This is a scarce Civil War private purchase mess set patented by L.H. Worman and J.O. Ely of Philadelphia on February 4, 1862. The patent documents make clear the designer was likely a Phillip Ulmer, who then assigned what were in fact two patents filed the same day, to himself and to Worman and Ely, either as partners or his agents. The set is complete and in very good condition, consisting of three pieces: a fork and knife with hollow metal handles and a spoon with slotted handle that could hold the fork and knife. The patent for the first two specifies the handles were made of sheet metal, “shaped so as to be wholly closed and hollow…” That for the spoon specifies the handle, “has an aperture, and is bent in such a manner as to admit the handle of a knife and the tines of a fork fitting into flanges on the side of the handle…”

The condition is very good, with no bends or breaks, showing as a muted steel gray with some thin stains and darker gray spots on the knife blade and fork tines, with the rest as more a pewter gray. As is correct, the fork is unmarked, but the knife blade and spoon handle have patent markings. The knife blade marking is rubbed from use on some letters, but clearly stamped “WORMAN ELY & C[O.]/ PHILAD’A / [P]ATENT FEB 4, 18[62],” and the spoon handle, which serves to lock up the fork and knife, is stamped “WORMAN & ELY / PHIL’A / PAT’D. FEB. 4, 1862.” Please see our photos.

Civil War mess gear offers a lot of variety to the collector and for displays of camp gear and personal items. Early in the Civil War soldiers were issued their mess gear by the various state recruiting services, so there are quite a few different designs that were obtained on different contracts or by open-market purchases. On top of that, there were a number of patent types, like this set, that promised convenience or compactness that were purchased by new soldiers or given to them by family and well-wishers. This set would also be a key piece in a study of the varied merchandise targeted at the huge number of men headed for a very different life in army camps and the field. It also reassures us that our ancestors, too, liked convenience, and to be ahead of the curve with the latest invention or gadget.  [sr][ph:L]

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