Lewis H. Latimer’s Glass Blowing Apparatus (1881)
Drawing
This is a technical drawing of a glass-blowing apparatus designed by Lewis Howard Latimer. His design would use heat and compressed air to turn glass tubes into lightbulbs. Though Latimer produced this diagram on a patent application form, he never patented it. The drawing is signed by Latimer and labeled as "Glass Blowing Apparatus." It includes a furnace, support structures, tubing, and mechanisms for shaping glass.
During the late 19th century, glass blowing was a crucial process in the development of electric light bulbs. This apparatus represents one of Latimer’s ideas for refining bulb manufacturing techniques, particularly in creating vacuum-sealed glass enclosures for electric filaments.
Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]
Handwritten label: "Glass Blowing Apparatus" Signature: "L.H. Latimer 1881" Labeled "Witnesses" section, indicating that this might have been part of a patent application or engineering documentation. This document highlights Latimer’s engineering ingenuity beyond the carbon filament, demonstrating his multifaceted contributions to electric light bulb production.