The Detachable-Handle Ladle: A Double Dovetail

"The invention relates to a novel construction of the ear or loop at the side of the ladle, and of that portion of the handle which engages with this ear or loop, whereby the handle is easily detached, and is more firmly secured in proper position for readily manipulating the ladle in any required manner". "In removing the handle from the ladle the outer end of said handle is lifted upward, the inner end and shank b being at the same time depressed, until the shank can be removed from the dovetailed recess a2 into the larger outer slot a1, when the shank can be lifted up through said slot a1." Fisher preferred a closed loop "in order that the rib a3 (see Figs. 1 and 2) may be used as a partial fulcrum or rest for the stem B, thus materially relieving the strain upon the angle at b'".

Use a small pot or tin as the bowl. Bend an ear from aluminium sheet and rivet it to the side. Cut a slot in it: wide at the outer end, then narrowing into a tapered socket towards the bowl. Make the handle from a dowel with a flat aluminium tongue riveted to its end and bent down as the shank. File the shank to a wedge, so it passes the wide part of the slot and wedges tight in the socket. Fit the handle, fill the bowl with water, and tip it every way you would when serving. It should stay on. Then lift the handle's outer end to free it. Weigh the full bowl and measure the distance from the joint, and compare with the notebook.

**Henry Fisher** of Canton, Stark County, Ohio, filed US 175,599 on 3 March 1876; it is dated 4 April 1876. **Honest limits.** The notebook takes the load as a single weight at one distance and the joint as two contact points. The real contact is spread over the socket faces. The loads, distances and heights are examples. Your weighing and measuring are the measurement.