Willis C. Vajen - A successful Inventor - History and Genealogy of Lake Maxinkuckee

Willis C. Vajen - A successful Inventor

A successful INVENTOR

Reprinted from the Fireman's Herald September 9, 1897

We present herewith a picture of Mr. Willis C. Vajen, of Indianapolis, Ind. the successful inventor of the Vajen smoke protector. As we have mentioned before, no test of a fire appliance attracted as much attention at the Chiefs' convention in New Haven as the test of the Vajen-Bader smoke helmet. There are very few departments of prominence in this country where the helmet is not in use, and the fire departments of Dublin, Guttenberg, Sweden; Valpariso, Chili; Saporo, Japan; and Wellington, New Zealand, are using them with entire satisfaction.

The helmet is made of a chamois leather specially prepared so that fire and water are equally without injurious effect upon it, and is heavily padded about the lower part with fleece, through which the exhaled air works out gradually, acting as a pressure stop against the entrance of outside air. The air for respiration is furnished from a compact compression tank attached to the back of the helmet, and is fed at atmospheric pressure. The temperature secured by the escape of the air from its confined to normal pressure is always at least twenty degrees lower than the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. The eye pieces are of mica, giving clear sight, and diaphragms of the same at the ear holes transmit sound perfectly and at the same time serve for side lights when occasion presents, as the head is perfectly free to turn about inside the helmet.

Mr. Willis C. Vajen , the inventor, has taken ten years to perfect the device, and has now been making it for sale something over a year. His success in the production is properly a source of much gratification. Mr. Vajen is evidently possessed of a good deal of natural ingenuity. In explaining the discovery that it was possible to make a mica diaphragm transmit vocal sounds to the ear recently, he happened to mention the fact that in 1876 he first used mica in a, sort of crude transmitter to what has since been called a telephone between his front and back office in his hardware store at Indianapolis. That was before the date of the introduction of the diaphragm transmitter now reg ularly applied to use in the telephone, phonograph and similar instruments.

VAJEN-BADER SMOKE MASK -- Although there were many attempts to design a mask that would effectively filter out the smoke as well as provide fresh air, the vajen Bader smoke protector in 1896 was the one that attracted the most attention, and was soon across the UnitedStates and in many foreign countries as well. One of its most desirable features was the compact compression tank that produced fresh, 20 degree cooler air to the firemen.

Vajen-Bader Co. procuced fireman's respiratory equipment since it founding in 1881. The Vajen-Bader Patent Smoke Protector of the 1890's and early 1900's selaed off the wearer's head from the enviorment and supplied breathable air from a compressed air cylinder on the back of the helmet. Ref. US Patents #456687, 645281, 645286.

Here is an ad that appeared in the AG. Book or local papers at time - it was coupled with an ad for Sea Beach Place (full version).

All original and highly sought after museum-quality c. 1900-10 hand-stitched leather vajen-bader "patent smoke protector" fireman helmet with intact mica lenses was seen at a pric eof $6,500.00

William Bader's name was on the patent dated 28 July 1891 Us. Patent #456-687 (PDF), a drawings for the mask are within patent record as well as other information and other US Patents for it:

Patents 645281 & 645286 both bear the same date of 13 March 1900, Fireman's Mask tho other date within as to application, attorney's and witnesses are different - the drawing bear a strinking resembleance to each other.

A German immigrant, Bader was a piano maker by profession and may have come up with the idea first. Testimony from a lawsuit filed in U.S. Court in 1899 has it that Vajen first saw a photograph of the device in the music store where Bader worked, and the two worked together to improve efficacy of the mask, meanwhile helped along by Dennis Swenie, Chicago’s fire chief. A clip in the Los Angeles Herald suggests that “William Baders” was the real genius, Vajen only “furnishing the capital for the enterprise.” The court’s verdict, however, was that Vajen deserved most of the credit.

A small team of workers made Vajen-Bader smoke protectors on the second floor of the old Indianapolis Public Library at the corner of Ohio and Meridian streets. The following was found

The factory covers considerable space on the second floor of the old library building at the corner of Ohio and Pennsylvania streets, where a number of men are employed constantly in the manufacture of these goods. Mr. Willis C. Vajen is president and manager of the company. - pg. 343 Hyman's handbook of Indianapolis: an outline history and description of the ... edited by Max Robinson Hyman 1897

These are some pictures found of replicas of the fireman and appratus as toys possibly manufactured under "Gearbox"

The Vajen-Bader Company. - Of the many useful articles that are manufactured in Indianapolis, there are none that have attracted greater attention than the product of this concern. The Vajen-Bader Patent Firemen's Smoke Protector which is manufactured by this company has received the favorable comment of the press all over the w>

orld; it is the most perfect and practical device yet invented for the use of fire-fighters. It is built upon scientific principles and is considered of greater importance than the submarine diving apparatus which has in the past created so much interest. With the use of this helmet a person is enabled to enter rooms filled with smoke or noxious gases without the slightest discomfort to the wearer.>

It furnishes complete protection against fire, heat, smoke, steam, gas, electric wires and falling debris, and affords the onlv means for the saving of human life when all other efforts prove unavailable. This protector has been adopted by the fire departments of over one hundred of the largest cities, both in America and abroad. It is also used in the largest brewing establishments in the country, and by large miners and gas companies. It is estimated that during the first year over $3,000,000 worth of property was saved by the use of this new device. >

Great credit is due to Mr. Willis C. Vajen, who has brought this new protector to its present high state of perfection, and through whose energy it was brought to the notice of the fire-fighters and others who have made practical use of them. >

The helmet has been successfully tested before the many fire chiefs attending their annual conventions. First honors were taken at the meeting of the Pacific Coast Association of Fire Chiefs at Los Angeles, California, in May, 1895, and before the International Meetings of Fire Chiefs, at Augusta, Ga., in October, 1895, and at Salt Lake City, Utah, in August, 1896. The long list of testimonials received by the company would indicate that the helmet had done good service in many fire departments in saving much property both from fire and water as well as a life saving device. >

The materials used in the construction of this helmet undergo a chemical treatment. The cool pure air furnished to the occupant or wearer of the helmet comes from a compressed air reservoir having a pressure of 1oo pounds, and enables him to breathe freely and comfortably for from one to two hours. The specially constructed diaphragm in the ear pieces offers the advantages of hearing which one would naturally have on the outside. The double plates of mica in the eye pieces give him the freedom of sight, overcoming the damaging res ults from different temperatures in which the helmet is frequently to be used. >

The helmet is most complete in all details, with handsome case, air-pump and other attachments. The factory covers considerable space on the second floor of the old library building at the corner of Ohio and Pennsylvania streets, where a number of men are employed constantly in the manufacture of these goods. Mr. Willis C. Vajen is president and manager of the company. - pg. 343 Hyman's handbook of Indianapolis: an outline history and description of the ... edited by Max Robinson Hyman 1897

The 1896 Vajen-Bader catalog had the following description of the protector:

Recently on Ebay an 1890's model nearly complete was up for sale for $4000.00! The last two in row 2 with tag information & logo can be clicked on for larger view

I wonder if the Culver-Union Township Fire Department was gifted with one of these by Willis Vajen and his company and if so what ever happened to it?

Indianapolis City Directory, 1889. Indianapolis, IN: R.L. Polk and Co., 1889 & 1890
Name: Willis C Vajen
Location 1: 79 E Market
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
Occupation: proprietor
Year: 1889
Business Name: Vajens Real Estate Exchange

Name: Willis C Vajen
Location 1: 79 E Market
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
Occupation: Real Estate, Loans and Insurance
Year: 1890
Business Name: Vajen's Real Estate Exchange

Name: Willis C Vajen
City: Indianapolis
State: IN
Year: 1890
Business Name: Vajen's Real Estate Exchange
Location 2: 22 E Vermont

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Willis C. Vajen - A successful Inventor