(NoModeL)

' B. SMITH.
' I FLASH LAMP.

No. 505,780. , Patented Sept. 26, 1893.

15%91. -

WTNES ES: I _ INVEN OR

 UNITED STATES . PATENT OFFICE.
BURGESS SMITH, OF MACON, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. & H. T.
ANTHONY do COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLASH-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 505,780, dated September 26, 1893.
Application ?led Tune 27, 1893 SerialNo. M8361. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I is a spring tongue out from the part G, 50
Be it known that I, BURGESS SMITH, a citi which presses against the under side of the
zen of the United States, and a resident of Ma box which holds the magnesium powder,
con,in the countyof Bibb and State of Georgia, whereby it is held firmly in place. This box
have invented a certain new and useful Flash- > is shown at J, Fig. 3. It is soldered or other
Lamp, of which the following is a speci?ca wise fastened to a plate K, which slides un 55
tion. ' derneath the ?anges H, H.
My invention relates to a new and improved L is a trigger which is slotted as at M and I
?ash lamp for photographic purposes. has a rectangular forward end N. It is fas
.10 The essential features of the invention are ' tened to one of the side pieces 13 ofthe frame
its simplicity, its compactness, its cheapness, by headed pins O, O, which play through the 60
its ef?cacy, and the fact that it may be loaded 1 slot, so that the trigger has longitudinal move
while the alcohol is burning. ment. It is also provided vwitha thumb but
In the drawings hereof: Figure 1, illustrates ton P, so that it may be projected forwardly,
a plan view of a sheet of metal from which I ' 'anda cord Q, which passes through an eye
construct the majorportion of the device. Fig. R, which serves to pull it rearwardly to re
2, is a perspective showing the device as com lease the spring which supports themagne
pleted, with the exception that the box which sium box.
holds the magnesium or other in?ammable S is a ring of wire, which passes through
23 powderis not upon the machine. Fig. 3, illus and is supported by two eye or like parts, T,
trates the device complete and duly set for T, which are punched out from the part A, so 70
making a ?ash. that the ring can be turned within these eyes.
A is a piece of metal preferably spring The are of the ring between the eyes, is, of
brass. Other metal however may be em course, flattened to permit of its being turned
25 ployed. upwardly as indicated by the arrow. The
B, B are two ?anges, which are bent at right ring S is wrapped about with any suitable 75
angles to the part marked A, so as to form cloth-like material adapted to be saturated
two side pieces to stiffen the structure. with alcohol or equivalent in?ammable sub
O is an end piece or ?ange, which is bent stance. The ring may be composed of a wire
30 in substantially the same manner that the gauze structure the interior of which is ?lled
parts 13, B are, and in the constructed ma with absorbent material.
chine it makes a ledge against which the The operation is as follows: The ring S is
spring which throws the magnesium strikes saturated with the in?ammable liquid. The
. when released by the trigger. little box J, which contains the magnesium or
35 D is a tongue-like part, which is out out other in?ammable powder is slipped from
from the face of the piece A, and is bent under its confining ?anges H, H, and is ?lled
in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to with magnesium powder. Itisthen replaced
85
makea clip or spring clamping device Where and the spring E depressed by hand into the
by the lamp can be fastened to the edge of a position shown in Fig. 3, and the trigger L is
mantel-piece or table or other suitable ledge. pushed forwardly until the end of the rect
E is a portion of the piece of metal A, which angular part N engages with the upper sur 9O
is bent underneath and backwardly relative face of the platform upon which the box rests.
to the part A on the dotted line F. Then the alcohol is lighted and burns in ring
G is an enlarged end portion of the part E, form entirely around the ring S. TVhen de
45 which has side pieces or ?anges H, H, which siring to make the exposure, the cord Q is
are turned over upon the part G, as best pulled which Withdraws the trigger, the spring 95
shown in Fig. 2, so as to form clamping ways E then immediately exerts its power and
to hold the box which contains the magnesium claps itself up against the ?ange O-in other
nowdel, words, moving from the position shownin Fig.
 505,780

3, to that shown in Fig. 2. The sudden stop tion be employed. I do not therefore limit
ping of the spring projects the magnesium myself to the details.
powder in the box upwardly and through the I claim
ring of ?ame. It of course instantly ?ashes 1. The combination in a ?ash lamp of a
and makes a very superior light. spring, a receptacle for the powder supported
My device, as before stated may be attached on a spring, a trigger to maintain the spring
to the top of a table, mantelpiece or other under tension, and a lamp, substantially as
structure,in which event, I ?nd it convenient set forth. 45
to employ a thumb-screw U, shown in Fig. 2, 2. The combination in a ?ash lamp of a
which passes upwardly through a threaded spring, a receptacle for powder, supported
opening V, which has preferably a bushing upon the spring, a trigger to hold the spring
threaded on its interior, and which passes under tension, a ring placed adjacent to the
through the spring E and the top plate A of spring, adapted to be used as a lamp, the
the device. This gives strength also to the parts being arranged in such manner that the
spring. I do not show this thumb screw in Fig. powder is thrown by the spring through the
3, because I make the threads in the bushing ring, substantially as set forth.
V of such size as that they may engage with 3. The combination in a ?ash lamp of a
a suitably threaded stem on a tripod when de spring, a receptaclefor the powder, supported 55
sired. In this way the ?ash lamp can be at upon the spring,'a trigger to hold the spring
2.0 tached to a tripod, the thumbscrew U being under tension, a pivoted or hinged ring placed
temporarily removed. Although I prefer not adjacent to the spring, adapted to be used as
to light the alcohol until the magnesium a lamp, and to be swung away from the mag
powder is in place and the spring set, never nesium powder, substantially as set forth.
theless it is possible, and frequently very 4. The combination in a ?ash lamp, of a
25 convenient to load the device and use it with frame having a clip or clamping device on one
out blowing out the alcohol; in so doing the side, a spring on the other side and a ring
ring is turned upwardly in the direction of shaped lamp at or near one end, the free end
o the arrow (see Fig. 2) so as to remove the of the spring being practically coincident 55
?ame as far as possible from the powder, and with the center of the ring, substantially as
30 after the device is all arranged and the spring set forth.
set, then the ring S may be carefully turned Signed at Macon, in the county of Bibb and
down into position, without danger of ignit State of Georgia, this 20th day of June, A.
ing the powder. D. 1893.
It will be evident to those who are familiar BURGESS SMITH.
35 with this art, that modi?cations may bemade Witnesses:
in the details of construction of the device, A. R. TINsLEY,
and still the essential features of my inven BRIDGES SMITH.