Few patents have conferred a greater blessing on society than that of
which the accompanying cut is an illustration. The misery which was
closely akin to area gratings, as used in “our grandfather’s day,”
may yet be remembered by some not very old readers. Then light had
to be admitted from the sidewalk without trespassing on the right of
way by encroachment, and the manner in which that object was attained
was by the use, invariably, of open iron gratings, which, whilst they
admitted the light in _bar sinister_, as our heraldric authorities
would say, did not offer any opposition to the falling dirt of the
street which resolved itself alternately into dust or mud, according to
the relative condition of the weather. The very palpable consequence
of such a state of things was, that all areas under sidewalks were an
accumulative nuisance which had to be borne if day-light was desirable
in underground places.
Let us pause for a moment to mentally look back on those days of
dirt-clad cellar windows, if it were only to enhance the value to our
mind of the present state of things.
[Illustration]
Hyatt’s Patent Vault, and Side-walk lights, are so well known and so
universally appreciated North, South, East, and West, now-a-days,
that it is doubtful whether we are enlightening a single reader of
the REVIEW in thus alluding to them. But, unfortunately there are
people so listlessly unobservant in this world of ours, as to walk over
them, aye, and walk under them, without perceiving the benefit enjoyed
from them. Such people look on all improvements without wonder or
admiration, and calmly set them down as matters of course—things that
were to be, improvements—the growth of necessity. The inventive mind
that gave them birth is neither thanked nor thought of. But all men
are not so stolid. Many will take an interest in the benefaction and
the benefactor, and to such the present notice will recall a duty—the
grateful acknowledgment of a benefit bestowed.
[Illustration]
The sidewalk lights are powerfully strong as well as perfectly
weather-proof and they can be turned out in any required form in single
plates to a maximum size of six and a half feet long by two and a half
feet wide, or in continuous platforms. They are likewise made to answer
an excellent purpose as steps and risers, or even as entire flights
of stairs of any desired length. They are three quarter inch thick,
hexagonal shaped glass, well secured and presenting a really handsome
appearance.
In our preceding number we made some observations on a more fitting
system of awnings than that now in use.
[Illustration] We think there can be very little doubt but this very
invention could be well made available for such a purpose, and we
sincerely hope that the hint will not be lost sight of.
BROWN BROTHERS of Chicago have for the last ten years been active in
the manufacture and sale of the patent sidewalk lights, and there is
scarcely a city of any pretensions in the Great West that has not
awaked up to the use and value of this most beneficial invention,
and the pleasing consequence is that the Messrs. B. are now doing an
immense business in the manufacture of them, at 226 and 228 Monroe
street, Chicago, where the orders of our friends the Architects and
Builders who propagate improvements in the growing cities of the
irrepressible West, will be attended to, with that promptitude which
has hitherto made the name of the firm of BROWN BROTHERS so well known,
and their excellent manufacture so fully appreciated.