92/53/1-2

Sam Clarke's Pyramid Food Warmer,

This is a food warmer, invented by Samuel Clarke and marketed as ‘Sam Clarke’s Pyramid Food Warmer’. It consists of a white ceramic pannikin with a handle, lip and lid, and is designed to sit inside another on a tripod stand, under which a tea light would be lit to provide heat. The pannikin is printed with instructions on safety, use, and boiling milk. The food warmer is part of the Rumble Collection.

1 food warmer: white glazed pottery; good conditionVarious inscriptions:- [on lid]: 'Sam Clarke's Pyramid Food Warmer'; 'Caution - Paraffin lamps are very dangerous and should on no account be burnt in this food warmer'; 'Notice - It is important that the milk should be boiled as soon as it is received from the dairy or it is liable to turn sour. The pannikin should also be well cleansed prior to use'; [on underside of lid, and outside of container]: 'Pyramid trade mark (trade mark "Fairy"), Reg. in U. S. Pat. Off.'; [on outside of container]: 'Clarke's Pyramid night lights 9 hours are the only lights suitable for these lamps'; 'Re. No. 91241'; 'When nights are dark then think of Clarke, who's hit the mark precisely. For his night-lights create light-nights, in which you see quite nicely.'; 'No.1, 1/2 pint, price 3/6'.

MERL miscellaneous note, Greta Bertram, 25 October 2013 – The objects 92/2–92/68 are part of the Rumble Collection, and were donated to the Museum by Mr Rumble in July 1991. The objects were collected or purchased by Mr Rumble or his father, and most of them came from either Camberley, in Surrey, or Somerset, where Mr Rumble had previously lived. He kept his collection in the shed at the bottom of his garden in Woodley, Berkshire., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Recorder: JMB // Date: 10.9.92 // Description: White glazed pottery container with handle, lip and lid. It is designed to sit inside another container. // Inscription: SAM CLARKE’S PYRAMID FOOD WARMER // TRADE MARK ‘FAIRY’ // REG. IN U.S. PATENT OFFICE // No 1, ½ pint Price 3/6 // FOR USE WITH PYRAMID NIGHT LIGHTS. // Dimensions: Height: 12.0 cm Diameter top: 10.0 cm // Associated information: There are other instructions on the container about safety, use of the heater, and boiling of milk. // No other information about the source of this object, which was part of Mr Rumble’s collection. // References:’

1888 - 1920

Ceramic, Glaze

Fired, Glazed

Clarke, Samuel (Agent)