Lampwick Guide or Guides to enable an Operator with Ordinary Scissors to Cut Lampwicks Insuring an Even Light and without Soiling the Hands.
Year: 1899

page_text: Lampwick Guide or Guides to enable an Operator with Ordinary
Scissors to Cut Lampwicks Insuring an Even Light and without
Soiling the Hands.
I, CHARLES STEVENS, of 27, Wood Street, Northampton, in the County of
Northamptonshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:
-
My invention has for its object the providing of means to cut lamp wicks with
ordinary scissors to the proper curve to insure an even light and without soiling
the hands.
I form a guide or guides of two plates of metal or other hard and suitable
substance in preferably of sheet metal each plate having formed upon it two curves
of different radii which are sufficient to compass the widths of all flat lampwicks
now in general use..
These curves are duplicated on each plate which so far are then identical with
each other so that when the two plates are placed together the curve of small
radius to its duplicate also the curve of larger radius to its duplicate there is
constituted a guide or gauge possessing two curves but of different radii.
Upon one of the plates there is an augle projection or stop to establish the
vertical position of the lampwick when cutting it.
A recess is cut in this stop to enable that plate which has no stop to better close
upon it.
The two plates are hinged or vertically jointed together by means of a pin
passing thro' holes in lugs on each plate and spiral spring, or flat spring, or
otherwise.
The spring or hinge when together, or vertical hinge constituting centre of
motion irrespective of spring, is placed at such ratio of distance between the
extreme ends of the plates as to afford sufficient opening to admit the lampwick
which is then placed in position against the angle or stop.
Pressure being removed the plates will close together holding the lamp-wick
fast the operator then cutting the lampwick close to either guide as considered
most suitable to its width it will be found to possess the proper curve to insure an
even light and as it is not necessary that either hand should touch the lampwick
the hands are 'not soiled.
Dated this 10th dox of Sontember 1890

page_text: Lampwick Guide or Guides to enable an Operator with Ordinary
Scissors to Cut Lampwicks Insuring an Even Light and without
Soiling. the Hands.
I, CHARLES STEVENS, late of 27, but now of 21, Wood Street, Northampton, in
the County of Northamptonshire, Engineer, 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 has for its object the providing of means to cut lamp wicks with
ordinary scissors to the proper curve to insure an even light and without soiling
the hands.
In constructing a guide according to my invention I employ 2 plates of metal
or other hard and suitable substance preferably sheet metal such as tin plate or
sheet brass and upon each of these plates I provide two curves of different radii
which will be found sufficient to compass the widths of all flat lamp wicks now
in general use.
In order that my invention may be clearly rendered, reference may be made
to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2
a plan the aforesaid two curves being represented at a and b.
The plates being open to receive the lamp wick the angle or stop being shown
at c.
The curves are duplicated on each plate which so far are then identical with
cach other so that when the 2 plates are placed together the curve of small radius to
its duplicate also the curve of longer radius to its duplicate there is constituted
a guide or gauge possessing 2 curves but of different radius.
Upon one of these plates I turn over or otherwise construct an angle, pro-
jection, or stop shown at this is for the purpose of establishing the vertical posi-
tion of the lamp wick when cutting it.
A recess is cut in this stop to enable that plate which has no stop to.close better
upon it.
I now hinge or vertically joint together the 2 plates preferably by means of a
pin passing thro' holes in 2 lugs on each plate round which is coiled a spiral wire
spring the object of the spring being to admit of the plates opening to receive
the lampwick which when placed in position against the stop is held firm by its
own pressure; or I may use any other kind of spring of any material that will
give the necessary range and pressure.
The spring or hinge when together or vertical hinge constituting centre of
motion irrespective of spring I place at such ratio of distance between the extreme
ends of the plates as will afford sufficient opening to admit the lamp wick.
The action is as follows,
Having selected the curve most suitable to the lamp wick to be cut, pressure
being applied the plates will open and the lamp wick can then be placed in
position against the stop.
Pressure being removed the spring will close the plates together and hold the
lampwick fast; the lampwick is then cut close to the curve with ordinary scissors
when it will be found to possess the proper curve to insure an even light and as it
is not necessary that either hand should touch the lampwick, the hands are not
soiled.
I do not comprise in my invention any particular design of the 2 plates of
metal or other substance nor any particular form of spring or means of hinging
the plates vertically together,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
In a lampwick guide
That combination of curves and stop in plates of metal or other substance hinged
or jointed together in conjunction with pressure; substantially as hereby described
and shown on the appended sheet of drawings.
Signed),
CHARLES STEVENS,
Applicant.