Figure 43. — Cone torch, 1887, 

 as shown in a sales catalog. 



Figure 44. — Ax torch, 1884 

 and 1888. (Smithsonian 

 photo 538 II.) 



Cliicago, Illinois, in 1885.-' The bowl was made of 

 glass and had a groove at the top with a metal band 

 around the bowl under the groove. A larger metal 

 ring fitted around this first one and pivoted on the 

 first. Supporting arms then fastened into the second 

 ring and connected to the supporting pole, giving the 

 torch a double-swinging action. No model was 

 submitted to the Patent Office for this device. The 

 request stated that one half of this patent was assigned 

 to R. E. Dietz, \Varren McArthur, and John E. Dietz. 



CONE TORCH, 1 887 Figure 43 



No example found. 



This cone-shaped torch was patented in 1887, by 

 George F. Seavey of Boston, Massachusetts, and Isaac 

 S. Lauback of Cambridge, Massachusetts.'" Al- 

 though no patent model was submitted at the time 



" This patent, as originally presented, infringed on earlier 

 patents obtained by Nichols (patent 205203), issued June 25, 

 1878, on lamp collars; by Prefontaine (patent 233163), issued 

 October 12, 1880, on torches; by Parker (patent 123415), issued 

 February 6, 1872 on lamp collars; by House (patent 76764). 

 issued April 14, 1858. on lamp collars; by Benson (patent 

 186 102), issued January 9, 1877, on vapor burners; by Wharton 

 (patent 211484), issued January 21, 1879, on lamp collars; 

 and by Drake (patent 197109), issued November 13, 1877, on 

 lamp collars. 



'" The first application for this patent was rejected and thus 

 amendments were submitted. Some interfered with patents 

 earlier received by Evans (patent 5578), issued September 23, 

 1873, on metallic vessels, ears and bails, and Friedman (patent 

 ), issued March 15, 1881, on pots and kettles. 



PAPER 4 5 : POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TORCHES 

 222-4 12>—6r 3 



of the patent request, this type of torch was produced 

 and appeared for sale in trade catalogs. This torch 

 had a double-swinging action and a tin burner. The 

 oil capacity was l^ pints. The improvement claimed 

 in this patent related to the hanger or bail and per- 

 mitted the lamp to be suspended from the ends of the 

 hanger or bail so that, when the pole to which the 

 hanger was secured was in a vertical position, the 

 bowl would hang to one side of the center line of the 

 pole. 



AX TORCH, 1 884 AND 1 888 Figure 44 



USNM 15386 (Unexcelled Fireworks Collection) 



This ax torch, advertised as the " 'UNXLD' A.xe 

 Torch" appeared on the market in 1884 and 1888. 

 Being soinewhat different from the earlier ax torches, 

 this torch does not contain the usual torch bowl, but 

 rather has the torch made into the end of the ax head. 

 Its composition is similar to the "Union Torch" 

 mentioned in figure 39 and is suggestive of the method 

 illustrated in figure 27 relating to the rifle torch. 

 The torch tube and the ax head are made of tin while 

 the handle is made of wood. The overall length of 

 the torch is 48 inches, the metal end being 14 inches 

 long. The ax blade is 5^^ inches wide and 8^4 inches 

 front to back. The illustration is taken from a sales 

 catalog. 



TIN TORCH, 1888 Figure 45 



No example found. 

 A device termed as a "torch-yoke" was patented by 



33 



