought out at the top, leaving
about one-eighth of an inch or more for lighting; as the oil is consumed, the
float of course will lower in the cylindrical glass, but as the float constantly
swims on the oil, the burning wick at the top of the tube in the float is
invariably kept in an equal and uniform degree of nearness to the oil by which
it is supplied, whereby a constant light of almost invariable brilliancy will be
produced while any oil remains, whereas in other lamps in proportion as the
oil is consumed the light from the wick being removed to a greater distance
from the oil, diminishes in splendour unless frequently trimed and replenished.
The wick, also forming part of the said Invention, is prepared and carded with
cylinder or peputual cards, and spun by what is called the mule frames to the
size of eight hanks to the pound; not more twist in it than weft; the cotton

page_text: wool, best fleecy Turkey, either Kikagatch or any other as good, and must be
picked perfectly clean. Three threads of this twist is sufficient for the night
lamp, but common cotton wick may be used, though the light will not then be
quite so good. On trimming this lamp, the wick should be raised about the
onc-eighth of an inch, and so from time to time until the whole of the wick
wound round or placed in or upon the grove is used; the lamp of course is to
be replenished with oil as soon as the supply is consumed. The glass may be
varied in form and size according to the uses for which the lamp is intended;
the floats and tubes will likewise be larger or smaller in proportion to the size
of the glass, and the Invention will also be applied to hall and other lamps
to which it may be applicable.
In witness whereof, the said Thomas Allingham hath hereunto set his
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-seventh day of
July, in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Thomas Allingham canic
before our Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifica-
tion aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of
the Statute in that case made and provided.
nolled the Tenth day of August, in the year above writt on.