Acetylene Gas Machine

Dublin Core

Title

Acetylene Gas Machine

Date

1900

Creator

University of Montevallo

Description

In 1899, the President of the University of Montevallo (then called Alabama Girls Industrial School) Francis Peterson was given an advertisement for an Acetylene Gas Machine from the Craig Reynolds Foundry Company.

This “illumination machine” boasted multiple times that it used the best gas for lighting. Its use of Acetylene gas was to have the best reproduction of sunlight while remaining efficient in terms of cost. Though the burning of the gas did not asphyxiate the people around them, it did make them nauseous. With housing for the burning gas being a carbide like granite, fear of explosion or fire was nearly non-existent. It was also better than its competitors because it used one fifteenth the amount of gas as the normal gas burners.

The company gave a list of products with their price tags ranging from $70 to $300 ($1960.77 to $8403.28 in today’s market). Whether or not President Peterson purchased these items is unknown.

Language

En-US

Rights

University of Montevallo

Subject

Gas tanks for AGIS

Source

Presidential Papers

Contributor

James Denney

Publisher

University of Montevallo

Relation

Presidential Papers

Format

Jpeg

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

ACETYLENE GAS MACHINE
FOR RESIDENCES, STORES, CHURCHES, FACTORIES, HOTELS, SCHOOLS, VILLAGES, AND TOWNS.
ACETYLINE GAS
THE PERFECT LIGHT.
|No question is of more importance in every home than the subject of artificial illumination, which has been
one of the paramount interests Engaging men’s minds since the beginning of civilization. More light, better
light, and less expensive light, has been the problem to be solved. The discovery of a method to produce
acetylene gas in a manner making it a commercial and practical success is one of the latest achievements solving
the problem of economical and perfect light.
Acetylene, more recently and popularly termed Sunlight Gas, is by far the most perfect illuminant known, and because of its close resemblance to pure sunlight, it is believed that no better illuminating gas exists in
nature.
Made in Sizes from 6 to 3000 Lights
THE TRIUMPH GAS MACHINE
IS THE FIRST AND ONLY APPLIANCE TO MEET ALL PUBLIC REQUIREMENTS.
It represents the highest degree of mechanical perfection, simplicity, and efficiency. There are no working parts, valves, or intricate mechanism to get out of order, and it will give perfect satisfaction under all conditions. Beware of tin-can generators and water-seal arrangements, made by concerns with no reputation to sustain, and whose guarantees are worthless.
PATENTS. Our patents cover broadly the basic principles indispensable to safety, reliability, and simplicity, without which, it is believed, no lasting and successful acetylene gas generator can be made.
THE CRAIG REYNOLDS FOUNDRY CO.
CAHILL, SWIFT Mfg. Co.,
ST. LOUIS, MO

Original Format

Paper

Files

Acetylene Gas machine.jpg

Citation

University of Montevallo, “Acetylene Gas Machine,” Archiving Montevallo, accessed November 22, 2024, https://carmichaeldigitalprojects.org/archivingmontevallo/items/show/129.