Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1887
Specification Accepted, 25th Oct., 1887.
I, ARTHUR MCKUNE MARGERISON, of Bold Street Works, Preston, in the County
of Lancaster, Book-keeper, 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 improvements consist in constructing a fire-lighter in the form of an elongated
block triangular in section and preferably sloped off from the apex to the base at each
extremity, the central or inner part of the block being composed of a strip or bar of
solid wood and the outer surrounding part of combustible material preferably
composed of wood chippings, turnings, or sawdust mixed with resin or other
inflammable adhesive substance. The solid wood strip or bar within the body of the
fire-lighter serves to give greater strength for resisting the weight of the coal or
other fuel when piled upon it and the fire-lighter is also enabled to burn until nearly
consumed without falling to pieces through the pressure of the superincumbent fuel.
Moreover, the solid wood strip or bar allows a blaze to be produced from the interior
of the fire-lighter when the outer combustible material has become nearly consumed;
it being found in practice that fire-lighters composed wholly of resinous or other
similar combustible compounds develope whilst burning a sooty or carbonaceous
substance which envelopes the inner portion of the fire-lighter and prevents the escape
and ignition of the gases therefrom. A number of the improved fire-lighters
constructed as above described are preferably arranged to adhere to each other edge
to edge and thus to be in a convenient form for packing and transport and also to
permit of each of the blocks being readily broken off or detached as required.
In order that the nature of my invention may be better understood I annex a sheet
of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a plan view,
Fig. 2 an end view, and
Fig. 3 a cross section of a number of the blocks or fire-lighters arranged edge to
edge as above described.
In Fig. 3 a represents the outer combustible material and the inner strip or bar

page_text: Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the blocks or fire-lighters broken off or detached,
the position of the inner wooden bar & being indicated by dotted lines.
In the process of manufacture the resin is first melted in a boiler or cauldron by
being subjected to heat and is then mixed with the wood refuse in the required
quantities in a separate vessel. Some of the mixture is then placed in the bottom of
a grooved mould which has its lower side indented so as to produce a series of blocks
in the reverse position to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The grooves having been partially-filled, the solid wood strips or bars are placed
in the required position on the surface of the mixture, more of the mixture is placed
on top, and a press plate is then brought down by means of a screw and compresses
the material within the mould where it is allowed to remain until set or stiffened
by cooling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
Constructing fire-lighters of combustible material having a strip or bar of solid
wood within such material substantially as described and shewn in the drawings for
the purpose or purposes set forth.
Dated this 21st day of September 1887.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Agent for the Applicant.