Update on "self-boring barrel spigots"

I have located two additional self-boring barrel spigots since my article was published in September 2001. One spigot belonged to EAIA member Philip Whitney of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and the other to a friend of mine in New Jersey. What I find interesting is that all three (including mine) are Weed's third patent, yet all three are different in size, shape of shaft opening behind the cutting blade, and markings.

The spigots are sized to cut three different diameter openings, perhaps for different sized barrels or for barrels holding different liquids (e.g. molasses would take a larger spigot opening than cider because of viscosity). The significant dimensional differences (all in inches) of the three are:

* Diameter of hole cut (width of cutting blade): 1, 1 1/8, 1 1/2inches.

* Overall length: 6 1/4, 7 1/4, 8 inches.

* Total width between ends of handle: 5, 5 1/4, 6 inches.

* Outside diameter of valve ball: 1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2 inches.

There are differences in the shape of shaft opening behind the cutting blade. The opening on the smallest of these new examples is almost elliptical (as shown in the September article, Figure 1 Via). The height of the ellipse is 9/16 inch and the length is 3/4 inch.

The opening on the mid-sized one is square (similar to that shown in the original patent, Figure lib of the September article). The height and length are 11/16 inch.

The opening on the large new example is a combination circle and square, shaped like a keyhole on its side (Figure 1). The circle is 15/16 inch in diameter and the side of the square 3/4 inch, giving a height of 15/16 inch and a length of one inch. In Figure 1 the cutting blade would be to the left, as in Figures 12a and 12b in the original article.

The smallest of the new examples is marked on the cutting blade as follows:

PAT'D

JUNE 2, 1868

FEBY 16, 1869

1

The large 1 under the dates could signify either the diameter of the bit (one inch) or that it is the first of a series.

The mid-sized and large examples also are marked the on the cutting blade and have just one patent date and no other number:

PAT'D

FEB 16,1869

Copyright Early American Industries Association Dec 2001
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved