Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Producing a Flash Light, more especially applicable to Photography.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 8th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Producing a Flash Light,
more especially applicable to Photography.
I, THEOPHILUS HORNE REDWOOD, of "Bryn Coed," Crescent Road, Chingford, in
the County of Essex, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for producing a flash
light more especially applicable to photography, but also intended for other uses, such
for example, as the production of stage effects.
In apparatus of this class, as heretofore constructed, magnesium, or other suitable
powder, was projected into the flame of a spirit or other lamp in a concentrated stream,
and whilst some of the powder failed to become ignited, the remainder, being.in a
concentrated form, failed to produce a flash of any considerable area.
Now, according to my invention, I cause the powder to enter the flame in a well
separated, or diffused condition, and I so arrange the lamp, that the complete ignition
of the powder is effected.
For this purpose, I employ a tray or container for the spirit, or other suitable
flame-producing material, and I, by preference, provide this container with a cover or
grating of wire gauze, or other suitable material as is well understood.
Starting from the back of, and projecting slightly over the container, and rising
vertically above the grating, I arrange a vertical plate or wall of sheet metal, wire
gauze, or asbestos, so that the flame issuing from the grating will be attracted by, and
caused to lick, the vertical plate, and thus form a thin wall of fire of considerable area.
If desired, I may employ any other suitable form of lamp in conjunction with the
vertical plate in lieu of that form of lamp hereinbefore described.
At a suitable angle to the vertical plate, I mount upon a standard, a projector
consisting of a nozzle, or diffuser, provided with a chamber for the reception of the
charge of powder, and I connect this nozzle, or diffuser, by means of a flexible pipe
with an india-rubber ball or small bellows, or other suitable air-holding device capable
of easy compression.
By suddenly compressing the air-holder, the powder will be projected from the
diffuser, and by reason of the angular position of the diffuser in relation to the
vertical plate of the lamp, the charge of powder will be distribued over the wall of
flame, the vertical plate preventing the escape of unignited particles, and a flash of
considerable increased area will thus be produced with but the same expenditure
of material as heretofore.
If desired, the powder may be projected upon an intervening deflecting plate, and
by that directed into the flame.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Producing a Flash Light,
more especially applicable to Photography.
I, THEOPHILUS HORNE REDWOOD, of “Bryn Coed,” Crescent Road, Chingford,
in the County of Essex, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for producing a flash
light more especially applicable to photography, but also intended for other uses,
such, for example, as the production of stage effects.

page_text: the cone
flame, when desired.
and is capable of being moved across the grating to extinguish the
If desired, I may employ any other suitable form of lamp or burner than that
herein before described, and I may employ coal or other gas as the flame-producing
material.
Starting from the back of, and projecting slightly over, the lamp or burner b, and
rising vertically above the grating 62 and cone 63, I arrange a wall or plate c of sheet
metal, or, it might be wire gauze or asbestos, so that the flame issuing from the
grating or cone 63 will be attracted by, and caused to lick, the vertical plate c and
thus form a thin wall of fire of considerable area.
For convenience of transport, and to facilitate repairs, I removeably mount the wall
or plate cupon the base or stand a by means of legs e carried by the plate c and
which enter sockets a¹ carried by the base or stand a.
Upon the base or stand a are mounted two tubular standards or sockets.a² either
of which, according to whichever side of the apparatus it is more convenient to work,
is adapted to receive and hold the leg of a projector d in such manner that it is
capable of the vertical and rotary movements necessary for adjustment, whilst the
projector d is mounted with capability of turning in a sleeve d¹* upon the upper part
of the leg d to facilitate further adjustment.
If desired, I may also form the projector d or its standards a² capable of adjustment
in a direction at right angles to the plate or wall c.
The projector d is fitted with a nozzle d² from which extends a diffuser d³ which
encounters the stream or charge of powder as it issues from the nozzle and by
reason of its angular formation, diffuses or spreads the same over the surface of the
vertical wall c.
The projector d is formed with a slot or opening d therein, through which the
charge of powder is introduced into the interior d³ thereof, which constitutes the
powder chamber, and a similarly slotted sleeve do, mounted with capability of revolution
upon the projector d is provided to close the slot or opening d after the insertion of
the charge.
The projector d is by means of a flexible pipe d' connected with a mouthpiece d³
to enable the cperator to blow out the charge, or an india-rubber ball, a small bellows,
or other suitable air-holding device, capable of easy compression, might be employed
in lieu of the mouthpiece.
By suddenly blowing through the mouthpiece d³, or compressing the air-holder
(not shown) the powder will be projected from the nozzle d², and by reason of the
angular position of the diffuser d³ in relation to the vertical wall or plate c of the
lamp, the charge of powder will be distributed over the wall of flame, the vertical
plate c preventing the escape of unignited particles and a flash of considerably
increased area will thus be produced with but the same expenditure of material as
heretofore.
Or, if desired, the powder may be projected upon an intervening deflecting
plate e, as represented by the dotted line in Figure 2, and by that directed into the
flame.
I would here remark, that I do not confine myself to the precise form of the pro-
jector, nozzle, or diffuser hereinbefore shown and described, as the same may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of my invention.
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 an apparatus for producing a flash light, the combination of a lamp or burner,
a vertical plate or wall located over, or adjacent to, such burner, and a suitable
projector or diffuser for the powder, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In an apparatus for producing a flash light, the combination of a lamp or burner,
a vertical plate or wall located over, or adjacent to, such burner, a suitable projector

page_text: or diffuser for the powder, and an intervening deflecting plate for directing the
powder into the flame, substantially as herein described.
3. In an apparatus for producing a flash light, the combination of a lamp or burner,
a vertical plate or wall located over, or adjacent to, such burner and a suitable
projector or diffuser provided with a chamber to contain the charge of powder,
substantially as her a shown and described.
Dated this 8th day of October 1800
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.