Our townsman, Mr. Vic. Gretter, has invented something decidedly new and novel in the way of an oil saver and fire preventative, which will eventually come into general use. And by the means of saving much oil, especially at flowing wells, that now goes to waste.

The invention consists of a hollow piston working through a stuffing-box which is closely fitted to the ordinary casing head, the cable being secured within the tube. By this arrangement the hole is only open during the passage of the length of the tools.

Gretter’s Oil-Saver and Fire Preventer has been thoroughly tested on the well owned by our townsmen, Messrs. Patterson, Dickey, Lockwood and Nicholson, and Kemp Bros. of Columbia Farm, located on the Neeley Farm, near the St. Petersburg oil district. And is also in use on the big well at Pithole, now flowing 200 barrels a day and being drilled through the sand at the same time. Its simplicity commends it, and its merit is acknowledged at sight by ever practical map.

Mr. Gretter is an old and experienced driller, and now that large casing is in general use, he saw the necessity of lessening the danger from fire in drilling flowing wells to say nothing of saving in oil. He has applied for a patent and proposes to have the invention in general use.