The Trenton Evening Times, 29 December 1900
(New Jersey)

INVENTOR WESTLAKE DEAD
Patented Car Heaters and Lamps and Railroad Lanterns
New York. Dec. 29.—William Westlake, an inventor, died at his home in Brooklyn yesterday. He was born in Cornwall, England, in 1821. Mr. Westwood came to this country when 16 years old. His first work was as a roller boy in the office of The Evening Wisconsin in Milwaukee. At the same time he attended night school, acquiring a fair education. He afterward served his apprenticeship as a tinsmith, during which time he invented several tools, of which his employer got the benefit.
When 21 years old, he was employed by Captain Ericsson to make the patterns and models for his first hot air engine. He went into the employ of the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad company, afterward the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway, as its tin and copper smith.
Here he began his series of inventions which have since made him famous. His first one was the Westlake car heater, which dumped the fire in case of a derailment or other accident. The loose globe lantern universally used by railroad men was patented in 1862; the oil cook stove was perfected in 1865, and the stove board was patented in 1869 and 1871. He perfected the first practical car lamp, which draws air from the ceiling, in 1873.

Contributed by Bob Bolitho