Vintage 1920's Electric Vaporizer

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Vintage 1920's Electric Vaporizer

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Sold Date: 05/26/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Tools

Near museum quality vaporizer. The cord is close to perfect condition, rare in the cloth covered electric cords. This piece looks like it was used once and put in a cupboard for 75 years! T is a bit of surface rust on the deflector arms and slightly noticeable rust on the large end of the cord (see pictures). No effort to clean this amazing device, but the rust is easily removed with fine sandpaper or steel wool.

This is a highly collectable, unique unit because t is no heating element. The fluid to be vaporized is heated by electrolysis. Current is applied to the carbon blocks (pictured) and the fluid is heated to the boiling point in a few minutes. The directions (printed on the paper label that is in near perfect condition) say "if the water doesn't boil in 15 minutes add 5 grains of salt." I doubt if this vaporizer could pass the UL approved test since if the lid is removed while it is plugged in you could get a dangerous shock. Note t is no warning label. People were expected to use common sense during that era.

The glass part appears to be about the size and shape of a pint canning jar of that period. It has a checked pattern that makes it different from the common canning jar. T are no chips or cracks in the jar. The deflector may be stainless steel since t is no rust on it. The conical vapor tube is perfect with no dents or distortions.

You can ask your grandmother, but I believe the fluid used was plain water with a few drops of oil of wintergreen or a bit of melted Vapor-Rub. (Can you still buy that stuff?)