CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIXED AND PORTABLE LIGHTS FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER USES, APPLICABLE FOR BURNING GAS AND THE MINERAL OILS OR SPIRITS NOW SO COMMONLY USED
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Stroud, Lamp and Chandelier Manu-
facturer, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIXED AND PORTABLE LIGHTS FOR DOMESTIC
AND OTHER USES, APPLICABLE FOR BURNING GAS AND THE MINERAL OILS OR
SPIRITS NOW SO COMMONLY USED."
Sealed the 7th July 1863, and dated the 18th January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Stroud at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th January 1863.
I, JOHN THOMAS STROUD, Lamp and Chandelier Manufacturer, of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIXED AND PORTABLE LIGHTS
FOR DOMESTIC AND OTHER USES, APPLICABLE FOR BURNING GAS AND THE
MINERAL OILS OR SPIRITS NOW SO COMMONLY USED," to be as follows (that
is to say):-
My improvements consist, firstly, in the manner of constructing the parts
of chandeliers and brackets for receiving the burners and glass shades, and
which consist in supporting between the arms the part for holding the burner
and shades in contradistinction to fixing the supports on the ends of the
arms, thereby cumbering the light with its obstruction and consequent shadow.
Secondly, in conveying the gas to a ring in which a certain number of

page_text: circular or other formed openings are made for receiving the glass shades, thus
producing the same result as last described, namely, the dispensing with all
downward shadow.
Thirdly, I connect the ring for holding the aforesaid glasses to the body of
the chandelier or other suitable part of it, or by only inserting the cock or tap
between them; by this method I dispense with the usual arms, and thereby
save the cost of them.
Fourthly, in so constructing gas chandeliers that while the principal lights
are fixed or made to slide, one light shall be fitted with an independent slide
so constructed as to admit of being considerably lowered from the other lights,
thus possessing the quality of being pulled down for lighting a table that may
be placed beneath it or other desirable purpose for which an increased or near
light may be required.
Fifthly, in constructing single gas pendant lights to be lowered by a water
slide, so that the water shall not be unduly evaporated.
Sixthly, in the application to gas chandeliers. and brackets of glasses or
shades into a band, the lower part being inserted from the top, and by
preference I support it on two opposite radial pins that permit the shade to
be pushed aside for the purpose of lighting, extinguishing, or regulating the
flame; this is described in my former Patent for vestibule lamps, of October
23, 1862, and numbered 2851; but inasmuch as I contemplate lighting
chandeliers, where preferred or required, with mineral oil or spirit, a convenient
and simple mode of regulating is of importance, the reservoir, burner, and
chimney carrier with top shade being all applied from the top; and in the
construction of the reservoir for such kind of lamps I contemplate placing
them at a lower distance from the burner than what has hitherto been done,
by which means the light is more generally diffused, and the downward
shadow greatly diminished, and this same principle I apply to portable lamps,
namely, to make the stand of the same form and character as what are termed
"moderator" lamps, in which the oil for supporting the flame is forced up by
the expanding force of a spring, which I dispense with, and instead of placing
the reservoir for holding the oil or spirit in the lamps now commonly used on
the outside or top of the stand, I place it below and within the stand; by this
arrangement I make a lamp as free from shadow and elegant in design as the
"moderator" lamp, and being divested of the mechanism necessary in such
lamps, there is but little liability of derangement, and to increase the time of
burning I introduce a bucket or buckets at the bottom of my reservoir, that
after the lamp has burned a certain time the bucket or buckets may be raised
in order that the contents may support the capillary supply to the burner, the

page_text: bucket or buckets being raised or lowered by any simple mechanical arrange-
ment; or I can raise the oil or spirit by displacement, or the use of a piston,
and by these methods I can construct these kind of lamps in the form of what
are known as lamp stands and candle lamps.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Thomas Stroud in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS STROUD, Lamp and Chandelier Manufacturer, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Thomas Stroud, Her special license, that I, the said John Thomas
Stroud, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said John Thomas Stroud, my executors, administrators, and 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 Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN FIXED AND PORTABLE LIGHTS FOR DOMESTIC AND
OTHER USES, APPLICABLE FOR BURNING GAS AND THE MINERAL OILS OR SPIRITS
NOW SO COMMONLY USED," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Thomas Stroud, 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 John Thomas Stroud, 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 (that is to say):
My improvements consist, firstly, in the manner of constructing the parts of
chandeliers and brackets for receiving the burners and glass shades, and

page_text: which consist in supporting between the arms the part for holding the burner
and glass shades in contradistinction to fixing the supports for carrying the
glass shades, chimney, gallery, &c., on the ends of the arms, thereby cumbering
the light with its obstruction and consequent downward shadow.
Secondly, in conveying the gas to a ring in which a certain number of
circular or other formed openings, or bearings are made for receiving the glass
shades, thus producing the same result as last described, namely, the dispensing
with all downward shadows, from the removal of all metalwork below the
opening or bearing that supports the glass shade.
Thirdly, I connect the ring for holding the aforesaid glasses to the body of
the chandelier or other suitable part of it, or by only inserting the cock or tap
between them; by this method I dispense with the usual arms, and thereby
cast no shadow, and introduce an inexpensive mode of production.
Fourthly, in so constructing gas chandeliers that while the principal lights
are fixed, or made to slide when desirable, the one centre light shall be fitted
with an independent slide, so constructed as to admit of being considerably
lowered from the other lights, thus possessing the quality to permit being
pulled down for lighting a table that may be placed beneath it, or other
desirable purpose for which an increased or near light may be required.
Fifthly, in constructing a single gas pendent light, that the same may be
raised or lowered with weights as a counterpoise, and a water slide so con-
structed that the water shall not be subject to undue evaporation arising from
its being placed immediately over the flame or light.
Sixthly, in the application to gas chandeliers and brackets of glasses. or
shades into a band, the lower part being inserted from the top, and, by pre-
ference I support it on two opposite radial pins that permit the shade to be
pushed aside for the purpose of lighting, extinguishing, or regulating the
flame; this is described in my former Patent, No. 2851, of last year for
vestibule lamps; but, inasmuch as I contemplate lighting chandeliers, where
preferred or required, with mineral oil or spirit, a convenient and simple mode
of regulating is of importance, the reservoir, burner, and chimney carrier with
top shade being all applied from the top; and in the construction of the
reservoir for such kind of lamps I contemplate placing them at a lower
distance from the burner than what has hitherto been done, by which means
the light is more generally diffused, and the downward shadow greatly dimi-
nished; and this same principle I apply to portable lamps, namely, to make
the stand of the same form and character as what are termed "moderator"
lamps; but since making the application for this Patent I have found that
lamps similar in form to "moderator" lamps, and intended for burning volatile

page_text: and mineral oils, have been introduced into this country from the Continent,
but nevertheless I adopt a novel mode of supporting combustion in such con-
struction of lamps, as, for instance, in the "moderator" lamps now commonly.
used, the oil for supporting the flame is forced up by the expanding force of a
spring which I dispense with, and instead of placing the reservoir for holding
the oil or spirit in such lamps on the outside or top of the stand, I place it
below and within the stand, by this arrangement I make a lamp as free from
shadow and elegant in design as the "moderator" lamp, and being divested of
the mechanism necessary in such lamps, there is but little liability of derange-
ment; and to increase the time of burning I introduce a bucket or buckets
at the bottom of my reservoir, that after the lamp has burned a certain time
the bucket or buckets may be raised, in order that the contents may support
the capillary supply to the burner, the bucket or buckets being raised or
lowered by any simple mechanical arrangement, or I can raise the oil or spirit
by displacement, or the use of a piston, and by these methods I can construct
these kind of lamps in the form of what are known as stand and table lamps.
But in order that I may be thoroughly understood as to the nature and
object of my various improvements in fixed and portable lights for domestic
and other uses, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, in
which the same parts as they appear under the various heads, are marked with
the same letter of reference to simplify the description.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent as much of a chandelier in side view and plan
necessary for illustrating my improvements, herein-before named, under the
first head, the tubes A, A, and B, B, being shown slightly curved from the
true line in Figure 1, for the purpose of separating them; the glass shade and
part marked D, Figure 2, is omitted from behind the part C, Figure 1, to
avoid confusion; the novelty in this mode of construction consists in per-
mitting the gas to descend through the main tube E to the body C, where it
escapes through either of the tubes A or B to a burner connected within the
brass or metal belts F, F, and F, F, concentrically for diffusing the light
through the top and bottom glass shades G, H, and G, H, thus divesting the
chandelier of all metalwork below the light and consequent downward
shadow; the means of regulating the flame or the supply of gas may either
be effected by the use of separate stop-cocks placed within the glass shades,
or intermediately between the connections of the tubes A and B, or belt F, F,
or by a simple arrangement within the body C, that permits of being regulated
by the knob I, and the object sought for and described in the last Figure I
also obtain by constructing a chandelier, as exhibited in side view and plan at
Figs. 3 and 4, in this case I purpose conducting the gas from the main central

page_text: tube J into an annular gasway in the part K, from whence it is conveyed by any
suitable number of arms according to the lights, or as taste and price dictate ;
but in this case I have exhibited three marked L, L, L, which are connected
to the parts M, M, M, and from there to the circular parts N, N, N, (which
in Figure 3, are represented slightly in perspective for the purpose of better
exhibiting the parts), these tubes are connected to a circular bezel marked O,
having a flange or projection on the inside bottom edge for the lower glass
sbade to rest on, and in like manner a recess, rabbet, or projection is formed
on the top of the bezel for supporting the top shade, and, as described and
shown at Figure 2, it is not essential that the gas as conveyed to the burner
for supporting the flame shall enter the glass shades from both corresponding
tubes, as one connection will be sufficient, and the means for regulating its
flow may be applied to the parts M, or with each burner as preferred, and if
chimneys are required, supports for the same may be readily applied in the
ordinary way; and by way of diversifying this mode of construction, still pre-
serving the quality of having the light shadowless, the gas may be conducted
from the main tube P, in Fig. 5, to the body Q, from whence it may escape
through the gasways R, R, to burners continued through and secured to the
inetal belts S, S, that hold and support the top and bottom glass shades, the
flow of the gas being regulated by a stop-cock placed in the gasway R, but
the principle of construction is further developed at Fig. 6, which is shown
slightly in perspective for the reasons herein-before stated; and in this view
I have combined with the mode of construction the advantages described
under the fourth head, namely, the use of a central light, having an inde-
pendent sliding action, which permits of its being pulled down, as shown, for
the purpose of a near light, a useful quality, and frequently required as a
centre light, while the radial lights are permitted to remain above the head
and out of the way; and although I have not shown in the Drawings the way
of also partially lowering the radial lights, nevertheless such a mode of con-
struction may be adopted, nor have I described in detail the construction of
the slide, as the same may be used and is applicable for a single pendent slide,
the light being placed concentrically with the slide, as may be seen by referring
to Fig. 7, which relates to my improvements as named under the fifth head,
which will be understood by the following description:-T is the ceiling plate
in connection with a ball joint and tube U, hereafter to be referred to, sliding
down into an inner tube working through or concentrically with the outer
tube V, which terminates with an annular ring W, to which the arms X, X,
are applied for connection with the annular belt Y, Y, for supporting the glass
shades, and through which the gas is conducted to a suitable burner, not here

page_text: shown; to the top of the top shade Z a dome or ventilator is applied, which pre-
vents the heat acting direct on the part W, but, as this part for convenience
is brought in near proximity with the part W, I have found it necessary
to introduce a non-conductor as at A¹, shown separate, and in section at
Fig. 8, which may be made of wood, leather, or other non-conducting material
suitable for the purpose; by these means undue evaporation of the water
within the slide is prevented. To the concentric tube U, a cross arm markeḍ
B' is fitted for carrying the pulleys C³, which may be compound, as here shown,
or by simply connecting the ends of the chains to the weights D', D', and to
the water cup E¹, as preferred, the weights being a counterpoise with the
centre light, and parts permit of its being placed, as here represented, or
pulled down to F¹, which is much lower than water slides, as hitherto con-
structed, permit of being drawn down; but this I effect in a way which will
be understood by referring to Fig. 9, which is principally a sectional view of
the sliding portion of Figure 7, drawn to the proportion of about half size and
fully extended; the tube U is fitted at the botton end with a small additional
piece of tube about 2 or 2 inches in the whole tube here shown in section
marked a, which in reality forms an auxiliary water slide in itself, for as it
rises out of the principal reservoir G', it carries as much water with it as can
be contained between the outer surface of the tube U, and the inner surface.
of the short tube a; and to prevent an escape when so extended the tube H'
is fitted to a cap marked b, which is connected to a small piece of tube of the
corresponding length of a, and descends within its interior, thereby positively
making a distinct water-tight joint; the lower portion of the tube H¹ is
intended at all times to be submerged in water, as in a general way the water
in the lower tube G¹ extends up nearly to the top of the water cup I', when
the parts are all slid together, but which of course will sink in proportion as
the parts are extended, but never to the extent as to allow the end of the
tube H to be out of the water; c is a tube that slides freely within the
tube U, but is prevented from falling out by a small flange, not shown in this
Figure, but represented detached at Fig. 10, the part being marked d; e is a
collar, shown in section in Figure 10, which screws over the end of the
tube U, thus preventing them coming asunder; the tube c passes over a small
tube marked f, secured to the bottom of the tube G³, which extends up beyond
the water cup, and thus the escape of gas is entirely prevented, and the desired
amount of extension obtained; the non-conductor being screwed on, as
described in Figure 7, at the part marked g.
In my Patent entitled " Improvements in Lamps for General and Special
Purposes, and in Parts connected with the same." I have described at

page_text: Figure 18 a means of moving the lower shade of vestibule lamps for the
purpose of lighting, extinguishing, or regulating the flame of such lamps, but
which same mode I purpose applying also to chandeliers, and this I have
exhibited at Fig. 11, the lower glass J¹ is represented in dotted lines, as moved
from h to i, but the glass being hung on radial pins permits it to be moved in
either direction, as most convenient for lighting, extinguishing, or regulating
the flame within, and which mode is particularly applicable to the general
construction of chandeliers, as herein exhibited, as the metal band F, in
Figure 1, S in Figure 5, Y in Figure 7, and shown in other Figures, is par-
ticularly applicable for this mode of connecting the lower glass to such metal
rim for the purpose before stated. Fig. 12 simply represents the burner
portion and the neck of a stand or vessel for holding the volatile oil I purpose
using in the lamps described in my Provisional Specification under the last
head, the rod k being simply a small wire rod represented broken off, but
intended to be sufficiently extended for screwing or holding the parts together;
and Fig. 13 represents the burner and tube in connection with it, intended to
be placed in any convenient stand or reservoir; and for the purpose of sup-
porting combustion it may be necessary after many hours' use to elevate by
means of an endless band or other simple mechanical equivalent the bucket 1,
which being elevated from the bottom of the reservoir, carries up a fresh
supply of oil to support the capillary supply to the wick, which will always
hold sufficient to permit the bucket to be lowered to the bottom of the reservoir
for a fresh supply.
Having now given a general description of my improvements, and how the
same may be carried into effect by a skilled artisans accustomed to the pro-
'duction of such kind of articles, I wish it understood that I do not purpose
confining myself to the general design and detail herein described and
'exhibited, as the same may be considerably varied without departing from
the spirit of my Invention; but what I claim and wish to protect by these my
in part recited Letters Patents is,-
First, the constructing of chandeliers that the shades for the same shall be
supported within a belt, as described in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11, whereby
downward shadow is entirely obviated.
Secondly, the application to chandeliers of a central light fitted with a slide
that permits of its being elevated and lowered independent of the radial lights
in connection with the same, as described and exhibited at Figure 6.
Thirdly, the construction of water slides, whether applied to the single
centre light, in Figure 6, or the single pendant light, as exhibited at Figure 7,
and in an enlarged sectional view at Figure 9.

page_text: Fourthly, the application to chandeliers of the mode of suspending and
moving the lower glasses, as secured to me in a former Patent herein-before
referred to.
And, lastly, I claim the improvements in connection with lamps for burning
volatile oil, generally described and exhibited at Figures 12 and 13.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Stroud, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
JAMES S. COCKINGS, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
JOHN THOS STROUD. (L.S.)