Figure 45. — Tin torch, 1888, as 

 shown in patent 391665, issued 

 October 23, 1888. 



Figure 46. — Cleveland tin torch, 

 1888, as shown in patent 1861 1, 

 issued September 18, 1888. 



Figure 47. — Initial campaign 

 TORCH, 1888, as shown in a 

 sales catalog. 



Henry J. Vogel of Brooklyn, New York, in 1888 

 Like most of the patents on torches, this consisted of 

 an improvement in the supporting device only, and 

 not in the torch bowl. The supporting device, that 

 portion containing two arms which fastened to the 

 bowl, was termed the "yoke." The yoke is made of a 

 single piece of wire with its central part formed into 

 a stem. A box washer is suspended on the end of the 

 ferrule through which the stem passes and goes into 

 the ferrule. The ferrule is adapted to take the end of 

 the handle and to receive and hold the box washer. 

 A cap on the upper end of the ferrule holds the stem 

 in place; however, the arms of the support turn free of 

 the cap. When the box and cap are united around 

 the stem, the stem is held tightly in the ferrule and 

 prevents unnecessary shaking of the torch. No 

 model was submitted to the Patent Office. 



CLEVELAND TIN TORCH, 1 888 Figure 46 



No example found. 



By 1888, the concept of making a torch convey an 

 idea or an image had found its way into the patents, 

 and during that year, Lester C. Beardsley of Cleve- 

 land, Ohio, patented two torches, using initials on 

 the body of the torch. The one illustrated contain- 

 ing a "C" represented the Democratic candidate, 

 Grover Cleveland. 



INITIAL TIN TORCH, 1 888 Figure 47 



No example found. 



This torch, similar in purpose to the one illustrated 

 in the previous figure, appeared in a sales catalog of 

 1888. The body of the torch was made in the shape 

 of a "T" suggesting the vice-presidential candidate 

 Thurman, with a "C" made of metal and soldered 

 thereon. 



HARRISON TIN TORCH, 1 888 Figure 48 



No example found. 



Made in the shape of an "H" representing the 

 Republican candidate, Benjamin Harrison, this 

 torch was also patented by Lester C. Beardsley. The 

 initial was hollow and acted as a receptacle for oil. 



INITIAL TIN TORCH, 1 888 Figure 49 



No example found. 



This torch, similar to that illustrated in figure 48, 

 appeared in an Unexcelled Fireworks sales catalog of 

 1888. The body of the torch was made in the shape 

 of an "H" representing Benjamin Harrison and an 

 initial of smaller size was soldered below the bridge 

 in the letter "H." Since the catalog in which this 

 was advertised stated that a patent had been applied 



34 



BULLETIN 24 1 : CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



