An Improved Fire Lighter.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov, 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL STECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire Lighter.
I, GEORGE STREET of Elm Cottage Fairfield South, Kingston on Thames in the
County of Surrey Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
Four pieces of wood of equal length (six inches) inch thick & 1 inch wide
pierced through by a round French nail in their centres in such a way that they will
turn independently of each other on the nail as a pivot. Between the first and second
piece of wood is placed 3 inches or more of wax taper treated in such a way as
to project 1 inch or more each side of the wood slips and so as to be highly
inflammable thus forming a fuse by which the lighter is fired. The whole contrivance
is then plunged in a bath of paraffin oil and steeped therein. It is then dried and
when required for use the slips of wood are spread out into the form of a star. The
lighter will then stand upon end in any grate and when surrounded with coal will on
application of a match to the wax taper fire the coal very effectually. I also treat
the fire lighter made as above described by plunging same into a bath of boiling
resin, instead of paraffin, removing the same at once and instantly turning the
ends of the taper above described upwards and outwards so as to bring them
into a convenient position for lighting. The lighter will then be found to be
coated with a thin film of resin. The construction is star-shaped as above described
but the resin fixes it and renders the whole rigid. It is used in the same way and is
so arranged as to stand on end in any grate as in the first case.
Dated this First day of August 1889.
GEORGE STREET.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fire Lighter.
I GEORGE STREET, of Elm Cottage Fairfield South, Kingston on Thames in the
County of Surrey Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
According to my invention I take four or more pieces of wood split or sawn into
lengths of say 5 inches each piece being for example of an inch in thickness and
one inch wide, with the ends sawn or otherwise cut square.
I place the requisite number of pieces of wood one upon another, and then
provide a piece of wax taper, lamp cotton, woven wick or string about say three inches
or more in length and place one end of it between any two of the pieces of wood in
such a way that a nail preferably a so called round French nail driven through the
centres of the pieces of wood will pierce and hold the said taper, cotton wick or
string in position.
Having pierced the said wood and wick as aforesaid with the nail so that the same
are tightly held together but not necessarily so as to prevent independent motion of
each piece upon the nail as a pivot. I now open the pieces of wood into a star shape
keeping the two outside pieces parallel to each other. This will enable the fire lighter
constructed according to my invention to be placed in an upright position in the fire-
place or other place upon the ends of these two parallel strips the ends having been
cut square as before described.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view, and Figure 2 a
vertical section of such a fire lighter constructed according to my invention. A shews
the pieces of wood of which the fire lighter is composed, B is the wick, and C the

page_text: nail passing through the wood pieces A and the wick B. This nail while retaining
the parts together may also act as a pivot about which the wood pieces A may be
turned into the form of a star when required for use as shown at Fig. 1 or they may
be closed up one over the other for economy of space for packing and as shewn by
the view Figure 3, or the nail may be used to retain the fire lighter in a permanently
star shaped position as shewn at Figure 1.
1 now prepare a bath of resin heated up to its boiling point and plunge the article
therein carefully preventing by means of a suitable appliance, a tongs for example,
one of the ends from coming into contact with the resin in order to keep it clean
for handling. I take out the firelighter immediately from the resin bath and the same
will be found to be covered with a thin film of resin.
Alternatively I plunge the pieces of wood separately into resin and subsequently
construct the firelighter as aforesaid, or if desired the firelighters may be saturated
with paraffin or similar oil instead of the resin as aforesaid although I have found
the resin to answer the purpose well.
Firelighters constructed according to my invention are wholly consumed or nearly
so before falling to pieces, a great defect heretofore existing in firelighters of the
ordinary construction. By my invention the nail keeps the wood from falling until
all is consumed. The wick is bent outwards the coal piled round the firelighter and
the wick ignited while the firelighter remains in an upright position as before
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In firelighters the combination of the pieces of wood A with the wick B and
nail C substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In firelighters the nail C for holding the parts together until they are consumed
while at the same time the said nail acts as a pivot for the wood pieces to turn on or
to hold them permanently together all substantially as herembefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In firelighters the pieces of wood A in combination with the wick B held together
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 7th day of November 1889.
CRORCE STRET