IMPROVE- MENTS IN FIRE LIGHTERS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Fletcher Wiles at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1880.
JOHN FLETCHER WILES, of Finch Lane, in the City of London. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE LIGHTERS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in fire lighters.
For this purpose I employ wood cut preferably into blocks of cube form; I bore
or cut holes entirely through these blocks in various directions, preferably from each
side and crossing each other's path, thereby communicating with each other. I
then dip the blocks into paraffin and rosin, or other inflammable materials, taking
care for the sake of packing and handling to finally coat them with rosin or other
material which, whilst capable of hardening or setting so as to enable the blocks to
be readily packed and handled, will also act as a waterproofing agent. Previous to
dipping the said blocks I place shavings or other readily ignitable material in the
holes or apertures thereof.
Fire lighters made as above described are readily lighted, the holes therein act as
draft flues and thereby create a number of separate flames which greatly assist the
lighting of the fire, whilst the fact of the fire lighter being formed out of a solid
block of wood ensures the same retaining its shape until it is completely charred,
and from the peculiar construction of the fire lighter it is equally useful in whatever
position it is placed amongst the fuel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Fletcher Wiles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
April 1881.
JOHN FLETCHER WILES, of Finch Lane, in the City of London.
MENTS IN FIRE-LIGHTERS."
"
The Invention has for its object improvements in fire-lighters.
"IMPROVE-
For this purpose I employ wood cut preferably into blocks of cubo form; I bore
or cut holes entirely through these blocks in various directions, preferably from
each side and crossing each other's path, thereby communicating with each other.
Fire lighters made as above described are readily lighted, the holes therein act
as draught flues, and thereby create a number of separate flames which greatly
assist the lighting of the fire, whilst the fact of the fire lighter being formed out of
a solid block of wood ensures the same retaining its shape until it is completely
charred, and from the peculiar construction of the fire-lighter it is equally useful in
whatever position it is placed amongst the fuel.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view, and Figure 2 is a section of one form of fire
lighter constructed according to my Invention; Figure 3 is a section showing a
slightly modified form of fire-lighter, and Figure 4 is an end elevation, and
Figure 5 is a section of another modified form of fire-lighter.
I preferably cut the wood to form my improved fire-lighters into rectangular
forms, and I bore or cut holes entirely through these blocks in various directions,
preferably so as to open out at every side thereof, and also preferably crossing each
other's path, thereby communicating with each other.
At Figures 1 and 2 I have shown a fire-lighter with three holes a, a', a³, bored
entirely through it, one passing in each direction so as to cross each other's path
and open out at each side of the lighter. At Figure 3 I have shown a fire-lighter
with two holes a¹, a³, bored entirely through the same from two sides thereof, and
with one hole a bored entirely therethrough from a third side thereof, all of such
holes being arranged to communicate with each other.
At Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a fire-lighter with holes a¹, a³, bored entirely
through the same from two sides thereof, and with two holes a bored entirely
through the same from a third side thereof, but in this example of my Invention
the holes, although passing entirely through the fire-lighter, from every side thereof,
do not intersect each other. This last form of my Invention is not however so
advantageous in use as the two previously described arrangements.
Although I have represented the fire-lighters in their preferred forms they may
be of other shapes than those shown, and the holes passing therethrough may be
in other directions than at right angles to the sides, so long as such holes pass
entirely through from side to side of the fire-lighter.
I dip the blocks into paraffin and rosin or other inflammable materials, taking
care for the sake of packing and handling to finally coat them with rosin or
other material which, whilst capable of hardening or setting so as to enable the
blocks to be readily packed and handled, will also act as a waterproofing agent.
Previous to dipping the said blocks, shavings or other readily ignitable material
may be placed in the holes or apertures thereof.

page_text: I would here remark that in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
A. Browne, dated August 13th, 1875, No. 2862, a fire-lighter was shown and described
in which draught flues were formed by boring holes therein from two sides at right
angles to each other to meet each other, and thereby produce draught flues
of shape, but the holes were not drilled entirely therethrough; this form
necessitated the careful placing of the fire-lighter in position to ensure the proper
action thereof, but by drilling holes entirely therethrough so as to open out at
each side thereof the correct action of the fire-lighter is ensured in whatever position
it may be placed.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not claim the
manufacture of fire-lighters with L shaped draught flues formed therein, but what
I do claim is, the manufacture of fire-lighters with draught flues passing completely
therethrough from side to side thereof, substantially as berein shown and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Fletcher Wiles, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN F. WILES. (L.S.)