Interesting device. I don't remember ever seeing something like this in the Northeast during the '40s or '50s. The 6 digit patent number (if read correctly) probably indicates early 20th century, if not before. Do you have any more information on this, Russell?
Google Smudge Pot Highway Torch. One use was as a warning device set out along highway construction sites, road closures, high water etc., before reflectors and flashing lights were available. They were maintenance intense and highly "collectible" (often stolen) so disappeared about 30 years ago. My brother and I, being kids fascinated by fire, were always piling grass, leaves and paper trash around them to make better fires when we found them deployed close to home. My brother-in-law told me that he actually managed to accidentally set a field on fire doing the same thing.
I remember these in use in Michigan when I was a kid (50s and 60s). Got me thinking about how to model them.
I vaguely remember seeing those things either back in the late 60s or early 70s, along construction zones, as I peered out from the back seat of my Dad's '65 Savoy... My first impression, as a young lad whose world view was shaped mostly by cartoons, was that these things looked like cartoon bombs from Wile E Coyote's collection of Acme products... It was great to be a kid with a fertile imagination. I'm still pretty close to that.
Holy cow! I had forgotten all about these things. I remember them. Long ago and far away. Rows of them lit at night.
Very nice, Mike. Judging from a couple of nice old rides parked there, this must be a vintage auto parts distributor?
Didn't get time to change out the autos as of this picture but must have been a car show around! LOL Mike