CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OR MEANS OF ILLUMINATING APPARTMENTS OR PLACES BY THE COMBI- NATION OF TALLOW OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS
Year: 1814

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LEGER
DIDOT, of Church Street, Paddington, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Tenth day of November,
in the fifty-fifth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said
Leger Didot, my exors, adññors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Leger Didot, my exors, adiñors,
and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term of years therein men-
tioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed; my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OR MEANS OF ILLUMINATING APPARTMENTS OR PLACES BY THE COMBI-
NATION OF TALLOW OR OTHER INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS;" in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso that if I, the said Leger Didot, shall not
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, and cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's.
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said. Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent,

page_text: and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease,
determine, and become void, as in and by the same, relation being thereunto
had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Leger Didot, do hereby declare that my said Invention consists in various
improvements in the form of candles, either of tallow, wax, spermacity, or any
other inflamable substance of which candles can be made; also in the appa-
ratus and manner of making such candles; and further, in the candlesticks in
which such candles are to be placed for burning.
Figure 1 of the Drawing No. 1, hereunto annexed, is a section of a candle
of an improved form at top, for instead of the tallow terminating with a cone
rising from the whole size of the candel, I make a grove or channel a, a, round
the base of the cone of tallow 6 which terminates the candle. By this means the
wick when first lighted is surrounded by tallow to make it burn, and the tallow
at the point of the cone is so thin that it will readily melt to supply the flame.
The melted tallow by running down fills up the grove or channel, and thus puts
the candle in the same situation as though it had been burning a long time.
The improvement is not limited to any particular form of the channel a, which
may be varied at pleasure, so that it surrounds the base of the cone to receive the
tallow when melted. These kind of candles may be made in a mould properly
formed to give the figure represented; but to shape dipped candles in this manner
the ends are to be pressed into a mould heated to such a degree as to melt the
tallow, see Figure 2 and 3, in which B is the mould hollowed out or shaped so
that the part 6 will form the cone round the wick and the elevated rim a.
The circular channel holes may be bored down through the mould as at c to
allow the tallow to escape; also the tallow which runs down over the outside
of the mould is received into the channel d, which has holes to allow the
tallow to pass into a proper receptacle, which may be made in any convenient
form beneath the plate A, on which the mould is placed. The whole may be
heated by placing it over a fire, by the application of steam, or otherwise.
R is a mould to form the bottom or lower end of a dipped candle in a
proper manner to be introduced into the candlesticks or apparatus hereafter
described.
Figure 4 is a section to shew my improvement in the moulds or frame of
moulds for casting candles. A are the wooden sides of the frame; B the trough
into which the melted tallow is flowed and run down into the tubes or moulds
D, D. E is the cross piece through which the moulds pass, and by which they
are steadied. F are the caps or pieces to form the tops of the candles, all fixed

page_text: in one piece of board G. The ends of this board have notches to receive narrow
pieces a, a, fixed to the side A, and by this it is guided so that the caps F will
apply exactly to the ends of the tubes D to retain them. Wedges b are put
through mortises in the pieces a; by this means when the wedges are with-
drawn all the caps are removed at once, instead of unscrewing them separately,
as commonly done. Also another board to contain a different kind of caps
may be applied to make the same mould serve for my improved candles, as
represented in the Drawings, or any other kind of candles.
a
Figure 5 and 6 are improved candles of my invention, which are solid
cylinders of tallow or other proper inflamable substance, marked A, A, and
instead of a wick through the whole length a short piece of wick a is placed
at top, which will burn as long as the candle lasts without ever requiring to be
snuffed. It is requisite to have some means of supporting the wick at the top
of the candle, as also some action to force the candle always up to the wick as
the tallow consumes, or otherwise that the wick shall be made to descend to the
tallow as it consumes, so that the frame shall always be supplied. And be it
observed that I do not claim the original invention of solid candles with short
wicks placed on them, but it is in the means of supporting the wicks and supply-
ing them with tallow that this part of my Invention consists. I have invented
two methods of supporting the wicks. First, Figure 5, by attaching the wick
to a piece of card, pasteboard, or other similar substance b, which is the figure
and nearly the size of the solid candle A. The wick a is put through a hole in
the center of this piece b, and above the card I fit a small metal ring c upon the
wick, leaving a space between it and the card to prevent the flame encroaching
downwards to melt the candle too fast. This candle I place in the tube B
when it is to be burned, which tube has three or four small claws or hooks d
projecting inward from its circumference towards the center. The circular
card is stopt by these hooks when the candle is forced upwards in the tube by
the pressure of a spiral spring placed beneath it, or by any other means. The
heat of the flame causes the tallow to melt, and the card not being quite so
large as the candle the melted grease flows round the hedge of the card and
rises upon it to supply the flame. The pressure of the spring beneath the
candle continues to force it up as fast as it melts away, and this continues
until the whole is consumed. The wick is prepared by applying a small
quantity of melted tallow to the cotton and afterwards drawing it through
metal moulds, Fig. 7, of a proper figure to give the wick its intended shape,
which may be either round, shewn at R, or oblong, as &, or any other shape.
The cotton thus prepared is cut into lengths, and applied to the card and ring,

page_text: which are pierc'd with, corresponding holes. A wick with card and ring is
placed in the mould, which is shewn detached from the frame at Fig. 9. Fis
the cap of the mould properly formed for the reception of the wick with the
card and ring upon it. This cap is fitted to the end of the tube or mould, and
may be fastened in the manner shewn in Fig. 4, or otherwise by means of a
the lower end of the tube D, and is formed to
ferril L, which screws upon
receive the cap F. In this mould the solid candle. is cast with a wick upon
the top of it, and is ready for use, but if after, burning some time the wick
requires, renewal, a new one, with the card and ring united with it by a
button of tallow, is applied. at the top of the candle.
small
Fig. 8 is the,mould for forming the tallow to such extra wicks. T is the
lower part; n the cavity to receive the prepared wick; o the cell for the metal
ring to rest in; h the cell for the card, to rest in, and V the top part, which
being shut down and the tallow poured in, forms the wick, which is represented
in, an inverted position at W, but being placed on the top of the candle A,
Fig. 5, will supply the place of the original, wick a. Fig. 6 represents the
mode of supporting.a wick upon the top of a solid; candle by a small lever e,
which terminates in an eye or ring to receive the wick a, which is cast at top
of the candle, but without any card or ring; the lever moves on a center sup-
ported in a piece of metal f inserted into a socket at the side of the tube B of
the candlestick. Fig. 11 shews the lever and its support removed from the
socket. At the side of the tube g is a counterpoise to the weight of the wick, but
this counterpoise is not fixed fast to the lever, being fitted upon the center pin;
it can be turned up as at Y, and does not in that position balance the wick,
but on turning it down again into the position of Fig. 6, it will balance the
wick. When the candle is first lighted this weight is to be turned up as at
Y, but, as soon as the tallow becomes melted the weight is to be put down into
the position of Fig. 6.
Z, Figure.11, are two views of a lever for a double wick, and & shews how
the lever must be made for a flat or oblong wick. h is a small leaf fixed upon
the stern of the lever to prevent the melted grease running up the lever by
attraction. When a wick is to be renewed to this kind of candle it is applied
in. the manner shewn at Fig. 11, the short wicks being cast into a small button
of tallow in the moulds for casting. These are shewn in Fig. 10; in which R
is the mould for a single wick, Z for a double wick, & for a flat wick; in all
these the bottom of the mould, has a cavity properly formed to receive the
wick, as shewn. at a, and above leaves a space to contain the tallow, so that
they form buttons, as,shewn in Fig. 11, one of these wicks being inserted in

page_text: the eye of the lever e, which is to be placed in its socket upon the side of the
tube in the manner shewn in Fig. 6, and the candle will burn with it in the
same manner as with the original wick. The tubes in which the candles;
Figures 5 and 6, are inserted for burning are to be surrounded by second
tubes, which have small spaces all round to contain the grease which may. run
over.
Figure 12, of Drawing No. 2, is a view of one of my improved: candle-
sticks for burning the aforesaid candle. without inclosing it in a tube, and to
keep the light always at the same height. E is the foot. B, the stem or.
pillar which-contains within it. a spiral spring C: to raise up the arm D, which
carries the nozzle for the candle. A, the arm D passing through a slit or.
opening on the side of the tube, and the candle is raised up by the spring
as fast as the tallow is consumed. To the upper end of the pillar is an arm F.
to support the cap or nozzle G, which receives the upper end of the candle,
and has the small lever. e. fitted in a socket at one side. This nozzle consists
of a short piece of tube-fitted to the candle, and turned in at the top, so that'
the candle will not pass through it by the force of the spring, except as the
tallow burns away.
The nozzle is surrounded by anotlier short piece of tube
with a space all round to catch the grease. The arms F, D, both take out:
from sockets, so that they can be separated from the candlesticks to clean
them. is a trigger or-thumb piece, to be turned sideways when the spring,
is pressed down, and by entering into a notch at the side of the tube and it
will hold down the spring whilst the candle is put in. To render the spring C.
more regular in its action I introduce within the hollow of the spring a short
piece of tube, open at bottom, and containing within it a second spiral spring H:
to act between the top of the short tube and the bottom of the tube or stem B.
The great spring C is attached to the lower end of the short tube on the out-
side, and thus I obtain the same effect as a very long spring in a small
compass, because the internal spring tends to raise up the tube from the
bottom of which the external spring takes its action.
by which the stem B may be attached to an upright stem, so as to fix at any
required height, or any other method of fixing or supporting such candlestick
may be employed at the fancy of the maker, and 2, 4, or other number of
arms D, F, may be made on the different sides.
L, L, are two sockets
.. Figure 13 is another kind of candlestick. In this the nozzle G, which is
exactly the same as the former; is supported by a vertical stem L, which is
received at the lower end into a tube M, attached to the stem B of the candle-
stick: In this tube it slides up and down, and can be fixed by a cross pin put
through so as to retain the nozzle G at any required height. The socket D

page_text: for the lower end of the candle is made to slide on the same stem, and is
always forced upwards by a spiral spring C, contained with a set of tubes,
which slide out from one another in the same manner as a pocket telescope.
The socket for the candle is placed upon this column of sliding tubes, and the
spring always raises up the candle as fast as it burns away. k is a spring
catch to hold down the socket whilst the candle is introduced. The nozzles D
and G of this candlestick take off from the stem by means of a screw, so that
they can be cleaned. In lieu of the stem L to support the nozzle G it may
have hooks, the same as represented in 1, 2, Figure 14, and have two small
chains to attach to the hooks, and descend the stem of the candlestick, where
they fasten to hooks, one of which is shewn at m. These chains will therefore
retain the nozzles at a constant height, and having rings in them, they may be
hooked shorter or longer; or in lieu of 2 chains 2 wires may be used, and a
nozel such as shewn at Fig. 16.
Fig. 14 are three candlesticks, in which the nozzels and the wicks are made
to descend as the candle burns down. The nozzle of Fig. 14 has a hook r, r,
formed at each side, to which small lines or chains are attached, and
descending to the candlesticks are conducted over pulleys s, and wound upon
a spring barrel C, situated in the lower part of the stem. By the reaction of
this spring the nozzle G is drawn down upon the candle as the tallow burns
away. The nozzles can be taken away by unhooking the rings at the end of
the lines, and the socket D, to receive the candle, is also movable, that both
may be cleaned independant of the candlestick.
Fig. 15 is another candlestick baving exactly the same properties, but the
spring barrel is contained in the top of the stem instead of under the foot.
Fig. 16 is a candlestick of the same properties as the preceding, but the
nozzle is made to descend as the candle burns away by two weights C, C,
which are suspended to wires x, x, screwed into two ears r, r, projecting at
the sides of the nozzle G.
Fig. 17 is a seperate view of a nozzle proper for either of the 3 last-described
candlesticks, and shews how a longer levere may be adapted to it by fixing
its socket upon one of the projecting arms r.
The improved candles herein described may very conveniently be burned in
my improved candlesticks, for which His Majesty granted to me His Letters
Patent in One thousand eight hundred and twelve, only by adding thereto at
the top of the tube a socket to contain the stem for support for the lever e
which sustains the wick.
Fig. 18 represents one of my former patent candlesticks, with additional
improvements which I have made therein. F is the foot. B the stem, which may

page_text: At
be made to slide or draw out to raise up the candle to any desired height.
the top of the stem the tube D which is to contain the candle is screwed in ;
this is surrounded by a second tube, which prevents the melted tallow escaping
if it runs over. E is the sliding piece moving in the internal tube by the
action of the spiral spring C, and forcing the candle upwards, but the tubo
being turned in or diminished in size at the top prevents the candle being
forced out faster than the tallow burns away. A chain d is fixed to the slider E
within the spring C, and by this it can be drawn down and retained by
hooking a link of the chain into a notch made in the side of the tube at the
bottom whilst the tube D is unscrewed, and a fresh candle introduced; the
chain being then unhooked the spring forces up the slider E, and candle, which
is ready for lighting. The present improvement consists in making the same
tube which forms the stem or shaft B of the candlestick also serve for the
spring and slider E to act in without employing a separate tube for that
purpose; also for improvements in the extinguisher L, which consists of four
leaves to fold up and form a cone.
Each of these leaves is united by a joint
to the ring F, which slides up upon the external tube D, but the edges of the
leaves are made to overlap a little. Two of the opposite leaves seen in the
Figure at e, e, are within the others, therefore the other two, one of which is
marked F, fold over them at the edges. Now these two interior leaves have
small thumb levers r joined to them, which rest upon the rim of the sliding
piece F, therefore by pressing with the finger and thumb upon the ends
of these short thumb pieces, the two leaves e, e, are forced open, and as the
two other leaves f overlap them they are opened likewise, as in Fig. 20,
and the extinguisher can be slided down upon the tube. The two outside
leaves are provided with springs to cause them to collapse, and these act
upon the other leaves to close them all up when the pressure of the fingers is
removed. All the candlesticks which I have described may be used to burn
common candles as well as my improved candles.
Fig. 21 represents a tray to contain a pair of forceps R, R, by which the
wick with the lever e is taken away from its socket at the top of the tube
when it is to be changed or extinguished; by throwing it into the small box T,
and shutting the lid, the flame is put out without smell. The other box W,
having a division, is to contain the spare wicks to renew the others when they
fail; they are likewise taken up by the forceps R, R.
In witness whereof, I, the said Leger Didot, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and
fiftoon
LEGER (L.S.) DIDOT.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Ninth day of May, in the
year of our Lord 1815, the aforesaid Leger Didot came before our said
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifteen.