The Lovettsville Museum has quite a few farm and household implements and tools from the 19th and early 20th centuries, which have been grouped together as a look-and-touch interactive display and guessing game of “pre-digital era” technology, with answer cards attached.  Many of the objects truly puzzle modern kids, who love to learn how to make old-fashioned emojis ;-D on our 1913 typewriter :-O.

For your consideration and puzzlement, presented here is one of the mystery objects in our exhibit.

Can you guess what this object is —

and what it does?  

> SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE ANSWER …
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ANSWER to the “What the Heck IS This Thing #4?” Game

This is a vintage “Toledo Torch.”

A “Toledo Torch” was a kerosene “road flare.” 

Starting in 1929, The Toledo Pressed Steel Co. manufactured millions of small, round kerosene-burning  torches (sometimes called smudge pots) that look like cartoon bombs.

The Toledo Torch was widely used at road construction sites across the U.S., and other companies produced similar, competing devices. 

Although they have long since been replaced by flaming pink road flares and traffic barrels, vintage smudge pots can still be found in attics, at flea markets, and on ebay.

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If you enjoyed this post, please support our mission to protect and preserve the history and heritage of Lovettsville, the German Settlement, and our unique corner of Loudoun County, Virginia, by purchasing a membership or making a financial contribution.

The Lovettsville Historical Society, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the Society, and membership dues, are tax-deductible under the Internal Revenue Code.