Patent Crystal Water Filter with Note from Supplier. ... (Total: 2 Items)

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Patent Crystal Water Filter with Note from Supplier. Another instance of a filtration device created for the military market, this example of a "McClellan Crystal Army Filter" was sent to Massachusetts Quartermaster General Davis by Boston military supplier Marmaduke D. Waud in September 1862 as a "sample," no doubt with hopes of selling many of them to the army. The filter appears to have been designed to be inserted into a canteen and consisted of a nicely turned wooden stopper / mouthpiece which was attached to a 6" long rubber hose at the bottom of which was a glass container holding the filtering medium. Still in its original blue pasteboard box, the filter itself is now only partially intact. The complete combination mouthpiece / stopper is in fine condition and bears the stamp "Patent Applied For" on the side. All of the hose remains but has become stiff with age and is broken in several places. The crystal filtering end is shattered with only a small portion still attached to the hose. The felt filtering medium which apparently went inside is present along with some small glass shards. The wonderful original invoice that accompanies it is on the decorative letterhead of Waud's company and notes there is "No charge for this sample." A rare example of yet another gadget aimed at the comfort...and the wallet...of the volunteer soldier.