Figure 48. — Harrison tin torch, 1888, as 

 shown in patent 187 15. issued November 

 6, 1888. 



Figure 49. — Initial campaign 

 TORCH, 1888, as shown in a 

 sales catalog. 



Figure 50. — Nickel torch for 

 cap, 1888. (Smithsonian photo 

 49927-C.) 



lor, it is quite possible that these torches might have 

 l)een based on the patent oljtained by Lester C. 

 Beardsley in 1888. 



NICKEL TORCH FOR C.'^P, 1 888 Figure 50 



US^M 227739 (Becker Collection) 



Small nickel torches to be worn on caps appear in 

 the sales catalogs of 1888. These torches are very 

 light, weighing only 3 ounces. The bowl is approxi- 

 mately 2% inches high excluding the wick and, at its 

 l)roadest point, the diameter is 2}^ inches. A nickel 

 shield measuring 1)4 inches by 1}^ inches fastens the 

 torch bracket to the front of the blocked cap. A sim- 

 ilar device had been patented as early as June 1885 

 (patent 319382), when C. E. Bartram devised a 

 swinging lamp having rods in the sides and wire 

 standards attached to a metal ring that fastened to 

 the crown of the parader's hat. 



NICKEL TORCH FOR CAP, 1 888 Figure 51 



L'S.\.\I 235936 (Cousley accession ) 



This small nickel torch for a cap is similar to the 

 type and size illustrated in figure 50, differing only 

 in its design. A nickel nipple is shown covering the 

 wick when the torch is not in use. 



BR.^SS TORCH FOR C.\P, 1 888 Figure 52 



USjYM 227739 (Becker Collection) 



In weight and size, this torch is similar to the cap 

 torches previously illustrated. It was made by J. W. 

 Pepper of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The torch 

 is 4% inches high including the wick, and the diam- 

 eter at the bottom is 2}i inches. The supporting 

 wire is 4% inches high. 



CAP WITH NICKEL TORCH, 1 888 Figure 53 



No assembled example found. 



This blocked-front cap clearly illustrates the use of 

 a lightweight torch similar to that in the Sam A. 

 Cousley accession. The caps were of patriotic colors 



which blended with the parade clothing. 



NICKEL-PLATED HELMET 



AND TORCH, 1 888 Figure 54 



No example found. 



Nickel-plated helmets had o\al-shaped tin torches 

 which were fastened by wire brackets to the crown 

 of the helmet. Although the author has never seen 

 an example, illustrations of this combined helmet and 

 torch appear in the sales catalogs of 1888. 



PAPER 45: POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TORCHES 



35 



