ALL ITEMS: 'Holmes--Bradford-Butterick


 Thumbnail CreatorDateTitle / Author / Date / LocationPrice  Description
6429Inventor's sketches for a concealed revolver by Bradford Holmes.DetailsHolmes, Bradford Butterick1911
Four cyanotype sketches for a concealed five shot revolver
Holmes, Bradford Butterick
1911
LOC:300
$380.00Holmes--Bradford-ButterickFour-cyanotype-sketches-for-a-concealed-five-shot-revolverSet of four original antique cyanotype or blueprint inventor's sketches for a concealable revolver. The revolver was designed by Bradford Butterick Holmes in 1911. In December, 1912 Holmes was granted US patent #1,047,054 on the revolver. It was Bradford Holmes' first patent, but not his last. <br><br> <div id="1" align="center"> <a title="Holmes' Revolver."></a> <img id="1" src="/ZoomifyImages/SC_6429/SC_6429_400x300.jpg" alt="" width="250"/> <br><small>Fig. 1. Holmes concealed revolver</small> </div><br> The first sheet of four (Fig. 1.) shows an actual size depiction of the revolver concealed within the user's fist, only the short barrel extending beyond the fingers of a hand stretched from a cuff-linked shirt. Sheets 2, 3, and 4 are double size renderings of the revolver's mechanical details. The sketches are dated October 11, 1911 and witnessed by Ruth Vickery Holmes (Bradford's wife) and Hilma Christenson. <br><br> In 1903 Bradford Butterick Holmes is recorded as a first year student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with his home town listed as Mare Island, California. Apparently Bradford Holmes wed Ruth in May 1909 and together they had two children, Elizabeth and Robert. <br><br> Bradford Holmes was a prolific inventor. Between 1912 and 1952 Holmes was granted over 70 patents, some for Bendix Aviation, his presumed employer. In addition to the revolver Holmes' inventions include: <div class="indenttextblocksingle"> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"></li> <li>Automatic steering device for dirigible craft (US1640896A) </li> <li>Pressure breathing regulator (US2544991A) </li> <li>Demand valve control mechanism (US2608971A)</li> <li>Electric timing system (US2080273A) </li> <li>Windshield wiper and fluid motor therefor (US1731048A)</li> </ul> </div> Ruth Holmes is named as a co-inventor on eight of Bradford's patents, largely from the 1930's, related to a dirigible steering mechanism.