Today in 1912, US Patent 1029727 A was issued, an invention of George Stroh, for his “Tap.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates to taps and bushings and more particularly to that class wherein the bushing is permanently secured in a beer keg or barrel. and-a tap, so called, is arranged for coupling therewith. In such devices it is desirable that the tap be so constructed that it may be readily coupled with the bushing, and -a tight joint made therewith without the use of tools, as the coupling of the parts is usually effected when the barrel or keg is in a store room or cellar or other dark place and as the help available is usually unskilled. Furthermore it is of great advantage to have the tap constitute a single structure bodily removable from the bushing, and so arranged that the packing rings and like parts which form an essential feature of the device are not readily lost.

This invention relates more particularly to a construction of a tap sleeve whereby the coupling with a barrel bushing is readily effected by the use of the hand alone and whereby there are no loose tap parts which may be shaken off or otherwise displaced.

Today in 1913, US Patent 1065233 A was issued, an invention of Friedrick Gittinger, for his “Keg-Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to devices for tapping kegs and barrels, and has especial reference to devices for tapping kegs of beer, and has for its object’ the provision of an improved construction of tapping devices comprising a bung having an integral web provided with an opening and segment-al slots, rotatable valve members mounted on the two sides of said web and secured together for simultaneous rotation over said segmental slots, and a nozzle member adapted to enter and be locked in engagement with said bung and provided with means for rotating the valve members when moving into locking position.

Today in 1914, US Patent 1099910 A was issued, an invention of William J. Bocker and Hermenia A. Bocker, for their “Beer-Cooler.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

Our invention relates to improvements in beer coolers, and more particularly to that type of cooler used in connection with dispensing apparatus.

In beer coolers now in use, the beer is caused to run through a coil or coils of pipe with which ice is in direct contact for cooling the beer while it is passing through the coil or coils, but coolers of this kind are objectionable for the reason that they cannot be readily cleaned without resorting to the use of steam forcibly passed through the coil or coils thereof and also for the reason that the beer cannot be maintained at an even temperature.

It is the object of our invention to overcome the above mentioned objections, and to do so in a simple, efficacious and inexpensive manner. To this end the invention consists in the provision of a cooling chamber for the re! caption of a keg or kegs of beer which extends up into the dispensing bar and which is equipped with an ice receptacle which is adapted to contain ice and maintain the temperature evenly at every point within said cooling chamber and in directing the dispensing pipe or pipes from the beer keg or kegs directly to the dispensing faucet or faucets Without leading them out of said cooling chamber.

Our invention further consists in so arranging the dispensing pipe or pipes that they are easily accessible and readily cleaned internally by passing a brush or any other suitable tool through the same, said pipe or pipes being in a straight line to permit of such action.