IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COOKING APPARATUS, AND IN COOKING LAMPS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Edmund Gardner, of the firm of H. and J.
Gardner, of the Strand, in the City of Westminster, Manufacturers, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COOKING APPARATUS, AND
IN COOKING LAMPS."
Sealed the 10th August 1855, and dated the 23rd February 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Edmund Gardner at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd February 1855.
1, JOHN EDMUND GARDNER, of the firm of H. and J. Gardner, of the Strand,
in the City of Westminster, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COOKING APPARATUS, AND
IN COOKING LAMPS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in combining and arranging various culinary utensils
so that they will pack into a small space, and in providing a stand for the same;
also in a new arrangement of spirit lamp for cooking.
My apparatus is so constructed as to cook over a wood or other fuel fire, or
where wood or other fuel is not readily to be procured, then over a spirit lamp,
of the particular construction herein-after described.
The stand consists of four legs and sides which are made to fold, and of a
top formed of transverse bars or gratings. When fuel is used for cooking this
stand answers as a gridiron, but when a lamp is used a plate has to be laid on
the gratings to prevent the meat being burnt. The vessel Lemploy for a boiler
or teapot is fitted with a folding handle, and with a tap made to screw on and
oft, at the back of which is a filter or strainer, to keep back the tea leaves

page_text: when the boiler is used as a teapot. This vessel fits into another made to
answer the purpose of a frying pan, the handle to which is made to take on
and off. There is another vessel with removeable handle, which may, if
required, be used as a saucepan. These vessels are so contrived as to fit into
each other; the inuer one holds the handle and tap for the convenience of
carriage. There is also room for a drinking cup, and when a lamp is to form
the means of heating, it is placed inside a supplementary vessel, which may
be used as a boiler.
My improved cooking lamp consists of a vessel fitted at top with a ring
pierced with numerous holes; there is a hollow or opening from the bottom
all throngh this vessel, and it is provided with a stand. The outer edge of the
perforated ring is screw-threaded, and for the sake of portability as well as to
keep the perforations clear, a small spirit lamp with a wick is made to screw
thereon. To the upper part of the vessel arc fitted three arms, which are
made to fold down by the side of the lamp when out of use, and are kept
extended when required to hold up a boiler, pan, or other cooking utensil,
by passing a tube over the joints, in a similar manner to the joints of
parasols.
When the lamp is required for cooking, spirit is placed inside the vessel;
the wick of the small spirit lamp is lighted and placed under the vessel, when
it vaporises the spirit and ignites the vapor issuing from the perforated ring.
The whole apparatus together with the lamp stows into a leather case,
which can be carried by a strap passed over the shoulder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Edmund Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 23rd August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
EDMUND GARDNER, of the firm of H. and J. Gardner, of the Strand, in the City
of Westminster, Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Edmund Gardner, Her special licence that I, the said John
Edmund Gardner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Edmund Gardner, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: 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 Inven-
tion for IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE COOKING APPARATUS, AND IN COOKING
LAMPS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Edmund
Gardner, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particu.
larly 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 John Edmund Gardner, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:
My Invention consists in combining and arranging various culinary utensils
so that they will pack into a small space, and in providing a stand for the same;
also in a new arrangement of spirit lamp for cooking.
My apparatus is so constructed as to cook over a wood or other fuel fire, or
where wood or other fuel is not readily to be procured, then over a spirit lamp,
of the particular construction herein-after described.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn the manner in which
I carry my Invention into effect, and also represented the several culinary
utensils forming the portable cooking apparatus.
Figure 1 represents the whole of the cooking apparatus packed together in
a leathern or other suitable case, which is capable of being slung on to the
back or shoulder by means of the straps A, A.
Figure 2 represents a side view, and Figure 3 a plan, of the stand which I
employ for resting the various culinary utensils on when cooking. It consists
of four legs A, A, which are jointed at a, a. The lower ends of these legs
are pointed, so that they may be driven into the ground for better supporting
the stand. B, B, are two side pieces; and C, a top, formed of transverse bars
or gratings b, b. The sides B, B, are hinged at c, c, to the top frame C, so as
to be capable of being folded over on to the top frame. When fuel is used
for cooking, the stand answers as a gridiron; but when a lamp is used,a plate,
such as that represented in Figure 4, has to be laid on the gratings to prevent
the meat being burnt.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 shew the vessel I employ for a boiler or teapot, which

page_text: is fitted with a folding or moveable handle A, and with a tap B, made to
screw on and off. At the back of this tap and inside the vessel I place a
filter or strainer, to keep back the tea leaves when the boiler is used.as a tea-
pot. This vessel has fitted to it another but shallower vessel, as shewn in
Figure 7, where it answers the purpose of a lid, but may, if desired, form a
frying-pan, as represented in Figure 8, a socket a being rivetted on to one of
its sides to receive the lip of the removeable handle A. Figure 9 represents
a detached view of this handle A.
Figure 13 shews another vessel, with removeable handle A, which may, if
required,be used as a saucepan; and Figure 11 represents another and similar
vessel, but smaller. These vessels are so contrivid as to fit into each other.;
the inner one holds the handles and tap for the convenience of carriage.
Figure 12 represents a drinking cup; and Figure 13 is another vessel of
smaller diameter, which fits into the drinking cup, and serves for holding salt
or other necessaries.
Figures 14, 15, and 16 represent small vessels, perforated at top, for con-
taining pepper, salt, or other requirements. These vessels fit into the inside
of the vessel, Figure 13, as shewn in the section, Figure 17. The lid A of
the vessel, Figure 17, is formed with a grater B on the inside, as shewn in
Figure 18, for the purpose of reducing nutmeg, &c.
Figure 19 represents a milk pot.
Figure 20 is a pair of bellows, the nozzle A of which screws on or off for
the convenience of packing and carriage.
Figure 21 shews a fish-slice or ladle.
Figures 22 and 23 represent a knife and fork, which are capable of being
shut up, similar to an ordinary clasp knife. Studs a, a, project from one side
of the handle of the fork, which fit into slots b, b, in the handle of the knife,
so that the two may be united together when not required for use, in the
manner shewn in Figure 24.
Figure 25 represents my improved cooking lamp, which consists of a
vessel A, fitted at top with a ring B, pierced with numerous holes; there is
a hollow or opening from the bottom all through this vessel A, and it is pro-
vided with a stand C. The outer edge or the perforated ring B is screw-
threaded, and for the sake of portability, as well as to keep the perforations
clear, a small spirit lamp D with a wick is made to screw thereon, as shewo
in Figure 26. To the upper part of the vessel are fitted three arms E, E, E
which are jointed at a, a, so as to fold down by the side of the lamp when out
These arms are kept extended when required to hold up a boiler
pan, or other cooking utensil, by passing a tube F over the joints, in a similar
of use.

page_text: manner to the joints of parasols. When the lamp is required for cooking,
spirit is placed inside the vessel; the wick of the small spirit lamp D is lighted
and placed under the vessel A, when it vaporises the spirit and ignites the
vapour issuing from the perforated ring. G is the nozzle, through which the
spirit is poured for filling the interior of the vessel A. Perforations b, b, are
made round the upper part of the stand C for providing air for the spirit
lamp D.
These holes are capable of being opened or closed at pleasure.
Figure 27 represents a plan of the stand C. The whole of this lamp fits
into the stand C, as shewn in Figure 26.
may
Figure 28 represents a can for containing the spirits for feeding the lamp,
one side of which is hollowed out, as shewn to fit the shape of the vessels that
be packed with it. The sizes and shapes of all the vessels comprising
the portable cooking apparatus are such that they readily fit the one into the
other, so as to occupy a small amount of space, and thereby enable them
readily to be carried.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,—
First, the combining and arranging the various culinary utensils so that
they will pack into a small space, and thereby form a portable cooking
apparatus, as herein-before described, and represented in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
Second, I claim the improved construction of stand to be used in connection
with the cooking apparatus, as herein-before described, and represented in
Figures 2 and 3 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
And, third, I claim the improved arrangement and construction of spirit
lamps to be used for cooking, as herein-before described, and represented in
Figures 25 and 26 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Edmund Gardner, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five.
JOHN EDMUND GARDNER. (L.S.)