Today in 1882, US Patent 264185 A was issued, an invention of James Miller of Oakland, California, for his “Refrigerator.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention relates to the class of refrigerators; and it consists generally in the construction and arrangement of peculiar vessels, providing for the holding of the substance to be kept cool, and a surrounding and underlying water-space.
It consists particularly in a deep vessel with vertical sides, and provided with a centrally perforated false bottom, upon which a holding-vessel of smaller diameter and extending above the exterior vessel is placed, whereby a surrounding and underlying water-space is formed.
It further consists in the provision of an airtight cover for the holding-vessel, all of which will hereinafter fully appear.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and effective refrigerating device for containing any substance or article which should be kept cool.
I can’t say for certain if this was even used by breweries, but the shape seems to suggest that it may have been.
