IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE CANDLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Houston, the younger, of Glasgow and
Paisley, North Britain, Soap and Candle Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE CANDLES,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 28th August 1868, and dated the 6th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Houston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th March 1868.
I, JAMES HOUSTON, the younger, of Glasgow and Paisley, North
Britain, Soap and Candle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE
CANDLES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object the production of composite candles
which shall not be so liable to gutter or run to waste as the ordinary
composite candles now in use. These improved candles are particularly
adapted for use in workshops where the running of the melted fatty

page_text: matter over the work when the candle happens to be slightly tipped out
of the vertical is most objectionable, without taking into consideration
the cost attendant upon the use of candles of so wasteful a nature.
According to my Invention I construct by a continuous process
moulded composite candles with two or more wicks of sufficient size to
consume or take up the fatty matter of the candle as fast as it is melted,
thereby leaving the "cup" of the candle comparatively dry and hence
the liability to guttering is reduced.
The means I propose to adopt in making these candles consists of a
modification of the machine for which Letters Patent were granted to
John Talbot Pitman, bearing date the 6th of October 1857, No. 2556,
whereby such machine is rendered capable of supplying two or more
wicks to each candle mould. For this purpose I dispose beneath the
lower end of each of the hollow rods two or more reels or bobbins which
supply their several wicks to each candle mould above, and if required
I make two or more wick openings through the "tips" of the moulds.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Houston in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
HOUSTON, the younger, of Glasgow and Paisley, North Britain, Soap and
Candle Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Houston, the younger, Her special
license that I, the said James Houston, the younger, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Houston, the younger, my executors, administrators, or 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

page_text: Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE CANDLES,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James. Houston, the younger, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 and.
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Houston, the younger,. do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is.
to say :-
My said Invention has for its object the production of composite.
candles which shall not be liable to gutter or run to waste as the
ordinary composite candles. now in use. The improved candles are
particularly adapted for use in workshops. where the running of the
melted fatty matter over the wick when the candle happens to be
slightly tipped out of the vertical is most objectional, without taking into
consideration the cost attendant upon the use of a candle of so wasteful
a nature.
According to my Invention I construct by a continuous process
moulded composite candles with two or more wicks of different sizes to
contain or take up the fatty matter of the candle as fast as it is melted,
thereby leaving the cup of the candle comparatively dry and hence the
liability to guttering is reduced.
The means I prefer to adopt in making the candles consists of a
modification of the machine for which Letters Patent were granted to
John Talbot Pitman, bearing date the 6th day of October 1857, and
numbered 2556, whereby such machine is rendered capable of supplying
two or more wicks to each candle mould. For this purpose I dispose
beneath the lower end of each of the hollow rods two or more reels or
bobbins which supply their several wicks to the candle mould above, and
if required I make two or more wick openings.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner

page_text: in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, reference being had for the sake of more complete elucidation to
the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended, that
is to say:-
The apparatus which I employ consists of a modification of the
machine for which Letters Patent were granted to John Talbot Pitman
as herein-before referred to..
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the machine, and Figure 2
is a section of one of the candle tubes down to an enlarged scale..
A, A, is the framing of the machine; B, the candle tubes or moulds
which are set in a water-tight box C provided with a stop-cock, not
shown in the Drawings, by which hot or cold water may be introduced
for the purpose of heating or cooling the moulds B; D, are tubular rods,
the lower ends of which are fitted to the vertical sliding frame E, and
the upper ends. carry the candle tip moulds a, as shown in Figure 2;
F, are the reels disposed beneath the lower ends of the tubular rods D
through which the wicks b pass to the moulds as shown..
The mode of operating with the machine is as follows:-The required
number of reels or bobbins having been arranged beneath the vertical
sliding frame E, the wicks 6 are drawn up through the tubular rods D
to the top of the candle moulds B, care being taken to centre the wicks
properly for the first moulding. Hot water is now admetted to the
box C, and when the moulds B are sufficiently heated the melted stuff
is poured into the moulds. The hot water may now be run off and cold
water may be introduced to cool the moulds B. When the candles are
cool enough to draw the sliding frame E is raised and the rods D push
up the candles clear of the moulds B. The candles are now held in a
suitable clamp G and keep the wicks properly centered for the next
moulding. The platform E is then lowered and the operations herein-
before described repeated; as soon as the moulds are filled the candles
which have been formed in the previous moulding may be removed from
the clamp G.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode
of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish to observe in conclusion
that I make no claim to any part of the apparatus employed, but what
I do consider as novel and original and therefore claim as the. Invention

page_text: secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
construction of composite candles having two or more wicks so as to
take up the whole melted fatty matter as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Houston, the younger, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of September
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JAMES HOUSTON, JR. (L.S.)