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Patent Diagram – Electric Lamp by J. W. Nichols & L. H. Latimer

Drawing
This is a printed patent diagram from the United States Patent Office detailing an electric lamp designed by J. W. Nichols and Lewis H. Latimer, patented September 13, 1881, under Patent No. 247,097. The document features three technical illustrations labeled Figures 1, 2, and 3, which depict the structure of an improved electric lamp. Fig. 1: A detailed schematic of the electric lamp, showing the elongated glass bulb with an internal filament structure. Fig. 2: A side view of the lamp's lower section, likely illustrating the filament attachment and support mechanism. Fig. 3: A simplified cross-section of the lamp’s base, depicting the internal wiring. The document is printed on aged cream-colored paper, showing minor discoloration, some creases, and rust-colored stains along the edges, possibly from old metal fasteners. The top margin has faint imprints from previous handling or storage, and the text is printed upside down in the scanned image. At the bottom, handwritten signatures of the inventors and witnesses appear in ink.
Patent Diagram – Electric Lamp by J. W. Nichols & L. H. Latimer picture number 1

Significance of the Patent: Latimer’s 1881 patent with fellow Maxim employee Joseph V. Nichols proposed a new way of clamping carbon strips—the light source inside incandescent glass bulbs—to the wires that supplied electric power to them. This method would end the need for platinum “nuts, screws, or pins... whereby the cost of the lamps is greatly reduced.” This patent was issued during a period of rapid advancements in electric lighting technology. Lewis Howard Latimer was a key contributor to electric lighting innovations, particularly carbon filament technology, which significantly improved the durability and efficiency of electric lamps. This patent represents an important step in the refinement of incandescent bulbs, as inventors sought to create longer-lasting and more practical lighting solutions. J. W. Nichols & Lewis Latimer's Contributions: J. W. Nichols was another inventor working in the development of electric lamps, and this collaboration with Latimer highlights his involvement in multiple aspects of lighting technology. Latimer, an African American inventor, engineer, and patent draftsman, played a critical role in the expansion of electric lighting beyond Edison’s initial patents, helping companies like the U.S. Electric Lighting Company compete with Edison’s designs.

Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]

Text at the Top: "J. W. NICHOLS & L. H. LATIMER" "Electric Lamp" "No. 247,097" "Patented Sept. 13, 1881." "(No Model.)" Handwritten Signatures: Inventors: J. W. Nichols & L. H. Latimer Witnesses: Names partially visible but should be reviewed for precise transcription. Publisher/Printer Mark (Bottom Edge): "N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D.C."