Today in 1904, US Patent 767658 A was issued, an invention of Frederick Pentlarge and John H. Vehr, assigned to the US Bung Manufacturing Company, for their “Tapping Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes these claims:
Our improvements relate to apparatus for readily and easily tapping barrels, kegs, and other liquid-receptacles for the removal of the liquid contents, and the improvements have particular relation to apparatus for the tapping of beer kegs, barrels, and the like, to be applied at the faucet-hole, which is sealed by any of the ordinary and well-known faucet plugs or bungs.