Portable Gas Co
of Manchester
1826 Advert: 'Portable Gas.
THE PORTABLE GAS COMPANY will be ready to DELIVER GAS from their works in Manchester, by the first of October.
W. NICHOLSON, Agent. 17 Dale-street.' [1]
This was probably part of the THE PROVINCIAL PORTABLE GAS COMPANY of London.
1826 Advert: 'PROVINCIAL PORTABLE GAS COMPANY. OFFICE, ST. ANNS-SQUARE, MANCHESTER.
DIRECTORS: Thomas Borradaile, Esq. Joseph Pulley. Esq. Hugh Gray, Esq. John Routh, Esq. Henry Hughes, Esq. John Saunders, Esq. Charles Jacomb, Esq. James Sharp. Esq. William Lynd. Esq. Richard Tayler, Esq. Andrew M. O'Brien, Esq. John Robert Ward, Esq.
THE DIRECTORS of the PROVINCIAL PORTABLE GAS COMPANY, announce to the Public, that they are now ready to supply compressed OIL and COAL GAS, in Gordon's Patent Lamps of various sizes, to suit the convenience of customers.
Thirty volumes of Gas being compressed into one, no inconvenience will arise from the size the Gas Lamps ; and as all the Reservoirs of the Lamps have been proved to be able to resist a pressure of upwards of pounds on the square inch, above that to which they are subjected, when filled with compressed Gas for consumption, no possible danger can arise from the use of them. Among the many thousand Portable Lamps constantly in use in London, not even an approach to an accident has ever occurred. It is proper to mention that no explosive mixture can be formed by the escape of Gas from the Portable Gas Lamps, because to produce such, a much greater quantity of Gas would be necessary, than the whole supply required for one place, even supposing all the Gas in the reservoirs was at once liberated such place.
The Company profess to furnish the Gas Lamps only in an unadorned state, leaving the public, when it wished, to apply such ornaments their own taste may suggest.
The advantages of Portable Gas are shortly these — That it may be either used as a fixed moveable light, and when moveable, a lesser quantity of light will be required than when the light is fixed. That the light may be economised ; as a great or small number of the Lamps may be lighted, and the strength the flame diminished or increased at pleasure, the customer paying for no more Gas than he uses.
From its safety and cleanliness it will be found peculiarly adapted for Milliners, Dress-makers, Tailors, Lace-makers, &c. and for all manufacturers of delicate fabrics, and generally for Domestic purposes. Manufacturers, Bankers, Churches, Chapels, Public Offices, Coffee-houses, Taverns, Shops, Street Lamps, Carriages, Steam Packets, and other Ships on short voyages, &c
—Independent of other advantages, the Lamps are always ready to be lighted on any unforeseen occasion, such as a dark day. The Company offer to supply both compressed Coal and Oil Gas.
The advantages of Oil Gas are its greater illuminating power, that being free from Sulphurated Hydrogen, it cannot injure Metallic Goods, Pictures, Elegant Bindings of Books, or Gilded Furniture of any description; and giving out when burning only about half the heat Coal Gas.
The following Scale shews the different sizes of the Lamps, and the quantity of Gas which each size contains.
There followed a Table of gas cylinder dimensions, from 6 x 12 to 12 by 54 inches, and spheres from 6 to 12 inches diameter, and information on terms, conditions and prices].
.....'For full particulars of the terms and regulations of the Company, or for a supply of Gas, application to be made at the Company's Office to WILLIAM NICHOLSON, Manager. Besides those already mentioned, there are many other purposes to which the Portable Gas Lamp can be applied, and amongst them the following may briefly be mentioned FOR LIGHTING PRIVATE AND OTHER CARRIAGES. The great advantages to be derived from the use of the Lamp in this way can be very strongly urged, both for its brilliancy and cleanness and as the expense of Oil Gas has been proved practically, to be only one-eighth the cost of wax candles, its economy is unquestionable. The mode of fitting up a carriage for the purpose extremely simple.
CULINARY USES, AND HEATING GREENHOUSES, The Lamp will be found peculiarly serviceable as most economic substitute for charcoal and other fires — for the boiling of kettles and for all culinary purposes an instance of its economy, two quarts of water may be boiled with Coal Gas for one farthing.
FOR OCCASIONAL ILLUMINATION. It peculiarly adapted to this object; and as from the portability of the Lamps, the fittings will be but temporary, considerable expense and inconvenience will be saved.
For Fetes in Tea Gardens, and at places of Public Amusement; and for Theatres, either generally, or occasional scenes, will be found particularly valuable.
AS A POWERFUL BLOW-PIPE. Working Jewellers and other Mechanical Artists will find it a better blow-pipe than any other at present in use : and affording a very rapid and great heat, valuable for soldering and welding metals blueing and tempering steel, &c.
PORTABLE GAS FOR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF MANCHESTER. Supplies of Portable Gas will be sent to such Villages and Places in the immediate vicinity of Manchester where the quantity required by any person, number of persons shall amount to not less than 2,000 feet of Gas in the whole, at each district delivery.
TO GAS COMPANIES. THE daily increasing use of PORTABLE GAS in the Metropolis, and its extension Manchester and Edinburgh, is most satisfactory evidence of the value of that species of light. That it is demonstrably the safest mode of using Gas has always been asserted by the Inventor, and has now been proved by experience, as among the many thousand LAMPS constantly in use in London not even an approach to an accident has ever occurred. ~ that a Portable Gas Establishment would be a profitable addition to every Gas Work may be ascertained by any one who will investigate the subject, and that in many cases Gas can be delivered in that manner even cheaper than by means of pipes ; as on a large Establishment the cost of condensing, fillinq, and distributing the Portable Gas will not exceed from 3s. to 3s. 6d. per thousand cubic feet. Gas Companies, desirous to adopt Portable Gas, may supplied with Lamps any quantity, upon application to the Subscribers hereto, and when any considerable Establishment is intended to be formed, Mr. David Gordon will be happy to give every advice and superintendance which may thought useful in preparing and erecting the Condensing Pumps, Filling Tables, &c.
33, Cornhill, London. DAVID GORDON & SON.
N. B. The PORTABLE GAS LAMP with or without Sir H. Davy's Safeguard, would be found most economical and useful in Coal and other Mines, and where there is much water pouring down, it has the peculiar advantage that when held in an horizontal position, the heaviest shower will not extinguish it. The spare power at almost every Mine might be employed to work the apparatus for filling the Lamps.'[2]