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Sparklets
Sparklets Limited was founded in London as
an independent company in 1896. The
Sparklets Trademark was registered on
September 21, 1896 and the primary
business at the time was in soda syphons.
Sparklets was acquired by British Oxygen
Company in 1920.
The marriage of British Oxygen Company
and Denis Farandatos' patented "Cork
Extractor with Gas Pressure Generating
Means" was one of the most significant events in the history of cork ejectors. British
Oxygen was producing a gas cartridge or "bomb" that was used in soda syphons, fire
extinguishers, life belts, and even dental sprays. The cartridges were called "Sparklets."
Farandatos had come up with an idea that would enable British Oxygen to sell even
more Sparklets.
In his 1950 patent application, Farandatos refers in
pass
ing to the Sparklets with "…one example of which is
the CO2 cylinder available on the market." He goes on
to say that he has designed his handle "to receive a
typical CO2 cylinder of the type used in air pistols…" As
we have seen, in later patents his application drawings
showed the "Sparklets" type cylinders most commonly
used in Soda Syphons.
Soda Syphons had been around for a very long time. In
1901 the Compressed Gas Capsule Company of New
York City offered a complete soda water outfit for $3.00
with the message "A Twentieth Century Idea. A Soda
Fountain in Every Home." The popularity continued to