Victor A. Benson
BBQ perfection
“ The present invention relates particularly to means for effecting the mechanical rotation of a spit of the type used on barbeque stoves”.
The last inventor that we will profile in our series received notoriety in his late teens as a racing bicyclist in San Jose. In August 1894( at the age of 18) Benson earned a silver cup trophy for the fastest time in a five-mile race. He participated in other races that year and the next. He and co-rider Hardy Downing broke the tandem bicycle record for a one-mile track race with a time of two minutes and three seconds.
Bicycle riding and racing were very popular in the 1890s and early 1900s. In a time when there was no radio, television or major professional sport teams( other than baseball), local bicycle racing venues and bike clubs filled the gap for fun watching and competitive diversions. San Jose had several banked wooden or cement racetracks with viewing stands that could hold hundreds of people.
Many towns and cities, including Mountain View, had active racing clubs. In addition to sponsoring races, these clubs also provided social activities, such as dances and dinners.
Benson was born in Nevada in 1876. It’ s uncertain when his family moved to San Jose. In 1896 he married 18-year-old Edith Greenwood. A son was born two years later. The 1899 San Jose directory( similar to a phone book) showed a business listing of“ Benson & Evers”— a wireworks company in downtown San Jose.
The 1920 & 1930 census records showed that the family lived in San Jose. His occupations were listed as a machinist, iron worker or contractor. By 1940 the family had moved to Mountain View. They lived with his father-in-law and another elderly relative. His occupation was listed as an iron worker with his own shop.
The 1950 census indicated that the 74-year-old Benson and his family owned and worked at a barbeque manufacturing company. His 51-year-old son and his wife are listed as well. The extended family included two grandsons at the same address.
Benson was a prolific inventor. His earliest patent was granted in 1923 for a metal framing system for building a garage or shop. Four more patents were granted for barbeque equipment, in the years of 1940,1942,1951 and 1952.
We couldn’ t locate any information about the company, as it seems no advertising was placed by the company in yearbooks or newspapers. Our guess is that the company probably produced products and installations for use in public parks, family backyards and restaurants.
Victor Benson was a a prolific inventor. Shown here are the patents granted for a shed construction technique, and two barbeque designs.
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