Lighter for stove, open hearth and similar

In an improved combustion apparatus for burning solid fuels, said apparatus having a grate including spaced portions defining a space therebetween and an upper surface, the improvement comprising:

• at least one electric ignition element having a tube-like support of refractory insulating material having a helical outer groove, and a resistance heater wire element within said groove and having at least a portion thereof, carried by the support, free of any fire-proof insulative casing and disposed to be spaced from said grate in said space, said support having opposite ends, cylinder-like insulative support means mounting the opposite ends of the support on the grate with the portion of the resistance element carried by the support juxtaposed to said grate upper surface to be directly contacted by solid fuels on said upper surface of the grate whereby said fuel may be supported partially by said grate and partially directly by said heater wire element while maintaining the heater wire element spaced from the grate to effectively maximize the fuel igniting temperature thereof, said heater wire element being electrically insulated from the grate by said insulative support means and said heater wire element including electrically conductive means extending through said cylinder-like support means.