IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR THE CUTTING OF COTTON, OR THE WICKS OF LAMPS
Year: 1839

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MATLEY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-fifth day of November, in the third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Matley, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said James Matley, my exors, adiñiors, and assigns, and such
others as I, the said James Matley, my exors, adñmors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with and no others from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS OR INSTRUMENTS FOR THE
CUTTING OF COTTON, OR THE WICKS OF LAMPS;" communicated to me by a
certain foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained
a proviso that I, the said James Matley, shall cause a particular description
of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in
part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being. thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Matley, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):
This Invention consists in applying to lamps an apparatus for the purpose
of cutting the wicks or cottons in place of the ordinary mode of cutting by
scissors, the latter instruments not being suitable to ensure an even and equal
cut, without which the lamp will not burn well and equally, but by the
apparatus hereafter described and delineated in the Drawing a most equal
and correct cut can be ensured to the cotton or wicks of argand lamps. This
apparatus is simple in its construction, and may be readily applied, the wick
being cut perfectly even and kept cylindrical by being by the instrument
operating or pressing on the sides at the time the wick is being cut, and it
holds the part which is cut off and prevents the pieces from falling into the
lamp and choking it up, as is often the case with the ordinary lamps.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING OF THE APPARATUS.
A is the external frame, which may be made of copper or any other suitable
material; B is a conical piece of copper which enters into the wick-holder G
This cutter is
and presses it against the ring F; C is the blade or cutter.
kept in its place by the piece B screwed to the rod D, and crossing the frame
A. E is a button attached to the upper part of the rod D; by turning the
rod the piece B enters into the wick, and the blade or cutter may be turned
round as required in order to cut off the piece of wick; F is a steel ring
attached to the frame A, upon which the cutter C presses to hold the wick.
The surface of the inner part of this ring is roughed in order that the wick
may be more securely kept to it. The size and proportion of this apparatus
will depend upon the lamp to which it is to be applied.
Having thus described the Invention, I would have it understood that I
make no claim to any of the parts separately; but what I claim as the
Invention secured by the present Letters Patent is the mode of constructing
an instrument for cutting the wicks of lamps, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Matley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty.
JAMES (L.S.) MATLEY.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-third day of May, in
the year of our Lord 1840, the aforesaid James Matley came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty.